Bedrest

I figured I owed it to several people to let them know I have been put on bedrest, but didn't know how to contact them all at the same time so I am writing a blog about it. At least this way I can answer as many questions as possible all at the same time.


I have been having mild contractions since 22 weeks with this pregnancy, but up until the last couple of weeks they have been just mildly annoying, not anything to worry about. At the start of my 28th week (10/26) however they began to become more than annoying. As of Monday (11/8), when I finally started writing down the times of each contraction, I realized how many I was actually having. From 6 am - 9 am I was only having 1-2 an hour, but after that things got a lot worse. I started having anywhere from 4-6 an hour and that is NO GOOD at 30 weeks. Yesterday (11/9) I was consistently having 6 an hour and that prompted me to finally call the OB. The nurse told me that this was not ok, and that I needed to come in immediately. I called John, and was prepared to go to the OB alone because he has been carpooling to work and didn't have a ride home. I didn't want to pressure him because I knew there was nothing he could do, but I really wanted him there.


I was so blessed when I got to the doctor's though, because both John and Amber came walking towards me from her car! When Amber overheard John at work talking about what was going on she told her boss she had to leave and drove John to the hospital. Thank you so much for ALWAYS being there for me Amber. You would think it would be awkward for her to be there, given the private nature of the visit, but she was there when I delivered Hailey. And you don't really ever see more than that, ever! ;-)


Fortunately for me, while Dr. Benge was running very late, I was rushed into the office and put on the fetal monitors. I was indeed having contractions (glad to know it's not all in my mind) and was seen immediately upon his arrival from labor and delivery. There were a lot of angry pregnant women in the waiting room when I was rushed back, who had been waiting to be seen a lot longer than me! And trust me when I say, that's a scary sight when you're 7 1/2 months pregnant and couldn't run to save your life!! Fortunately, they were all pregnant too so the fact that they couldn't run either, kept me safe!


I'm not going to lie, I have been very scared the last couple of weeks, but, I have learned a lot in the last year meeting with my mentor Candy and I just keep reminding myself that God is in control and there really isn't much I can do about the situation.

I was given a shot of Terbutaline to stop the contractions and a prescription for management control. Dr. Benge has put me on bed rest from this point forward. My appointments are now every week (that's not supposed to start until you are closer to 36 weeks), and he will evaluate me each week to see whether I can go back or not. I truly plan to use this week off to take it easy. Since mid September I have either had a photo shoot, family party or huge event that I have needed to be at every weekend, so this is finally time for me to relax. John is taking Wednesday and Friday off to help me, so that will be nice.

Please keep our sweet Caleigh in your prayers. We can wait to meet her.

Love you all long time,
JME