by Jessica on December 23, 2009
We just got back from our follow-up appointment, and I am very happy to say that everything is looking good! The doctor checked my cervix right away and pronounced “You’re the same!” Woo hoo! Knox’s heartbeat still sounds excellent in the 150s and his movement has certainly stayed very strong. The doctor wants me to take the Terbutaline every six hours, so four times a day, because it does seem to be working to control the contractions. I will be on bed rest until 36 or 37 weeks, and then they’ll let me off of it and the medicine. She did tell me that since Knox has had both doses of steroids in the hospital, if he were to be born now, he would behave more like 35 weeks than 33. She also said that if I were to go back into preterm labor, they wouldn’t do as much to stop it because we have had the steroids. Scary, I don’t want that to happen! Even if he would be okay, I want to be able to take my baby home with me when he’s born and not go to the NICU, so he needs to stay put until full term!
They hooked me up to the NST to check for contractions, and I didn’t have any when I was there, although my uterus is “irritable.” It shows little spikes and bounces on the monitor, even though they aren’t actual contractions. She reiterated that it is okay for me to do small errands because I told her I was scared to do anything other than get up to pee and shower. She said I may contract when I’m up walking around, but as long as I’m not up for too long and go right back to laying down afterwards, it will be just fine. That made me feel better. So, here I lay, making my list for our outing to Target this evening. I haven’t done my Christmas shopping, so Trevor and I are going to try to make a quick trip tonight. Who knows, I may end up rocking the motorized scooter, I promise to take pictures if I do.
I have lost a few pounds as of today, I am assuming from being in the hospital. I was so pumped full of fluids and forcing down a ridiculous amount of water, so my appetite wasn’t the best. I am making sure to eat enough while on bed rest, and Trevor fed me a huge hamburger for lunch today, so I am sure that helped, too!
I leave you with some pictures from this week:
In the hospital. You can tell how thrilled I am with Trevor for taking my picture.
After we found out we got to go home the next morning. Note my red cheeks from the magnesium sulfate. Sexy.
Trevor preparing his first bed rest dinner. I had to get off the couch to document this one!
He’s very angry at the pepper grinder. LOL. I love this guy!
For the record, Trevor made tacos, and they were very good. 
by Jessica on December 22, 2009
How far along? 33 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I think 25ish?
Maternity clothes?Obviously, although at the moment it’s just maternity yoga pants and a giant t-shirt since I don’t leave the house.
Sleep: Great since I’ve been home from the hospital, although I woke up several times last night
Best moment this week: Coming home
Movement: A whole lot… he’s happy to be home, too!
Food cravings: Milk and sweets.
Gender: A sweet little man.
Labor Signs: 1 cm dilated and 50 % effaced. Hence the bed rest. Let’s hope that there is no further action!
Belly Button in or out? Even more out, if that’s possible. Trevor likes to poke it.
Stretchmarks? Dark purple squiggles on my BOOBS. Not on my ginormous belly, mind you, but on my boobs that have barely grown at all. Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? Oh well, at least they can be covered up, right?
What I am looking forward to: Reaching full term… only 4 more weeks!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Just say no to Google.
Milestones: Bed rest. Not that it’s a good milestone, but I guess it’s a milestone nonetheless.
I am so glad to go to the doctor tomorrow. I am very uneasy with all of this. It’s hard not to freak out that things are progressing or that I may end up back in L&D. It’s all just very scary. The doctor told me that I am allowed to run short errands, as long as I’m not on my feet for more than an hour and as long as I spend 8 to 10 hours of my waking time horizontal. But I am scared to do anything. I pretty much only get up to pee or take a shower. I did do a load of baby laundry yesterday and have another in today, but I am terrified that I will do something to mess things up. I think I’ll feel better if I go in tomorrow and nothing has changed.
On a lighter note, my husband has been so amazing through all of this. He is definitely having to take on things outside of his comfort zone, but he’s trying his very best (and doing a great job). Sunday, he attempted to go grocery shopping. I made a very basic shopping list, considering there is no way Mr. Trevor will be allowing me to stand up long enough to cook anything (let’s just say we’ll be eating really healthily for the rest of the pregnancy… or not). Trevor left, and within 20 minutes was back. I asked what happened and he said “I am never going back to Publix again!” Poor guy, he got traumatized with all the insane women shopping for their Christmas supplies. He apparently made it down about an aisle and a half before abandoning his cart and fleeing the store.
Last night’s attempt was much better. He came home with everything on the list and was very proud of himself. He told me about things he almost forgot or what he added to the list, it was very cute. He told me that he has never been grocery shopping by himself before. Not “real” shopping with a cart. Men don’t use carts, he said. LOL. He has been to the store on many occasions to pick up milk or a few necessities, but I think he was very proud that he did ALL of the shopping himself. It was so sweet. He has been there to hug me when I cry from the stress of everything and to reassure me that it’s all going to be okay. He talks to Knox and tells him to stay put and how much we love him, and it makes me want to cry from the sweetness of it. I feel so blessed to have him as my husband.
Here’s a bed rest belly pic for you:
by Jessica on December 21, 2009
Here I thought there would be nothing for me to write about since I’m on bed rest. Ha! I shouldn’t have worried. I went to the bathroom a minute ago, and [You should recognize by this point that TMI is about to occur] I am pretty sure I lost part of my mucus plug. It looked like a chunk of white, gooey mucus. Very booger-ish. There wasn’t a tinge of blood or anything to it, so I wasn’t sure if it was the plug or just some kind of weird pregnancy thing. I called the doctor’s office to be sure and they said it could be part of the plug, but even if it is, it doesn’t mean I’m going into labor. We already know I’m 1 cm dilated, so it wouldn’t exactly be a shock to lose part of it, now. They just said to keep an eye on it and the contractions, which are the bigger concern at this point.
My next appointment is on Wednesday at 11, so let’s all hope that NOTHING has changed by that point!
So, here I lay. I have taken a shower today, and I think that’s pretty much the extent of my activities for the duration of the evening.
