Where to start? A little background I guess? The second half of my pregnancy was pretty uneventful up until 31 weeks 6 days. (I had three gushing bright red bleeds during the first and very beginning of second trimester. Each was absolutely terrifying and I would never wish upon anyone. Doctors could not figure out what caused them. They think I had a blood clot behind Baby B's sac, but that was never proven. Each bleed put me on bed rest for at least a week.)
At 31 weeks 6 days, it was like any other day. I went to work (6 days into my new job, btw!) and around 10am started to feel cramping. I didn't think much of it and thought maybe I needed to drink more water. I went for a long walk on my lunch break and hoped that might help, too. (I walked a few miles daily during my pregnancy, so it was nothing out of the ordinary.) The cramping continued throughout the day, becoming a bit more intense. I just drank more water - because that's what I thought you needed to do. (First time mom here, and I hadn't read any birth stories yet, or even investigated what labor felt like. So, I had no idea what I was dealing with were actually contractions.) At 4pm I left work and decided maybe I should call the doctor. So, on my way home I made the phone call and told them I'd been having constant cramping since the morning. And what did they say? Turn your car around and get to our office ASAP.
I called my husband on the way to the doctor to tell him what was going on. I told him it was probably not a big deal and I'd be home soon - most likely with being told to put my feet up. He didn't think it was not a big deal like I did, so he turned his car around and met me at the OBGYN's office. They got me in right away and did an exam. The doctor just looked up at me and said, "you're going to [the hospital] ASAP. You're two centimeters dilated and you need a high level NICU." So my husband and I drove home quick to let our dogs out, I grabbed a bag with a few things (I hadn't packed a hospital bag yet - that was on my week 35 to do list!), called our parents on our way, and off we went.
When we arrived I was admitted to Labor and Delivery immediately and surrounded by nurses, doctors, and who knows who else. Everyone was poking, proding, asking a million questions. It was all like a dream. By 6pm I was hooked up to an IV and being administered a steroid to strengthen the baby's lungs and magnesium sulfate to try and stop labor. I was 3 centimeters dilated and 100% effaced. That baby was on her way.
The mag was something I'd wish to never have again. It makes you lose all muscle control and you need a catheter because you can no longer walk or do anything. It also makes you feel like you have the flu. (I puked on a nurse when being put on a stretcher to go to a high level ultrasound room. I'm sure she and I will never forget that moment.) The mag however, stopped my labor and for that I'll forever be grateful. I spent 4 (5?) days in the hospital and every doctor I spoke to couldn't believe I didn't deliver that baby. She was so determined to come out. My contractions stopped completely 3 days after being administered the mag and I was discharged to go home and be on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy.
For the next three and a half weeks, I lived on my couch or in my bed. My husband took over all household duties (cooking, cleaning, laundry, groceries, taking care of the dogs, finishing any nursery stuff, etc. My parents were also incredibly helpful, stopping my weekly to help my husband with any cleaning or grocery runs.) My only job was to keep that baby cooking.
And I did until 35 weeks 2 days.
Which is where I'll continue in my next post. :)
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