As many of you already know little Luke and I were admitted to the hospital early Wednesday morning for pre term labor. What a shock! I had been having what I thought were Braxton Hicks contractions for a little while. Nothing I thought was anything to worry about until Wed night when the cramping started and the back pain kicked in. A phone call to my doctor later and we were on our way to OB Triage to be evaluated. I have to admit I thought they were going to laugh at me and send me home...stories of oh Anne thought she was in labor it was so funny to be spread around work that weekend. I was in total shock when my nurse said we are going to admit you to L&D and start you on Magnesium Sulfate, PCN and get your steroids going for the babies lungs. This was about the time when the tears started flowing and the freaking out really started.
The IV was started blood was drawn and I was walked over to the high risk area of my own department. It was very strange to be a patient at my hospital on my floor! But it was VERY nice to have friendly, familiar faces all around. My magnesium bolus was started promptly as were the hot flashes. I was a little nervous for the Mag to start and the steroid shots. I'd given both several times to my own patients and watched them cry and moan through the whole process. Knowing myself I was worried about looking like a HUGH baby through this whole process. But I have to say (with a pat on my back) I did great. Nothing was as bad as I thought it would be, in fact it wasn't bad at all. The mag makes you warm but so does being pregnant and the steroid shot was over before I even knew she gave it to me!
In between all the other things that were going on I was given several Terbutaline shots sub q to help stop the contractions. I counted something like a total of 16+ shots!! Fortunately my body responded really well to the terb and my uterus calmed down with each shot. Along with all the shots I had the pleasure of having my cervix checked. Naughty little cervix was opened to 1cm at the external os and closed at the internal os. However my cervix was soft which wasn't what we wanted. It was fortunately long which was good.
We were also scheduled for a formal ultrasound to see how big Luke was getting. Not a shock to Rob and I but he was huge! He measured two weeks and two days ahead of what he should be weight wise. He weighed 2 lbs 5 ounces or 1050 grams. Most everybody was shocked at how big he was. I guess all that ice cream he's been demanding is paying off! I think that pretty much sums up our first day.
Day 2
More of the same. We had a FFN (Fetal fibronectin) test done. Fetal fibronectin is used to test pregnant women who are between 22 weeks and 34 weeks of gestation and are having symptoms of premature labor. The test helps predict the likelihood of premature delivery. Thankfully ours came back negative. Another check of my cervix showed no further changes. It was starting to feel like things were headed in the right direction.
Day 3
Still more of the same. The magnesium remained at 2grams/hour and I got more terb shots throughout the day. Discussion started of sending me home on a terb pump. This was actually comforting to me. Some people get sent home on oral medications. I just felt really comfortable with the sub q terb because it had been working so well already. I was a little nervous to try something new. The pump was ordered and talks of going home Sat were in the works.
Day 4
More of the same until the RN came to educated me on my terb pump. Once the pump was in and running the magnesium was stopped! Can I get an AMEN! I really never felt that badly or deprived of anything. It was just something I had to do for Luke. And I was ok with all of it. Once they started to remove things I wanted it all gone! The mag went and then the IV was hep locked, then I could go to the bathroom without measuring my urine. All of it was like winning the lotto. Did I mention the simple pleasure of taking a shower? Amazing. The terb pump was up and running around 3:30pm. My doctor was in and said she wanted to watch me over night to make sure things were ok and then home in the morning! Such good news....my own bed I couldn't wait. (Although I was growing some what attached to the abilities of my hospital bed.) Am I too young to wish for a craft matic adjustable bed?
Day 5
I've been given my walking papers! Well I was told to go home and walk to my own bed. Let the bed rest at home begin. I have to say I was really nervous to go home even though it's what I really wanted. There was just something really comforting about having everyone so close by in case something went wrong. A few tears were shed and several comforting nurses and family members reassured me that everything was ok. It wasn't like I didn't have resources if something went astray at home. I just needed to be reminded of them I guess. We were home around noon and I've been in bed ever since!
The IV was started blood was drawn and I was walked over to the high risk area of my own department. It was very strange to be a patient at my hospital on my floor! But it was VERY nice to have friendly, familiar faces all around. My magnesium bolus was started promptly as were the hot flashes. I was a little nervous for the Mag to start and the steroid shots. I'd given both several times to my own patients and watched them cry and moan through the whole process. Knowing myself I was worried about looking like a HUGH baby through this whole process. But I have to say (with a pat on my back) I did great. Nothing was as bad as I thought it would be, in fact it wasn't bad at all. The mag makes you warm but so does being pregnant and the steroid shot was over before I even knew she gave it to me!
In between all the other things that were going on I was given several Terbutaline shots sub q to help stop the contractions. I counted something like a total of 16+ shots!! Fortunately my body responded really well to the terb and my uterus calmed down with each shot. Along with all the shots I had the pleasure of having my cervix checked. Naughty little cervix was opened to 1cm at the external os and closed at the internal os. However my cervix was soft which wasn't what we wanted. It was fortunately long which was good.
We were also scheduled for a formal ultrasound to see how big Luke was getting. Not a shock to Rob and I but he was huge! He measured two weeks and two days ahead of what he should be weight wise. He weighed 2 lbs 5 ounces or 1050 grams. Most everybody was shocked at how big he was. I guess all that ice cream he's been demanding is paying off! I think that pretty much sums up our first day.
Day 2
More of the same. We had a FFN (Fetal fibronectin) test done. Fetal fibronectin is used to test pregnant women who are between 22 weeks and 34 weeks of gestation and are having symptoms of premature labor. The test helps predict the likelihood of premature delivery. Thankfully ours came back negative. Another check of my cervix showed no further changes. It was starting to feel like things were headed in the right direction.
Day 3
Still more of the same. The magnesium remained at 2grams/hour and I got more terb shots throughout the day. Discussion started of sending me home on a terb pump. This was actually comforting to me. Some people get sent home on oral medications. I just felt really comfortable with the sub q terb because it had been working so well already. I was a little nervous to try something new. The pump was ordered and talks of going home Sat were in the works.
Day 4
More of the same until the RN came to educated me on my terb pump. Once the pump was in and running the magnesium was stopped! Can I get an AMEN! I really never felt that badly or deprived of anything. It was just something I had to do for Luke. And I was ok with all of it. Once they started to remove things I wanted it all gone! The mag went and then the IV was hep locked, then I could go to the bathroom without measuring my urine. All of it was like winning the lotto. Did I mention the simple pleasure of taking a shower? Amazing. The terb pump was up and running around 3:30pm. My doctor was in and said she wanted to watch me over night to make sure things were ok and then home in the morning! Such good news....my own bed I couldn't wait. (Although I was growing some what attached to the abilities of my hospital bed.) Am I too young to wish for a craft matic adjustable bed?
Day 5
I've been given my walking papers! Well I was told to go home and walk to my own bed. Let the bed rest at home begin. I have to say I was really nervous to go home even though it's what I really wanted. There was just something really comforting about having everyone so close by in case something went wrong. A few tears were shed and several comforting nurses and family members reassured me that everything was ok. It wasn't like I didn't have resources if something went astray at home. I just needed to be reminded of them I guess. We were home around noon and I've been in bed ever since!
3 comments:
Oh, Anne...that must have been really scary without your Mom there. You sound like you made it through okay, thank god! Now, rest! And let Rob take care of you.
Now you have to post an update so we know how you're doing now that you're back at home.
who are all these anonymous people ???? thats my name. okay since you begged no more Anonymous I will say this is Mom and I for one will be glad when Sept. 2007 arrives. Glad you are ok I will be home soon. XXXXooos to all 3 of you.
Mom
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