Friday, October 17, 2008

To the hospital...but not sure WHY.

So I went to the doctor this morning. Cervix is short but closed, and the doctor said after 28 weeks (I'm almost 31) the length is not so important. Kid is head down, which probably explains the shortening. I am having contractions every 3-4 minutes though, which he didn't like. I tried to explain that this has been going on for 2 months, and really it's normal and we're fine, but he still said to go to the hospital (after school at least, so I came back for my lab period which would have been a pain to try to get a sub for). They will put me on an IV with fluids to hydrate me (like peeing 20 times a day isn't enough...still, I'm drinking as much as possible between now and then) as that may calm down the uterus. They will have the results of the pre-term labor test (fetal fibronectin?), which I just assume will come back negative. They may or may not give me a shot of terbutaline (I may or may not put up a fight). They may or may not give me a steroid shot to help with the baby's lungs (depends on test result I assume). I've been doing some research now on terbutaline (and re-reading Mama Simmons' posts from her terb experience) and one thing I read is that it shouldn't be given at the same time as the steroid shots. SO...there are some questions that need to be answered before anyone is putting anything else in me!

I get that she may come early. But I also trust my own intuition and instinct that we're not in any danger here, nothing is happening yet, all this is normal, and there's no need to worry (which truth be told, I am NOT worrying about anything except what they might give me to "help").

6 comments:

Alicia Parr said...

All my best to you on the hospital visit. Stick with those INSTINCTS! We have those for a reason.

Aron said...

good luck girlie!! i'll be thinking of you and hope everything is ok!

Michelle Simmons said...

I totally agree with Alicia. Stick with your instincts! It's also good to know that what we're going through is apparently pretty common. Looking forward to seeing how it all turns out. I think its great that you're so calm about it all! I remember feleing similarly- so sure that this was NOT labor that I didn't even have my husband come.

Michelle Simmons said...

Oh yeah, one more thing... My doctor agreed that it was reasonable to wait until the results came back from the fFn before deciding on whether or not to give the steroids. Since mine was negative, there was real justification for no steroids and (in my own mind at least) no more Terb. ;)

Anonymous said...

I also had lots of Braxton Hicks contractions from about 18 weeks on, although no regularly spaced contractions until I went into labor. But I too say trust your instincts and if these contractions don't feel different from the ones you've been having for weeks, then they probably aren't different.

Anyway, best of luck. I'll be thinking of you and looking out for an update. ((hugs))

N.D. said...

Well, you seem super calm and to have everything under control. Sometimes I feel like I know my own body better than my doctor and it sounds like you do right now. I hope everything goes ok!