Contraction Junction: What’s Your Function?

Wow, it’s been a crazy few days. We went for our doctor appointments on Thursday, and unfortunately, I am 75% effaced, and 2.8 cm dialated internally. I’ve been put back on strict bed rest BOO, and was told to come in tomorrow for another fetal fibronectin test to determine whether or not I would go into labor in the next 2 weeks. She told me if I failed it I would have to be admitted to the hospital, and nobody was excited about that. She sent me home with a stronger anti-contraction medicine, which I started that night at 7:30.

Around 7:40 that night, I started having timeable contractions. They got to 10 minutes apart, so we called my doctor. I was sent to Labor and Delivery Triage, and by the time they hooked me up to the monitors, I was contracting every 2 minutes. They immediately gave me a shot of Terbutaline, which was AWFUL!! It makes your heart pound right out of your chest, and I felt so shaky – even my lips were shaking!! Luckily though, it stopped the contractions almost immediately. They admitted me for observation for the night, and within two hours, my contractions were back at it, now somewhere between 3 and 5 minutes apart. NOOOOOOO!!! Another shot of Terbutaline. UGH. At this point, my head is pounding, I’m hooked up to several monitors, and nurses are in and out of our room checking on us constantly. We finally were able to get some sleep around 2:45 a.m., but with the constant interruptions from the nurses, the bazillion bathroom breaks, and the contractions, I think I had a total of 3 hours of sleep.

My doctor came to see us on Friday morning, and ordered steroid shots to develop the baby’s lungs. There are two shots, and they have to be given 24 hours apart, so unfortunately, the hospital stay was being extended at least another day. My contractions were still coming regularly, and until we could calm them down, I would not be released. As the day wore on, and I had more time for the anti-contraction medicine to kick in, I was feeling more positive about going home on Saturday. However, around 3pm, my nurse came back in the room to tell me that I was still contracting too close together (3-5 minutes apart again), and I had to have a 3rd shot of the dreaded Terbutaline. All those terrible side effects all over again. That’s exactly when Laura and Nini stopped by. I know all of this is worth it, don’t get me wrong, but I gotta tell ya – it’s ROUGH. At this point, I’m starting to stress a little, because all I want to do is to go home, and snuggle with my family. If we couldn’t get the contractions to stop, I would have to stay in the hospital for almost 2 weeks. We had a fun evening as my mom, Payton, Irv, Laura and Auntie Nini came back for a second visit, and brought in Piecora’s and cookies!! There was a lot of activity, and the baby was moving all over the place from all the commotion! I think he likes a nice party!!

After a couple of hours, the Terbutaline wore off yet again, and the contractions were back. This time, the doctor decided to give me a fast-acting extra dose of the oral anti-contraction medicine I had been taking. This seemed to help a bit, and the doctor decided to up my dose permanently, and see if that would do the trick. By midnight, they finally calmed down. 5 interrupted hours of sleep later, I was awake for the day – with high hopes of being discharged! The nurse came in, and was pleased with my progress, gave me the second steroid shot, and hinted at the possibility that once the doctor came to see us, we could possibly be released. YAY!!!! 5+ hours later, the good news finally came! With my new prescription, a beautiful orchid (thanks, Nini!!), and suitcase in hand (Adam’s hand), I was wheeled out of the hospital, and headed home!! After almost 48 hours of being constantly drugged, and hooked up to monitors, I was SO relieved to go home. I took a two hour nap in MY BED with MY PILLOWS, and MY SHEETS, and even MY PJ’S!! It was DREAMY!!

I’ve continued to have contractions, but they are farther apart, and the hope is to make it to 35 weeks at this point. That’s only 10 more days of strict bed rest. I will be allowed to stop one of the medications at 34 weeks, another at 35 weeks, and the third at 36 weeks if we make it that far. Since the baby’s lungs should be fully developed, my doctor will not stop labor if it happens post 35 weeks. This means, we could have a May baby!! WOW! Maybe we should put the crib together??? Whoops!! We’re a little behind on nursery set up due to this rollercoaster ride of a pregnancy. Not exactly what we had in mind, but luckily, I don’t think he’ll notice if it’s not finished before he arrives!!

Anyway, back to square one – no privileges again. Bathroom breaks, and one 5-minute shower daily. Eating all meals in bed again (the WORST), and of course, the dreaded boredom that comes with all of this. Luckily, I am not stressed out about it this time since we are SOOOOOO close!! AND THANKFULLY, I was able to get in for my hair appointment last Monday, just in the nick of time!! It had been 5 months since I’d had a haircut, and it was DEPRESSING!! Now, I’m all set until after the baby comes, when freedom will find me once again!!

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