Tight Belly..update..long..thank You Ladies!!

[ValleyCat]

Hi Ladies,

Well, I was having contractions this time. Since I had been to the L & D 2 weeks ago and was sent home with an irritable uterus, I just assumed I was having the same thing. As cautious as I have been this pg, for some reason I just figured I would slow down my activity and be fine. It wasn't until I read the posts from you ladies about going to L & D that I got concerned. When Dh came home a little while later (on Monday late afternoon) we decided we better just check it out for piece of mind. So we went to L & D. We sat there for 1 hour in the waiting room and Dh decided he better take things into his own hands. He went to the desk and made a big stink and said my wife is in pain (I really wasn't, but he must have known I needed to get in there) and do we have to go somewhere else?

Well, they immediately took us in and the nurse was bit gruff and rude because they were very busy and because of Dh they took us early. So, as soon as she started asking me questions I broke down crying and she got much more sympathetic. Well, when they put me on the monitor I was having huge contractions, so the Dr came in, did a cervical exam and I was dilated to 1cm, but the cervix was still high and I think 2cm long? Anyway, they rushed me to the room where they do the mag sulfate IV. They started talking about NICU consults steroids shots for the babies lungs and I freaked out completely! I am surprised they didn't transfer me to the psychiatric unit..LOL!! I was crying and shaking like a leaf. I just kept thinking no this can't be happening. Anyway, they went on and on about how horrible the mag sulfate was and how I might be very uncomfortable and sick from it. Well, I still take the Zofran so I thought that should help. My Dr. was there and spoke with me about the situation. I was so jittery and so anxious I interrupted him and said can you give me anything right now for anxiety? The nurses were telling me that I needed to relax as they were taking me to the room and that if I am tense this makes the contractions worse. So I was trying so hard to relax and freaking out about my babies being born too early that I finally thought I need something to calm me down! Well, the Dr said there wasn't anything safe to give me. When they did the mag sulfate I got a very warm comforting hot flash and it just chilled me right out. I think my body was exhausted from trembling and it was like a warm sedative and I was so much more relaxed. I really tolerated the Mag sulfate well. The Resident joked with me and said you are the only patient I have ever had who enjoyed Mag sulfate!

So, they kept me from Monday night until late yesterday afternoon. After the Mag sulfate, they came in and I had a lot of irritability and some contractions and they started giving me Procardia every 6 hours. My Dr. said if everything calmed down on Thursday, they would send me home on Friday. The morning monitoring (they do it twice) was fine. The evening monitoring showed 4 contractions in 30 minutes. I thought I am never getting out of here. Well, I was on my back at the time (so she could get to the babies for monitoring) and so the nurse put me on my side, had me drink water and everything became calm. So, that was my ticket out! Right now I am still taking the Procardia every 6 hours and I am on bedrest. I get to go to my shower on Sunday for 1 hour...Yippee! I was so worried about having to cancel it and all the stress. I had a wheelchair and shower seat sent to my house and I plan on listening to my body, calling the Dr for any little twitch and keeping these babies in here as long as I can.

I wanted to thank you ladies from the bottom of my heart. If I had not read your posts, I would have stayed home. Who knows what could have happened. I greatly appreciate all of your concern, input and advice to not ignore this. I am so glad I went. I cannot thank you ladies enough for saving me from what could have been a horrible situation. At this point, every day I keep the babies in my stomach makes a big difference and I greatly appreciate all of the support on this board.

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!

Valley

[Twins_Squared]

Valley,

First, I am so sorry that you had this awful scare...I know what it is like to go to L&D like that and here this kind of news. I am, however, so glad you went in and that your Dh (and he's really earned that "D"!) was assertive on your behalf!

Second, please continue to monitor yourself each and everyday and CALL your doctor, even if you don't feel "right".

Also, don't let any practitioner place you on your back for very long, doing so compresses the vena cava, the main vein that delivers blood flow to the uterus, and causes the uterus to contract in an effort to get more blood to the babies.

What did the doctors say about your being dilated? I am forgetting how far along you are...did they mention doing a cerclage? Did they prescribe any support hose to help increase the blood flow to the uterus?

[fairymommy]

Whew, I am so glad all seems calm now. Please take it easy.
Tammie

[DiIP]

Valley,

I have chills (ok and a few tears) from reading your post. Jillie gave you some very sensible advice, and I really don't have much else to add to it.

I am very, very glad you went to L&D. Sounds like things are on a much better track now.

Diana

[ValleyCat]

Hi Ladies,

Well, we had quite a scare!

Jillie-

The first nurses in L & D had me on my back. I was thinking that I shouldn't be on my back. Also, the last time they monitored on Thursday when I was having contractions, I was on my back, but the nurse made me prop myself over a bit so I was not completely on my back. She couldn't get both babies on the monitor if I was on my side. Then when I was on my side everything calmed down.

I am 28w5d today. I am dilated to 1cm and that did not change. They said the cervix was high up and the babies were high up and that was good. They didn't say anything about stitching or support hose, just bedrest, bedrest, bedrest!!

Tammie,

How are you? I think you said before you do the home monitoring for contractions? I hope you keep those babies in there for a long time yet!!

Diana,

It was very scary and I was balling like a baby and shaking like a leaf. I wish we could all have non-eventful pgs but after everything most of us IFers went thru to get pg you have to know that we can't be like those women who get pg easily and run marathons and have easy pregnancies!


Thank you all for your support and concern. I am so thankful for this board and cannot tell you how many times you ladies have help easy my mind, given me important info and in the case probably saved my babies from being born early. I cannot thank you all enough!!

Valley

[fairymommy]

Valley, I do home monitor. I am soooo glad I do too, its been a bit busy lately. I hope I can keep cookin' em like you are.
Keep up the good work!
Tammie

[TRC]

I am so happy that you went to L&D as suggested and they were able to stop what was happening.

I so remember those feelings, the crying, shaking etc. It was horrible to think my babies were going to be born at 27w1d...way too early. Luckily the mag did the job and I was confined to the hospital and delivered my babies at 29w5d. Although it was a long road 1 yr ago they are beautiful, healthy and happy little boys now. Those 2.5 weeks made a big difference in the outcome.

Hang in there and remember to call Dr if you, as mentioned before, just don't feel right. It's such a hard thing to explain, but you'll know if it happens...something just isn't as it should be.

[ValleyCat]

Hi Tammie,

I am glad to hear those babies are still in your belly. It is so hard to worry and try not to move around, but it will all be worth it soon.

I asked my Dr about the home monitoring and the Dr said that I have a very irritate uterus and I could do monitoring at home but I would be a nervous wreck and since the contractions and the irritability are not affecting my cervix it would just cause me to make constant trips to the L & D, so we decided I shouldn't put myself thru that. But in your case, with 3 little babies in there, you must take every precaution and it sounds like you have and your Peri is good. I am always checking this board for your updates and I hope you are able to keep those babies in there for a long time!!
Good Luck.


TRC,

I felt like a psychiatric patient having a severe anxiety attack when I thought my babies would be born early. I am so glad you were able to go a bit longer before you gave birth. The NICU Dr. came to talk to me and told me that at 28 weeks, there was no problem with the babies survival but that they would be in NICU for a long time. He said they have babies that are born at 24 weeks and sometimes earlier and they do survive, it's just the time in the hospital. So, while that is reassuring from the standpoint of babies living, of course we all want them to be fully developed before they come out. I am glad yours are doing well. I will certainly be calling my Dr. for any issue that comes up.

Thanks for caring so much, Ladies!

Valley

[fairymommy]

Valley you're too sweet, heres to many more weeks being pregnant!
Tammie

[TRC]

I will definitely be watching for all your updates. You're doing a great job so far...keep it up mommy!