Seatbelts

There's a certain kind of contraction that scares me...  Had a sweet friend not warned me before having Samuel about the "seatbelt" contraction, I would have never even realized I was in labor.  They didn't hurt all that bad with Samuel.  In fact, when I went into the hospital after having this feeling of a seatbelt tightening around my lower waist for about an hour every two minutes, I had already dilated to a 5!  That was a bit frightening. 

This time around, I promised myself that if I had "seatbelt" contractions, I would take them seriously.  So, Friday night, during our date night, I began feeling them.  Only problem was, they really did hurt.  Painful.  Took my breath.  And, to no one's surprise, they were two minutes apart.  I really had no intentions of going to the hospital until Brian became concerned enough to call my OB.  He felt best that I head to the ER, having tested positive for chances of preterm labor earlier in the week. 

I couldn't help but be worried.  Was I going into labor already?!  1 day shy of 34 weeks, and I knew I was contracting.  Or was my own seatbelt confusing me? 

Our fears ceased when placed on the monitor and the contractions slowed.  I was grateful that they were calmed, and this sweet child had decided to stay in place for a little bit longer.  You'd think after two labors and deliveries I'd be used to this, but I rode home that night so thankful for having not known and buckled in tightly. 

33rd Week with Baby Boy #3

It's been a wild couple of weeks in this pregnancy.  It began with Samuel breaking two bones in his leg, Brian getting a bulging disc in his back, and contractions have been making themselves known...  very well.  I had a feeling that things were progressing a little too quickly, so it came as no surprise when, at my OB appointment this week, I learned I had dilated to 1.  No big deal, right?! 

I was thinking so too, until my OB decided to test me for my chances of going into preterm labor.  He said not to worry over the results because he didn't think they'd come back positive.  In fact, when I did not receive a call that afternoon from his office, I stopped worrying myself.  However, the next afternoon, the call did come that confirmed I was at a high risk (95%) of going into preterm labor. 

Wow, how that changed more than a few of my plans!  I'll be visiting the doctor every week now, getting checked and an ultrasound. 

Wow.

A lot can happen in a really short amount of time.

Let me give you the short end of this very fast story.

1. On Daniel's birthday, Tuesday, April 20th, I started bleeding.
2. Mind you, I was only 33 weeks, 6 days pregnant.
3. I had my regular OB appointment and ultrasound that morning.
4. Turns out I had a partial placental abruption.
5. I was monitored in Hendersonville Medical Center and given a steroid shot for the baby's lungs to mature quickly in case of an emergent delivery.
6. Because I kept bleeding, it was almost inevitable that I would have to have a C-section that day.
7. So, they transferred me to Baptist Hospital where they have a NICU.
8. I had an ultrasound there...  No more abruption.
9. I had to have another steroid shot for the baby in case he came.
10. BECAUSE, I was having contractions...  2 minutes apart. 
11. They put me on Magnesium Sulfate.
12. It has awful side effects:  hot flashes, burning sensations, flu-like symptoms, etc.
13. I had to be weaned off of it in order to go home.
14. They gave me Procardia - a pill to stop contractions.
15. It has side effects too, like it dropped my blood pressure to 60/20.
16. Within three days, I was released to go home, Friday, April 23rd, at 2:00 pm.
17. By 10 pm that same night, I was back at Baptist being monitored.
18. I had been having contractions 5 minutes apart for four hours.  Pre-term labor.
19. I was sure they'd let me deliver.
20. But, they put me BACK ON MAGNESIUM.  
21. You know, the one with the terrible side effects.
22. I cried.
23. They gave me morphine.
24. I slept.
25. By Monday, April 26th, I was sent home with no restrictions and Terbutaline to take in case contractions started back up.
26. Terbutaline makes me jittery.  Heart pounds.  Really shaky.  
27. On the following day, I was able to go back to my regular OB.
28. I was given another ultrasound.
29. Dr. Nason said he had truly seen the answers to prayer...
30. The abruption seemed to have healed itself.
31. Everything looked perfect!
32. He prayed with us.
33. He also said that if I could make it until 36 weeks, he wouldn't stop me from going into labor or from delivering! 
34. That's only 7 days away...  I'm 35 weeks pregnant today.
35. Or, if we're realistic, my due date is June 2nd.  Still, that's only 5 weeks away.
36. Wow.
37. God is good and completely in control.