Preterm Labor and the OB Triage unit

Yesterday around lunch time, I started having this low back pain that was a new pain to me during pregnancy and was on my sides, rather than centered on my back. I went back to work and tried to continue. About 2.5 hours later, it was still continuing so I called my doctor's office. The nurse didn't seem concerned with the back pain, but did ask if I felt the baby move recently. That's when it occurred to me that I hadn't felt him since sometime that morning. I originally estimated 10:30 or 11, but once I really thought about it, it was probably before that. Well, she didn't like that so she told me to go to L&D for monitoring.

I go home to get the hubs then we get to L&D about 4:15. I tell the nurses in the triage my story and say that the office wants me monitored due to the change in fetal movements. I say this with a "I'm sorry to be bothering you with something so trivial" tone in my voice. About 10 minutes later I'm hooked up to everything and baby is beating away. About an hour later, the nurse comes in to read the graphs. I know one is his heartbeat, but the other was unfamiliar to me. I ask, and they say that it monitors contractions, and that I was having 1 every 6 minutes.

I was surprised. I guess I always thought that I would know a contraction when I felt it as that is what everyone has said. Shoot, my BH I could feel, but not these. They checked my cervix and I am dilated to 1 cm. Nothing big as I can stay dilated for weeks before going into labor. But, as I'm not yet 35 weeks, they don't want me to continue with contractions. They gave me a dose of terbutaline to see if it would calm my uterus down. I was so jittery from getting it. They continued monitoring for 30 minutes and during that time, there was nothing. When the nurse came in, it looked like everything was fine and that it took. So, she left to get the on call dr from my office and see if they could discharge me. 45 minutes later, she comes back in, and I've had 2 more contractions about 10 minutes apart. So, I got another dose.

I got to leave about 8:00 last night and I was told to watch everything to see if I could go to work today and if my back still hurt the same way, then I should stay home and off my feet to see if that helped. So, I go to work today and only lasted 4 hours. I continued to have contractions and I was very, very hot. I'm now in bed at home. Jason had the house cold and ready to help cool me off and I haven't had 1 contraction (at least, based off that back pain) since coming home. Perhaps it's the weather, and it's only going to get hotter. Perhaps it's just trying to calm down from yesterday. I don't go to see my doctor until this coming Monday, so I'm not really sure if I have to be on bedrest or not. If I stay ok today, I'll try to go back in to work tomorrow, and if it doesn't go well, then that will probably be my sign.

6 Weeks to Go!

How far along? 34 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Flat from last week, up 11 total still

Maternity clothes? Every thing full time now. Except for unisex t shirts in size L and XL.

Stretch marks? :( Yes. More than 2 now, all near my belly button. They no longer hurt, but man does my stomach itch like crazy! Nothing seems to help!

Sleep? Well, for a few days I was waking up every 2-2.5 hours having to make the trip to the bathroom. However. Sunday night it was only twice, and Monday and Tuesday night were only once! I'll take that! Keep that coming!

Best moment this week? Deciding to run the Princess Half Marathon with my sister in February at Walt Disney World! And, seeing the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer! (Ok, that was actually last week, but I forgot about it when it came time to type this out)

Movement? He can't really kick now, he'll just stick a random body part out and I feel like I have to push it back in! And, hiccups.

Food cravings? Ice cream. That's pretty much it. Yup.

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? Nope. But I still am getting those ever so much fun Braxton Hicks contractions. I feel so sore after a session of them. My lower back is starting to hurt - though I always have back problems. The BH seem to be getting stronger, I think I lost part of my mucus plug... Every thing that happens sends me into a frenzy wondering if it's preterm labor or not. I'll discuss all this at my appointment tomorrow.

What I miss? The cooler weather, sleeping through the night, no heartburn, and still sex.

What I'm looking forward to? My friend Libby going into labor! She's 39 weeks today! Any day now she could be having her son! And, my appointment tomorrow. And, for my labor to be over with signaling that my boy is here!

Weekly Wisdom: Don't fight it, might as well get up when you wake up and make the trip to the bathroom so you can go back to sleep, otherwise it will just keep you up.

Milestones: I've been officially cut off from traveling.

Emotions: Good, but I'm also on edge. With this whole "am I in preterm?" and with the dream I had about my dad dying. That happened during week 34, right when I was no longer able to travel. Please don't come true!

Let the packing begin!

I've started collecting items that I will need in my hospital bag, or at least they say you will need. I just bought my pads for the ever so long bleeding and also bought nursing pads. I also have some underwear that I don't care about so it can be ruined and will be getting some sugar free hard candy to suck on. What other types of items should I be prepared to have? I'll be bringing my iPod, can I bring the little player for it too or will it only be headphones? I'll be making a playlist of my favorite Dave Matthews Band and Coldplay music but everything will be on the iPod in case I want something else - though I doubt it. So, yeah... what things do I need to make sure I pack?

On another note... while at the store today, we were looking at cloth diapers. I love the ones with the flushable insert, but that's more money than regular diapers. So, I asked what is done with dirty cloth diapers and such - especially poop, or the exploding diaper. After talking it over, it seems like something we could do - plus it's greener, a lot greener. However, we already have quite a few diapers here, maybe not enough to last us for a full year, but quite a bit. Perhaps, if we find ourselves tight on money, we will seriously look into it. But, given that our diaper genie is all set up and the amount of diapers we have thanks to my MIL, it doesn't make sense to switch right now before he's even here. Hmm, more things to ponder.

The new wordpress page has begun

We have the name all picked out and a current theme, but we are trying to find something better, or see how to make one of our own. We still have a little bit of time so that's good. Right now, besides trying to find a good theme for the site, I'm also trying to navigate my way through it. It's a lot to take in and figure out so I'm sure it will take some time.

7 Weeks to Go!

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

How far along? 33 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Up 2 from last week, up 11 total, I've hit the double digits!

Maternity clothes? Every thing full time now. Except for unisex t shirts in size L and XL.

Stretch marks? :( Yes. More than 2 now, all near my belly button. They no longer hurt, but man does my stomach itch like crazy! Nothing seems to help!

Sleep? I wake up about twice a night now. Though not because of having to get up to use the restroom, I could be burning up, I could have heartburn... It always varies! However, generally once I'm up, I have to get up to make my trip to the bathroom. Plus, my sleep is about half asleep/half awake now. Not fun.

Best moment this week? Escaping the heat and going to San Francisco! Seeing a good drum corps show doesn't hurt either! :)

Movement? He can't really kick now, he'll just stick a random body part out and I feel like I have to push it back in!

Food cravings? Ice cream. That's pretty much it. Yup. Oh, and chocolate today.

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? Nope. But I still am getting those ever so much fun Braxton Hicks contractions. I feel so sore after a session of them. And, today I had some strong menstrual cramps. I thought it might have been preterm labor but figured I had no reason to be in preterm labor. Instead, we believe it's just ligaments stretching and in turn making things cramp up.

What I miss? The cooler weather, sleeping through the night, no heartburn, and still sex.

What I'm looking forward to? My friend Libby going into labor! She's 38 weeks today! Any day now she could be having her son!

Weekly Wisdom: Don't fight it, might as well get up when you wake up and make the trip to the bathroom so you can go back to sleep, otherwise it will just keep you up.

Milestones: Being 5 weeks away from 2 weeks early (which is where my family thinks baby will make his debut)

Emotions: Excited and nervous all at once with how close it's all getting!

Thinking of starting new

Yes, I am contemplating after this kid is born of scratching this blog and starting over. Making it more for family and friends too to follow life as we know it. I may even make the jump to wordpress, not sure yet, haven't done too much looking.

That does mean that my 101 in 1001 will probably go away. Not to say that I'll give up on achieving these all together because I still want to do the things on my list, I would just not keep track. Like I still want to take Jason to New York/Boston, DC, to hear the NY Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony, I still want to travel out of the county, I still want to own every Disney movie... This would have just put a time restriction on it, which is good, but, not entirely necessary if I am going to do it anyway.

I'll finish out the pregnancy here and I'll try to post the birth story here too, but that may be it. Pretty exciting, huh? Don't worry, I'll let those that want to know the new address when it's time.

8 Weeks to Go!

How far along? 32 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Up 1 from last week, up 9 total

Maternity clothes? Every thing full time now. Except for unisex t shirts in size L and XL.

Stretch marks? :( Yes. More than 2 now, all near my belly button, and they hurt! I used to get ready without clothes on to allow the lotion to dry, now I can't stand the sight of my stomach so I put on my clothes as soon as possible. At least I'm not crying by looking at my stomach anymore. I guess that is good.

Sleep? I wake up about once a night now. Though not because of having to get up to use the restroom, I could be burning up, I could have heartburn... It always varies! However, generally once I'm up, I have to get up to make my trip to the bathroom. Plus, my sleep is about half asleep/half awake now. Not fun.

Best moment this week? Had another great doctor's appointment.

Movement? He has a cycle now... it seems like it's an every 3 hours sort of thing.

Food cravings? Ice cream. That's pretty much it.

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? Nope. But I still am getting those ever so much fun Braxton Hicks contractions. I feel so sore after a session of them.

What I miss? Sex. I can't initiate because of how I look, I just don't feel like I look great for it. But, the hubs isn't initiating anything because he hears me complaining and thinks I don't want to. We've talked and hopefully this will get better.

What I'm looking forward to? Going to San Francisco this weekend. I have a drum corps show to go to!

Weekly Wisdom: Almost everything is worth talking about.

Milestones: Being 5 weeks away from full term! Wow!

Emotions: Excited and nervous all at once with how close it's all getting!