I’m currently lying in a labor room at my hospital, waiting to see if I can be discharged after a 2 night stay. My baby boy apparently thought 34.5 weeks would be a good time to try to come out.

I woke up Monday to a really sharp pain. I thought it was a BH contraction (it wasn’t). After that, I had period-like cramping (7 scale out of 10) constantly until noon. At noon it let up & turned into mild cramping. I thought all this was ok, but unsure. What concerned me most was a decrease in fetal movement. I ended up drinking a cold glass of juice, which is the advice usually given if you think your baby is not moving as much. Anyway, baby got hiccups but still wasn’t on his usual movement schedule. So I called my ob/gyn office. LADIES, if you’re unsure, it never hurts to call them or send them a message through the patient portal! I am one of those people who doesn’t want to “be a bother” but I am so glad I called!

My ob/gyn office had me go into Triage. They monitored my baby (all good), contractions, & then did a cervical check. Yes, that part was awful but only takes a few moments. That was when they got a surprise —I was 80% effaced & 3.5 cm dilated! At 34.5 weeks! They told me I wasn’t going home that night & brought me into a labor room.

After settling in, I was strapped to several IVs. One contained magnesium, which is used to slow down labor. They did one big “boost” & then continuous smaller doses through the IV. The boost was the worst part —normally it causes nausea, blurred vision, extreme hot flashes, dizziness. I only had the extreme hot flash which lasted about 30 min. I was burning up as the nurses were literally putting ice packets on me! I was then given 2 steroid shots in the bum (24 hours apart). This helps baby’s lungs develop faster and helps protect him from infections he would be more prone to being born this early.

The entire time, they were unsure if he was going to stay in. I signed all my consent forms, etc, in the expectation that they would have to do a c-section.

So since Monday, I’ve been stuck to a hospital bed strapped to an IV, a baby monitor & contraction monitor on my belly, the blood pressure machine, & the things they wrap around your calves to make sure you don’t get blood clots. It’s looking like baby will stay in longer —I don’t know how much time this buys us. I personally think he’s going to be a Thanksgiving baby & not a Christmas baby!

If last night’s monitoring of the baby & my contractions (which have gone away) look good, I get to go home & be on bed rest until baby decides to come again.

My doctors don’t know why baby was trying to come early —possibly just that he’s an <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IVF</a> baby since <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IVF</a> pregnancies more often end in premature births. I haven’t had GD, infections, or any other issues that usually cause preterm birth. And not everyone experiences contractions they way they are typically described (starting in one spot, then spreading out). Apparently 80% of women do, & I happen to be in that weird 20%. The good news, besides him looking healthy, is that my contractions look like they have stabilized & mostly gone away since being medicated!

This whole ordeal has made so thankful that:

1) my nursery is ready

2) house, baby laundry, & baby products are clean & ready

3) I have a new SUV with the car seat installed

4) my hospital bag was packed!

All things I didn’t have to worry about in case I did have to bring a baby home 4.5 weeks early! Plus, it was so nice having my toiletries (tooth brush, face wash, makeup remover, CHAPSTICK), house slippers, underwear! Initially my doctor said I would probably stay until Thursday or Friday but I may be released a day early!

So mammas, at this point, pack your bags, install your car seats, & if you’re unsure about what you’re feeling, call your ob/gyn team! 😁