Did you take Terbutaline

[lanelegacy]

:confused: I am 32 wks with b/g twins and at 30 wks 4 days went into pre term labor. I was hospitalized for a week, put on a magnesium IV :( for 48 hrs and then put on Terbutaline in pill form. I've been on it for a week and a half, and I'm starting to wonder about it.
If you had to take it....
How long did it postpon your labor?
Were you taken off of it and then went into labor, or did you start labor while on it?

My Dr. says that overtime the Terbutaline will stop working :eek: , but every woman is different, so I'm a little curious how long it worked for others.
Thanks for you help!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tricia W]

I was on it with my DD #2 and went off it on a Wednesday and had her on Sunday. I can't remember when I started it though!

[Nursechic]

My Dr. says that overtime the Terbutaline will stop working :eek: , but every woman is different, so I'm a little curious how long it worked for others.



Really? That's interesting! I did not know that. I see my OB today; I'm sure that will come up.
Oddly enough, on Monday I had to take my terb every 4 hours and it barely controlled the contractions. :( Only after NOT MOVING and slamming water did they subside, but I still get them every night and early morning pretty strong.

I'll be curious what other posters have to say.
~Susan

[nichole clemens]

Hi, I was on terbutaline for 5 weeks. I went into pre-term labor at 27&1/2 weeks with my faturnal boys. Was hospitalized for 9 days and went home on bed rest with terbutaline in the shot form. I had to monitor my contrations for a half hour twice a day. The terbutaline worked but towards the end I was on the highest level and at 32 weeks I started contracting every 3 minutes and my doctor decided it was time to deliver! I was so scared. I had a c-section. My boys were healthy but 8 weeks early. They stayed in the hospital for 4 weeks and a day. They came home on apnea monitors. I definately questioned the terbutaline wondering if it would of affected the health of my boys. My doctor made me feel comfident in the drug and was pretty much the safest way of keeping my babies inside me as long as posible. Hang in there. The end of the pregnancy is the most stressful for you and the babies. Try and get rest because when they arrive there isn't alot of mommy time.

[lanelegacy]

Susan
Please let me know what your Dr. says about the Terb stopping. It's interesting that you mentioned the nights and mornings because I woke up last night every hour with strong contractions. They weren't close enough to worry and I even set my alarm for 2 am to wake up and take the Terb just to keep me on schedule, but they were definately stronger. How long have you been on it now? Keep us informed please!

[Nursechic]

Susan
Please let me know what your Dr. says about the Terb stopping. It's interesting that you mentioned the nights and mornings because I woke up last night every hour with strong contractions. They weren't close enough to worry and I even set my alarm for 2 am to wake up and take the Terb just to keep me on schedule, but they were definately stronger. How long have you been on it now? Keep us informed please!


I've been on it now for about 3 weeks. When I was discharged the doc put me on the terb as needed only, so I only take it when I notice the contractions. Usually the contractions will wake me up and then I'll take a pill.
But from the time I first called my doc to report the menstrual-like cramps to today, they are definitely stronger and more painful than they were before.

I'll let you all know what my doc says today. And I go for another U/S next week, which is good because I'm curious about the twins' weights. Last month they were 2lbs each.

[SmplyBlessed]

I was on it for about 3 wks. I had the babies right at 30 weeks.

I went into labor w/ the twins, they put me on the mag and sent me home w/ the med. I was bedrest for the next 3 weeks and then went into labor....I don't know how much it helped, but I am glad that I had the extra 3 weeks!!

[FlaMom]

I was on a terbutaline pump for 3 months with the twins. The day I took the needle out of my leg, I went into labor, at 34 weeks. I had my babies that day, and they were completely healthy and went home with me.

[mom2twinsnmore]

I got to stop taking mine at 36 weeks...I was 36 weeks on Monday...So I took my last dose at 10 pm Sunday. I was at the hospital by 9 am Monday morning! Exactly 36 weeks!

My ob gave me a scipt for terb as soon as we found out I was having twins...I had preterm labor with my older dd. I was having contractions for a couple days before the US...so he said that I had to have it on hand. For me it really worked...all the way to the end. I had to go to the hospital a couple times for them to do IV meds to stop contractions, but never had to be hospitalized...just bed rest at home!

Good luck!!

[totandtwins]

I was on Terb. for 6 wks with my first set of twins. They were born the VERY day I stopped taking the meds at 36wks exactly. I was put back on Terb. with my second set at 29wks stopped taking it at 36wks to the day, and had my babies 6 days later when my water broke.

[Nursechic]

Well after my doc's visit, I started contracting again for the rest of the day. It was horrible! I had to take my terb every 4 hours which really make me feel miserable. I was trying desperately to stave off the contractions to avoid going to the hospital. Finally I did, but with horrible results to me. I finally got to sleep around 3am.

I originally was discharged from the hospital with taking the terb only as I need to (from 4-8 hours) but now I'm taking it every 6 hours on schedule to keep the contractions at bay. Seems to help.

[lanelegacy]

Wow........this is really helping me deal with taking this med. I'm not worried about side effects or anything like that, just wondering how long it will work, and how it works for other people. So your responses are perfect!!!!!! I hope it's helping others too.

Susan, sorry to hear your day went so bad, but hey, at least they didn't put you on the mag. You're on the same scedule now that I am, every 6 hrs plus I can take them as needed but not to exceed 5 mg every 4 hrs. I just stay jittery, breathless or asleep!!!!!!!!!!!! Sucks but it's worth every day they can have in the womb. I'm just getting antsy about how long this will go on for. I'm a planner, I always have things scheduled and this whole "it could be tomorrow or it could be 4 wks from now" is driving me up the wall. I'm actually living out of my suitcase just in case. After last time I'm not taking any chances.

[Noell]

Terb will work if it is ment too.. sometimes it will not work. It wrked well for me for a month until I hit 31 weeks.. I went back into labor and nothing worked. It was just ment to be.

Good Luckwith it.. every one is different!

They will be ok if they are born now. You do want to keep them in longer if you can but at this point it is ok..

got to run.. I have fighting toddlers..

[lanelegacy]

Yesterday was interesting. I did a little bit more than I should have around the house, but when I stopped and settled in the recliner for the evening around 6pm I started noticing contractions. They weren't consistant, some every 30 min and some every 15. Normally I would take 1 2.5mg of the Terb every six hrs, but I got worried so I took one at 7pm, another at 9pm, and then when the contractions still just kept coming and now every 10 mins steady I took another and called the on call Dr. It was midnight when I actually talked to him and he told me take another, wait until 1am and see if they slowed down and then at 3 am take 2 more. They finally did slow down and I fell asleep. My hubby woke up at 4am and realized I hadn't taken the 3 am dose so I took it then. It's now almost 2pm and I'm just getting up!!!!! What worries me is that I know I've been dialated to 2cm and that when the contractions get closer is when you start dialating more. So I'm nervous after last night if I dialated anymore. I have a Dr. apt. tomorrow thank God. I'm probably just paranoid, but I'm just ready for the contractions to come on and us not try to stop them. I'll be 33 wks on Thurs. and I'm antsy. My Dr. wants me to go to 36, but I don't know if I can take it another 3wks.

[Nursechic]

Normally I would take 1 2.5mg of the Terb every six hrs, but I got worried so I took one at 7pm, another at 9pm, and then when the contractions still just kept coming and now every 10 mins steady I took another and called the on call Dr. It was midnight when I actually talked to him and he told me take another, wait until 1am and see if they slowed down and then at 3 am take 2 more. .

Oh my god I'd be out of my mind on that dosing schedule (though I'm on the 5mg tablets - not sure if I could even take them that often). I'm surprised you could sleep at all! :eek:

[lanelegacy]

Kind of surprised myself too that I did fall asleep. I'm monitoring them again now. I just had one about 5 min ago and I'm wondering how long before the next. I know this probably sounds a little selfish, but when I was in the hospital i got a glimpse as to what delivery was going to be like, and I'm ready to get this show started. I'm getting tired of stopping these contractions and waiting for them to start up again at any time. My poor hubby is wearing holes in the carpet pacing. I just don't know how much more I have in me.

[Nursechic]

I know, I'm ready to have this over with also but 33 weeks is still young yet. Just hang in there.

[MrsR517]

I was hospitalized and on Magnesium from weeks 25-32, then I was on Terb from weeks 32-34. My twins were born at 34 weeks.

[bigtwinsmom]

I took Terb from the time I was 32 weeks until 35 weeks in the form of the pill. I can not remember what dose it was though. I would have to take it whenI felt the contractions coming on, sometimes though by the time I took it I had terrible contractions and the pill didn't work, it wasn't strong enough so I ended up in pre-term at the hospital 4 times between 32-35 weeks. At the hospital they ended up giving me the Terb shot which was more dose and a quicker fix, however I couldn't have that much of it since I have a heart prob and the Terb tends to make your heart race and make some people jittery, they were afraid it would cause my heart more probs. :( When I was in the pre-term my 4th time my OB told me to refuse all meds including Mag Sulf, because it wasn't helping me and since I was so far along it wouldn't hold me off that much longer. That was a Saturday and I returned on that Tuesday to del. I think taking the Terb was the worst ever, but I my friend had to go home on it on a pump, which I could not imagine. Hope you are doing ok on it. Good Luck

[FlaMom]

I had the pump, and the rapid hearbtbeat and the jitteriness (is that a word??) wore off after a few days. The terb can mess up your blood sugar, though, so you could end up with Gestational Diabetes. I did, and they told me that the terb contributed to it.

[BedRestMama]

Hello! I have been in the hospital twice now with pre-term labor. They finally sent me home with the Terb. pump. Its kind of a pain to mess with with, but it keeps a steady low dose flow of meds in me and I don't have to worry about what time to take pills, etc. I have been on it since week 30 (I am at week 33 and 4 days now). The shakes and heart racing seemed to go away after a few days of starting it. So, far its working and I am so grateful to keep these babies in for a few more weeks!
I wish much luck to all of you who are experiencing this fun drug! Keep those babes in for a while!
Melissa

[TJH]

I was on it from week 28. They increased the amount around week 32 as I was starting to contract again. My last dose was Sunday night (36 wks 5 days) and I started feeling contractions Monday afternoon and delivered via c-section very early Tuesay morning.