Our Staycation?????

WARNING: LONG! But for my memories--so bear with me!

Let me tell you a little bit about our "staycation!" 

Everyone was SOOOO hospitable (pun intended). 

We've heard of friends and neighbors going to local get-away spots to recharge their batteries.  Well, let me tell you...we only choose the most expensive of locations (gag).

Yep, that's right! We went to the hospital again...this time for a sleepover (which was slightly like the ones as a kid...we got very little sleep--only difference? it wasn't fun).  (Sidenote: if you're checking my punctuation and grammar...don't...it won't happen...you'll be lucky if this post is coherent). 

I'll try to sum up the story as best as possible (Jereld may have to fill in the details as the medicine I was on tends to make you forget things and not think straight--In fact, the nurse said that women who are on this medicine that go into labor forget a lot of the details of their experience.)

Friday--Regular check-up with my OB.  Or so I thought.  He checked me (skip the next few lines if you're concerned about reading TMI).

I was starting to dialate and efface (I was at a 1 and 70% effaced). Not good at all.  The doc was worried that I was going into labor much too soon.  Told me to stay on pelvic rest and continue my meds.  He also said to call if things got worse. 

That day--instead of taking 1 or 2 pills (my previous daily average), I took SIX.  That's right SIX.  My contractions didn't completely stop, but slowed quite a bit and after a call to the Doctor on Call (not my Dr.  My Dr. is Dr. L******  this was Dr. T********--by the way, this will be censored for names and locations for added safety), I went to bed.


Saturday--Woke up.  Had some contractions--nothing too serious just the usual.  Jereld was making me take it extra easy because of the previous day.  Planned a fun night with our friends Tyler and Emily that included me sitting in a chair at the table to play games.  An hour and a half before our double date, we had to cancel.  I told Jereld I wasn't feeling well and that I probably needed to just lay down because the contractions were getting more frequent.  Took 2 pills...an hour later my contractions were STILL not stopping, called the Dr (happened to be Dr. T still).  Dr. T told us to go in.  So, we went to the hospital.  Once they got me hooked up to the monitor, they immediately saw 2 contractions within 5 minutes (yup...that close) and gave me a shot of Terbutaline.  Stopped the contractions, but my uterus was still "quivering" which is fine according to Labor & Delivery Triage and Dr. T.   Dr. T sends me home with 2 Ambien to take right before bed which are supposed to knock me out.  Before bed, I start contracting again.  Since it had been 4 hours, I took another pill and my 2 Ambien and try to sleep.  It took me 1.5 hours to fall asleep (made me so mad). 

Sunday--Woke up.  Jereld made me stay in bed (except for a bathroom trip) to eat breakfast.  Then he made me stay because I started contractions again . Took 2 more pills...not even close to stopping my contractions an hour later.  Called the on call Doc (Sorry Dr. T...you're the lucky winner of a fun weekend with me) who had us go in.  When we got there, we got the results of the FfN (go to the link for WAY too much information) test that was done the day before...it was positive (which means I have about a 50/50 or something chance of delivering within the next 7 to 10 days.  Because of the result, the Dr. T decided to do a "Mag (Magnesium) Wash" (the link explains the preterm labor bit on the bottom...if you're interested). Dr. T also decided to do 2 steroid shots to develop the babies lungs faster in case he does come early (and MAN those shots sting!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I was admitted to the hospital because you have to have constant monitoring while on Magnesium Sulfate because in rare cases you can stop breathing and die (but it is RARE--and they watch you like crazy). 

Hospital did blood work--Potassium was real low...got a potassium drip as well.  Lovely.  Especially since I drink quite a bit of Gatorade.

Night nurse was a CRAB.  Had to go pee about every 30 to 45 minutes because of IV and Magnesium makes you really warm--and very thirsty I might add which contributes to the problem .

Jereld helped me go to the bathroom and unhook all of my monitors 50 billion times (he's a trooper). 

When I wasn't going to the bathroom, the nurses were constantly coming in and checking my lungs and reflexes and blood pressure...and pulse...and ....and ....and 

One time, I almost got angry with a nurse who came in.  Here's our conversation:

Let me set the scene:  I was finally able to fall asleep for a little bit.  Nurse comes in loudly and wakes me up. 

Nurse: (After seeing me wake up confused) Were you aware that you were having contractions?
Me: No.  I was asleep.
Nurse: Were they painful?
Me: Probably not.  I was sleeping through them. 
Nurse: Okay.  Well get some rest.

ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!?!??!

I got less than 2 hours of sleep last night....and yes I'm still going.

Monday: New nurse.  We like this one. Very sweet.  Dr. L comes in for a check-up probably before heading to the office. 

Dr. L lets me know that there are side effects to continually stopping my labor.  The steroid shots will be in full force at 12:45 tomorrow.  In weighing my health while trying to remain pregnant and the possible health of the baby if he were born, he feels that it is not a good idea to keep trying to stop my labor.  He wants me to still go as long as possible on my own and at least until the steroids are in full effect, but basically told me that I don't need to come in unless I'm having painful (as in: stop me in my tracks) contractions every 5 minutes for about an hour.  He ordered an ultrasound just to make sure the baby wasn't too small to make it on his own. AND---guess what.  I'm measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule (Beau is BIG)--A WHOPPING 6 LBS 12 OZ...at more than 5 weeks early. Yikes!

Dr. L also mentioned that it's possible the baby is ready to come. At that weight...he might be right. 

So...they discharged me with instructions to remain on pelvic rest, but unless I go into labor I don't need to go to the hospital.  I can also take my pills if it makes me feel more comfortable. 



Are you still with me?????

Thank you for reading this post...I know it took a while!