Labor & Delivery- Pregnant Photos Included

Yesterday I woke up and it hurt to urinate.  I know exciting details.  Four glasses of water later, there was little of it being offered up either.  However, there was significant brown spotting.  This didn’t overtly trouble me, brown blood equals old blood.  However, I was concerned that I may have my very first (yes, very first) urinary tract infection.  I was also having mild period like cramping.  Combine them all together and they either equal a UTI or premature labor.  My OB sent me straight to labor and delivery.

So, we signed in, registered, and were whisked away to our own room.  Which if I may say are rather large.  I was hooked up to a fetal monitor and contraction monitor.  However, first I was given the dreaded catheter to drain my bladder and get a “clean sample” for the lab.  My urine sample came back three hours later negative.  The period like cramps I was previously experiencing were escalating to moderate ones.  I was having moderate contractions every three to seven minutes lasting thirty seconds to one minute long.  Troubling and confusing the doctors.

So, they checked me every hour on the hour.  This, of course, can aggrivate the contractions making them worse.  I would like to thank my good friend Krista for letting me know ages ago that being checked for dilation stinks big time.  I was at least prepared for the very uncomfortable situation when the nurse shoved her arm up to her elbows in my girly bits.  Ow.  There was no dilation.  The nurse and OB were glad that the contractions weren’t causing me to thin out or dilate.  Um, so was I. 

The problem was that the contractions were showing no signs of stopping any time soon.  Genevieve looked healthy.  She had a varying heart rate, and that’s what they love to see.  She gleefully kicked the fetal monitor, rolled, and punched her way around in there.  In all seriousness, it was the most active she’s ever been!  So, shortly after Krista (who works in the same hospital only two floors up,) called to ask if they were going to stop the contractions, the nurse walked in with Tributalene.  They injected it into my arm, and I was warned it would sting and make my heart race.  It only slightly stung, but was nothing compared to the IVF meds of the past.  The first dose didn’t do the trick, and they had to give me a second.  The second shot was humbling.  HOLY CRAP.  It hurt like crazy, and my heart began to race.  I still had a contraction or two after the second dose, and they wanted to give me a third.  However, I lied through my teeth and claimed to not feel the last two.  No way in hell, did I want another round of that craziness.  I evaded the third injection.

So, we landed in labor and delivery at noon, and they dishcarched us at 6 pm.  The verdict: The contractions were due to the urinary tract infection that I don’t have, but they are going to treat me for anyway.  Oh, and to drink plenty of water.  Not what I would call a productive day.  We survived though.  My next OB appointment is tomorrow.  I’m sure we’ll talk about this then.

The large private room. Like our table?

Still comfortable, prior to moderate contractions.

Being monitored.

This weeks’ belly shot.

Watching a moderate contraction.

Ready to go home.

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Beautiful Baby Girl
• Not much fun at 34 weeks.