Category Archives: symptoms

In Labor…Got Sent Home

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Major TMI alert…if you don’t want to know the details, just know that I’m in early labor but was sent home from the hospital.

If you’re still reading, here goes…

I’ve had spotting since last Thursday, which is a bit concerning for a pregnant woman!  When I saw my OB on Friday, she said that it was probably from my cervix dilating and I didn’t have to worry about it as long as it continued to be spotting and didn’t get any heavier or redder.  Well, last night it definitely got heavier.  When I woke up this morning, I noticed that there were also some clots.  RED FLAG!  I was pretty freaked out.  It was 7am and I had gotten up early to get ready for my 9:45am doctor appointment (where I was hoping to schedule an induction for next week, since I’m overdue).

The clinic wasn’t open yet, so I called Labor & Delivery.  They couldn’t consult my doctor because she was in surgery but they must have talked to someone else who suggested I come in.  We got ready and got to L&D around 8:20am.  Thankfully, the bleeding was not from a placental abruption or anything equally terrible.  All the cramping I’m having turned out to be contractions.  They were not regular, but all 3-8 minutes apart.  Was still bleeding, but had not made any dilation progress.  In fact, I’ve been dilated the same for about three weeks.  Every hour was spent walking for 30 minutes, then monitoring for 30 minutes.  My doctor decided to keep me there for monitoring until 1pm to see if I was dilating.  While there was a small cervical change, there was no progress in dilation.  My contractions remain irregular and I was sent home.

So here I sit, with contractions that bring severe cramps and back pain (albeit irregular) and continuous bleeding.  I can’t believe I was sent home and not induced.  I’m past my due date, for goodness sake!  They said early labor could last like this for hours or days.

While we were walking the halls at the hospital, we saw a couple there who had been in our birthing class.  She was only due one day before me.  They were headed HOME with their baby.  We were excited for them when we saw them.  After being sent home, it’s just severely depressing.  :-/

Well, Baby C, after a month of false alarms and this morning, we are definitely ready for you to get here.  I’m convinced you’re never coming out and my body has no idea how to get you out.  Hopefully this will all be over soon.

Waiting for Labor is a Crash-Course in Patience

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I’ve never been a patient person.  Waiting for labor is driving me completely insane.  I am now convinced (illogically, I admit) that Baby C is NEVER. COMING. OUT.  Good thing I didn’t get my hopes up yesterday when they told me I was probably dilating and labor would come soon…I had my appointment today and there was absolutely no change.  I’m still at 2.5cm.  His head is as low as it can get, so it’s no surprise that I feel like I’m holding a bowling ball in between my legs.

I’m frustrated that my due date has always been incorrect.  Had it been correct, I would already be at 40 weeks and we could talk about an induction next week.  Instead, I’ll technically be 42 weeks before they’ll entertain the idea of an induction.  Stupid PCOS and irregular periods.

I’m frustrated that all my cramping and contractions are getting me nowhere.

I’m frustrated that my doctor told me 4 weeks ago that I would be early.

I’m frustrated that I’m too exhausted and in pain to want to do anything to make the time pass more quickly.

I’m frustrated that I see people with due dates AFTER mine having their babies before me.

I’m frustrated at the following question: “No baby yet?”  REALLY?!

So Hubster and I are going to go for a long walk and hopefully get some kind of contractions started.  But those contractions will probably end up stopping, just like they have every other time this month.

I’m not patient.  Hard as I try, I never will be.  Baby C, spare me the insanity and please come out to meet us!

Not Getting My Hopes Up…

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Had to call the doctor today due to some spotting with cramping and they said that I’m probably dilating and labor will be coming soon.   I have to say, I’ve heard that before and I am not getting my hopes up.  I really wish my doctor hadn’t told me about a month ago that she thought I’d be early.  I’m five days away from my due date (and I’ve passed the date that should really be my due date), and I’m starting to feel like we’ll have to go through an induction and smoke this baby out!

I hope they’re right.  I feel like I should clean and organize things around the house just in case labor really does come shortly, but I can’t bring myself to do it.  Argh.  All those false alarms really messed with my head!

My Belly’s the Size of a Watermelon

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I have a few different pregnancy apps on my iPhone, and for the past few weeks my baby’s size has been the equivalent of a watermelon.  This week, that watermelon is now between 6-9 lbs (goodness, I hope he’s not 9 lbs!).  I can definitely tell that my belly is huge, because it’s getting in the way quite often…

  • Every time I get something in/out of the microwave, I knock the towels off of the bar of the oven.
  • C’s feet often take up residence inside my rib cage (thanks, short torso), so it’s nearly impossible to bend over the sink to wash my face.
  • Turning over in bed is like running a mini-marathon.
  • Yesterday, I had an itch on my foot.  I couldn’t reach it.
  • The majority of my maternity shirts no longer completely cover my belly.  The Bella Band was honestly the best maternity purchase I made (outside of my pregnancy pillow), because now I have to use it to make sure the bottom of my big ol’ watermelon isn’t hanging out.
  • If I drop something on the floor, I have to spread my feet real wide and do a squat to pick it up.
  • It feels better to sit on my exercise ball, because my belly hangs so low that it can then rest on the surface of the ball.
I hope this watermelon doesn’t turn into a pumpkin (overdue)!