The Hospital Is Now My Home
Thursday was a very busy day and I don't usually and am not supposed to be out of the house for more than an hour but sometimes life doesn't work like that. I had a 10am doctors appointment down in Sacramento. The longer drives are always uncomfortable for me and usually give me some Braxton Hicks contractions that I don't worry too much about. I didn't get to see the doctor for 45 minutes and then my appointment was an hour. One of my doctors suggested that now is the time to take the betamethasone shots in my bum which develops the babies' lungs and has other great benefits also. So I ended up over at the hospital to get that shot, and that ended up taking a long time.
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By the time I got home it was about 3pm! I was exhausted and started to notice the Braxton Hicks coming at a scary rate. I am only supposed to have 4 in an hour and if I have more I must go to the hospital. I got in the bath hoping that would make them relax a little bit but they got worse. I told Chris we need to go to the hospital and so I can see if I am going in to pre-term labor. So at 9 at night Molly and Nima came over to stay with Ava and Chris and I headed back out to the hospital and were immediately admitted to the high risk maternity ward where I had monitors set up tracking the heart rate of each baby and my contractions. My belly was filled with so many mechanical devices it was crazy.
CLICK PLAY BUTTON TO WATCH VIDEO:
At the same time I had an IV put in for antibiotics in case they had to deliver the babies soon they wanted to knock out any possibility of infection. I also had this pretty cool test that I can't remember the name of that takes protein from the cervix and determines whether I will go into labor soon or not. If it is positive it means that labor will happen soon. If it is negative then I have a good 7-14 days for sure that I won't go into labor. Luckily, my test came back negative. But what was really concerning and extremely stressful about that night was that our baby b - one of the girls - had a decellerating heart rate each time I had a contraction. Her heart rate would fall pretty low and stay low for minutes. I was terrified. Chris had gone home at this point and all I remember is the nurses waking me up from my uncomfortable sleep to tell me I need to move position because my baby is unhappy. I tried to stay calm mentally but my body shook in terror. I could tell the nurses were scared and it made me feel more anxious.
At 7 in the morning my doctor, Dr. Gilbert, came to see me. He told me that he could hardly sleep all night worrying about me. That was so sweet. He had an ultrasound ordered and told me he thinks I should stay in the hospital until the babies come so they can monitor me and the babies. He said he thought I started going into pre-term labor.
My ultrasound was wonderful. The doctors were concerned about two things causing Baby B to have a decellerated heart rate: a cord wrapped around her neck or a lack of amniotic fluid. Neither one of these things could be detected and what probably happened is all the Braxton Hicks contractions I was having put pressure on her already smooshed cord or head or body. The nurses had given me medication to calm my Braxton Hicks so Baby B was doing well now. The doctors were really happy with what they saw in the ultrasound and just let me go to a maternity room where the babies' heart rates, along with my contractions, would be monitered for one hour three times a day. I also have to take this medicine that doesn't have any side effects, luckily, and tames any Braxton Hicks that may come along.
I was put in a room with a woman who just had her baby. Luckily she had a pretty quiet baby. Something that made me happy was that numerous nurses had told me since I got to the hospital that I would get my own room Friday when the woman who was in it checked out. Thank goodness! My own space and privacy, my own bathroom and shower. What a relief. Well, after waiting all day for the room, at about 8pm the night nurse came in and informed me that I should not have been promised that room and that it is going to someone else who had been here longer. I proceeded to breakdown in an embarrassing fit of tears in front of the the nurse because after the night I'd had the night before and the day of worrying and exhaustion I just couldn't handle that news. They felt awful but rules are rules. the woman with the baby went home and now I am sharing a room with a woman who burps loudly and very often, as well as leaves her pee bedpan in the toilet each time she goes so I get to personally lift it out before I go to the bathroom. As you can see, I am still not taking the news about not getting my own room very well :) I am on a list for the next single room that comes available, so we'll see.
All of my monitoring to this point has been very positive. The babies are doing great and the contractions are really not contractions now, they are just what the nurses call "irritations" which all pregnant people get but don't really feel. Overall, I feel that I have a good attitude. I feel that I am in the right place for my babies to stay safe and healthy. I am being very well taken care of here by the nurses and all the nurse assistants. I have my own dietician who orders me special food so I can make sure all the babies are getting what they need to grow big and strong. I am still determined to make it to 35 weeks and really think I can.
I want to really thank all my family and friends who have stepped up tremendously and helped with meals, with Ava with our house, who have come to visit, emailed, called. You guys are the best! I am lucky to have so much support and love and it really helps me - I don't feel sad or lonely here at the hospital. I know some days will be harder than others but I am pretty content as long as these babies are happy inside me.
CLICK PLAY BUTTON TO WATCH VIDEO:
By the time I got home it was about 3pm! I was exhausted and started to notice the Braxton Hicks coming at a scary rate. I am only supposed to have 4 in an hour and if I have more I must go to the hospital. I got in the bath hoping that would make them relax a little bit but they got worse. I told Chris we need to go to the hospital and so I can see if I am going in to pre-term labor. So at 9 at night Molly and Nima came over to stay with Ava and Chris and I headed back out to the hospital and were immediately admitted to the high risk maternity ward where I had monitors set up tracking the heart rate of each baby and my contractions. My belly was filled with so many mechanical devices it was crazy.
CLICK PLAY BUTTON TO WATCH VIDEO:
At the same time I had an IV put in for antibiotics in case they had to deliver the babies soon they wanted to knock out any possibility of infection. I also had this pretty cool test that I can't remember the name of that takes protein from the cervix and determines whether I will go into labor soon or not. If it is positive it means that labor will happen soon. If it is negative then I have a good 7-14 days for sure that I won't go into labor. Luckily, my test came back negative. But what was really concerning and extremely stressful about that night was that our baby b - one of the girls - had a decellerating heart rate each time I had a contraction. Her heart rate would fall pretty low and stay low for minutes. I was terrified. Chris had gone home at this point and all I remember is the nurses waking me up from my uncomfortable sleep to tell me I need to move position because my baby is unhappy. I tried to stay calm mentally but my body shook in terror. I could tell the nurses were scared and it made me feel more anxious.
At 7 in the morning my doctor, Dr. Gilbert, came to see me. He told me that he could hardly sleep all night worrying about me. That was so sweet. He had an ultrasound ordered and told me he thinks I should stay in the hospital until the babies come so they can monitor me and the babies. He said he thought I started going into pre-term labor.
My ultrasound was wonderful. The doctors were concerned about two things causing Baby B to have a decellerated heart rate: a cord wrapped around her neck or a lack of amniotic fluid. Neither one of these things could be detected and what probably happened is all the Braxton Hicks contractions I was having put pressure on her already smooshed cord or head or body. The nurses had given me medication to calm my Braxton Hicks so Baby B was doing well now. The doctors were really happy with what they saw in the ultrasound and just let me go to a maternity room where the babies' heart rates, along with my contractions, would be monitered for one hour three times a day. I also have to take this medicine that doesn't have any side effects, luckily, and tames any Braxton Hicks that may come along.
I was put in a room with a woman who just had her baby. Luckily she had a pretty quiet baby. Something that made me happy was that numerous nurses had told me since I got to the hospital that I would get my own room Friday when the woman who was in it checked out. Thank goodness! My own space and privacy, my own bathroom and shower. What a relief. Well, after waiting all day for the room, at about 8pm the night nurse came in and informed me that I should not have been promised that room and that it is going to someone else who had been here longer. I proceeded to breakdown in an embarrassing fit of tears in front of the the nurse because after the night I'd had the night before and the day of worrying and exhaustion I just couldn't handle that news. They felt awful but rules are rules. the woman with the baby went home and now I am sharing a room with a woman who burps loudly and very often, as well as leaves her pee bedpan in the toilet each time she goes so I get to personally lift it out before I go to the bathroom. As you can see, I am still not taking the news about not getting my own room very well :) I am on a list for the next single room that comes available, so we'll see.
All of my monitoring to this point has been very positive. The babies are doing great and the contractions are really not contractions now, they are just what the nurses call "irritations" which all pregnant people get but don't really feel. Overall, I feel that I have a good attitude. I feel that I am in the right place for my babies to stay safe and healthy. I am being very well taken care of here by the nurses and all the nurse assistants. I have my own dietician who orders me special food so I can make sure all the babies are getting what they need to grow big and strong. I am still determined to make it to 35 weeks and really think I can.
I want to really thank all my family and friends who have stepped up tremendously and helped with meals, with Ava with our house, who have come to visit, emailed, called. You guys are the best! I am lucky to have so much support and love and it really helps me - I don't feel sad or lonely here at the hospital. I know some days will be harder than others but I am pretty content as long as these babies are happy inside me.
Until next time, the mothership is signing off.
Wishing you Well Meg~~Love, Darlene
Megan - Your positive attitude is absolutely inspirational. Those babies are so lucky to have you for a mom!
I'm thinking of you all often and sending happy thoughts and good vibes.
Hang in there!
D'Arcy