This is topic Oh Yikes - Doc says baby is on his way...sometime in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=037681

---

Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
 
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 ]
 

---

Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
 
Holy cow! I hope everything goes okay. Take care of yourself and the little one inside you. I'll be thinking good thoughts.
 

---

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
Wow! I'll be thinking of you guys.

This is almost certainly going to be fine though--your doctor knows what she's talking about.
 

---

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
 
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!

Farmgirl
 

---

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
 
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)
 

---

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 
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.
 

---

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
 

quote:

---

My sister had a baby 3 months early

---

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?!
 

---

Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
 
I'll be thinking about all Opera family.
 

---

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
 
Hmm, I'm thinking now that maybe she didn't like the season she was heading for.

(don't mind me, I'm just talking to myself)
 

---

Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
 
Eek, I hope everything goes okay! I'm sure it will, though, if your doc is as optimistic as she sounds. Best of luck!
 

---

Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
 
Good luck, SO! All our thoughts are with you.
 

---

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Best of luck, SO -- and all the Operas, especially the littlest!
 

---

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
 
SO, could you please email me your address the next time you are on?

breyerchic04 at hotmail dot com


thanks
 

---

Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
 
Be well, our thoughts are with your family.
 

---

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
 
I'm with you, SO, about magnesium. I had it too when I had my daughter. Your blood pressure high?

We'll be praying for New Baby Opera and for your sanity during bedrest. Might be a great time to re-read the Harry Potter series.

((Opera Fam))
 

---

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
(((hugs))) It'll be okay. And I'm praying for you, too.
 

---

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
Best of luck, and remember...


We want pictures ASAP!
 

---

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
 
Wow... just relax! Breathe! And remember that this is a happy occasion.

*hugs*
 

---

Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
 
Hope everything will be okay!!!
 

---

Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
 
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!

space opera
 

---

Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
 
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/
 

---

Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
 
Wow!
May everything go smoothly and happily!
 

---

Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
 
Thinking of you, SO! Best of luck.
 

---

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
 
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.
 

---

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 
*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.
 

---

Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
Oh, my goodness, Space Opera. You'll be in my thoughts.
 

---

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
Best of luck, Space Opera.

I am sure it will all go smoothly.
 

---

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
 
quid, I hope she NEVER sees this thread... o_O

And again, good luck with everything, SO!
 

---

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 
Nah, she's already heard it all.
 

---

Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
 
SO, you're in our thoughts as well.

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.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by quidscribis:

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.
 

---

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 
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.
 

---

Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
 
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.

space opera
 

---

Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
 
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.
 

---

Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
 
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!!!

space opera
 

---

Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
 
Yay! My son tried to come 2 1/2 months early. Spent three days in the hospital, a couple of weeks on meds.

He ended up being 2 days late.


 

---

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
Very cool, best of luck!
 

---

Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
Sneaky little wolfboy LOL I think his name needs to be Peter!
 

---

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 


Glad you're 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.
 

---

Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
 
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!
 

---