Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Preterm Labor

Officially one of the scariest moments of my life was two weeks ago. Just when I thought we had gone through enough...

It had been a busy morning as I sold our car and ran some errands but nothing out of the ordinary. I had been having lots of Braxton Hicks but nothing consistent and nothing unusual for my pregnancy. I was sitting at my sisters house holding my beautiful new niece baby Claire when all the sudden I started bleeding. A TON. I freaked out, and my sister and I headed straight to the hospital. I was in tears and called Stuart to tell him. I was sure I had lost the baby and was just so worried. 

When we arrived at the hospital they admitted me straight to labor and delivery. The first thing they did was hook up the monitors so I could see baby girls heart rate and it was loud and strong. I was so relieved. However my contractions started to come stronger and were coming about every 2-3 mins. They hooked me up to an IV and gave me a blood thinning pill to see if that would stop the contractions. They then started asking me all the questions they need for when someone is admitted...do you have a pediatrician? Car seat? Planning on breastfeeding? We obviously had none of this figured out and I was freaking out thinking that this baby was coming that day. Stuart finally arrived and I was so relieved. They kept calling him Dad and it was all feeling so real.  

Then they finally took me to have my ultrasound. They put me on the gurney and wheeled me down through many elevators and corridors. I felt as if I was on Greys Anatomy, it was wild. The ultrasound tech checked out all the baby's anatomy, placenta, umbilical cord and she was doing great. I was so relieved but still confused as to what was going on.

We were wheeled back to the triage part of L&D and my sweet parents were there by the time I got back. Then I had to go to the bathroom so badly. Unfortunately they had not given me any bathroom privileges yet so I had to go in a bed pan. That was an experience I won't forget. They checked and I wasn't dilated, so since my contractions were still so consistent they gave me a shot to stop them. It made me super jittery and anxious for about 30 mins and then they finally started to slow down. The nurses also out two IVs in me to rebuild my fluids.

Afterwards I was wheeled into a larger labor and delivery room and they kept me over night to monitor me, baby, and the bleeding. They gave me an ambien sleeping pill so that I would sleep that night and apparently it worked because the nurse that was with me said she came in a ton that night to adjust my fetal  monitor and I hardly remembered it at all. Poor Stuart slept on the hard chair/bed next to me the whole night. 

The next morning I had some delicious pancakes and I finally got to see my personal doctor in person. Dr. Pollock was such a calming factor and checked
me again, but there was still no evidence as to why the bleeding had began since it had completely stopped. She ordered the perinatologist to meet with me later that day. Meeting with her was intense. Those doctors have quite the extensive knowledge. She checked me on a more high tech ultrasound and measured everything for a long time. Again baby, placenta, and umbilical cord were all good. Her conclusion was that a blood vessel had been nicked and when blood comes that's when contractions start. She said it's like a scab and so it needs to heal because if it is nicked again it will bleed again. Hence I was put on strict bed rest but she ordered me to stay another night in the hospital and for me to have the steroid shot for the baby's lungs/brain in case she comes prematurely. 

So we stayed another night and then saw the perinatalogist again in the morning. Since it had been over 24 hours with no bleeding and consistent contractions she discharged me for that evening after I had received my second steroid shot. We basically waited all day for the second round of the shot and then right after I was finally able to go home.  They put me in the wheel chair and put me in strict bed rest orders, only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom and take a shower. 

Overall I was so grateful for my experience in the hospital and felt extremely taken care of. I loved my nurses and felt that the whole staff treated me very well and I feel very confident that it will all work out. I am also so grateful for all the visitors. My sister for taking me and visiting me with baby Claire, Drew for picking up my husband from work and bringing him to me, my parents coming everyday to see me and then stalking my fridge full for the coming bed rest, Kim and Debbie Harrison coming to visit me with goodies,  Jessie Harrison bringing me yogurt in the middle of the night, and all the sweet calls and texts from friends and family. It was a crazy experience but we are so glad everything turned out okay!






Pregnancy first 31 weeks

Since my pregnancy has recently taken a dramatic turn I wanted to document how it has been up to this point.

The first trimester: I had a relatively good first trimester. I didn't start to have any nausea until around 8 weeks and even then it wasn't awful. I never felt like eating much and it depended on the day but it wasn't awful. I never threw up and felt like I could still take care of my family if I had to. Overall I was lucky

Second Trimester: I did start to feel better but I had the same food aversions. Any true Mexican food is definitely off limits. However I always want Cafe Rio, tart yogurt, and In N  Out. Starting to finally show was memorable and I was loving knowing it was a girl and getting everything ready. However I never felt as if I got this surge of energy. Felt baby girl move for the first time at 18 weeks and it was magical

Third Trimester: Starting to feel very tired and getting harder to sleep at night. Baby girl moves like crazy!! She is going to be an active little one. Stuart and I love just staring at my stomach and watching her move. We are getting so excited.

9 weeks

17 weeks 


21 weeks 



24 weeks

26 weeks 


Ultrasounds
8 weeks 
13 weeks 
31 weeks

Babymoon

So we did the most irresponsible thing we have ever done, and booked a last minute babymoon to Maui. Maui is where we went on our honeymoon and it was such a treat to come back and stay in the same hotel as well. We went for 8 whole days and it was absolutely perfect.  We had a fantastic time and it was so great to have my husband all to myself
for 8 whole days. Highlights:
Beautiful sunsets every night
Exploring Lahaina
Nakalele Blowhole
Snorkeling 

Haleakala Crater-this was such a highlight. We got up at 3 AM to see the sunrise from the top of the Haleakala Carter at over 10,000 feet. It ended up being initially a bust because it was super foggy that morning but then it cleared and the view was amazing. Rainbows and sun bursting through the clouds, truly magical

Spray on Sunscreen fail
The Gazebo, most amazing breakfasts, we went twice
Napili Bay
Hiking around the coast 
Hammock loving
Staying at Kahana Falls and reminiscing out honeymoon
Living it up our last two days in Wailea at the Marriott
Waterslides 























Summer Fun

We had a busy but great summer filled with lots of fun times

Suzanne and Kendall's wedding
Grilling pizza and kind of failing, with the Ballards and the Harrison's
Someone enjoyed her Sees Candies
Morrisons came to town
Beach time with my parents
Petting Zoo
Hailey as our dinner guest
Refinishing baby girls dresser
Balboa with the Fors
Pretend City with the cutest nieces around
Spectrum train 
Laying out with the Asians
Sprinkles 
Ladera Waterpark
BJS pizookie
Snuggling with nephews for movie
Claire is born
Mannequins need hugs too
Drinking the infamous drink for the pregnancy glucose test