Have been a roller coaster to say the least. I wanted to share our back story in case anyone hadn't known how we got into this predicament in the first place.
September 13
I noticed while at work late in the afternoon that I had just a tiny amount of blood when I went to the restroom. I immediately called my OB, who said to go home, rest and keep my feet up. I don't know exactly what I was thinking/feeling at that point, other than worrying that something was wrong with Avery. However, I went home and felt her kick around in my tummy and knew that for the time being, she was okay. I thought for sure that the stress of my daily job, activity, etc. was just too much for my body on this particular day. I was happy to have the following day off work to recoup, as I had also been sick for a week with a sinus/upper respiratory infection that I just couldn't kick.
September 14
Even though the nurses/doctor werent't too concerned as the bleeding had been light and not accompanied by any cramping, I had a feeling that something was not quite right. I made an appt for the next morning to have Dr. Allen (my OB) check me out just to be on the safe side. There was no indication that anything else was amiss. I watched Law & Order all day on Netflix and enjoyed feeling Avery have a dance party in my stomach. I cried. I worried. I dreamed about all the things that could be going on in my body that I had no control over. Feeling helpless as a parent starts WAY before you actually give birth.... this is a foreign concept that I was just being introduced to and it was not fun.
September 15
I got up and got ready for work as usual. I felt good; no more bleeding or anything physically to suggest the baby or I were not in tip top shape. I went up to Dr. Allen's office and was lead to an exam room. She came in and easily found the baby's heartbeat, which was strong as always at 150-160 BPM. However, as she was doing her physical exam of me, I could tell by her face that something was wrong. She immediately took off her gloves and said, "Well, you are dialated about a centimeter already, so we are going to take you over to Labor and Delivery and have them hook you up to some monitors and see what's going on. I'll go get a wheelchair." The next 5 minutes of my life were a blur, to say the least. I remember picking up the phone and calling CJ. I told him I was being admitted and to come quickly. I asked Dr. Allen how scared I should be. Her response? "Well, this isn't good... but we will know more soon." How comforting. I was taken to a large room on the 2nd floor and hooked up to a contraction monitor and a monitor to hear Avery's heartrate. Almost the exact time I laid down, I could feel my first contraction. It wasn't painful at all, just very uncomfortable and scary that I was having/feeling them in the first place! After about 20 min, it was determined I was having them about 2-3 min apart. The best thing to do at this point was to hook me up to an IV that administered a powerful drug to stop labor, called magnesium sulfate. The side effects of this were about as fun as chinese water torture... extreme hot flashes, vomiting, high blood pressure, loopiness, swelling, burning in the IV line. They were only allowed to give me this for 48-72 hours, as the drug then becomes toxic. Thank the LORD, my contractions were about an hour apart and very very mild after this period of time. The doctor had assessed that my cervix was very short but holding steady. Over the next few days, I was told I would have to be on strict hospital bedrest until at least 34 weeks of pregnancy to prevent having Avery too early. The situation was precarious; I have to admit I didn't take the news too well. I couldn't at the time fathom not going to work, not cuddling with my dog and husband every night, not being able to take part in the big and small things that I had planned to do over the course of my pregnancy. I was only 26 weeks and 4 days pregnant at this point; I didn't know how I would possibly last until 34 weeks! (if I only knew then what I know now...)
September 16-October 15
Shockingly, this time went by fast and slow simultaneously. I could only get out of bed to use the restroom and eventually shower. I read, I watched tv, I talked and surfed the internet. I loved feeling Avery kick and know that she was still safe and healthy in my belly. There were times ( 2 or 3) when I felt hopeless and depressed... life was going on without me. I missed the every day monotony that my life held pre-hospital. CJ brought up Bowie a couple of times so I could see him... those were my best days : ) In retrospect, I was selfish. Very much so. I was tired of laying in a hospital, having panic attacks and excruciating back pain, and all I wanted was my normal life back. I was gaining weight rapidly, which while one is on bedrest isn't hard to do! Since my cervical length wasn't changing and I was effectively making myself insane, I asked the morning of Oct. 15th if I could leave in the week or two. My OB said the way things were going that shouldn't be a problem. There was light at the end of the tunnel!! Only it wasn't the kind of light I thought it was going to be...
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