Bed Rest: Week 1

The Procadia seems to be working well. Dr. Woolard decreased the amount to one pill every six hours instead of every four hours. My orders are to stay on bed rest and continue with the Procardia. If the contractions begin again increase the Procardia back to every four hours. I would see her again on Thursday for another non-stress test and evaluation.

Well that is just what happed that evening…more contraction. I went back to taking the Procardia every four hours and they subsided.

Our Pregnancy Scare

I was 33 weeks pregnant and everything was progressing perfectly, I have had a wonderful pregnancy so far with absolutely no complaints. I woke up this morning to get ready for our maturnity photo shoot and when I went to the restroom, I was hemorrhaging. I immediately yelled at Tim to wake up and call the Dr. because we needed to to the hospital. I had no idea what was going on!! When we finally talked to the on call Dr., Dr. Lemmons, she told us to go to the hospital and she would meet us there. We were already on our way!! The 15 minute ride to St. Francis Medical Center seemed to take forever. I just kept thinking this can't be happening, I am only 33 weeks pregnant and everything seemed to be going perfect.

When we arrived at the hospital, the immediately put us in a room and hooked up the baby monitors to see how Baby Ayden was handling everything. He seemed to be doing well so they continued with the check-in and ordered an ultrasound. When Dr. Lemmons arrived, she informed us that I was having regular contractions and was progressing into pre-term labor. I had already called Mom and Dad and they were on their way to Cape Girardeau. Dr. Lemmons continued to explain that they didn't want me to have the baby yet and that they were going to start me on a Magnesium drip to stop the contractions. They would start out with a small amount and continue to increase or decrease the amount depending on what happened. As they started the Magnesium, they also brought in an ultrasound technician to measure our little boy and make sure the placenta was working and there was still enough fluid around the baby. Ayden was measuring 3 pounds, 12 ounces; small for 33 weeks gestation. They also brought in a nurses from the NICU to explain what we may have to cope with if the baby decides to come early. I was then given a shot of steroids to help baby Aydens lungs develop more quickly. The second steriod shot would be given in 24 hours. Since I was now well into the Magnesium daze; I took in all of the information quite well. It wasn't until Dr. Lemmons came in and told me that my contractions were showing no signs of stopping and they were going to increase the Mag. one last time before we may have to conider delivering the baby that I completely broke down. I just wasn't quite ready to become a Mommy yet. I still has so many things to do before Ayden joined our family.

After a few hours of contracting, being on the Magnesium drip, and dilating to 2cm, the Magnesium started to do its job. My contractions were slowing and not quite as regular. They kept me on the Magnesium throughout the night and into the next day. Sunday afternoon they started weaning me off of the Magnesium and I was able to be taken completly off of the drip by Monday morning. They had now started me on doses of Procardia to hold off the contractions so I could carry the baby as long as he was getting the nutrition he needed from me.

I continued through Monday and Tuesday with the Procardia while the contractions would still come and go. By Wednesday morning the Dr.s has perfected the dosate at one Procardia every four hours. I was released from the hospital Wednesday, April 23rd with the orders of complete bed rest and Procardia every four hours. I was to see my Dr., Dr. Woolard, two times a week and also come into the office for non-stress tests.