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Philothea
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| Posted: Oct 31 2007 at 8:13am | IP Logged
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Hi all,
I was released from the hospital last night after a scary few days trying to stop my preterm labor (I'm 33w6d today). I started having strong contractions Saturday afternoon, but I chalked them up to overactivity and bad Braxton Hicks, which I'm kind of known for. Well, Sunday morning, I got up to use the restroom and realized that not only had I lost my mucous plug, I was bleeding. So we headed in to L&D, where they gave me a shot of terbutaline and sent me home on complete bedrest until I could consult with my regular OB on Monday.
The terb worked for about seven hours, then the contractions were back with a vegeance. I was up all Sunday night with strong, painful contractions seven-to-ten minutes apart, so we called the doctor first thing Monday morning and she told us to come into the office to get checked. Thank God for understanding neighbors who took our 3yo son on a moment's notice for days at time! In the car, the contractions sped up to four minutes apart and I thought that was it, the baby was on his way. She checked my cervix and found that it was soft and fingertip dialated, so she sent me to L&D for monitoring and an ultrasound to check cervical length (to see if it had shortened). It had shortened, from 4 cm to 2.2 cm. So they gave me more terbutaline and steroids for the baby's lungs, plus IV antibiotics "just in case." The terb slowed things way down but made me feel awful.
So, they were going to let me go home and come back the next day for a second round of shots, but she checked me again and found I had progressed in a matter of a few hours even with the terb to 2 cm and was pretty significantly (I think she said 75-80%?) effaced. So I was admitted and started on oral terb and constant monitoring. I stayed overnight, didn't get much sleep thanks to the terb which made me jumpy and the flushing of my heplock every few hours ... anyway, yesterday they switched me to nifedipine for the contractions and it seems to be working better with fewer side effects. The contractions are under control, bleeding has slowed to a trickle, and I had all the steroid shots and IV antibiotics the baby needs, so they let me go home with oral nifedipine and oral abx.
The car ride from Loudoun back to Fairfax (about 40 minutes) was rough, it was rush hour and I was contracting with every bump in the road, but once I got home, things have been good. I got to cuddle my 3yo, who is a complete wreck after having been abandoned for three days with little warning. I have had maybe 4 or 5 contractions since I got home, most of them in the middle of the night (spaced an hour apart), near the end of my nifedipine dose, and triggered by a full bladder. If I get up and walk around, I feel less normal and like the contractions will come back, but as long as I'm in bed, baby seems to be staying put.
So, for the prayer requests:
1. Pray for baby Noel (yes, like the tropical storm, but he was SUPPOSED to be a Christmas baby, remember?) to stay in until his systems are mature enough to handle life outside the womb -- our "goal" is 36 weeks.
2. Pray for my husband's stress levels as he will be working, taking care of our son and our home, and waiting on me hand and foot for the next two weeks (if all goes as hoped and Noel stays put that long, that is).
3. Pray for my stress levels as I watch my home run very differently than I would do it, and pray for me to hold my tongue and not criticize the work my husband is doing, particularly in regard to parenting.
4. Pray for my three year old, who doesn't understand why this is happening and is really a routine-oriented kid who is freaked out by all of this.
Thank you all for your prayers.
P.S. NoVA girls -- I am not too proud to beg. If any of you have time to make a quick and easy reheatable meal for two adults and a little boy and drop it by, PM me. That would be the biggest help to my husband as he hasn't had to cook in almost seven years and is a little overwhelmed. Just please excuse the um, total mess my house has become in just three days. 
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Oct 31 2007 at 8:24am | IP Logged
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Praying for you, Philothea -- for calm Mom, uterus, 3 yo, and Dad.
Peace,
Nancy
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KC in TX
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| Posted: Oct 31 2007 at 8:51am | IP Logged
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Praying.
__________________
KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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WayTruthLife
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| Posted: Oct 31 2007 at 9:35am | IP Logged
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We are praying for you and baby. May he stay put until 36 weeks. Blessings!
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Wife to dh
Mother to 6dc 8yr 7yr 6yr 3yr 1yr 8mon
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Oct 31 2007 at 9:48am | IP Logged
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Praying for all those intentions. Praying especially for you to be able to relax and let go, spending the time loving your dh and little guy and letting God worry about the baby.
God bless you all!
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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kingvozzo
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| Posted: Oct 31 2007 at 10:54am | IP Logged
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Praying that your little guy stays safe inside for a few more weeks, and some peace for you!
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Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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MaryM
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Praying for you.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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DominaCaeli
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Praying, Philothea. I wish I could help--if only I weren't on the other side of the country. But I'll be keeping you all, especially baby Noel, in my prayers.
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Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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JenniferS
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I've been where you are with my last four pregnancies. Many, many prayers for you and your family.
Jen
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Ruth
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I'm praying for all your intentions.
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Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
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jdostalik
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Prayers for you and your sweet little baby....and asking Our Blessed Mother to watch over your dear ones...they will be okay--it is hard when momma can't do those basic things, though... 
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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aussieannie
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Philothea, what an awful fright you have been through, I feel for you greatly - I will also remember you and your sweet little Noel in my communions, praying he will stay put to a much safer time of delivery and that you can bed rest peacefully, since it seems to be such an important factor (as it is for a friend of mine still holding on at 31weeks with similar dilation problems) stress is also not helpful, so place your little 3 year old under his guardian angel's care. I'm praying!! 
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Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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mellyrose
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Praying for all your intentions!!!
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Melanie in AZ
Colin (11/00), Nate (05/02), Lydia (04/07)
My Little Patch of Sunshine
Pictures of our Life
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
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You, baby Noel, and your whole family are in our prayers, Philothea!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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kristina
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Philothea,
Your intentions are on my heart and will be in my prayers.
Blessings,
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kristina
yesterthoughts
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Maryan
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How scary for you -- know you can count on my prayers here Philothea.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Philothea
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Thank you all so much.
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stefoodie
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Philothea, we are praying for you and your precious one!!
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stef
mom to five
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PDyer
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| Posted: Oct 31 2007 at 7:40pm | IP Logged
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Oh my, been there done that. Thank goodness you don't have to take the terb anymore. Ick. 
Praying for you and your little one.
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Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
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mom3aut1not
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Philothea,
Praying.
In Christ,
Deborah
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4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: Preterm labor (very long)
