Friday, February 8, 2013

30 Weeks

Ugh...this week started off amazing. We had a 4D ultrasound, a Christmas present from Jake's parents, and it was so surreal.  I still have this disconnect in my mind when I see ultrasounds that THAT baby is inside of MY body. I don't think it will seem real to me ever...maybe after she's born but I don't know. I think I'll still have to remind myself that she was inside me. And yes I'm already that mom that posts way too many pictures of her child. So enjoy.

Sleepy baby...I think she looks like her daddy here.

Profile

Little smiles :)

Those are indeed her feet.....on the top of her head. And her hair!

I love this one. I feel like she's got her hand in her face just shaking her head and smirking "Mom and Dad you have no idea what you're getting into"

Love her sweet face

Anyhow, back to this week. It was going great...just like any other normal week, until yesterday.  Around 1:30pm I started having contractions about every 10 minutes. I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions since I was like 20 weeks so I'm used to it but these were definitely rhythmic and they got worse when I stood up and were accompanied by a lot of lower abdominal pressure. So I called my doctor's office and Jake came home early from work since we're down to one car so that he could take me to the doctor. I don't know how to explain what happened without getting a little medical and maybe too TMI so....sorry? She did a fetal fibronectin test which tests if I have a certain hormone that is released 2 weeks prior to going into labor. She also checked my cervix and said it was definitely closed but felt really soft so they sent me over to the hospital to have a steroid shot to mature Adelyn's lungs in case she decided to come early and to have another non-stress test done.

We were supposed to have our first prepared childbirth class last night and instead I spent it in a hospital bed thinking I may be going into childbirth. I cried pretty much the whole ride to the hospital.  We got there and they gave me a pill that my midwife had prescribed me to stop the contractions...and about 15 minutes later I started having them every 5 minutes and they were getting a little stronger. They wanted to give me another pill but it lowers your blood pressure and mine is always really low anyway so they couldn't. They came in and gave my the steroid shot and I'm so glad Jake was there. I was so jumpy...I couldn't see what the nurse was doing and every time she touched me I flinched and jumped. It was definitely not fun but Jake was able to help me relax which ultimately probably helped keep the pain to a lot less than it would have been if I was there alone.  

I ate a little dinner and they rolled me on the side to help stop the contractions.  They weren't showing up on the monitor but I was still feeling them. However, my midwife called and said the fetal fibronectin came back negative so there was a 99.7% chance that I would not be having this baby in the next 2 weeks so they sent me home and told me to rest. 

I slept hard last night when I slept but I was up a lot during the night when I did wake up.  There's just so many thoughts consuming my brain. I'm losing weight since they put me on this diabetic diet, even though I feel like I'm eating more often. At our ultrasound Sunday, Adelyn had only gained an ounce in a week in a half. The doctor told me sometimes skinny girls just have a fickle uterus that has a lot of contractions. So all of these complications are related to MY body, not the baby.  I know Adelyn isn't even here yet but I can't imagine going through all of this with a second child now that I know what I'd be getting into.  I expected to have a normal, problem-free pregnancy.  Instead, everyone in the doctor's office knows me and every problem I've had. They recognize me on site and give me looks of pity and concern every time I go in and something else is wrong.  Jake and I originally talked about only having 2 biological children and adopting many more after that...maybe God is telling us to adopt more and not have anymore biological kids.  As Jake and Hannah have told me...get through having this baby first.  I just tend to get way ahead of myself.  And I feel like it's maybe a little selfish of me to be thinking this way, but I don't think I ever want to be pregnant again.

On top of that, I'm still having contractions every 5 or 10 minutes...they aren't strong but I'm noticing them.  I'm just afraid that if this continues for the rest of the pregnancy that I won't even know when I'm truly in labor until it's way too far along.  I'm drinking a ton of water and staying off my feet as much as possible but they just aren't going away. I'm trying to just pray and not worry but it's hard. I just pray that God would protect Adelyn...I'll go through the contractions and uncertainty and worrying as long as she's ok when all of this is over. Also prayers that the contractions would just stop until it's actually time to have the baby in about another 7-10 weeks would be great :)

To any of you still reading: sorry for such a long post and no pregnancy highlights this week.  I just can't bring myself to have a normal weekly post when all this is going on.


5 comments:

Mary Cavalier said...

I agree with Jake and Hannah - get through this pregnancy first :-) And your next one might be totally different. But whatever - we love all three of you and can't wait to meet little Adelyn - however, we are praying that is not for another 7-10 weeks :-)

Adrien said...

She is sooo cute! Love those 4-d ultrasounds!

I had three very different experiences with all of my pregnancies (and three different deliveries, too!) I know there is NO way you're going to believe this right now, but once you have that baby you eventually forget all of the bad stuff and only see the good. Don't give up hope that you can still have a totally normal pregnancy. :) Praying that everything else goes smoothly for you!

Cassie said...

exactly what adrien said, the second that baby is laid on your chest you forget about the 9 months of good and bad and worries. PROMISE!
let go and let god.
everyone is letting me this and i don't get it, but it's SO true.
adelyn is healthy right now right? yep. so that's ALL that matters.

and girl come on - you are sitting at home, eating and relaxing. i am certainly willing to trade you for one day if you'd like! lol.

and STOP GOOGLING!! everyone's body is different. not a single one is the same.

praying for you. mostly that you stop worrying. lol. but for a safe and easy delivery.
xoxo

Ann-Marie said...

Hey,

Reading your posts and what you have told me at church about your pregnancy takes me back to my pregnancy with our Addie. It was a crazy and unpleasant ride with many high risk issues and during it I swore I would never get pregnant again. (I am 8 wks with the 2nd - doing just fine knock on wood)

Most women don't have pregnancies that are filled with all the complications that you have had. So the feelings you feel may seem odd because most women don't feel that way. However, any sane women who goes through what you have been through would feel the same way. All that to say...you may feel differently once you have her...but you may not also. Either one is okay...seek to honor God in whatever decision you make in the future in that regard, no one can ask any more of you than that.

As far as going into labor...I had the same question and many women told me that I would know before it was too late...I didn't believe them...but they were right. If you want I can explain in better detail but probably shouldn't on here.

Jon and I will be praying for the three of you. If you need a ride at any point...I am home most of the time and would be happy to help if I can. (my number 765-586-2915)

Katie said...

Thank you everyone for the thoughts and prayers...just trying to take it one day at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves...sure will be glad when Adelyn is safely here!