03-9-2009 - Cramps

My mood while writing this blog: releived

After 3 days od continious period like cramps (and sore groin area + diarriah---sorry if this is TMI) I finally called the doctor. The nurse send me straight home from work to lay down on my left side for 4 hours and drink lots of water. She said that cramps could be nothing or they could be a sign of preterm labor! She called me back after4 hours and the cramps were still there.....she sent me straight to labor and delivery at the hospital for a labor check. They hooked me up to a non stress test which measures contractions and the babies heart rate. At 23 weeks baby Bellamy was too small or kept moving around too much and we only got heartrate reading for maybe 1-2 minutes then he would move and it would only measure contractions. At the end she listened to his heart with a doppler and only measured contractions. After 30 minutes I was not having contractions.....My OB doctor then came in and did an internal exam and said my cervix was thick and closed. (phew!) So after all this I am still having cramps but not going into preterm labor! They discharged me and told me to drink lots of water and take it easy for a few days. My next appt is next Friday with the midwife (24 week appt). Hopefully the cramps will be gone by then!

Does anyone know how they can tell if your baby is growing right or not without doing an u/s during the pregnancy? I hope baby Bellamy is growing good---but am a little worried as they could not get a consistent heartrate on the non stress test that maybe he is too small? At my 19 +3 days week scan he measured 20 weeks. I hope he has grown since then! I cannot tell if my belly has grown much or not.....I am slightly bigger than I was at 24 weeks with my daughter.....but not overly. hmmm guess Ill ask the midwife next week.

Hope all you ladies are feeling good!!