A Couple Days at Labor & Delivery

You always go to the doctor hoping for the best, but sometimes you don't always leave with the news you were hoping to get. When I went in for my 24 week check up, we didn't get the news we were wanting. It wasn't terrible news, but being 24 weeks pregnant, it's really not the news you want to hear that early in a pregnancy. I went in and had an ultrasound, and after talking with the doctor about the numerous contractions I had been experiencing, he wanted me to go back in for an ultrasound to check my cervix. The ultrasound showed that my cervix had already started to shorten, or thin (efface), and like I said before, being 24 weeks pregnant is way too early for that to start happening.

When I hit 24 weeks, my appointments were going to be every 2 weeks instead of every 4 weeks. With this news, my doctor appointments changed to once a week. So for 3 weeks I went to the doctor once a week, and only to find that my cervix was still thinning. Then, at 27 weeks the doctor moved my appointments to 2 times a week to monitor my cervix and the babies more closely.

When I went in for my bi-weekly appointment on Thursday, May 23 for an ultrasound to check my cervix. The ultrasound revealed that my cervix had shortened, or thinned even more which was not what we were hoping for. The doctor then had his assistant hook me up to a machine to monitor my contractions. After being hooked up to the machine for about 15 minutes, the machine had picked up several contractions that were evenly spaced out which made the doctor want to check to see if I had dilated at all. After the exam, it was determined that I was dilated to a 1, and that I would be spending at least the next couple of days in the hospital for closer monitoring.

After going over instructions with my doctor, Dusty and I drove home to get a bag together, and we headed right over to Labor and Delivery. After I got admitted, I was all set up in my room, with an IV in my arm, compression braces on my legs, and 3 different monitors on my belly. One was to monitor my contractions and two were for monitoring the babies (one for each baby).

I then got to experience the wonderful joys of having a shot on the backside of my hip muscle, which was a steroid shot to prepare the babies lungs to be stronger. Not only did I get to experience that once, but 24 hours later I would have another steroid shot in the opposite hip. But I would do whatever it took/takes to get and keep my babies as healthy as possible. The medication in my IV was Magnesium which is used to help calm down smooth muscles (i.e. to help prevent contractions) and to help the babies brains develop quicker. Then they gave me a pill every 6-8 hours to further help prevent contractions.

On Friday, I finished my IV bag of Magnesium and both steroid shots had been administered, but I had to stay the night again to continue to monitor my contractions and the babies heartbeats (which were doing great)! Later that afternoon my doctor came and went over a few more things with Dusty and I. He would check me again on Saturday morning to see if I had dilated anymore, and if I had, I would be spending the rest of the time in the hospital until our little baby boys arrived. He also gave us permission for Dusty to take me for a walk outside in a wheelchair, so I could get some fresh air and a change in scenery.

Before we left for our walk, which was limited to 30 minutes, we asked the nurse if it was possible for us to take a tour of the NICU. We wanted to have an idea of what to expect after our babies arrive as they will likely be spending some time there. Our wonderful nurse talked to the NICU and they set up a little tour for us. So that evening Dusty took me outside for a little walk, which was so nice to get some fresh air, then we went back in for our tour of the NICU. Our nurse took us there, and when we got there a NICU nurse took us to one of the double rooms (whereas we are having twins) and showed us everything. She answered all of our questions and made Dusty and I feel a lot better knowing where our babies would be and the wonderful care they would be receiving.

After eating dinner, taking a shower, getting fresh sheets on my bed, and getting my night time medications, Dusty and I were settled in for the night. The next morning the doctor would be coming in to tell us whether or not I had to stay or if I could go home. Saturday morning after the doctor came in and did another exam, I had no change in dilation (thank goodness), and they had given me all the medications possible to prep our babies for an early delivery; so the doctor let me go home. I have to continue taking medication at home to help prevent contractions, but I was so relieved to be able to get out of the hospital. I go back to the doctor on Tuesday for another check up. If there is any change in dilation, I will be back in the hospital until our boys arrive.

All Settled In!

The Magnesium wiped me out.

The board in my room!