This week I had a particularly big freak out session. Big. All seems well today, but here is what happened..
On Monday afternoon I started noticing tightenings in my belly. Now keep in mind that though I have given birth to four children I have never once been in labor and I have really never felt a contraction. C-sections are like that. So these feelings were very strange to me and at first I tried to ignore them. It wasn’t until later in the evening that I noticed they were coming several times an hour.. and I got a little nervous. I didn’t mention anything to S (he is still pretty pissed about that) and I eventually went to bed to see if lying down would make it all calm down.
Around 1am C3 woke me up (his diaper leaked- wet boy!) and he ended up getting cleaned up and going back to bed with S. I was now wide awake and felt 4-5 of these tightenings/contractions from 1-2am. From 2-3am I was pretty panicked. I didn’t wake S (I have no idea why- I am a freaking idiot, I know). I wanted to call the office but was unsure of how calls are handled I the middle of the night. I figured I would get one of the peri’s on-call (my peri is out of town this week- because this kind of stuff ALWAYS happens when the Dr. you trust is out of town). So for some stupid reason I didn’t want to wake another Dr. at 3 am.. again, I know- WTH!? Around 5am I decided it was time to call so I finally told S what was up and called- and promptly got connected to L&D at the hospital. Huh? Apparently after the office closes at 5pm one peri (attending) is on call and goes to the hospital where he/she stays in L&D all night until shift change at 7 am. As in they are AWAKE all night. I am such a fucking idiot.
When I called I got one of the fellow’s who was on call (and wide awake) who said I could either come to L&D to see the attending or wait for the office to open at 8am (not happening). So off I went to the hospital. In the meantime I texted my peri to let him know what was going on and asked him to call me when he woke up. I got to the hospital and was helped by some awesome nurses. They knew my history and were SO reassuring that I had done the right thing by coming in.. and then promptly told me to come in ANY time of the night for ANY reason because it is ALWAYS the best decision.
I was hooked up to the contraction monitor- and then of course only had ONE in the time I was hooked up- and it barely registered. By this time my peri called in to the hospital and started laying out what he wanted done. They checked my cervix via vaginal ultrasound and thankfully it was unchanged and NOT funneling (my BIG fear). The longest measurement was 3.6cm and the shortest was 3.2cm- both acceptable. She then checked me internally and found my cervix was hard and closed tight. At this point the peri wanted me back on the monitor again just to make sure since we had recorded the one mild contraction. He watched the strip from his computer- how awesome is technology!? As a final measure he had them do a sterile urine catch- which is done by inserting a catheter directly into the bladder to extract a urine sample. Not the best feeling in the world, but in all honesty they can do whatever the hell they want to me if it will ensure the well being of these babies. ETA- He just let me know today that it was negative- no UTI.
At this point I am trying to take it easy and lie down A LOT. I’m also increasing my water intake as I learned that with twins you need double the amount than for a singleton pregnancy. I am still having the tightenings/contractions but less frequently. One thing is for certain- I now know that if this happens/gets worse at night again I don’t even need to call in- I just go straight to L&D which makes things a lot easier for me. The peri and I are going to see how things at tomorrow’s anatomy scans and a quick uterine monitor- and then we may discuss home uterine monitoring. He’s still away so I will check in with him after the scans. I am so grateful grateful for the care I am receiving and for each day and week that passes with these babies continuing to grow. My biggest fears are obvious.. but I continue to hold up hope that these boys will be born healthy and safe.. and then of course join their 2 living brothers and sister in living to be 100.
God, what a relief that everything is ok! I was the same way, second guessing everything I felt during my twin pregnancy. In hindsight it was idiotic and only ended up making me feel worse when things went south.
About the water intake thing, one of my fellow twin BLMs – who got a TAC and went on to give birth to a second set of IVF twins in October of last year, 36 weeks this time instead of 19 – did was up her H20 intake to a gallon a day. No kidding. I *still* don’t know how she did it. I always felt accomplished when I got 84 oz in a day (but I lost my babies barely into the 2nd trimester and was puking daily, so keeping anything in was an accomplishment). I did tell myself, though, that if I happen to conceive multiples again, I will make 1 gallon a day my goal and do what I need to to make that happen.
Gulp. I have to pee already.
Glad everything is OK and they are monitoring so closely. My ObGyn said the difference between a twins pregnancy and a singleton pregnancy is the difference between climbing Mt Killamanjaro and Mt Everest. It’s harder on your body, it really is. Many hugs.
Glad to hear things seem to be okay for you, but am really sad to hear bout little Nadav. If you talk to her again let her know I’m thinking about her and wishing her and her husband peace and strength.
I about had a heart attack while reading this. Use the damn phone- call a doctor- that is why it is there (screaming this at you- but with so much love and worry-) – take care of yourself and waiting to hear about tomorrows appointment
much love-
xoxoxo
Boy, don’t I know it. HATE calling those doctors in the middle of the night.
Hate the should I,
shouldn’t I,
okay?
not okay?
worryworryworryworryworry
ticktockticktockticktock
SIGH.
You know all this. Hindsight makes everything so easy. Of course. BUT ~ here in the real world, it is really hard to know what to do sometimes. I find that especially true in the middle of the night.
So, no, I do *not* think you’re an idiot. At all. And next time (there hopefully won’t be one!) you’ll have a better idea what you want to do, sooner.
I don’t know why I never heard more about dehydration – until I went into premature labor with my daughter. No one ever, ever told me what dehydration can do. You are right – get all that rest, and drink all that water.
Oh, little Boys, keep on swimming away in there, happily, and growing…
Mom, you’re normal and loved,
Cathy in Missouri
How scary! Hopefully it won’t happen again, but if it does please feel free to wake up the world. People who work in obstetrics are used to being called in the middle of the night.
And even if they weren’t, you and your babies are worth waking someone up if that’s what it takes!!
That’s an order from me!!!
I always called! They get these calls all the time! Especially L&D. I battled preterm contractions all along with my little baby boy. He came early at 36.4 weeks because my water broke (so much water, there was no question!) I would never hesitate to call and I would never hesitate to go into the ER or L&D, that is why there are doctors on call! I too always questioned my reasoning or sanity, but I would much rather look like a scarred crazy person than have something go wrong with a subsequent pregnancy after loss. You may have more freak outs this pregnancy, I know I did about once a week! Don’t feel bad about going in to go on the monitors or get checked out. They are so used to this. There are many good doctors and nurses who can help women like us calm down and get through such a tough and stressful pregnancy. You can do it!
So scary. And in retrospect, you feel crazy for not calling, but in the moment it is so hard to figure out what to do… I’m glad you got checked out, and that the medical staff was helpful. And especially glad, of course, that everything looks okay. Now you’ll know to call if you’re worried at all, even in the middle of the night.
oh, how scary. Yup that was me with my last child. it was summer and i was 19 weeks. had those tightening feelings for a couple of days on and off sitting by the pool. Thought it was just baby movement, cause it didn’t hurt.When i called the doc she said to come right in. Oh my God i still remember her urgent tone of voice. then i freaked for sure. i was a fingertip dilated, the monitors hardly picked up a contraction but they told me at 19 weeks it often doesn’t.Monitors today probably alot more sensitive and better!! Sooo… had to have the cerclage. Happy ending! Glad you got checked fairly quickly. Being terrified makes it harder to think sometimes, esp, in the middle of the night. i will keep you & those babies in prayer round the clock <3
Holding my breath for you Leslie, for you and your boys. No idiots here. This is a whole new normal you get to measure yourself against and you get to make it up as you go along.
Much love and rehydrating Irish blessings to you.
Louise
I say always call. You are carrying babies. This is major stuff. It’s okay to over react. In fact, I hope it’s always over reacting!
xoxo
Ack so scary! Through your other pregnancies, have you had many braxton hicks contractions? I had them frequently through all three from about the half way point and they were at times quite uncomfortable. Making that call in the middle of the night is never easy. Done that a few times.
Love to you my friend.
xo
Oh – how scary. Glad you got EXCELLENT care and that things are okay.
Glad you got through this okay. Kudos to the doctors and nurses who took care of you. My husband always get on my case when I seem to drag my feet at calling our OB for symptoms I’m worried about. What is it about us not wanting to bother our healthcare professionals!? One reassuring thing that my OB told me is to not hesitate to call anytime, any day, it’s her job and she will be available anytime, any day. We should have as a flashing neon sign everywhere we go just to remind us about this. XD Stay safe.
Oh my goodness, that is so scary. I had tightenings in my belly with Jacob starting a few days before he was born, but didn’t worry because they didn’t hurt at all. Now I know they were contractions.
I understand why you didn’t wake up S right away. I think it’s partly denial and just thinking that it can’t be that serious. Telling someone else makes it more serious somehow. I did the same thing the other day with Ted and can’t understand why I didn’t tell him more and rely on him more from the beginning.
I love that the nurses were so reassuring and said to come in anytime. It just feels like it opens the door and I know it would make me hesitate less to go in in the future.
I hope the anatomy scans went well. I’ve been thinking about you (and I ended up with a catheter yesterday!)
Hang in there girl. I’m so glad it went like it did and you did finally go in. We have a knack for listening to our bodies, don’t we? (well, eventually!) xoxo
I’m so glad that you’re in good hands Leslie. I hope things went well at your appointment and with the scans. I’m holding you and your babies in my hopes and heart. x
Eeeh gads how scary. I’m glad your care is awesome and that everything checks out well. Sending positivity to you.