That was exciting! First let me tell you we didn't really think that was it, but we sure didn't like not being packed and prepared! And it was a bit of a reality check: we'll be definitely coming home with a baby in about 19 days. Wow!
So 2 nights ago we went to bed a bit before 9 pm, as usual. We were laying down reading and I started noticing I was having contractions. This is not new, I get them regularly, some days more than others. They're called Braxton-Hicks (BH) or practice contractions, not really painful, it just feels tight. In fact, sometimes I don't even notice them or I can't be completely sure I'm having one unless I lay down and feel my belly (it gets hard and pointy).
So we kept on reading, and suddenly I was having another one, and another one. After having several in half hour, we decided to time them. As it turns out they were very regular, about 5 minutes apart. You're supposed to head to the hospital if your contractions are regular, painful and 5 minutes apart. They were not painful, but we were intrigued by the closeness of them.
There are a couple of things you're supposed to do if you start getting contractions like that, that will slow them down or stop them (if they're not real labor). You're supposed to drink water and lay on your left side. This is because dehydration can trigger contractions, and laying on your left side improves circulation, which often helps. So I did. I doubt I was dehydrated, since I was getting up to use the bathroom every 10 minutes. And laying on my left side didn't do it either, as they were still 5 minutes apart.
In the meantime, Josh was packing away everything we would need to head to the hospital. He packed clothes for the three of us, toiletries, the iPod, etc. After half hour laying on my side with no changes, we decided to call the doctor's office just to check. The doctor called us back and said to just go to sleep and forget about them, unless they started getting stronger. We had an appointment with him the next day, so we knew we would get some answers then. And we were packed, just in case.
So we tried to go to sleep, and I couldn't. Probably because I was having so many contractions, but they were getting a little bit stronger. At first they were painless, then I started feeling sore. By the time I was trying to sleep, I was feeling crampy. I just couldn't sleep, so I got up and played on the computer for a while. Sitting actually helped, as I'm sure did getting distracted by the interwebs. I was still having contractions but eventually they seemed a little further apart, and they were back to just feeling tight. Finally I went to bed at 1 am. When I woke up at 3 am to go to the bathroom I was still having contractions, but I was able to sleep through them (though I was feeling them in my dreams). And by the time we woke up that morning, all was back to normal. So it went on for at least 6 hours.
Later we headed to our OBGYN's office for our appointment, but as it turns out, our doctor was called into the hospital, so we were told to come back at 1:30 pm. We had three hours to waste before our appt. We did a good job at it, actually, but as we were walking around I started getting contractions again, same thing. Not as regular, but eventually reaching the same level of discomfort: cramp-like. Unlike the ones I was having the previous night, this time they were influenced by my position, and they would space out or just go away if I was sitting. But still, they were there. Until the time for our appt. Once we were in the office, I only had one. Weird how just being there changed the pattern (not that there was much of a pattern, but you know what I mean).
Long story short, things are looking well for 37 weeks. Blood pressure is good, though I did gain an astonishing 6 lbs in one week. Eeeeeekkk! That's like one pound per day (damn you, donuts!). But Lovebug put on some of that weight it seems, so that's good. Also, there's no progress whatsoever in dilation. We have our next appt in a week, I hope we'll see some minimal progress by then. But then again, Lovebug will come whenever he's ready, and I just have to deal with it. I just wish he would minimize the teasing!
All in all, we're better prepared now: we know what needs to be packed and what we need to do before (like install the car seat), and we know what a false alarm is, so we won't fall for it again. And the truth be told, it was really exciting! Quite the adrenaline rush!
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