*Second note: While I don't feel this post will fall under the TMI category, you might. Read it anyway, for educational purposes! I'll be sure to use clinical/medical terminology. And if you're a man, married or not, put on your big boy pants because this might have/could happen to you one day...
So my next post was originally going to be house related. We've cleaned out our garage and mudroom, built a compost box and decorated for Christmas. However, the events of last night/early this morning take precedence. You see, I had my first "I'm pregnant for the first time and something weird is happening need to go to the hospital" experience.
Sunday was a pretty chill day for me. We had church Sunday morning (no strenuous set up/take down for the band as we are meeting in a house right now), ate lunch, did some laundry, took a nap, cooked dinner and then set out to watch the Patriots/deliver Christmas gifts to friends. Andrew and I are leaving for Alabama Wednesday night so I started prepping for our trip over the weekend.
We got back from our final "Merry Christmas and goodbye!" just before 10, and I got ready for bed. We were both pretty tired from our day of doing very little so we got in bed just before 10:15. As soon as I got situated I started having sharp pains in my lower right abdomen while simultaneously having throbbing pain in my right thigh.
I've had the normal aches and pains that come with muscles/organs growing and stretching, but this was different. I also know that round ligament pains will become a little more frequent from this point forward. This still felt different as it continued to pulse rhythmically in both places. I was also cold because it's down in the teens here now, so I was shivering from cold and a little fear.
I immediately made Andrew call Christie and Ryan--our good friends and Ryan's our pastor--who are in Oklahoma right now for Christmas. They have three kids, so I always run my weird pains by her first. Christie had never experienced my pains before, but asked if I had a fever or diarrhea as one of her kids and another kid we know had those symptoms with right side pain just a few days prior. And I had been in one of the kid's presence while she was sick. I didn't have those other symptoms, so Christie told me to go ahead and call my midwives' after hours number.
I will say here that because I was having pain but no bleeding I did not really panic. You might be shocked to hear that, but I really figured that something else was wrong, and since I didn't have bleeding, I hadn't miscarried.
I called the number and after leaving a message I received a call pretty quickly. I talked with the midwife on call for a bit, and she felt like it could be one of four things: ligament pains, problem with the placenta, intestinal problem or something else that I have since forgotten. (I only slept four hours last night.)
I was told to lie down (already doing that), drink a glass of water and call back in half an hour. I did that, but still had consistent pain in both areas. At 11:15 or so I spoke with the midwife again and she really didn't have any suggestions as the pain had now been constant for an hour. So in to the Wesson building (the women's building at the hospital) we went. We arrived shortly before midnight, registered and received a labor exam room.
Proof of registration
So remember--I'm in some pain. Walking/standing is less fun than lying down. I'm in my flannel pj pants and an Alabama sweatshirt (with appropriate down jacket, gloves and hat on as well since it's about 18 degrees outside). I'm also in glasses because who feels like putting in contacts at midnight? Let's just say I looked bee-yoo-ti-ful. Then they tell me I have to go do a clean catch urine sample. If you're a woman, you've probably done some of these in your lifetime. I won't go into detail if you don't know what it is, but it's a little more involved than simply peeing in a cup. It's a pain when you feel well, and it was a real pain as I was in pain while doing it.
Over the course of the next three hours the following things happened: my urine was checked for a urinary tract infection. The nurse checked for the baby's heartbeat--first with something that generally doesn't pick up anything until 28 weeks (I'm 20)--but I didn't panic when nothing came through. Really, I promise. Me, not panicking. She found it with another device later, which was a great sign. I answered a bajillion questions about what I'd eaten, done, etc etc for the nurse and later the midwife on call. At 1:15 a.m. or so, the midwife has exhausted her possibilities and wants to do a "less invasive vaginal exam." Don't worry, I won't share details.
She took a sample for some test, but then basically lifted and prodded muscles, tissues and other inside parts for a bit. Crazily enough I felt no pain from the inside--which was great because that meant it might be intestinal rather than baby-related--but when she finished, the pain was gone! No more throbbing. Unfortunately, no going home yet either.
We speculated that it could have been a ligament spasm, and her basically massaging my insides made it let up. Regardless, I had throbbing sharp-ish pains for about three hours. Then they wanted to do a blood test to rule out appendix, gallbladder and other things I'm sure.
I would like to say here that I have fabulous veins. Nurses tell me that all the time. I've never had trouble having blood drawn, and I've given a few times voluntarily. It doesn't hurt me so much, and since I never look, I always do great.
Enter experienced nurse. Enter extremely tight tourniquet. Prick. Comments from nurse about how my veins are doing something weird or something. [If you're a nurse, please please please keep these comments to yourself. No one needs to hear them until after you've removed the needle. Then tell me you missed or you messed up or my vein even disappeared! Don't say it while it's happening!] I calmly continued to lie still and watch Andrew. She had to give up and move on.
Her next try was on my wrist. I've never had surgery or an IV so this was new for me. Apparently (due to her continued comments) this one started flowing but then stopped. Two tries, two fails and she was out. Nurse number two entered about half an hour later. She felt my veins were probably too good for a tourniquet, tried further up my forearm (again, very new for me) and had success. Here's a visual record of this annoying, somewhat painful anecdote:
After this we waited forever for the results, but during that time I learned my urine sample was fine. Just before 3 a.m. the nurse and midwife came back. All of my tests were "beautiful" and since the pain was gone (aside from some slight side twinges that seemed like previous pregnancy pains) I was free to go.
My first ultrasound is this afternoon, so they will be looking to make sure the placenta is still intact and normal. Other than that, I'm supposed to take it easy and call back if this happens again.
So we survived my first "freak-out" of the pregnancy. It came much earlier than expected (according to Andrew's expectations that we discussed this morning), but it's over. I slept for four hours and got up to continue my Christmas trip prep while he called out and slept in. I will be taking a nap pretty soon :)
Hopefully I can share something from the ultrasound in the next day or so. In sum, I hope your Sunday evening/early Monday morning was much less eventful than mine!!
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