[Nyzira]

So, I woke up this afternoon (I sleep in 3-4 hour shifts, around the clock, rather than one all-night shift), went to the bathroom and saw a bit of bright red blood on the toilet paper. This concerned me slightly as I wasn't sure if it was bloody show or what. Hubby and I haven't had sex in a couple weeks and I haven't had any sort of vaginal exam since I was 7 1/2 weeks along. I had no other discharge with it... just blood.

I quickly cleaned myself up and put on a pad to see if it was just spotting or what. My intention was to call my mom (we don't drive so I call her to take me to the hospital and doctor) to alert her and then do some research online to see if it warranted calling my doctor or not (I hate false alarms). As luck would have it, Mom was *literally* at the end of my road. She was heading to the pharmacy behind our house and I managed to catch her at the light on the corner. Meanwhile, as I'm telling her she doesn't have to stop by just yet ("No, we're already in front of your house! I'll be right in.") Hubby is looking up the bleeding online and decides that I need to call the doc.

We called the doc and left a message for them to call me back. (Our office has a nice message system. You tell the receptionist what's going on, she sends a message/IM to the doctor and marks it urgent if necessary. Doctor reads it over and has the nurse call back with instructions.) The nurse called me back within about 3 mins and said the we should just go into L&D for a check up. I should add that while I had the bit of blood (which I consider slightly heavier than normal spotting for me but not enough to be like a period), I was also having VERY light cramps and back pain... almost like I was *just* starting my period.

We get to L&D and get hooked up on the monitors. Had a hard time finding the baby but finally did. It seems like she's breech at the moment. The nurse did an exam and said that I'm 50% effaced and still tightly closed but the monitor wasn't picking up contractions at all. After a chat with the on-call, they decided to monitor me for another hour and then just send me home... she figured the bleeding (which had stopped and was old at that point) was probably just a busted blood vessel, which happens occasionally. After about 40 minutes, I started getting really bad cramps and horrible back pain. This went on for another 20-ish minutes before the nurse came back in to get ready to discharge me. She took a look at the strip (I'm pretty sure she'd already had a talk with the on-call) and said "Hm. I count 1,2,3,4,5 contractions all about 3-4 mins apart. We're going to give you a shot of terbutaline to stop the contractions."

Yes, I went into preterm labour AT THE HOSPITAL. >.<

They monitored me for another 1/2 hour and it looked like the shot had worked. She checked me again and I was still closed and 50% with no more bleeding so I've been discharged with no other instruction other than to keep an eye on things and go back if necessary. I'm still having the odd contraction and cramp as well a tiny bit of spotting when I go to the bathroom, but I'm positive that's from the exams.

So, now we're trying to figure out what my odds are of going into preterm labour again within, say, the next week-ish. On one hand, I'm tired of being pregnant and am ready to get it over with but on the other I'm scared to death. I know in any case that the baby will be fine... I'm more afraid of how *I* can handle things.

[mandyt]

Oh no!!!!! That does not sound like an ideal way to spend a day at this point!!! Stay in for a few weeks yet, Bella! (And turn around, if you wouldn't mind too much?)

I can't even imagine the nerves that must be taking over at this point, spotting and pre-term labor aside! I'll be sending good thoughts for a healthy, flipped-back-over baby and a good labor experience when the time does come. It will all be worth it in the end!! We need more new baby pics around here, looking forward to seeing yours!

[BeckyM]

I agree, that doesn't sound like a fun way to spend the afternoon. I'm glad they were able to stop the preterm labor, and I hope you don't have any more incidences of it. Bella needs to stay in a little longer, and it would be very nice if she'd flip around for you too. **hugs**

[Oreobaby]

Definately not sounding like a good day!! But Please KUP on how things go from there...Praying bella stays put for a bit longer, and she turns around too!!

[Nyzira]

Thanks, ladies. This is why I love you all!

We had a pretty good night. I kept waking up with every little twinge wondering if it was a contraction or not but eventually settled down and was able to sleep for a few hours. Wish us luck today! I'm going grocery shopping so I'll be up for a couple hours straight! Hopefully all of the walking will help Bella get flipped around. :-)

[babyjen]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this. Thank goodness the drugs worked and stopped the preterm. Hope your walking around today bounces her into the right position

[scubagirl80]

Geez...how nerve wracking! I hope she stays put a little bit longer!!!

[Carrie429]

Sorry to hear you had/have to deal with all that but I’m glad they were able to stop the labor and that you went in when you did. I hope she flips for you and stays put a while longer!!

[Nyzira]

Thanks, girls! today was a tiring day. I had no idea that I would be this sore! Recovering after she's born is going to be fun.

Shopping went ok. I had a couple of contractions in the meat department but nothing was regular or anything. I'm still crampy today but nothing serious. We're just going day by day. I've got nothing strenuous going on until Thursday night and Friday when I'll be cooking for 25 people. Hopefully that won't trigger anything, though.

[Oreobaby]

That sounds like a lot of work...cooking for 25 ppl...maybe you should order in...or get DH to give you a hand for sure!!

[Nyzira]

Oh, I'll have plenty of helping hands. That's the wonderful thing about our little community. Most everyone is willing to help out!

Luckily, most of the preparation is spread out over a couple days. I'll be making the breads and preparing things Thursday night and then Friday will be the final cooking. Unfortunately, we can't order in as this is a spiritual event that has to be done *just right*. But I'll have plenty of help and will be able to take things slow.

[mandyt]

Glad to see your little girl is still baking, hope everything is going well in your OTHER oven too!! Hope it all goes smoothly and that you get plenty of help! Enjoy your celebration!

[Nyzira]

Thanks!

We had our check up with the OB today. He's happy with everything so far. He says I'm entitled to my contractions. (I love my doc.)

The cooking is just about ready for tomorrow. We've cut all the meat and have it sitting in marinade. I've got all the salad stuff cut and ready to be tossed. The potatoes are sitting in their oil, salt and pepper. Dip is made for the appetizer. Brown betty is in the oven, now, in one MASSIVE pan and the oatmeal molasses bread is rising on the stove, ready to go in as soon as the brown betty is done. And I could not have done it all without my wonderful husband!

[BeckyM]

I'm glad you appt went well & your OB does sound like a great gone. And it sounds like you're doing very well preparing for your cooking. Hope you have a great time!!