36 week pregnancy update!

Finally done bed rest and there is no chance of returning!! Wednesday Oct 3rd, I was officially released from hospital bed rest. Friday of the same week, I was able to stop all the contraction medications.

How far along: 36weeks 3days

Weight gain: 21 lbs total

Movement: Eliana will randomly push at my stomach with her foot, knee, hand or elbow. It's interesting to feel a tiny little bump pushing out. Completely freaks out Nolan though. I've also been feeling her practice breathing. That is really awesome to feel.







Symptoms: A little bit of indigestion/heartburn, up all night to pee and just general pregnancy aches and pains.

Labor: I'm currently contracting every 3-5 minutes, regularly. This has been happening since I stopped taking the Procardia. The contractions aren't doing anything to change my cervix, but they are painful. Since they aren't changing my cervix there is nothing I can do but grin and bear it.


I'm currently 3cm dilated, 75% effaced, and baby is at a -2 station.


Sleep: I'm up all the time peeing. It hurts to switch from side to side and trying to sleep through contractions isn't easy.

Best Moment this Week: We made it to 36 weeks! What a milestone that is for us.

Belly Button in or out: In, and I'm pretty sure it's staying that way.

Feet Swelling: When I'm up and around too much I notice my feet starting to swell.



Wedding rings on or off: I keep them off for the most part. I usually wear three rings on a regular basis. One completely doesn't fit. My actual wedding ring does fit, but after a bit starts leaving marks in my finger. The third ring, my engagement ring, fits good, but it seems out of place without the other two. I just put them on my necklace when I want to wear them.

What I am looking forward to:  At this point the only thing to look forward to is holding our little girl soon!

Next appointment: October 10th for a growth ultrasound. 

34 weeks pregnant: Hospital bed rest & boredom

As you can tell, I didn't last at home very long. I was released from the hospital last Tuesday afternoon and returned Thursday night.

How far along: 34 weeks 4 days

How big is baby: Estimated weight at the last ultrasound on 9/21 was 5lbs 10oz.

Weight gain: Not sure. I haven't been weighed in weeks.

What I'm looking forward to: 36 weeks or when Eliana is born. Whichever comes first.

The current plan:
Hospital bed rest until 36 weeks
Nifedipine (Procardia) 20mg every 4 hours
17P shots weekly
Terbutiline shots as needed

Current labor progression:
2cm dilated, 70% effaced and baby at -3 station

One of the hardest parts of being in the hospital for so long is boredom. Of course boredom makes time drag. Another bad thing about being bored is how easy it is to let yourself get depressed. I start thinking about being home. So what do I do to stay busy all day?

1. Surf the internet....Facebook, Pinterest, Babycenter, blog, and read blogs.

2. Read

3. Watch TV

4.  Put random things on my belly and watch Eliana "play" with them.

5. Play games on the DS

6. Taking random pictures of myself or things in the room.

7. Video record Eliana moving around.

8. When all else fails...take a nap.

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: The room

After a week and a half of hospital bed rest, my OB finally released me to finish my bed rest at home. I did get some pictures of the room I was staying in while in the hospital.



So, hospital bed rest wasn't all that bad...mainly just boring and I missed my family so much. Well, the bed was awful for the first week. Then a nursing student realized their was something different about the bed and notified the nurse. She felt so bad when she saw I'd been sleeping on a labor bed. Once they added the correct padding, it was a little better. I had mentioned the fact that there was something wrong with the bed to a few nurses, but nothing was ever done about it.

33 weeks pregnant: Hospital stay meltdown

It' been 5 days since I was admitted to L&D. Shortly after writing my post on having a "successful" week on home bed rest, I started feeling a lot of pressure and cramping. I called my OB just to see if she could see me earlier in the week, but instead she told me to go to the hospital to get checked out. By the time we arrived I was having contractions that were every 2-4 min apart. I also dilated a little more to 2cm and effaced 75%. Nothing they did would stop the contractions so I was admitted. I was put on magnesium line for 48 hours and was given steroid shots to help mature baby's lungs in case she was born.



Emotionally, the last few days have been draining. All of this has been tough on everyone. Decisions about who would watch Parker while I'm here and Nolan is working. Making sure Vanessa gets to and from school. Figuring out what to do with my unfinished business orders. Parker been so stressed out and he can't even visit without having a major meltdown. I miss cuddling with him all day and I know that he is confused about everything going on. 

It's so hard, I feel so detached from everyone. From Vanessa, Nolan and Parker. I feel so alone. My only comfort is knowing that all this is keeping lil' Eliana in longer. I just can't handle the idea of Eliana having to spend time in the NICU. Not being able to take her home with us right away. Not being able to hold her anytime I want. I recently saw a comment that was made by someone else that is going through something similar in her pregnancy. I was pretty upset by it. The individual stated that she visited the NICU and saw 32 week old baby and that the baby didn't look all that bad off. I don't care how uncomfortable or how much pain I'm in, as long as she's not in distress, I would do anything in my power to keep Eliana from going into the NICU.

I trust my OB and I know that being here is what is best right now. That being said it doesn't make it easier.