First Trip To L and D

So we had our first experience at the Labor and Delivery wing yesterday. I started having severe lower abdominal cramping around 11:00 a.m. yesterday, so I called my doctor's office. They instructed us to go right to L&D to get monitored. As soon as I got there they put me on two fetal heart monitors and a contraction monitor. The babies’ heart rates were good, the contractions I was having were non-rhythmic, and my cervix was closed and long. They also took a swab of my cervix to test for an enzyme that would indicate whether or not preterm labor was eminent. The test came back negative, and the doctor said that means I should not go into labor for at least two weeks!!! He thought that the pains I was experiencing were a combination of Braxton Hicks Contractions and Round Ligament Pain. Neither of which are abnormal.

With all this good news I was shocked when the doctor dropped the bomb. He said three things: 1.) He told me that I cannot take anymore baths (which I’ve been doing every night to help my back and restless legs ), 2.) he wants me to start going to the OB’s office weekly for check ups, and the final blow… he wants me to stop working as of this Friday!!! I told him that I was not prepared, financially or mentally, to stop working so soon and asked him if there was any way to compromise. He told me that the contractions and pain I was having are just going to get worse the longer I push myself and said it was his medical advice that FRIDAY be my last day!!! He said that I WILL go into preterm labor if I don’t start taking it easy. This is so much sooner than I expected. I thought I’d at least make it till the end of this month. Of course I will do what's best for my girls and I will follow the doctor's orders. I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for next week, so I will get clarification on what they need me to do.