A year ago today, I had just returned to school after winter vacation. I spent most of the vacation relaxing...and just before New Year's I came down with what I thought was the flu. I even called my doctor in the middle of the night, I was that sick. After I went on bedrest, she told me that it may have been my body going into labor. Anyway, I had an ultrasound scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 7th after school to see if my placenta had moved up. They had told me at the first ultrasound that I had a low lying placenta. So they wanted to check before possibly diagnosing me with placenta previa. If diagnosed I had a good chance that I would have a c-section. So Brian and I met at the hospital for the ultrasound. Luckily I had the ultrasound at the hospital. The placenta was fine; however, my cervix was fully effaced and I was dilated at 1-2 cm. We were completely shocked and I immediately broke down in tears. Thankfully Brian was there with me and I remember he told me that we would get through this and that God had a plan.
I was admitted to the hospital immediately and given drugs every 15 minutes to try to stop the contractions. I was also given 2 doses of steroids within the next 24 hours, to help the lungs, if he would have been born. Thankfully the contractions subsided and I was moved to antepartum, where I spent the next 4 weeks. I did venture back to labor and delivery a few times, when I would start to have more contractions.
So the next four weeks were spent at Beaumont, lying on my side. I took a sleeping pill every night, just to get some sleep. I tried a few nights without it and I could not sleep. They told me that they helped me relax and keep the contractions away too. I never got out of bed for four weeks. I did shower about every 4 days but I scooted to a special stretcher to shower. I was also wheeled down for a few ultrasounds, which became my field trip for the day. That however, along with the showers, caused some contractions. The more movement, the more contractions. I had two field trips in a row before I had Andrew and I think I transferred stretchers a few too many times.
I have a lot of memories from my stay at Beaumont...I cannot believe it was a year ago. And although I did not allow/have a lot of visitors, I really do appreciate everything that everyone did for us during my stay at Beaumont. It was really hard to have a new visitor because every time I told the story, I got a little emotional, which brought on the contractions. We are so thankful for everyone. Brian came to Beaumont every day after work, it became his second home as well. He was the best caretaker!
So this means that Andrew will be turning one soon! February 1st!
