I promised myself when I finally did get pregnant I wouldn't be the pregnant lady who complains about every ailment, ache, pain, hormone swing, ect. I am so lucky, blessed (whatever you want to call it) to be able to carry a child that all the cons of pregnancy really are my pros. So, with that said, I'm writing this not to complain but to document the past 7 weeks of my pregnancy.
The second trimester was smooth (or as close to smooth as possible compared to the first).Then, at 28 weeks I began to feel a painless tightening band around my belly bump. I kept a close eye on it for a couple of days...when it began happening every 10 minutes I (of course) freaked because Braxton Hicks contractions aren't supposed to happen this early. The doctor rushed me in to have a Fetal Non-stress Test. I dragged my sobbing self to be hooked up to the monitor, sure enough, contractions, mild (but none the less contractions) every 3 minutes. Doctor diagnosed me with an "irratable uterus" (research it-I hadn't heard of it either). She said moderate bed rest for a couple of days and tons of water. I obediently followed orders and felt a little better.
At 30 weeks Labor and Delivery and I met. Lost some stuff ("stuff"=you don't want to know) and had intense Braxton Hicks contractions that I hadn't felt before. In triage they determined that 1) I was well hydrated, 2) my water didn't break, 3) I was having contractions (every 3 to 10 minutes), 4) I was not dilated. The nurse (not so politely) offered me terbutaline to stop the contractions. We asked and she said I will have rapid heart rate for 2 hours and hot flashes, but it's harmless to the baby (?). Tuck quickly researched on his phone about terbutaline and he found within minutes that it is not FDA approved to use on pregnant women and makers and doctors are facing numerous lawsuits about maternal death and babies with brain damage. We politely declined the hospitals generous offer to make me more comfortable. Anyways....doctor's orders: Bed Rest (bed rest, ?). 2 weeks of bed rest was difficult to say the least. I read books, took long baths, watched so much tv that I had certain commercials memorized, and had my wonderful husband wait on me hand and foot (he even did my laundry, a first for him). For those of you who know what Braxton Hicks feel like I was (and still am) having 20 to 30 of them everyday. Some days are worse then others and Epsom salt baths help greatly.
At my 32.6 week appointment I was not dilated and the doctor seemed to think that at this point preterm labor was not a concern. New doctor's orders were modified bed rest. We walked out of the office and did a happy dance knowing our little guy has stayed in this long and may (fingers crossed) stay in a little (or a lot) longer. After careful thought we made the decision to go on the Cannon family trip to Bass Lake. If I can bed rest here why not there?
At my 34.5 week appointment the doctor didn't bother checking me and reminded us that babies born at this time are generally in good health and spend little to no time in the NICU. Newest doctor's orders: stay hydrated, listen to your body and slowly increasing moderate workouts was okay.
I'm so grateful that our little guy has stayed in there to grow and develop and even more grateful that my body was generous enough to let him.
