posted
Mama (in 31st week) started having many contractions this afternoon -- not incredibly strong, but noticeable, and every 7-10 minutes for a couple hours. We called, and they said (probably based at least partially on the fact that she went into pre-term labor last pregnancy) to come down to the hospital. We couldn't find someone quickly enough to watch Mooselet, so we had to bring him along, too. This didn't make things easier, but we still love him.
We got there, headed up to the second floor (which is all the instructions we were given), and walked until we found a nurses' station. We told them the situation, they pointed us back the direction from which we'd come. Went to the right place, were led to labor & delivery room #3, where Mama donned a gown and lay on the bed, and monitors were attached to her belly.
Well, from around the time she got into the car to when we got to the hospital, the contractions had for the most part stopped, and she had had none after we got out of the car. Apparently that's not uncommon, though, because adrenaline counteracts the oxytocin that causes the contractions. Once the rush wore off, the contractions started again.
After it seemed apparent to them that they weren't gonna stop on their own, they gave her some medicine that we hadn't heard of before -- starts with a P. They continued monitoring for another hour to hour-and-a-half to see if that would take care of it (during which time Mooselet and I choked down some hospital cafeteria food that, to be honest, wasn't too bad).
Nope. No dice.
So, a shot of terbutylene (sp?). And they planned to watch her for at least an hour after that, so Mooselet and I packed up and headed home, where the theory was that I would put him to bed, then Mama's grandmother would stop over to be in the house while he slept, and I would return to be with Mama as long as necessary (last time she was there overnight).
No, overnight wasn't gonna happen either, because after the shot, the contractions stopped. Entirely. (This is where the "clapping" smiley from Nauvoo would be inserted were it also available here at Hatrack.) So she called home (while Mooselet and I were still cleaning up the horrendous mess of a house that Grandma was about to see), and said as soon as Grandma got there I could come pick her up -- calling a few minutes before I arrive so she can wait outside. Since the doors lock at 8:00, I wouldn't be able to go in to get her, so this was good planning.
Ok, so I'm putting Mooselet through his nighttime routine, and the phone rings. It's my brother, who needs a minute of my time. "I'm putting Carl to bed, then I need to go pick Connie up from the hospital. If it's really one minute you need, go ahead."
"Well, it's one minute that will involve thinking."
"Then it'd better be another time."
I return to Mooselet, and continue reading the Berenstain Bears. Moments later, Grandma arrives. Another interruption, after which I continue reading to Mooselet. We read a second story, then pray, then the lights go off and I hold him and sing a couple songs while he drinks his water. "All done," says the gentle, innocent voice of the child I hold in my arms. So I take the water, put it on the bedside table, and lay him down on the bed.
"Want your blanket?" <Nod.> And I drape the blanket across him. "Want Winnie the Pooh?" <Nod.> And I lay Pooh in the crook of his arm. "I love you, Carl. Nigh nigh."
"Allou, Daddy. Nigh nigh."
Out to the living room. The monitor is on, so Grandma only needs to worry if she hears a "bad" noise. I give her instructions on operating the TV remote ("Just put it on AMC, Al Pacino is on"), and I head back to the hospital. About halfway there I realize I left the cell phone at home, because I'd taken it off when I put Mooselet to bed. Oh well, I think. I'll figure out something.
Got there, and someone was leaving just as I arrived, and stood in the automatic door to keep it open until I got to the door. Mama saw me anyway, and headed toward me. "Good thing you didn't get here about a minute ago -- I was in the bathroom, so you wouldn't have found me!"
When we got home, I put the key in the front door, and a little voice somewhere on the other side said, "Daddy!" Sure enough, he had no interest in remaining in bed after I left (and had very little interest in it after we got home, too). After we both walked in, though, it was Mommy he wanted to see, not me. I guess the cry of "Daddy" was one of "those hoping for the best, planning for the worst" things.
So tomorrow we'll get the prescription for Nifedapine filled, and if she starts having contractions again, she can take that. Not directed to bedrest this time (good, because I'm still out of work), but she definitely gets to (has to) take it easy. A few quick informative calls to our moms and my brother, and we're done for the evening.
And right now, the important thing is that everything is fine.
posted
Excuse me, I can't hear you, I'm busy being free of responsibility and children. La la la.
Heh. Glad to hear everything's fine, dude. Hope you wind up with another Mooselet safe and sound, soon.
Posts: 3293 | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote: "All done," says the gentle, innocent voice of the child I hold in my arms. So I take the water, put it on the bedside table, and lay him down on the bed.
"Want your blanket?" <Nod.> And I drape the blanket across him. "Want Winnie the Pooh?" <Nod.> And I lay Pooh in the crook of his arm. "I love you, Carl. Nigh nigh."
posted
Glad things are okay, Moose. Here's to hoping they continue.
And I ask you... can Mooselet get any cuter. I think not. So incredibley adorable. He's gonna be a good big brother... already wanting to make sure everyone is okay staying up and all to greet you.
{{{{{{{MooseFamily}}}}}}} <== a very important thing
Posts: 822 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
quote:After it seemed apparent to them that they weren't gonna stop on their own, they gave her some medicine that we hadn't heard of before -- starts with a P.
Pitocin.
Oh jimminy, I'm so happy things are fine.
*tight squeeze for Papa, gentle hug for Mama, peek-a-boo faces at Mooselet
Always, always, always title the scary threads this way. It makes it a world better to read.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm so glad things are okay. My sis in law was in and out of the hospital for early labor and she made it until her due date with everything okay. Hang in there!
On a side note when I was at Sam's Club the other day they had their Christmas stuff out. They have a little Christmas Moose Family decoration with a papa, momma, and two babies. I thought of you If you get the chance and can get to Sams go check it out. If I had the money I would have bought it for you.
Posts: 1132 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
| IP: Logged |
posted
Very glad they were able to get it stopped. I'm glad she and the baby are okay. And I must say, you sound like a very good daddy, which doesn't suprise me, but it is still nice to read about.
I always felt my contractions from early on, but they only stayed regular enough to go to the hospital once. It was my first pregancy, there was a heat wave in Oregon, and I had gotten dehydrated. That never happened again. I'm a zealot for drinking lots of water.
posted
CT- You're an the medical field right? I'm not medical or anything, so you can tell me I'm wrong. I thought Pitocin was a hormone that induced pregnancy (contractions)?
Lalo -- I won't get into the cost/benefit discussion of having children, because we've been through it plenty times before. I'm glad you're happy with the current status of your life, and hope your opinion and your situation will both move in the same direction over time.
Toni -- yeah, I got a little over-sentimental (and just a tiny bit misty) at that point, too. Mooselet does that to a person.
Larisse -- I hadn't thought of it that way, but I'm sure that's exactly what it was. He was staying up to greet us and make sure we were all ok. I think he'll be a good big brother, too. I also think he's incredibly cute, but I'm biased. Right, but biased.
CT -- it wasn't pitocin; we would've recognized that. And yes, I titled the thread specifically so that none might worry from the beginning. If anyone's upset about spoilers, they can go read a book; I thought it was important in the telling of this tale that the people who matter to me know the end (so far) of the story from the beginning. Oh, and we're registered at Babies 'Я' Us.
Erik -- I tried to avoid the worry by starting with the thread title; thanks for the concern, and sorry I didn't succeed.
Mack -- I don't want them to, but I'm only going to suggest, not give directives. Not like I can assign a time-out or anything.
Wendy -- that sounds so adorable. We have a Sam's Club nearby. Is that a membership store? If not, I can go check it out.
Amka -- yeah, we're wondering if the heat and dehydration may have had something to do with it. She's usually very good about keeping hydrated, but had forgotten to bring a water bottle to church this morning, and just didn't think much of it. As soon as the contractions started, she started drinking more water (probably 2 liters in the next couple hours), but she might have started a little behind the curve.
All others, thank you again. We're honored to be a part of this family, and grateful for your thoughts, prayers, and hugs. Turns out that this is my 3,000th post. I decided against doing a landmark, because I didn't have anything landmark-worthy to say right now. I've already done three of them, after all.
posted
Pat, if I were to accept your advances after you go gay, there would probably be some question as to whether or not I were still a good parent (a topic I'm not interested in arguing now), and more concurrence that I would no longer be a good husband. Would you still even want me?
Oh, and besides -- if I "go gay," I'd have my sights set on Pod. Just gotta figure out how to get Jaiden out of the picture.
posted
Glad everything is alright Moose. Just thought I'd toss my hat into the ring of "went into labor early." Pre-term labor at 34 weeks, 3 days in hospital (the gave me something to stop the contractions and when they came back and asked me if I was feeling anything at all that was unusual, I said, well, I have no idea what this has to do with anything, but it feels like someone is sitting on my chest. Oh, the joys of being rushed from one hospital to another. ) Anyway, we went from early labor to 2 days past the due date!
Also, could it have been Procardia?
Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
Boon
unregistered
posted
When I went into pre-term labor (with both kids, thank you very much) they gave me breathane injections. It's a drug usually used to treat asthma, and has not been FDA approved to stop contractions, but it works. Are you sure it started with a P? I can't imagine what it might have been.
I'm glad everything is okay...you know, we definitely need a little smiley wiping his sweaty brow.
IP: Logged |
posted
Procardia sounds right. And yeah, first pregnancy, Mama went into pre-term labor at 33 weeks, in the hospital overnight, and Mooselet ended up being born only one day before due-date. <Trusting that this baby will be full-term also.>
Tom, you make the joke on Pat's "we can take her" comment, but pass right by his boastful "I'll be coming after you" claim?
I'm really glad to hear that everything is all right.
quote:"All done," says the gentle, innocent voice of the child I hold in my arms. So I take the water, put it on the bedside table, and lay him down on the bed.
"Want your blanket?" <Nod.> And I drape the blanket across him. "Want Winnie the Pooh?" <Nod.> And I lay Pooh in the crook of his arm. "I love you, Carl. Nigh nigh."
"Allou, Daddy. Nigh nigh."
Gosh, it's even more adorable if you've met Mooselet. What a sweet little boy. Every time we've hung out with him, Juliette and I have talked during the drive home about how much we want kids.
Posts: 4534 | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh, thank God. I thought that "since the contractions weren't going to stop" (missing the important on their own), they tried to go ahead with an induced delivery.
Shows you how well I function after a night without sleep.
[now sleeping, got up to attend to whatnots & checked online, still freaked out that someone was trying to get ahold of the new Moosie early (I actually dreamed that we sent ak in to deal with the obstetrician, who was dressed up like Chuck E. Cheese)]
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm glad everything is fine! It sounds like ya'll handled everything very calmly - like pros.
That's the cutest, sweetest little quote from the Mooselet. How old is he? You definitely need to write it down in his baby book so he can read it one day.
Will keep you all in my thoughts for a smooth ride the next 8-9 weeks.
posted
Pop- Yes Sams is a membership place but I think they let you go in and look around. Tell them you are thinking about a membership but want to check it out first. They might even give you a temporary one day pass. They did with me years ago so I don't know if they still do it..... Glad things are still well and I'll pray for a healthy and safe and on time delivery. Posts: 1132 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Group Hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
" smilie, but then I thought better of it... ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Sleep]](graemlins/sleep.gif)
![[No No]](graemlins/nono.gif)
