Two weeks later Caidyn and I started out our Friday with a surprise date to see Daniel Tiger! My friend Robyn and her two littles joined us and we had such a fun time!
The next day Brian's father had purchased a box for a Ft. Myer's Miracle baseball game with fireworks afterwards. Because we knew we would be out late we had a lazy morning and I noticed some contractions starting. I had been having Braxton Hick's for weeks now, so thought nothing of it. I drank some water and tried to nap.
About an hour later I was woken up by the contractions which were getting stronger and closer together. I thought maybe moving around would help so I took a shower and started getting ready. Of course, I had absolutely nothing to wear... and ended up in a wayyyyyyy to small Florida Marlins shirt and a maxi skirt. The contractions continued, which I thought was weird, but I ignored.
We went to the game and despite my position, my water intake, my food intake, etc, the contractions continued and even were getting stronger and closer together. We tried getting me a better fitting shirt to see if that would help, and I now own a Ft Myers Miracle shirt - which is super soft I might add! But, alas, although I was much more comfortable shirt wise, I was still very uncomfortable uterus wise. I told Brian I was concerned and that if they didn't stop once we got home maybe we should go to the hospital. He agreed so I secretly (I thought secretly at least) called my mom to make sure she was home and could watch Caidyn when we dropped her off. By the time the game was ending I was very uncomfortable and basically didn't say goodbye to anyone and wanted to run to the car. I did stop for us to take what I was afraid might be our last photo as a family of three!
We arrived the the hospital without anything but the clothes we were wearing. With my history of sort of preterm labor we were quickly called back to triage where we were put on the monitor and checked. I never cuss... I stopped many years ago - but when the nurse checked me and said I was 2 1/2 cm dilated I said out loud "sh*t". I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't think of any other better word that described the situation. She quickly explained what was going to happen - a shot in my butt for steroids, an IV with fluids and a medication to keep the contractions from progressing me any further, and that we were being admitted with the intention of stopping this labor from progressing.
We definitely had some scared tears in our eyes, but tried to remain calm until we were better situated. They moved us to room 16 in labor and delivery and it was all too real. The pain was intense, there was a warm bed, onesie, and hat waiting for Ellie, and it was much too soon.
Luckily we had an amazing nursing staff. Our families visited us the next day as I kept up with my clear liquid regimen and Brian was able to step out for a shower and food not from the cafeteria.
The second night was especially emotional. I was allowed to have an injected pain medication twice, and I tried to save it for night time so I could get some rest. Contractions were about five minutes apart, and the pain medicine allowed me to rest for about 45 minutes. I was exhausted, I felt bad about using both doses knowing it would get to our baby girl and if it made my grown self loopy how was it making her feel? We had an AMAZING nurse, named Ellie :), who was so reassuring and calming during all of the emotions. I had my second steroid shot in the butt and was told that come morning all medications would be shut off and we would see what my body would do.
Luckily the contractions spaced themselves way out and I was still only dialed to that same 2 1/2 cm. We were home by late Monday afternoon - in time to pick Caidyn up from school - to my new normal of modified bed rest. I wasn't on complete bed rest, but I wasn't to return to work or any sort of strenuous activity. I couldn't lift Caidyn, stairs should be taken one at a time, and if I was going to go grocery shopping, I should rest the remainder of the day. I had an appointment with the doctor on Wednesday morning that I was instructed to keep. Sleep was difficult with all of the contractions - but they had spaced themselves out to around fifteen minutes apart.
Side note: I did interview for a job literally 24 hours after I was discharged from the hospital. I almost didn't, but it was a unique opportunity and, if nothing else, was great to see what a high level interview was like. I was definitely not myself - I spoke way too fast, said way too little, and was in and out in the space of one contraction. Not my best work, but that did mark the last time I did my hair and makeup for at least a week! I also have wonderful friends who sent me an Edible Arrangement with instructions to eat and relax. And that I did, right after that interview :)
We went to the game and despite my position, my water intake, my food intake, etc, the contractions continued and even were getting stronger and closer together. We tried getting me a better fitting shirt to see if that would help, and I now own a Ft Myers Miracle shirt - which is super soft I might add! But, alas, although I was much more comfortable shirt wise, I was still very uncomfortable uterus wise. I told Brian I was concerned and that if they didn't stop once we got home maybe we should go to the hospital. He agreed so I secretly (I thought secretly at least) called my mom to make sure she was home and could watch Caidyn when we dropped her off. By the time the game was ending I was very uncomfortable and basically didn't say goodbye to anyone and wanted to run to the car. I did stop for us to take what I was afraid might be our last photo as a family of three!
We arrived the the hospital without anything but the clothes we were wearing. With my history of sort of preterm labor we were quickly called back to triage where we were put on the monitor and checked. I never cuss... I stopped many years ago - but when the nurse checked me and said I was 2 1/2 cm dilated I said out loud "sh*t". I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't think of any other better word that described the situation. She quickly explained what was going to happen - a shot in my butt for steroids, an IV with fluids and a medication to keep the contractions from progressing me any further, and that we were being admitted with the intention of stopping this labor from progressing.
We definitely had some scared tears in our eyes, but tried to remain calm until we were better situated. They moved us to room 16 in labor and delivery and it was all too real. The pain was intense, there was a warm bed, onesie, and hat waiting for Ellie, and it was much too soon.
Luckily we had an amazing nursing staff. Our families visited us the next day as I kept up with my clear liquid regimen and Brian was able to step out for a shower and food not from the cafeteria.
The second night was especially emotional. I was allowed to have an injected pain medication twice, and I tried to save it for night time so I could get some rest. Contractions were about five minutes apart, and the pain medicine allowed me to rest for about 45 minutes. I was exhausted, I felt bad about using both doses knowing it would get to our baby girl and if it made my grown self loopy how was it making her feel? We had an AMAZING nurse, named Ellie :), who was so reassuring and calming during all of the emotions. I had my second steroid shot in the butt and was told that come morning all medications would be shut off and we would see what my body would do.
Luckily the contractions spaced themselves way out and I was still only dialed to that same 2 1/2 cm. We were home by late Monday afternoon - in time to pick Caidyn up from school - to my new normal of modified bed rest. I wasn't on complete bed rest, but I wasn't to return to work or any sort of strenuous activity. I couldn't lift Caidyn, stairs should be taken one at a time, and if I was going to go grocery shopping, I should rest the remainder of the day. I had an appointment with the doctor on Wednesday morning that I was instructed to keep. Sleep was difficult with all of the contractions - but they had spaced themselves out to around fifteen minutes apart.
Side note: I did interview for a job literally 24 hours after I was discharged from the hospital. I almost didn't, but it was a unique opportunity and, if nothing else, was great to see what a high level interview was like. I was definitely not myself - I spoke way too fast, said way too little, and was in and out in the space of one contraction. Not my best work, but that did mark the last time I did my hair and makeup for at least a week! I also have wonderful friends who sent me an Edible Arrangement with instructions to eat and relax. And that I did, right after that interview :)
No comments:
Post a Comment