Monday, November 13, 2006

no babies today

Things are better today, so perhaps your good thoughts and prayers are helping! I was released from the hospital late last night after a less-than-stellar stay at the hospital.

The fall was rather unremarkable- I literally tripped over my own feet in the parking lot falling on one knee and landing on my side, after trying to break my fall with my hand. It was hard enough that I knew I'd need to head into the hospital, but nothing close to my fall down the stairs so I didn't completely freak out. After a few minutes, though, I realized that the baby wasn't moving at all, and my hands were shaking as I dialed the emergency number for my ob/gyn. The baby refused to move for the whole drive to the hospital, and I was in tears by the time we pulled up in front of the hospital and checked in at the desk.

We were pulled straight into triage and set up on the monitor, and at that point our little troublemaker decided to give me some reassuring kicks. I started to relax, up until the contractions started. I've had braxton hicks contractions for the last month or two, but these were different. The contractions felt like mild menstrual cramps, with the monitor showing that the contractions were coming every 2-4 minutes apart, although I felt them less regularly than that.

We stayed in triage for a couple of hours, waiting to see if the contractions stopped or slowed down, but were transferred to our own room for the night to continue monitoring. Apparently, a fall followed by contractions is one of the warning signs for placental abruption, and continuing contractions moved us into a higher risk category. I had blood drawn, and an iv put in, just in case dehydration might be contributing to the "cranky uterus". To be honest, as far as discomfort goes, the iv was the worst part. It hurt going in, and it was bothersome and uncomfortable the whole time it was in, particularly when they turned the flow up. The attending did cervical checks and although the contractions were steady, they didn't seem to be doing much in the way of dilation.

The night was long and tiresome. If the baby strayed from the monitor at all, a nurse would rush in and readjust the monitor. I wasn't sleeping much anyway, I was so stressed and nervous about the baby. We felt fairly well-informed all night, however. It wasn't until the morning that we started to actually worry. At around 6am, the nurse woke me up to tell me that they were concerned because the contractions hadn't stopped yet and they expected them to be over by then.

Shortly thereafter, Josh went down to grab a coffee and a newspaper, and a medical student walked into my room and brightly informed me that she would be observing my c-section that morning. After I tersely informed her that I was NOT having a c-section, she ran out of the room and never came back. When Josh got back, I nervously told him what had happened and he insisted that I ring for the nurse to get more information. It seems that the medical student had gone into the wrong room, and was mortified that I'd gotten upset. But she never came back to tell us that she'd been mistaken!

This was only the beginning, though. At 9am, the attending came in and began really scaring us. She told us that the risks of placental abruption were higher now because it had been 15-16 hours since the fall and the contractions were continuing. Then she started talking about emergency c-sections, and then she started talking about how the baby was breach. But, umm, the baby is not breach. And hasn't been breach for 6 weeks! Which was not the most comforting thing she could have said. The ultrasound of the night before had shown that the baby was decidedly not breach, and it would have been nice if she had actually, ohhh, I don't know, read the chart? She ordered more labs and sternly told me not to eat or drink anything just in case my emergency c-section took place.

The rest of the day was downhill from there, because no one would let me eat (even though I'd eaten only an apple and a yogurt the day before), and no one would tell us what was going on. We asked to speak to a doctor a few times, yet no one had time to stop by. At 3pm the nurse walked in and told me that I could eat and could order whatever I wanted so I scarfed down a turkey sandwich. A few hours later, she unceremoniously walked in and told me that she was taking out my iv because I was being discharged. No explanation, no instructions, no assurances, no nothing! The nurse told us to call our doctor in the morning to get explanations about what type of rest I needed or whether I could go to work the next day. Needless to say, I cried on the drive home. Partly out of relief that the ordeal seemed to be over, and partly out of anger and fear that we didn't know what was happening now.

This morning, though, my doctor was very reassuring. I won't be on bed rest for now, and she isn't worried about my needing to have the baby any time in the near future. I'm resting today and tomorrow and staying off of my feet, but as long as the contractions continue to lessen in time and severity, everything should be fine. So we're all very relieved in the halloweenlover household, and we're thanking our lucky stars that baby decided to stay inside for a few more weeks. We're not quite ready to meet him or her yet, although we're looking forward to it.

16 comments:

ccw said...

((((HL))))

I'm so glad that your doctor thinks everything with you and the baby is ok. I was worried about you both.

I am so sorry that you had to deal with rude nurses and doctors at the hospital. You certainly did not need the added stress. They should be ashamed for doing that to you and Josh.

Get some rest. "Keep Baking" thoughts to the baby.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're feeling better! How rude of the doctors and nurses to keep you both in the dark! Good luck and know we're all thinking about you and sending you good thoughts!!

Rev Dr Mom said...

Oh, HL I missed yesterday's post. How scary! I am glad everything seems to be all right.

Maribeth said...

I'm glad you are home and taking this easy. Nows the time to really be careful and to rest up! No more falling, okay?
Hugs!!!
Maribeth
www.dackelprincess.com

mc said...

Argh, that stream of misinformation and no information is one of the worst things about being in the hospital. So glad to hear you're home again and doing well. Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

how frustrating! that is the worst part feeling at the mercy of the uninformed.

glad all is well today. sending you all my good thoughts

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad to hear that everything is improving. Hospital visits can be rough. Hang in there. You're doing great!

Anonymous said...

What jerks! I'm so glad all is well and baby is staying put for now.

Montreal Mama said...

Glad that you and the baby are doing okay! Hang in there (without falling!) you're almost there!

Never That Easy said...

So glad that things have turned out well! Being in the hospital sucks, particularly when nobody tells you anything.

Anonymous said...

We should look up that one particularly bad doctor and see if she isn't the same one who set me up for needing to be induced. Hrmph.

Now that the danger is over, are we ready for some "balance humor?" My vote for a girl's name (first or middle!) is Grace!!!

Anonymous said...

You poor girl! I'm sure the stress of not knowing what was going on was just adding to your contractions and issues. I'm so mad on your behalf at the stupid doctors and nurses! I can't believe how mean they were to you.

I'm so glad you're home safe with baby still snug in your belly, and I hope s/he stays there quite a bit longer (not that I wish a late baby on you, but better late than early, right?). Take good care of yourself and keep us updated! And I was behind on the prayers and good vibes, but I'll be sending them now! (You know, just in case).

KLee said...

Sorry to hear that you had a fall, and a bad stay at the hospital. (Staying in the hospital is never any fun, but that seems like it was not only NOT fun, but also frustrating to the extreme as well.)

I'm glad to hear that both you and Baby are okay. Glad you were released from the hospital, and I hope you can get some rest. PLEASE be careful, and keep us updated. :)

Liz Miller said...

Sounds to me like your bambino is going to end up being a gymnast.

Somebody ought to smack unresponsive, rude, misinformed, hurrying doctors and nurses.

Anonymous said...

So glad you are OK, and what a bunch of annoying medical staff. My one suggestion is to reflect on this to decide on how you want to handle things when the Real Thing happens next month. I felt pretty ignored during my daughter's birth and wish I had realized we needed to be more assertive. I hope this doesn't sound like I am blaming you -- I don't mean that at all. Only that you may be able to use your frustration at this experience to improve the next one.

Crunchy Domestic Goddess said...

i'm so glad everything turned out to be ok with both you and the baby, but what a horrible hospital experience. :( is this the same hospital that you will be birthing at? i think i'd consider writing a letter or to to the "higher-ups" to let them know about all the miscommunication and then lack of apologies. that was totally uncalled for. :(
glad to hear your doc was reassuring and is in the know. hugs to ya!!