My 5 day unexpected vacation in L&D : (

All day friday I had back pain and some menstrual cramp-type pain. I didn't think anything of it - thought it was normal. By about 7:30 pm, though, the pain had intensified - my DH took me to the hospital. I've never actually been a patient in a hospital before so I was kinda freaking out. But everyone was super nice - they told me those pains I'd been having were contractions (seriously, I've never been pg before and had no idea). Then they did an fFn, which was negative, and my cervix was still solid, but I was in a bit of a panic. So they gave me a shot of terbutaline - it did nothing. The doc then gave me the bad news -- they had to admit me to their equivalent of L&D "ICU" for monitoring and put me on mag sulfate. I was so upset, not only b/c of all the side effects of the mag that I'd read about (and feared), but also b/c my baby shower was scheduled for the very next day at 3 (I wanted the babies to be safe but I didn't want to miss the shower either!).

Well, 3 o'clock on Saturday (and my baby shower) came and went and I was still in the hospital. After a 12 hour trial of mag, they took me off of it to see what would happen. Well, what happened is that my painful contractions came back, though not quite as strongly. On Saturday night they decided they'd put me back on the mag for at least 24 hours, maybe more. Luckily I tolerated the mag very well - no nausea, no vomiting, no headaches - but by Monday morning (and into 35-40 hrs on the mag) I was drunk-numb. My mind was working but my muscles weren't. They took me off of it. They then watched me til this afternoon to see what would happen. Thankfully, this time, the painful contractions did NOT come back. So they let me go with instructions to stay super hydrated and take it easier than I have been.

So, that was my weekend - I spent 4 nights/5 days in L&D, despite what had been a super smooth pregnancy to date. I totally missed my own baby shower (I got to watch the video my brother in law made for me instead). But even so, there were positives - it was a strong wake up call to hydrate and relax (and maybe work a little less). It was an introduction to being a patient in the hospital, so I will be far less anxious about that when it comes time to actually deliver. I met a whole bunch of the docs in my physician's group who I'd never met before, and I really liked them all! And at the end of the day, the babies are doing extremely well (measuring big for their age), my cervix hasn't changed, and so hopefully everything will stay fine.

What a weekend!!!!

Sorry so long, but I wanted to share my very unexpected experience!

 

That doesn't sound fun at all, but I'm glad things are going better now. I'm glad to see you've found all the positives in your experience too, although it was a bummer to have to miss your baby shower. My friend planned one for me, but I'll be about 32 wks. and 5 days. I'm so worried that I won't even be able to go or something, but it can't be moved up because of her work schedule.

Anyway, keep drinking and rest when you need to!

 

That doesnt sound fun... Sorry you missed your shower! At least your cervix is closed and you arent contracting, maybe that was your bodies way of saying it was time to REALLY slow down! Good luck and keep drinking that water and resting!!

 

Yikes! What a total bummer!!! I missed my shower too, so I know how you feel. But I never had to do mag sulfate. That must have been a scary experience.

So now you know what to look for at least when it comes to contractions. And good for you for responding to your body's signals. Hopefully you will not have to go through that again!

 

Wow...that must have been quite the shock for you! I'm really glad you tolerated the mag sulfate so well...I know a lot of people who've really struggled with that. Bummer about the shower, but excellent news about the babies doing so well! Keep resting...and take care!

reyna

 

I am starting to think as soon as you plan a shower, you end up in the hospital. I had that happen as well and had to cancel my shower. I was so disappointed.
I am glad things are going better for you and you were able to tolerate the mag well. I never had to go to the step but I was so afraid of having to take it.

 

I was on mag for 8 days and also missed my shower, that was cool that someone taped it for you!

Sorry to hear about your 'vacation' but glad to hear you are hanging in there. Did they give you any oral meds for the contractions? The way I got off mag (didn't think I ever would since I tolerated it like nothing) was they had to change my iv line as it could only be in the same place for soo many days before they had to change hands, my peri happened to be doing rounds right then and said, "oh it is out, lets leave it out". We tried a pill instead. He said if the pill helped me remain stable then I could go home, it did and I did go home where I stayed 6 weeks before delivering. My contractions were causing cervical changes though.

Keep listening to your body and don't ever hesitate to call your doc when something doesn't feel quite right!!

 

Sorry you had such a bad time. At least you are still cooking those little ones! What a bummer you had to miss your shower. Hope you got plenty of nice things to make up for it. Keep hydrated and relax your babies will be here before you know it.