I'm typing this from my wife's hospital room as we are waiting for our daughter's birth. The hard part is we don't really know when she's coming, just that she will be premature. See, she's not due until January 9.
My wife (Jen) started feeling some strong pains Monday morning, the 16th. She called her doctor's office and told her to come in that afternoon. They checked her and told her she was having contractions and to come to the hospital for a couple of hours of observation. That couple of hours turned into an overnight stay while they put her on medication to stop the contractions. They also started her on antibiotics to fight off any potential infection in her or the baby, and steroid shots to help the baby's lungs develop. We discovered in the morning that she had continued to dilate, and that the baby had dropped a little. They decided to keep her overnight again, and continue medication to fight off the contractions. However, she did not respond to the second round of medication, and they had to give her a couple of shots of a third medication in the evening to get the contractions under control. They are now keeping the contractions mostly in check with a pill form of the third medication every four hours.
We have no realistic expectations of going home until the baby is born, but we have a wonderful support system that is making our lives a little easier. Our 22 month-old son is staying with her grandparents so I can stay here with my wife. The nurses have great, taking good care of Jen. A NICU nurse came to see us and really set our minds at ease about having a preemie. 40 weeks is full term, Jen was 32 1/2 when she was admitted. The nurse told us that the baby is basically fully developed, but her lungs and stomach are just not mature enough to really function on their own. When the baby is born, they'll probably put her on a respirator and an IV.
They would like to get her to 34 weeks (Nov. 27) before the baby is born, but nobody really knows if we'll make it. Jen is slowly starting to have small contractions through the medication, and they don't have anything else to give her. If she dilates any more, they may not have any choice but to go ahead with the delivery.
Sorry to be so long-winded. If you made it this far, thanks for taking the time. I'll update this later when we know something new.
Brian
My wife (Jen) started feeling some strong pains Monday morning, the 16th. She called her doctor's office and told her to come in that afternoon. They checked her and told her she was having contractions and to come to the hospital for a couple of hours of observation. That couple of hours turned into an overnight stay while they put her on medication to stop the contractions. They also started her on antibiotics to fight off any potential infection in her or the baby, and steroid shots to help the baby's lungs develop. We discovered in the morning that she had continued to dilate, and that the baby had dropped a little. They decided to keep her overnight again, and continue medication to fight off the contractions. However, she did not respond to the second round of medication, and they had to give her a couple of shots of a third medication in the evening to get the contractions under control. They are now keeping the contractions mostly in check with a pill form of the third medication every four hours.
We have no realistic expectations of going home until the baby is born, but we have a wonderful support system that is making our lives a little easier. Our 22 month-old son is staying with her grandparents so I can stay here with my wife. The nurses have great, taking good care of Jen. A NICU nurse came to see us and really set our minds at ease about having a preemie. 40 weeks is full term, Jen was 32 1/2 when she was admitted. The nurse told us that the baby is basically fully developed, but her lungs and stomach are just not mature enough to really function on their own. When the baby is born, they'll probably put her on a respirator and an IV.
They would like to get her to 34 weeks (Nov. 27) before the baby is born, but nobody really knows if we'll make it. Jen is slowly starting to have small contractions through the medication, and they don't have anything else to give her. If she dilates any more, they may not have any choice but to go ahead with the delivery.
Sorry to be so long-winded. If you made it this far, thanks for taking the time. I'll update this later when we know something new.
Brian
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