Scare on Black Friday

Josh and I are home with our families in North Carolina. It's always so nice to get away from the coast and head the mountains for a few days.  I've been taking it easy most of the week: laying on my left side, drinking tons of water and eating Thanksgiving treats.  Even though I've been resting most of the week I'm still getting those uterine contractions.  I had several yesterday that were close together.  Those didn't bother me as much as a weird feeling in my cervix or at least I think it was in my cervix.  It felt like pressure or something.  It became more noticable when I was standing or walking around. It started to get worse so I decided to call my doctor.  She wanted me to go to the hospital to make sure everything was okay.  I had to break the news that we were a few hours away.  But we figured out that I'm just a few minutes from the hospital where my doctor did her residency. She called the hospital's labor and delivery floor and told them I would be coming by soon.  Josh, Mom and I arrived at the hospital a few minutes later. Most of their rooms were full so I had to go into a birthing room.  The little wooden bassinet/warming table was in there.  I thought how scary it would be to go into preterm labor and deliver early.  The nurse put the monitors around my bump to hear her heartbeat and record my contractions.  I had about five contractions while we were there.  The monitor picked up each contraction.  The doctor came in and did a couple exams to make sure my cervix was long and closed.  She said it looked and felt great.  We felt so relieved.  She decided not to do any other tests.  She recommended resting and drinking lots of water.  She said I will probably have these contractions throughout my pregnancy and I will need to be monitored often to make sure my cervix isn't changing.  She said if the contractions become more frequent, stronger or even painful that I need to come back to make sure everything is okay.  I'm so glad we went by the hospital.  I couldn't have slept last night because I would have been so worried.  I still feel that weird feeling in my cervix so I'm trying to stay off my feet.  I've been so lucky to be on a break from work this week!

23 Weeks

Thanksgiving in Pictures

Uterine Contractions

First of all, and most importantly....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I have so much to be thankful for today: our baby, my husband, my family, my friends, my job, my house, and the list just keeps going.  Last night as I was falling asleep I felt her moving around.  She was very active for several minutes.  It made me so happy and I just smiled!  I am so thankful for her.

Josh and I went to our scheduled appointment on Monday.  We hadn't had an appointment in four weeks!  I started to worry a few days before the appointment.  I was ready to listen to her heartbeat to make sure everything was still okay.  Our nurse asked how everything was going and I told her fine with the exception of my stomach getting really tight and hard at times.  She said that I was having uterine contractions!  Our doctor came in a few minutes later.  She seemed concerned about the uterine contractions.  By the way, she never called them Braxton Hicks.  She is a very laid back doctor so Josh and I thought maybe this was a little serious when she seemed so concerned.  She said "I'm so sorry!  You've gone through too much: IVF, a vanishing twin, ovarian torsion with surgery and now uterine contractions so early!"  I thought "So early...what do you mean?"  I thought they were completely normal.  She said most women do not have uterine contractions until a couple months before their births or even a few days before their births. She said some women have uterine contractions early on and throughout their pregnancies and all is fine.  But she said some women have uterine contractions early on and go into preterm labor.  She said "early on" uterine contractions make doctors scratch their heads and wonder if patients will go into preterm labor. 

She checked my cervix and said everything was fine but it did feel a little soft.  She said this can be normal though.  She said to take it easy from here on out.  She said I was just going to have to be a party pooper during the holiday season.  She gave me a prescription for Magnesium Oxide.  I am taking it once a day for now but she said we will increase the dosage slowly.  Josh and I are going back on Monday.  I am going to have a test done to check for preterm labor.  It's called a Fetal Fibronectin (fTN) test.  Here are a couple web sites that explain the test:

http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1149.asp

http://www.fullterm.net/

I am worried but trying not to think about it.  It just makes me worry even more.  Josh and I are home with family.  I am taking it easy and lying around as much as possible.  I've felt a few uterine contractions here and there but try to relax, drink lots of water and lay on my left side.  I'll keep you updated on this bump in the road!

Lamaze, Baby Basics and Breastfeeding

January is going to be a busy month for us!  I called our hospital to register for the three classes that are offered during pregnancy: Lamaze, Baby Basics and Breastfeeding.  Each class has two sessions.  The sessions are two hours long.  The Lamaze class focuses on everything related to the birthing process.  The Baby Basics class focuses on everything related to the baby.  I am super excited!

22 Weeks

21 Weeks

I feel her move all the time.  It's an amazing feeling!  I love her so much already. 

Nursery Finds

I've been on cloud nine throughout this entire pregnancy.  I'm even more excited now because it's a girl!  I went shopping for her nursery last weekend.  I decided to accent her green room with PINK.  Here are a few of my finds:

Pink Accent Table from Target -- on sale right now!

Closetmaid Cube Organizer from Target

Picture frame from Marshalls

(also available in blue -- they had these at HomeGoods too!)

Artwork from HomeGoods

More Artwork from HomeGoods

Glider for Nursery

We love our new glider.

It's perfect for Her.

While I was shopping for a glider a couple weeks ago, I ran into my school nurse.  I told her that I was looking for a glider.  She said "Oh, don't buy anything yet. You must see the glider we are trying to sell at a consignment shop."  So I went to see the glider and I fell in love.  It's a Storytime Glider by Best Chairs.  I have always wanted a Storytime Glider but they are just too pricey ($500 - $700).  She made a deal of $100 and I drove away smiling.  We had the glider cleaned last week and it's looks new.  I love great deals!

Precious

Aren't these precious?  I couldn't resist!  I found them at the Carter's outlet store.  I'm pretty sure she will be wearing these home from the hospital.

20 Weeks

I can't believe I'm half way through the journey of pregnancy.  I can feel her move around throughout most of the day.  It's the best feeling!  Lately I've noticed that my stomach gets REALLY tight and it feels like a hard ball is right underneath my skin.  It doesn't hurt.  I usually notice it when I feel her moving and I put my hand on my stomach!  It happens at random times and just lasts a few seconds.  I'm assuming these are Braxton Hicks.  Any advice or suggestions?  I usually just try to relax when they happen because they go away quickly.  I'm going to ask my ob/gyn about it during our next appointment.