07-4-2009 - Pre-Term Labor baby Duece

My mood while writing this blog: Sleepy

I suppose after reading my first Pre-Term labor story everyone is interested how I knew this time that I was in labor. I didn't.

Not unlike the first time when I thought I had gas, I didn't know this time either.

I do know that Saturday night I didn't feel right. I felt anxious and discontent like I wanted to walk holes in the floors but so tired I could hardly hold my head up. It just felt "not right." I brushed it off and went to bed like normal thinking that maybe I had just been under alot of stress and overdoing it.

I woke up the next morning for church and I had ringing in my ears that would not stop. At that point I did some looking around on the internet and saw that could be an indicator of pre-eccampsia so I called the doc. The on call doc said go to the ER. So I did.

Next thing I know a nurse from L&D (Labor and Delivery) came down to get me with a wheel chair and took me upstairs. I guess the on call doc did not know my pre-term history when I spoke with her on the phone, nor did she know I have had a cerclage in since 14 weeks.

They took me upstairs and hooked me up to the monitor to check on the baby and did blood work and I waited there for a while. About an hour later the nurse came in and asked me "Are you feeling those contractions?" I looked at her in bewilderment and said "Well I have been feeling Braxton Hicks for a couple of weeks now but I feel no discomfort."

So she said "Well we don't like it so here is what the doc wants to do." OH BOY I was thinking. She gave me a shot of Toridol in the butt. She said that Toridol has been known to stop contractions so they were going to try that first. I laid there for another hour and next thing I know in walks the nurse with the IV bags and some small IV bag of something. I KNEW WHAT CAME NEXT! I said "Let me guess, Magnesium Sulfate drip?" She said "Yup I'm sorry hun but the doctor will come in to talk to you"

A couple hours later the on call doc came in and told me why she gave me the drip and checked my cervix (which was closed by the way) and let me know I would be spending the night. In the morning my normal OB doc came in to talk to me and said that the contractions quieted down over night and he was going to move me to the postpartum floor and switch me to Terbutaline and watch me another 24 hours to be sure things stayed quiet and they did so today I got to come home on bedrest and Terbutaline every 6 hours around the clock.

I am greatful to be home on bedrest and greatful the contractions stopped. I would want for nothing in this world to have a repeat of what I went through with my first child. I am very confident in the competence of my OB doctor. He has been very proactive from day one and very sensitive to my concerns. This makes the WORLD of difference because my first pregnancy I saw the military clinic and they took nothing I said seriously. I honestly felt like I was merchandise on an assembly line they quickly did the "once over" on and sent me on my way. I think if I had better medical care with my first child the outcome would have been alot different.

I am a huge advocate of finding a doctor you are happy with. I am not saying by happy that I mean he gives you as many ultrasounds as you want. What I mean is all things considered you have to be really honest with yourself and ask yourself does this doctor seem confident in his knowledge. What is his history? What do other patients say about him? If he is a good doctor, sometimes he is gonna tell you No you dont need an ultrasound at every visit and NO you don't need and Rx of Vicodin because your back hurts. I know whats best for me and I know that sometimes I need someone to tell me NO. I put my trust in this doctor and will do what he tells me to do because I have that much confidence in him. Your gut will tell you if the doctor you are seeing is not the one for you.

I took a picture of my buddah at the hospital yesterday. I need to get a side view.

Belly button is on the verge of popping. I hope I do not get any MORE stretch marks. I got TONS with my first son (as u may have noticed from the pic). The kicks are starting to be felt up in my ribs as opposed to just in the lower regions. Some of them catch me off guard and are startling and almost painful.

This is like the first time again for me since my children are so far apart AND the fact that my first pregnancy I was in the hospital and not in my right mind to be able to enjoy the experience. I am SO thankful for every day, every kick, every stinking trip to pee, cankles, vaginal discharge, backache, pound I gain, hormonal fit, clothes that don't fit, stupid people that want to give unsolicited advice, my neurotic parents that call constantly out of concern for me, chocolate etc. this time around! I take NOTHING for granted.

Baby Blessings to everyone! I will try and do better with blogging.