Modified Bed rest is ... Interesting

It's funny how people who have not been on bed rest will express jealousy over someone's mandatory laziness. Bed rest has never been something that sounded even remotely pleasant to me - I'm just not good at sitting still or remaining inactive. So, I knew on Thursday night that this would be tough for me.

It's been two full days so far, and I have noticed that my contractions are less frequent. So, between the increased medications and the resting, something is working. I am very grateful for that and hopeful that at least the next 2-4 weeks will remain relatively uneventful

But, oh boy, this is tough. Those who know me well probably have seen me in action at home. I'm not good at letting things wait until later. Dishes, laundry, jackets draped over chairs - these things drive me batty. It is difficult for me to truly relax until I have accomplished at least a few things around the house. So you can just imagine how sitting on the couch for 80% of the day makes me feel.

But, there are good things about it too. Most importantly, it is giving Joaquin every opportunity to grow big and healthy. But also, I am reminded all over again what a great husband I have. Jay has really been awesome. He is cooking, cleaning, taking care of the dogs and not complaining at all. I am so lucky. I would never be able to relax the way I should without all of his help.

Tonight, Jay made dinner. It was a simple dinner - grilled chicken and rice. After a few mishaps with the rice, we ate a delicious dinner and Jay admitted that it was really stressful juggling making dinner. Trying not to burn the chicken while figuring out the rice is not as easy as it looks. And then he said he had a whole new appreciation for what I do (or at least used to do when I cooked dinner on a regular basis).

So, even though this is tough on both of us, we have each been reminded of how much we do for each other. We are very lucky.

Family & Friends

I didn't think I would have to draft this post for a while longer, but I guess at this point it's becoming more and more likely that we have to start actually planning for a birth. That is exciting and scary at the same time.

Jay and I appreciate all of the support that each and every one of you has provided throughout this process. It is so comforting to know that we have so many people in our lives who are just as excited to meet Joaquin as we are.

Many of you have asked about things like visiting the hospital, being present for when he is born and visiting our house after we come home from the hospital.

Here is some preliminary information for everyone:

I will be delivering at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. The Hospital is between Superior and Newport Blvd, just up the hill from PCH. The Labor & Delivery department is located on the 5th floor of the main building of the hospital, opposite the main parking structure. The hospital also offers complimentary valet parking. You can go straight up to the 5th floor without checking in with the main desk on the first floor. The hospital has free wifi access, so you can also bring your laptops/iPads. They also allow cell phones.

Either Jay or our doula, Lorraine, will try to periodically update any one who decides to wait at Hoag on our progress throughout labor to the extent possible.

The hospital has a policy that no family members may visit with the new parents/baby for at least 1 hour after the baby is born. This policy is meant to ensure that the baby gets some "skin-to-skin" time with mom and the staff has a chance to complete their basic tests and so forth.

Assuming all is well, we will be moved to the 7th floor of the hospital 2 hours after delivery. This is the "mother-baby" unit. So if you want to forego the waiting room and come to visit later, this is where you will find us. Under normal circumstances, mothers stay on the 7th floor anywhere from 2-5 days. You can call Hoag directly to check that I am still there and able to take visitors, or you can give Jay a call on his cell phone.

After we return home, Jay is planning to take 2 weeks off from work, so I will not be alone. We plan to use this time to bond as a family as much as possible and also to allow me to recover physically. Visits from family members are welcome at this time, but our home is just far too small for any overnight visitors in the guest room. So, for our out-of-town family members who would like to visit, we highly recommend the Best Western Newport Beach, which is walking distance from our place. If you'd prefer a nicer hotel that is only a 5 minute drive away, we recommend the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, which is just north of our place on PCH.

If you have any questions, please let either Jay or me know. We hope that anyone who wants to visit will be able to do so!

Home from L&D!

Yay! I was allowed to go home! I am so relieved.

The fetal fibronectin test came back negative, which is great news. I was still registering more contractions than the doctor was happy with, even though I had recently taken my Procardia.

So, I was read the riot act by my nurse (who, by the way, was just the coolest nurse ever) about taking it easy, drinking water, taking my pills, and staying on the couch as much as possible. I'm not even allowed to go to the grocery store any more.

I was given two more shots of terbutaline, which made me really jittery and had my heart going all over again. I was also told to up my dosage of Procardia at home and take it every 6 hours, even if I didn't think I was having contractions.

I was there for about 3.5 hours. Thank goodness my awesome husband came and kept me company.

Ticker Change Thursday - 33 Weeks

Joaquin is 33 weeks today and about the size of a honeydew melon. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.


How far along? 33 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 30 pounds.
Sleep? I wake up a ton to pee, but otherwise sleep is fine. However, I am now a apparently quite talented at snoring, which is making it hard for Jay to sleep (even with all of the training from Bananas!)
Best moment this week? Jay and I were watching Dexter last night and it was really good!
Movement: He's moving all over the place, which is so reassuring.
Food cravings: Brownies and cottage cheese.
What I miss? Not worrying about a premature delivery.
What I am looking forward to? Hopefully some good news this evening.
Milestones: I'm one week away from 34 weeks, which is when my OB says that babies tend to do really well if they are born.
What I'm nervous about: I have a lot of work to do by Monday and I have a stressful afternoon coming up. I am wondering how I am going to juggle all of this.

Back to L&D this afternoon

I think it's going to be a Thursday ritual for me or something! I have gone to L&D on Thursday 3 weeks in a row.

I went to see my OB this morning and she was concerned about my cervical length (which is down to 2.6-2.8cm, from 3.1 last week and 3.3 two weeks ago - I had an u/s to check this yesterday afternoon).

So, I have to go back to L&D and have the fetal fibronectin test again and be monitored for contractions.

If the test is negative and all looks fine, then I can go back home and resume what I've been doing for the last week.

If the test is positive, then I am going to be admitted to L&D for at least 72 hours and will get steroids just in case.

I hope it comes back negative!

Wish me luck.

Late Update on OB Appointment

I went to see my OB on Friday afternoon and the news is as follows:

1. No going into work for at least 3 weeks (until I am 35 weeks), except for one meeting I have scheduled on Wednesday.

2. I am supposed to get another U/S this Wednesday to check and make sure I am not dialated or effaced. I have another U/S 2 weeks later to check growth as well.

3. If at 35 weeks I am not dialated or effaced and everything else looks good, I might be allowed to go back to the office. I will also have to pass the fetal fibronectin test again at 35 weeks.

4. I am NOT on bedrest, but I am supposed to take it easy at home as much as possible.

Oh - I forgot

My official "diagnosis" from the hospital yesterday was an "irritable uterus", which Dr. Google has told me is something that the scientific community knows little to nothing about. It is basically a condition where a uterus likes to contract a lot and can be caused by many different things (and likely some things that are yet undiscovered) and is not really "curable".

It is linked to a slightly higher chance of premature birth (18% or so versus the normal 11%) and is usually treated with bed rest, terbutaline, prometrium or a combination of these things.