Unfortunately, the vast majority of women who are pregnant with high order multiples (triplets or more) will experience some form of preterm labor. Luckily, doctors watch these pregnancies closely to monitor for the first signs of preterm labor through frequent appointments and ultrasounds. If labor does start prematurely, there are several methods doctors might use to try to prolong the pregnancy. Even if they are only successful in lengthening the pregnancy for a few days, that provides enough time to give the mother steroid shots to help speed the development of the babies' lungs and organs and prevent respiratory complications and brain bleeds (two of the most common problems for babies born prematurely). If you are pregnant with high order multiples and labor begins prematurely, your doctor may choose one of the following options to stop your contractions and lengthen your pregnancy.

Drugs Called Tocolytics

There are a variety of drugs in this category that can be used to stop contractions. Two of the most widely used (from what I have heard over the past three years from members of The Triplet Connection) are trebutaline and magnesium sulfate. Each of these drugs carries its own set of side effects that can be very uncomfortable for the mother, but they can be extremely effective in stopping contractions.

Hospital Admission

Most likely, if labor begins prematurely and has to be stopped using tocolytics, you'll be admitted into the hospital. The length of your stay will depend on your response to the drugs that were administered to you. If contractions stop but begin again in a short amount of time, you'll need to stay in the hospital for a longer period of time where your contractions can be monitored electronically 24 hours per day.

Prescription Drugs

If your contractions can be stopped, you may be sent home with a prescription for nifedipine, which could be referred to by its brand name, Procardia. This medication is taken orally and is typically used to treat angina. Luckily, it is also effective in keeping contractions at bay.

Bed Rest

If you weren't on doctor prescribed bed rest before going into labor prematurely, you will definitely be put on bed rest after preterm labor has been stopped and you're discharged from the hospital. To learn more about bed rest, read my Five Tips to Survive Bed Rest and Five More Tips to Survive Bed Rest articles.

Home Uterine Monitor

Your doctor will want to make sure preterm labor does not start again when you're at home on bed rest. He or she may have you use a home uterine monitor to keep track of your contractions. Typically, you'll have to strap the monitor to your belly at least twice per day and transmit the results to a monitoring company who will let you know how many contractions you had during your monitoring session. They'll also let you and your doctor know if there is any cause for concern based on the number of contractions detected during your daily monitoring sessions.

Cerclage

It is possible for an expectant mother to be diagnosed with an incompetent cervix meaning her cervix is opening too early thereby risking or causing preterm labor. Some doctors will treat this by putting a stitch in the cervix to keep it closed and prolong the pregnancy.

These are just a few of the treatments doctors may use to stop preterm labor for women who are pregnant with high order multiples. Similar treatments are used to stop contractions in singleton and twin pregnancies, but in those pregnancies, preterm labor is not the norm. However, it is very common in high order multiples pregnancies. Preterm labor can be very frightening, so it's important to understand what types of treatment you could receive before you find yourself in the hospital.