We had a normal doctor appointment Monday- you know just the regular pee and blood pressure check. Asked a few questions about feeling hiccups and doing kick counts, so at the very last minute the doctor says she wants to put us on the monitor for a little while just to be sure everything is cool.
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That was at about 5:00 pm yesterday and we are still at the hospital. They hooked us up to the contraction belt and the heart rate belt and we didn’t mind too much because that way we’d miss the downtown traffic- plus we still hadn’t decided where to have dinner on our way home.
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Turns out I was contracting a bit, so they decide to keep us on the monitor until 6:30 and had me drink two big pitchers of water to makes sure dehydration wasn’t an issue. That water only made things worse because it pissed my bladder off (get it: ‘pissed off bladder’…anyway). By the time 6:30 rolled around I was starting to feel the contractions and they were coming every 3-4 minutes. A quick check revealed a cervix that was dilated 1 cm and 50% effaced.
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Holy shit, I’m only at 28w4d. Holy shit.
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So, obviously they kept us for observation. I knew this was something to take seriously when they said I’d be getting penicillin in case I was positive for group B strep and even more so when they said I’d be getting the steroids to mature Geronimo’s lungs “just in case you go ahead and deliver soon.”
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They also started me on Procardia to stop the contractions-10 mg every 20 minutes for an hour. But it felt to me like things just went on the opposite direction – contractions were coming every 1 to 2 minutes and golly moses did they hurt. Cervix was at 1.5 cm, so they changed the dose to 20 mg every six hours and things have settled down considerably.
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High res u/s this morning showed all structures to be at least at 29w 5d gestational age and some at 30w or 31w. The amniotic fluid was good as well, so all that was very reassuring. Got a nice long ride on the dildo cam to check the cervix thoroughly, which showed no change from the 1.5 cm 50 % effacement at midnight.
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Just received the second steroid dose and they will start doing a ‘challenge’ with the Procardia to see if the contractions come back with a dose of 10 mg. Geronimo has had a great heart rate throughout.
My heart rate wasn’t so great, however, when the doctors made it clear that we couldn’t go to Las Vegas on Thursday since we would possibly still be here with them. Earliest we’ll go home is tomorrow, or maybe Thursday…worst case is we stay here until the baby is born. I can’t even let myself think of that.
Holy shit is right. Also NoNoNoNONOOOOO would be applicable. Stay in baby stay in!
Posted by: Lala | February 21, 2007 at 03:10 AM
Praying for the very best for you and Geronimo. Thank goodness your doctors caught it though - those steroids can buy all kinds of "time," if you will, away from the NICU, if something happens. But I would like to echo Lala -
Stay in, baby! Stay in!
Posted by: Kim | February 21, 2007 at 04:22 AM
WOW!! I wondered why you were on my mind the last few days. You are in the right place and they are watching him closely. At this stage in the game I am reassured as I am sure you are that with modern medicine our babies would be able to make it with no problem. Premies are much more "normal" these days. But I am sure that things will settle down. Geronimo just wanted a little jump start to see what might have been for dinner last night. Your body has done such a great job and it will continue to do so until he is ready to come out and meet you. Good to hear that he is showing a bit older than you thought. That too much provide some relief. Thinking of you. Let us know if you need anything at all. And you better get going on the name- just in case. Love you!
Posted by: Danielle | February 21, 2007 at 04:37 AM
Oh how scary. Please stay put baby, at least for a few more weeks.
Posted by: Leggy | February 21, 2007 at 06:12 AM
Sending out good vibes - hang in there.
Not sure if this is helpful or not, but my friend had her twins at just over 28 weeks. They will be 5 years old next month and are perfectly healthy.
Stay focused and positive. Again, hang in there.
Posted by: cagey | February 21, 2007 at 06:19 AM
I know that zillions of people have wonderfully healthy early babies, but I hope your soon-to-be sticks it out for another two months. In the event that this one is stubborn and evicts early, I wish for all of you fantastic health and peace of mind.
I'm thinking of you.
Posted by: Heels | February 21, 2007 at 06:24 AM
Wishing you all the luck I may still possess. I hope Geronimo decides that inside is better then outside for a good long while more.
Take care and I hope the next post is from home and all is well.
Posted by: Shanna | February 21, 2007 at 06:31 AM
OMG!!! I hope hope hope that Geronimo decides to cook for a bit longer. Thank GOD they decided to put you on the monitor! That's so very scary. All three of you will be in my thoughts.
Posted by: Mary | February 21, 2007 at 06:59 AM
Thanks for keeping us posted. Sounds like Geronimo is taking everything in stride, but certainly you want him to bake as long as he can. Hang in there, we're thinking of you!
Posted by: Anne K. | February 21, 2007 at 07:45 AM
Ok, little one, stay in! Stay in!
JDE, I went into preterm labor with Luna. It was a little later at 33w, but at that point, they told me that if I went into full labor, they wouldn't stop it.
29-30w gestational gives little G some good odds on health.
Hang in there and FOLLOW DOCTOR'S ORDERS. I MEAN THAT!
Posted by: spacemom | February 21, 2007 at 08:11 AM
Waiting here with you. Hang in there, baby and family.
Posted by: Julie | February 21, 2007 at 01:28 PM
I was on procardia for Kendall. It made my heart race and right after taking it I felt like I was on funny gas...Don couldn't get me to shut up:)...then I would just want to doze off. I was able to keep her in for three-four more weeks though after being on bed rest, and then stress tests everyother day. They made me drink what seemed like gallons of water, too. Good luck!!!
Posted by: cb | February 21, 2007 at 05:09 PM
Hey! Make that baby stay put! I went into pre-term @28wks with my daughter Ivy (4yrs). They gave me the steroids and the mag (serious drugs to stop contractions) then kept me in the hospital for 9 days to monitor me. Finally I was sent home with a turbuteline pump. They stopped the pump @ 36wks and I delivered her that night. I got to take her home and everything! Good luck to you I know all will be well.
Posted by: Amy | February 25, 2007 at 09:48 AM