Thursday, January 31, 2008

Scheduled!

And, we've scheduled the C-section!! It's going to be Wednesday, March 5th at 9:30 in the morning. I'm SO excited!! Now let's just hope everything cooperates and I actually make it that far! I didn't with Celia (she was born at 38 weeks, and this date puts me at 38 weeks and 4 days). Thankfully I'll be having weekly sonograms to make sure all is well! And the best news- is that in the last 2 weeks, my cervix lengthened to 3.8 cm (from 3.0 cm)!! So this whole taking it easy/modified bedrest, whatever you want to call it seems to really be working with the medication well! Yeah!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

update

I saw my OB this morning, and he told me to up my dose to 20mg with how I've been feeling. Now I have been doing this about half the time, so maybe it will help.

He also wanted me to move up my appointment with Dr H (my MFM) and his office called over and got me in TODAY at 10:30!! I guess you throw the words "possible preterm labor" around, and slots magically appear. Thank goodness. I'm curious to see what's going on in there. My fingers are crossed for a nice long, closed cervix.

And the good news- he said that next appointment in 2 weeks, we'll schedule my C-section/tubal at Shady Grove! He said it's so much closer for me, so why not? I loved that! Apparently the new rooms are really nice too- they just opened up a new wing. And this way, Dr. H can also be involved if necessary.

Then I saw my MFM, and waited what felt like forever! I got back, and they first checked my cervix, which is 3 cm, so nice and long. There is a channel of fluid around it though, which apparently is a sign that I've been having lots of contractions. Which I still am! She said to head home after the appointment (which I planned to do anyways), lay on my left side, and stay there for the rest of the week and through the entire weekend. That should give the increased medication enough time to really start working, and I should be much more comfortable. I asked her if I could still work from home this afternoon and tomorrow, and she was fine with that, as long as I'm laying down. And she was pleased that I'm working from home most of the time from now on. She said between that and the meds, I should be feeling much less discomfort. I can't wait for that to happen!! And if the meds don' thelp, to call my OB and switch to something else. But I'm almost 32 weeks, and she said that after 34 weeks, they usually don't do too much to prevent labor.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Ok for now

Yesterday I saw the OB who sent me to the hospital on Tuesday. I had seen her a few times during my last pregnancy, but not since then. I have to say I was really impressed! She really listened to what I was saying, my symptoms, and decided it would be a really good idea to put me on some medication to help stop the contractions. Or at least the background ones that don't seem to be doing anything, thus making me more comfortable. So now I'm on Pro.cardia every 6 hours. The dose depends on how I'm feeling. If it's a good day, I take one pill at a time, if I'm not feeling well, I can take 2 at a time. I will see my actual OB on Thursday to see how the medication is helping. She did talk about possibly pulling me out of work and keeping me on modified bedrest for the rest of the pregnancy. However she did say that for now, that decision is mine. If I want to keep working (which I do), I can. Just to listen to my body and if I need to take it easy, to make sure to do that. I also spoke with HR yesterday to see what my options are and what benefits will kick in when, if I do end up on bedrest. And I have to say I'm VERY lucky to work where I do. I need to speak with my supervisor next week to arrange a plan for how to proceed just in case. For now I'm glad to be able to keep working. We have some major deadlines that I'd feel awful abandoning. So this works out for the best.

Thanks for all of your well wishes! It really helps a lot!!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

I'm ok

I ended up heading back to the hospital, but thankfully with the same drug, everything stopped. The baby is fine, and thankfully I'm off bedrest. They told me regular activity was fine this time. Not sure why, but I'll take it! I see someone from my OBs office tomorrow, and will find out what to do from here.

Bedrest

I haven't had a fun week at all! Tuesday at work in the morning, I was getting a little crampy here and there. By 1 or so, it started being more persistent. I talked to a few other women in my office who are due a few weeks after me, and they calmed me down. But then it started getting a bit worse. So I called my OBs office, and they wanted me to come in. After they checked a few things, they decided to send me on over to the hospital to have me checked out. They were pretty sure I was contracting, but everything else appeared good. No dilation or anything.

So, I went to the hospital and got hooked up. Apparently I was contracting every 2 minutes, but they weren't actually productive contractions. They thought I might be dehydrated, so they hooked me up to an IV. After that didn't help, they did an injection of Ter.butaline, which slowed down the contractions. A second shot stopped them. It was annoying to be stuck in the hospital by myself (without any knitting!!) for 5 hours. Thankfully once they stopped, I was sent home pretty quickly with instructions to stay on bedrest until I go back to my OBs office on Friday. So yesterday I was home, laying down all day, and had about 8 contractions. Today, It's just past noon, and things were going well until about 11. I am not up to the worry point yet, (6 in an hour), but it's definitely a little annoying. Hopefully they'll stop soon, and I won't have to worry about it.

I've definitely been tired. And have had a headache since yesterday morning, which makes doing anyhting productive difficult. But I'm trying! I just wonder why I'm contracting?! I'm definitely NOT dehydrated today, since I've been drinking water like a mad woman. We'll see.