Emergency room visit - All is OK!

Second ER visit... only this time, Labor & Delivery


November 2, 2008

First I would like to say that I am really trying hard to place myself on bedrest in some sort of way, and not push my body too far. I had some busy days towards the end of last week, so I spent all of Saturday and most of Sunday in bed drinking water like mad (to get rid of the swelling) and just relaxing. At around 4pm I got up to go to Michael's for some treasures to decorate the babies' room with, and then to dinner with my in-laws. Then straight from there I went back to my bed.

At around 5pm or so, I started having spasms in my upper back that were REALLY uncomfortable. I figured I must have tweaked my back getting out of bed or a car or something (I am not the most graceful being right now), but it just would not stop hurting! I tried to crack my back to relieve the pressure and spasm, but to no avail. Then I rubbed, and tried to stretch as best I could, and finally a heating pad (thanks to my mom in law running around town to get it for me). The heating pad finally offered some relief and I was starting to feel more comfortable.

Then, at 9pm I started noticing that I was having contractions pretty regularly. I started to watch the clock to see how far apart they were and they were around 7-10 mins apart. I watched the clock for over an hour and they just kept on coming. They were not painful at all, my tummy would just get hard and then relax - like Braxton Hicks, only frequent. Not knowing that Braxton Hicks contractions can behave that way, I decided I should go into Labor and Delivery just to make sure all was okay, and I figured the earlier the better if it was real preterm labor, they could stop it much easier if it was the beginning.

I waited for my husband to get home from work around 10:45pm, then off I went to the hospital. The whole time I was trying to remain relaxed and not think about them so that I wouldn't bring on more contractions. I arrived at the hospital around 11pm, and checked in. They got me all hooked up - it took some time, these babies are crazy active and don't like restrictions on THEIR belly! They kept moving around making it difficult to track their heartbeats, and they didn't like the one that was monitoring my contractions! I watched the monitor as my contractions would hit and just tried to relax as best I could. The doctor finally came in to ask my history, then he left to go check on some other patients.

A wonderful nurse came back with a bag of IV fluids (not my favorite thing in the world), and a shot. She told me she was going to give me a shot of Tributaline (sp?) to stop my contractions. She administered the shot in my left bicep, told me that it may make me a bit jittery - like I had had 3-4 cups of coffee, and she left again. A few moments later, she returned with the doctor. That's when he gave me all the news - good and bad. He said that my contractions were now 4-6 mins apart (not good), and that hopefully the shot would stop them. They also had plans to perform a fetal fibronectin (sp?), which is a test to see if I am producing a particular chemical that indicates that I am in preterm labor. If that test came back positive, he said that they would be giving me shots to mature the babies' lungs and then they would go from there, all the while attempting to stop my labor as best they could.

At this point, I was shaking all over - not just jittery, but shaking like I had Parkinson's. I literally could not control the shaking, and even my head was shaking when I lifted it off the bed. I was freaking out hearing the words "mature their lungs" and "try to stop"... I just am simply not ready for them to come! I was by myself as my hubby was at home with our 6 year old, but I was still trying as best as I could to not cry sitting there by myself. They performed the fibronectin test, and the doctor checked to see if I was dilated at all. I wasn't dilated at all (good news), but I would have to wait an hour or so to find out the results of the fibronectin test, and to see if the tributaline would in fact stop my contractions.

The nurse then put in the IV and in went all the fluids (my favorite thing); I do have to say, the nurse did a phenomenal job putting the IV in - didn't hurt too bad, and I have no bruise (unbelievable for me)! I laid there shaking, and waiting just watching the clock on the wall in front of me. The contractions seemed to be slowing down, but it was hard to tell because I was shaking so horribly. After about an hour, the shaking slowed down quite a bit, but I still felt very strange. It did stop my contractions which was a good thing, but made the babies a little crazy - they were kicking and moving all over the place!

Finally, the doctor came back and told me the fibronectin test was negative, WOO-HOO! So no meds to mature their lungs, and I got to go home! :) I was still a little stiff from all the shaking so walking was a bit difficult, but I made it to my car and home. I was still having Braxton Hicks, but only occassionally. I got home and went to bed, and have been in it ever since! My doctor just wants me to stay off my feet as much as possible and drink plenty of water. Hopefully no hospital bedrest will come my way as long as I can be diligent about it at home!

I worry that this pregnancy has gotten to be too much for my little body... not sure I was designed to carry two, but I am doing my best! I just hope that my body can hang on a few more weeks so that we can take our son and daughter home from the hospital without complication! I will be praying! :)
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