OK, so Wednesday was not very fun. I admit it, I had a brief time of panic during which time the family mantra slipped my mind completely. I was scared and not having any fun.
After a few days of contractions that were 30-60 minutes apart, my contractions started to get closer together and stronger. On Sunday night I had five in row that were 10 minutes apart, but then slowed again. Same happened on Monday and Tuesday. By Wednesday, Ryan convinced me that I should call my doctor to get checked. I didn't want to. I was afraid to hear the dreaded words "bed rest". I have a life, and a job, and did I mention a TODDLER?
But acquiescing to Ryan's more rational decision-making processes, I called the nurse, who of course, told me to come right in. They monitored me at my doctor's office (for contractions and the baby's heart beat) for 30 minutes. I was having contractions every five minutes at this point...but only feeling about one out of four. :/
After a quick check, the doctor also determined that I had dilated to 3cm. Not good.
So despite the fact that this was supposed to be a visit to "make sure everything was fine" so that we could go on with life...I was sent across the street to the hospital for more monitoring. This was around 2:30pm. Ryan and Liam were with me. We were not planning to go to the hospital. It was Liam's nap time. You can imagine that this was not a very fun time.
(This is where I am http://www.qualityoflife.org/childbirth/special-care-obstetrics, which is better than where I could be http://www.qualityoflife.org/childrenshospital/nicu/?keywords=NICU&tag=&searchSectionID=)
After more monitoring at the hospital, the doctor and nurses came up with a plan of action for me.
1. Steroid shots for Jude's lungs called corticosteroids (in case they couldn't stop labor).
2. Antibiotics for me--in case I am Strep B positive, since they don't do this test until 35 weeks usually and while I would have no signs of infection, it could cause serious health risks to Jude. (IV administered).
3. A shot of a drug called Terbutaline to stop contractions.
4. Magnesium Sulfate, if the first drug to stop contractions doesn't, um, stop them. (also IV drip).
5. Saline and electrolytes to help push all this stuff through my system and prevent dehydration. (also IV drip).
The Terbutaline worked, my contractions stopped...for an hour. There was talk of discharging me. But then, they came back, stronger. So we moved on to the Magnesium Sulfate. A word about the Magnesium, YUCK.
Although it did it's job, it also made me look like I had a sunburn and have a terrible headache for 12 hours afterward. I just felt yucky all day yesterday.
Today is Friday. I am hoping, hoping, hoping that they let me go home today. I don't care that I have to have bed rest. I don't care that everything is crazy there. I just want to be in my own space where I can sleep for more than two hours without someone waking me up to check on me. I miss my family.
The best part of all of this is seeing how much people are willing to help you out when things go badly. My mom is wonderful and is coming out next weekend to help with everything and in the meantime friends and church members are bringing us meals and helping to watch Liam. So thanks everyone. You're making it easier for me to say "fun no matter what" again.
And please pray that Jude will still make it to full term. I've only got 4 1/2 weeks left until he's not premature.
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