Contractions

I had a doctor's appointment today. We did three things: NST (Non-Stress Test), BPP (Bio-Physical Profile), and OB exam. Here's the down-low on what happened:

First let me preface the visit by saying that last night before I went to bed I definitely had two contractions. No big deal, not too strong, nothing to get too excited about. Okay, so I went to bed. But I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned the entire night. I was so uncomfortable, crampy (menstrual type), and achy. Then all morning my stomach was so tight. So I didn't really think much of it because I have been told my many of you that I will JUST KNOW when it's time to call the doctor or to head to the hospital.

So, I got hooked up to the NST and started watching the baby's movements and heartbeat. But then I noticed that as I was getting a menstrual type pain I was also showing a contraction on the monitor. Cool. That happened once before while I was in the hospital (except I hadn't felt anything that time). But then it happened again about four minutes later. Mike and I just looked at each other like "Whoa". So then Mike and I got chatting and every once in a while I would grimace a little because I was feeling crampy. But we tried not to pay too much attention to the contraction portion of the monitor (it was our way of avoiding the "it's happening" fear). But after being on the monitor for about 45 minutes I had had a total of 11 contractions.

The contractions weren't super strong. The machine that performs the NST prints out a continuous ticker-tape with two continuous lines printing on the paper--it reminds me of a polygraph test. One line measures the baby's heart rate and the other measures any contractions. Normally the contractions line is flat, except for when I have small "contraction" like movement and a small little spike or bell curve prints out. These bell curves never reached 20 on a scale of 1 to 100 and didn't last more than a couple of seconds--making extremely narrow bell curves. Today my contractions came close to the midpoint at 50 and made nice bell curves in a definite reoccurring pattern. However, the nurse told me that labor contractions will create much bigger bell curves topping the 100 mark. Great! I thought the ones from today hurt! Boy, am I nervous about what it will feel like to have the bell go all the way up. However, I was in fact having contractions that were very much coming in even intervals. So, my doctor checked my cervix to see what was happening there. Nothing. No changes. Still pretty hard and closed.

With this information, my doctor decided to put me on some medicine to stop the contractions until next Monday (my next visit). Hopefully then we'll see some movement with my cervix. Also, it'll be nice to give the baby a few more days to grow inside the oven. Also, my doctor is out of town tomorrow and I expressed my strongest desire that he be here to deliver my baby (he's one of the reasons we specifically moved back to Plano during my pregnancy).

So while I was in the office I got a shot of Terbutaline in my bum. Ouch. And I have it in a pill form to take over the weekend.

As soon as I got the shot while in the office the contractions stopped. It was pretty cool. I also immediately noticed the big side effect - nervousness and tremors. I couldn't stop shaking and I still haven't stopped shaking. Weird. I think the nervousness might have something to do with why this post is getting so long. It feels good to type and let my fingers exert some energy.

Back to the doctor's visit. I also had the ultrasound to assess the Bio-Physical Profile of the baby. They look at her umbilical cord, movement, amniotic fluid, and heart beat. Everything looked great.

All in all it was a great and exciting visit. This was definitely a moment that let us know that we're in the final quarter and that this is very real! Mike and I have our hospital bag packed now and we're excited to see what happens and when.