Pre-term labor

I woke up Friday feeling like crap. Something just did not feel right. I got the kids off to school, ate some breakfast and crawled back into bed. I tried to get some sleep but I was having contractions that were too uncomfortable to sleep through.I had just figured they were braxton hicks ad would go away with water and rest. Nope! By noon, they were starting to bug so I began timing them on an app I had downloaded. They were about 15 min apart and just felt like menstrual cramps and uterine tightening. I put the heating pad across my lower belly to try and calm them down.

This is when things changed rapidly. They were soon 10 min apart... then 5.... then 3....!!!! I was no longer able to talk through them. It was 3 PM and Spencer was picking up the kids from school when I called to tell him that we needed to get to labor and delivery quick! The hospital that I will be delivering at is an hour away.

Spencer rushed home with the kids and packed them an over night bag. We were going to drop them off with Spen's sister on the way. (HUGE THANK YOU AMIE!!!!) By the time we were in the car, the pressure and intensity of the contractions was insane! I used what I had learned from my hypnobabies course so far to keep me in control and to not let the kids know anything was different. I wanted so badly to unbuckle and kneel in the passenger seat but did not want to put my safety in jeopardy. While Spen ran the kids inside I used visualization. I used opposite technique I would if I was full term. At this point I had lost track of timing contractions on my phone. I did not care. I just wanted to get to the hospital. I just kept praying over and over that my water would not break. I had to keep reminding myself to relax. Fear during labor causes pain. I am not afraid of labor, I was afraid of delivering this baby at 27.5 weeks. After what felt like hours, we pulled up to the front doors of the hospital.

Spencer ran in to get a wheelchair and find someone to park the car. Four security guards rushed out to help. Two took me straight up to L&D, one helped Spen follow and one parked the car. I was so grateful for them! I was so bugged by the nurse who met us first. When I told her I was having contractions 2 min apart, it was my third baby, and I was 27 weeks she just said oh it's probably a UTI. Come on lady! I had to pause during contractions and go into my own head to get through them. You kidding me!!! Luckily we were given an awesome nurse who got me all hooked up and looked at my labor patter on the screen. Yup, contractions every two min apart and baby looked perfect. A beautiful labor pattern for someone FULL-TERM! She immediately called my midwife for orders. It took a few hours and multiple doses of terbutaline(a medication given to stop contractions) to get the labor stopped. My midwife, Gretchen, had stopped in at some point to check on me. She is amazing! Gretchen wanted to talk an MD before discharging me and he wanted to get fluid levels and keep me longer for observation. Fluid levels around our baby girl were great and she was chewing on her hand during the ultrasound. What a sweetie!! It was so comforting to see her just chillin while so much was going on outside. Tears streamed down my cheeks as the nurse doing the ultrasound just stayed and let me watch her "play" for a few min. After a few hours hours of observation and some other TMI procedures, we were sent home with strict orders for bed rest and to come back ASAP if contractions picked up again. I am so grateful to have had such a proactive and supportive nurse who had the knowledge and understanding to keep my baby girl safe. Also, my amazing husband who kept his cool while driving his laboring wife, during rush hour traffic, at 90 MPH (I learned this later. Ugg!)to the hospital. I am sure he let out a huge sigh of relief when we were at the hospital and no longer solely in his care. He was amazing!!

Baby buys and Nursery so far

My last order from http://ohsogirly.blogspot.com/



Bought this one brand new in the box at a yard sale for $60!! It retails for 180 I believe.



Ahh.. the car seat fiasco. The one I had originally wanted didn't fit right in our car. I know it sounds crazy but I was devastated. I had spent hours online researching and then finding the perfect color. This model fit in our car but I hated all of the seat cover options at babies r us. I finally found this one online and guess what? Out of stock!! I added it to my registry and had them send me an email when it became available again, which was only a few days later. I hurried and put my order in and when to click submit.... out of stock!!! You have got to be kidding me!!!! Third time was the charm. I was so excited to see this on my doorstep.



NB to 0-3 mos sized clothes. I did not wash all of the NB sizes cause I don't know if I will be able to use them. My other babes were in NB for a while tho so we will see.



Yup!I am totally obsessed with baby shoes!



I searched for an old rocking chair knowing that a glider was not what I pictured for this room.I was so excited to have stumbled upon this!!!

Anatomy Ultrasound Round Two

They were able to get the views that they needed. Silly girl!! She still wanted to hold her toes in front of her face to make things difficult. Everything looks perfect!!

Nursery buy!

This was the first purchase for the nursery. I had a blast with my mom picking out the perfect material for the crib dust ruffle and the curtains!! I cannot wait until this room is done!

23.4 wk bump and appt

Today I went in for my 24 wk appt, a little early cause I work the same days as my midwife. BP 108/56 Gained weight for the first time this pregnancy. I am up 4 pounds!!! Yikes! Still below pre-pregnancy weight though. Fundal hight and fetal heart rate perfect!!! <3 MW was concerned that I am still cramping off and on so it sounds like I will start having fFN testing done every two weeks starting at 26 weeks til I deliver. We will also be monitoring cervical length through ultrasound. Due to my history of preterm labor, this is so comforting. Stay put little baby girl!!! My lower back and pubic bone are still so painful. My midwife even commented that it feels like my pubic bone has separated (i could have told ya that). I limp to the bathroom every time I get out of bed until it all shifts back to where it belongs. I can take it though. Anything for my princess!! The best part of my appointment was that my mom got to come with me and she got to feel her little grand baby kick for the first time while my MW and I were talking.

Swelling

The heat is getting to me. I did not swell this bad with my other two pregnancies but then, they were born in March and May so I didn't get the heat. Monday and Tues we went camping with the Lambert fam and then yesterday we went to Lagoon and I was on my feet all day. This made for seriously embarrassing cankles!! Luckily the swelling went down tons by morning and I picked up some awesome compression socks to help prevent this in the future. Looks like tons of elevation for these tootsies. This pic was taken at Lagoon just before I cut the top of my socks to make room. I wish I would have taken another one after they were released. Haha!

Tyson and Josie painting my toes because I haven't been able to reach them comfortably for a few weeks. I love these kiddos!!!