Okay, where to start? This week has been a roller coaster for me.
At the beginning of the week SD2 came over. After he left, I had a shower, and contractions started. I figured it was nothing, as it has happened before, but I thought it was odd that it started while I was in the shower when "fake" labor contractions usually stop in the shower. I got in bed, and contractions kept up, but I waited to see what would happen. They were 2-3 minutes apart, and started getting more intense. I woke up my mom, called my friend, and called the hospital. I went in at 2:00 AM, thinking they would check me for dilation and send me home.
I was hooked up to monitors, and because the contractions were so close together they did a group B strep test, which is usually done at 35 weeks. They also took a swab for vaginal infections. A cervical check showed that I was 3-4 cm dilated, which was more than I expected, but I wasn't real surprised. I was put on IV for fluids and antibiotics, which was a nightmare because of my veins. It took 3 different veins, 3 different technicians. Lots of blood.
By 3:30 AM they decided to admit me because things weren't slowing down at all. I was given a steroid shot to mature baby's lungs, which hurt but was necessary, and then was transferred into a room in the family birthing unit.
At 5:30 AM Mom and Montana came in because it looked like baby was definitely coming--I was 5 cm dilated and 80% effaced and the contractions kept coming. They were very intense, definitely labor.
For hours I waited to see what would happen, which was more of the same. I had to have my sugar tested regularly, and it was quite high from the steroid shot.
The rest of the day not much happened. Eventually the contractions slowed to every 3-4 minutes, and by dinnertime they were more sporadic and then stopped. Not completely, but they weren't regular.
I was told to get up and walk around, and try to bring on labor. After trying that, they decided to keep me in bed so I wouldn't have the baby. It was very confusing and overwhelming.
By 7:00 PM mom and Montana decided to go home and rest because I wasn't in active labor so they weren't really allowed to stay. It broke my heart, and I cried for a while. I didn't want my baby to leave, and I'd been up for 29 hours, in labor. I was exhausted. I slept some during the night, but there was a thunderstorm of all things, along with beeping machines and pokey nurses.
By morning there was talk of possibly going home, which was bittersweet for me but I was glad. They were calling in an ante partum nurse team who would visit me at home, so I had to wait around for them. The nurse finally showed up in the afternoon, gave me the rundown of what would happen, my "homework," etc, and then she found out I was 5 cm dilated and left--they don't take anyone beyond 3 cm dilated. She didn't think I'd be discharged at all. More crying.
A couple hours later a doctor came to check me, and said nothing had changed dilation wise but I wasn't as effaced, and gave me the okay to go home. I was very happy.
So now I am on strict bed rest, meaning I can use the washroom and that's it. I do need to see my doctor, but that's all I'm allowed to do. The good news is that at 36 weeks I can do whatever I like and bring on labor, so I don't have too long to lay here, thank goodness. I'm counting down the days. Even if Nemo stays in for another month, I don't have to lay here and wait, so I'm happy about that. I just don't know how I"ll get through the next 2.5 weeks.
So all in all, I was in the hospital for 40 hours, which is odd because I was only in for 26 weeks when I had Montana, start to finish. I had 5 bags of saline, 4 bags of antibiotics, 2 steroid shots. Dilated to 5 cm.
Now I need to keep an eye on contractions, and if my water breaks I'll be calling 911 to get in immediately, if it happens before 36 weeks.
I am tired still, very emotional, overwhelmed, worried, relieved to be home. It's not something I've ever experienced, and I wasn't prepared. But here I am. Luckily Nemo is in my belly still, not in the NICU, and that's what I"m focusing on.
I will probably blog more often now that I'm on bed rest, and as things change I will update. I won't bother with symptoms, cravings, or sugars at this point because they seem irrelevant. I will countdown the days though.
17 days until Nemo is safe to come out.
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