Friday, August 8, 2008

Preterm Labor is NOT fun!

So, most of you heard I was in the hospital for pre-term labor. I am home now and am very grateful for every ones thoughts and prayers. They meant so much to Wade, me and baby Jericho. I started having contractions a few weeks ago and was pretty convinced they were Braxton Hicks and that I needed to chill out. After working 9 out of 10 days straight though, I think I might have started the real ones. I should have known better. Plus all of my shifts in the ER were horrible, awful, crazy (literally) 12 hours the whole time, so that didn't help anything either. Anyway, Thursday morning my contractions woke me up at 6 am and continued steadily all day. And dummy me, I went to work at the urgent care anyway. After a few more hours of steady contractions I sent Wade a message and told him I was freaking out and I didn't know what to do. He immediately told me that we needed to have the baby and me checked. I still wasn't convinced. After I called the doctor and the nurse told me to be checked, I still wasn't convinced. But as soon as Wade picked me up from work and I was still contracting every 5 minutes and we were just down the street from Timpanogos where my doctor was I finally gave in and thought it best to be safe.

As soon as they hooked me up I was contracting and did so for a full hour even after they hydrated me and checked labs and such. So, the plan was to admit me for 24 hour observation and to start all kinds of medicines to try and stop the labor. I was also dilated to 1/2-1 and that freaked me out more than anything. Our little guy is only 26 weeks and 5 days old and the likelihood of him surviving outside the womb is minimal. So I got terbutaline injections, nifedipine pills and steroid injections to help little baby boy's lungs to develop quickly in case of delivery. Wade and I were a little freaked out. It was a long night of constant contractions, getting up to the bathroom every 2 minutes and no sleep. But, after changing my medications this morning, having a perfect ultrasound, and having my cervix actually be closed they decided to let me come home tonight. I was so relieved. I haven't had any contractions for about 6 hours and I feel so much better. Of course I was sent home on terbutaline which makes your heart feel like it's going to pound out of your chest at a million miles an hour that I have to take every 4 hours and I'm on complete bed rest. (good thing I'm still reading "Breaking Dawn). I will see the doctor on monday and he will decide just how much more bed rest I need. He told me I definately would not be working as much as I have been if I go back to work at all. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can still work at least a couple of shifts a week. I'm going to go crazy in this house! Although I will do anything for this little man to make sure he has the best chance to make it to as full term as possible. He has my heart completely.

Again, thanks for everyones thoughts and prayers. It meant the world to us and we are so grateful for our wonderful families and friends! A special thanks to my very dear friend Noelle and her sweet husband who gave me a beautiful blessing. It made all the difference in the world!!! Thank you! Thanks to my momma who came out to help Wade keep me in line and to my sister who just let me bawl on the phone with nothing to say. You guys always save me. And to my sweet husband for taking such good care of me. You are going to be such an amazing daddy! Love you!

7 comments:

Hope said...

Brynn, how scary! I'm happy to hear things calmed down and Jericho learned to be patient. You take it easy and DON'T FEEL GUILTY FOR IT!

Best wishes!

M Occasionally B said...

Byrnn, I am so glad to hear that you are ok. That must have been so scarey. I am so sorry you had to go through that. I think it's hard sometimes with the 1st because most of the time you don't really know what's going on. At least that's how I feel sometimes. Just take it easy while you need to,relax,enjoy the book(it's really good) and keep us updated!

Ivy Lou said...

Brynn,
Take care, girl! I love you and hope the best for you!!

-Rachel said...

Hey Brynn, Thanks for finding me!! I'm glad you guys pulled through your close call. My sister just went through an extended bed rest...it's hard! If you do get stuck in bed you have to think of it like it is your job. You go to work every day laying in bed growing a baby. It's a hard job, but worth it!
Keep in touch, I think we'll be in Alaska for awhile. I'd love to have a friend from home :)

Andy said...

Yikes! Preterm labor is definitely scary. I was finishing Respiratory Therapy school and was on shift at the hospital when I went into preterm labor with my son at 25wks. (he's now 4). Like you, I wasn't convinced I needed to be checked, but I went up to L&D anyway. They discovered I was 2 cent. dilated, so I got put on mag sulfate and spent a week in the hospital. Got to go home but was put on complete bedrest and those lovely terbutaline pills (had to crawl to bathroom and couldn't go anywhere) until he was delivered at 37 1/2 weeks. Those little boys--so ornery! :) I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you finish out the pregnancy. Love his name by the way--too cute!

Shawna said...

OH my gosh Im so sorry to hear that you were having troubles. Please keep me posted. I'm calling to put your name in the temple and I'll keep you in my prayers. I know you like to work but dont over do it

Chelsea Dawn said...

Scary!!!!! I had no idea! Let me no if I need to kick anyones butt so you can take more breaks at work!!!