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Short version: I went into preterm labor (taking a page from Mrs. M's book, I suppose!) and am now back home on bed rest. Dr.'s best guess is that baby will be here in 10-12 days, which is around 5-6 weeks early.
Long version: Thank goodness Mr. Opera has more sense than I do! The "practice" contractions I'd been having were real. He threw a fit and convinced me to call the dr., who sent me to the hospital early Wednesday morning. I didn't even pack a bag I was so convinced that nothing was going on. When we got there my contractions were steady and 2-4 minutes apart. They immediately put me on Magnesium (which is hell, by the way) and antibiotics in case of infection, as well as steriods to mature baby's lungs.
The Dr. says the "magic day" is Monday, when I'll be 34 weeks. She says baby looks wonderful and will be just fine, just small. They had a 4-pound 34-weeker in the nursery who was breathing on his own, which made me feel tons better. Her best guess as to when I'll have him is 10-12 days - could be sooner/later. I'm 70 percent effaced (sp?) and his head is fully engaged. She was able to easily feel it during a cervical check. So I'm on bed rest until he comes...yuck!
I'm trying really hard not to be scared and overwhelmed. I'm having a difficult time wrapping my head around the idea that instead of having 7 more weeks of pregnancy left I might have 1-2. I do trust my dr., though, and if she says he'll be fine then he'll be fine. My in-laws have the older 2 kids right now and I think are planning on coming down and helping out next week. Poor Mr. Opera is going to have a lot of on his plate.
space opera
[ September 09, 2005, 08:55 PM: Message edited by: Space Opera ]
Posts: 2578 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Holy cow! I hope everything goes okay. Take care of yourself and the little one inside you. I'll be thinking good thoughts.
Posts: 1903 | Registered: Sep 2003
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In one way I'm glad the baby is early and a little small, S.O., because you are such a tiny gal that I was afraid a large baby would be very hard on you.
It sounds like your doctor has a good control of the situation, and soon you will have a beautiful new little one!
My prayers are with you and your baby that all goes well over these next few days leading up to the birth!
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Hope everything goes well! I don't remember you posting something about this, but do you already know the sex of the baby? Just curios. (looks like you don't from your post)
Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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My sister had a baby 3 months early and 3 lbs 3 oz, and everything was working properly. She's now 15 and taller than her mother. Docs are old hat at this sort of thing, so no need to worry. Just rest, relax, and take care of yourself.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Wow! That baby sure was in a rush! I came a little bit early too, mainly because I wanted to have a birthday *right* at the end of the school year, just when everybody leaves for home. What on Earth were her reasons?!
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Eek, I hope everything goes okay! I'm sure it will, though, if your doc is as optimistic as she sounds. Best of luck!
Posts: 957 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I've been busy today making "to do" lists for Mr. Opera - lucky guy. It's driving me crazy not to be able to get up and do stuff, but it's much better than being stuck in the hospital with all the monitors, etc.
jeniwren, my blood pressure isn't high; is that what you took mag for? They just used it to relax everything, so it made my blood pressure bottom out pretty much the whole time. It didn't make me feel too terrible at first, but about 12 hours after my loading dose I started throwing up and was too weak to even lift my legs or turn over without help. There was a point where if my dr. had come in the room I would have just begged her to let me have the baby instead of take any more of that stuff!
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My friends who've had preemies all swear by the Moby sling. The earlier babies seem to really need that extra "pouch time". I have no doubt it will all turn out OK. Ooops...link: http://www.mobywrap.com/Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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SO, yeah I was pre-pre-eclampsic, I think. They put me on a drip of it shortly after labor was induced (which they were doing because of my blood pressure...normally it's fairly low but it had been climbing steadily in the last weeks of the pregnancy, though I didn't have any swelling like most pre-eclampsia).
It burned going in, and about half an hour after the bolus, I was throwing up and wishing I was dead. Made me very, very hot, to where they reduced the temp of the room to glacial and froze out my two coaches. Even at that, they were putting ice on my feet and behind my neck to keep me from going totally crazy. I was able to keep active mostly, but about 12 - 14 hours after they'd started the drip, I couldn't move without help. It was really nasty.
It took about a day or so to get it cleared from my system to where I started feeling sort of normal (for recently post-partum). I hope (and will pray) you won't have to have any more of it.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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*laughs* Corwin, I have no idea what my niece's reasons were for coming out early. She's certainly not in a rush any more. . .
My sister thought she was having gas pains, and it got pretty bad, so she went to the hospital, which was just down the street. They examine her, and tell her she's going to have a baby. My sister denies it, saying, "No, I'm having gas." They insist, "No, you're having a baby."
One big fart later and my niece was born.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:The Dr. says the "magic day" is Monday, when I'll be 34 weeks. She says baby looks wonderful and will be just fine, just small. They had a 4-pound 34-weeker in the nursery who was breathing on his own, which made me feel tons better.
I was born six weeks early, didn't need any special treatment except a heated crib. Turned out just fine. (And this was 33 years ago.) Trust your doctor. Things will be OK.
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I hope you are doing well. Wishing you all the luck in the world. Of course you would wish your baby would wait just a little bit longer, but if it's time then it's time. I know both of you will do fine. You've got a great team behind you with your husband and family and the doctors and nurses. Can't wait to see tons of cute photos and learn the little one's name. Oh.... and the Hatrack nick, too.
Posts: 822 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Well the other kids are Boy Opera and Operaetta... so maybe Libretto? Entr'Acte? <ducking and running>
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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My sister thought she was having gas pains, and it got pretty bad, so she went to the hospital, which was just down the street. They examine her, and tell her she's going to have a baby. My sister denies it, saying, "No, I'm having gas." They insist, "No, you're having a baby."
One big fart later and my niece was born.
Golly! Did she KNOW that she was pregnant? Or did she carry all the way up to delivery without a notion that there was a baby in there? I've heard of such things happening, especially with overweight women.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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Oh, no, she knew she was pregnant, but she was only six months along. It wasn't supposed to happen yet. Um, hence the earlier post about my niece born 3 months premature and 3 lbs 3 oz.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Soooo very bored. I loathe not being able to do stuff. I feel kind of guilty because I hope the little guy gets here soon just so I can be a normal person again!
All essential baby stuff is now purchased and ready to go. My wonderful in-laws spent a few days with us this weekend and did our grocery shopping, mowed our sizeable yard, and even did the cleaning. In contrast, one of my own sisters has not called a single time to see how we are, but did find the time to e-mail me the link to her new website so that I could purchase jewelry from her.
The dr.'s "best guess" is now down to about a week. Watch me go for 42. I told Mr. Opera if that happens the baby is getting a spanking as soon as he comes out.
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Good luck, Space Opera. I'm glad your in-laws came down and were so helpful. I'm sure you're still going stir-crazy, but at least there isn't all that stuff needing to be done to bug you.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Ok, I told Mr. Opera that the baby's new name is "The Little Baby Who Cried Wolf."
I went to the dr. today fully expecting to hear that things were continuing to progress.
Her words: "Wow! There's actually more cervix there now than there was last week!"
So after cycling through "oh my gosh I can't have the baby yet I'm not ready for him yet oh no will he be okay" to "hmm...I'm getting excited about having the baby now and he'll be okay" I'm now to "my child is such a little brat."
The good news is that she said I can get up enough now that I don't go crazy (which I'm choosing to interpret as "resume almost all normal activities") and that if I go into labor they will let the baby be born. Yay for being off the couch!!!
It's funny how these things stick - Tony's Mother still reminds him of how he took 36 hours (!! - all of proper, agonising labour) *and* he picked the time when the town doctor was away to start.
Brat of a child indeed.
Posts: 4393 | Registered: Aug 2003
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My midwife was worried that my youngest would be early. She told me to rest lots and not strain myself. I was dialated to a 6 for a couple weeks before she was born. She came the day before her due date. But when you've been expecting an early baby, that feels LATE!
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