Braxton Hicks Came to Visit

As soon as I started my 23rd week of pregnancy, I begun to feel these painless, but uncomfortable contractions, also known as Braxton Hicks Contractions. Which are practice contractions that prepare your uterus for the real thing later on. I was proud of myself that I did recognize what was happening. I researched in my baby books and on the internet if it was anything I needed to be concerned about. Most of them said "no" because they are different from "true" labor contractions, which happen more frequently, at regular intervals, and gradually increase in intensity and are painful. That was not the case with me, however, being that this was my first pregnancy, I worried anyway. I realized it was happening more often and Sunday night it kept me up pretty much all night.

Then next day I made a visit to the local hospital's Labor and Delivery ward. I'd rather have a doctor tell me that there was nothing to worry about than a book. I left work at lunchtime and had the hubs take me to the hospital. When we got there I was hooked up to monitors, one to track the baby's heartbeats and the other one tracked the contractions. It showed that I was having contractions and it was happening a lot. I was given a couple doses of a drug that would make these contractions stop. Eventually the contractions subsided. I was then given an ultrasound to measure the length of my cervix. It was not bad, but not good either. With all the information they gathered, I was put on bed rest.

I am not sure for how long, the doctor can't give me a definitive answer. They just want to keep monitoring me as much as possible and do not want me to exert myself. Luckily it is modified bed rest, which means that I am not confined to a bed, they just want me to stay off my feet--rest, no chores, no physical activity, and no work.

All this has definitely thrown us for a loop, but we are taking it in a stride. The hubs has really stepped up to the plate. He will now be doing a lot of the things I did before. Such as running errands, cooking, grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, and taking on the "honey do list" I had given him before all this happened. I can't worry about work or what they will think of me. I was not prepared to leave this early. But then again, I might be cleared to go back in 2 weeks, we really just don't know right now.

The hubs picked up some movies for me to watch--27 Dresses, Into the Wild, Juno, and The Chronicles of Narnia. My MIL is bringing me lunch, so I really feel so lucky to have the support that I have.