A Hospital Stay of Firsts

Well… First, I just want to say that I am doing great now and so are the babies.

 

It was the first time I was admitted to the labor and delivery department, the first time staying overnight in a hospital, the first time on bedrest, the first time with super low blood pressure, and the first time vomiting on a nurse…

 

We went to see my doctor on Tuesday and she decided that it would be best for me and the pregnancy to do a Cerclage.  Basically, stitch my cervix to prevent me from going into pre-term labor, which is common when you are carrying 3 babies.

 

The procedure took place at Methodist Hospital on Thursday at 1 PM.

 

In pre-op… ready to go.

 

 

Everything went great during the procedure and they took me to recovery.  I woke up with pain in 3 places… in my throat (from some device they stuck down there), in my left elbow since I had my IV in my cubital fossa (elbow pit as Brian likes to call it) and they had it bent at 90 degrees so I was being stabbed by a needle, and thirdly what felt like bad menstrual cramps.  They gave me a little something for the pain, watched me for a little while, then wheeled me to the labor and delivery department.  I met up with Brian and the ‘rents on the way.

 

Once situated in my new room, they hooked me up to a Toco to monitor contractions, a blood pressure cuff, a pulse/oximeter, and I still had the IV connected to me.  The “menstrual cramps” I was having became worse again so they gave me a type of morphine (which they assured me was safe for the babies) and that helped a lot.  I was told that it was doctor’s orders that I could not leave the hospital until I was “pain free”.  I continued having these cramps which were apparently contractions so they decided to give me an injection of Terbutaline  The shot went in to the back of my right arm and the nurse informed me I’ll probably get a feeling of my heart racing or like I was running in bed (not something I was looking forward to).

 

Shot went in, I tried to relax, and the nurse left.  A couple of minutes later, my heart wasn’t racing, but I felt like I was going to pass out and it was rapidly getting worse. So I got Brian’s attention and he quickly called the nurse.  She came in swiftly, put on the BP cuff, and it read 58/34 (not good, not good at all).  She lowered the bed, put a cold rag on my head (since my whole body was sweating profusely), and called the doctor immediately.  Next BP reading was in the 60’s/40’s, next reading 70’s/50’s… it was gradually rising.  I was beginning to feel better.  It continued rising to around my normal blood pressure.

 

Then the chills, possibly because I was covered in sweat, but they layered blankets on me and I began to feel more normal.  About an hour went by and I began to warm up so we moved my blanket off of me.  Then I got warmer and warmer and I could feel my blood pressure dropping again.  This time the phone to the nurse was busy so Brian ran out to get someone.  While he was gone I began to feel like I was going to vomit.  But where?  I’m hooked up to all of these things and I couldn't concentrate enough to find the bucket by my bed.  Nurses and Brian returned quickly and I was able to get the words out, “I’m going to throw up…” too late.  All over my right side, the blood pressure cuff, the bed, the call buttons, the floor, and the nurse’s feet.  Luckily she was able to grab the small bucket for me to continue.  The nurses were in action and cleaned me up quickly and made sure my blood pressure was rising again.

 

So far an eventful stay in the hospital which earned me the privilege of staying overnight to be monitored.  Brian was keeping a watchful eye on me and wasn’t going to leave me without someone.  He phoned a friend and Leila was on her way so Brian was able to run home to get our things to stay overnight.  The doctor showed up around 9ish and informed me that I probably had a vagal response.  Since I had been laying on my back (or inclined) all day, with the addition of the medication, and the weight of my uterus situated over my own vital arteriovenous return to my head, my blood pressure dropped.  Solution… lay on your side.  No more sleeping on my back for me.  The doctor continued to say if I was stable until the morning that they would discharge me.

 

My parents and my brother came to see how I was doing which was very nice.  I love my family.  Brian got back around 11 PM and everyone else headed home.  The night was pretty sleepless for me.  Nurses were in to give me meds.  My BP cuff alarm went off when I hit systolic of 89, but I was sleeping… so no biggie.  IV alarms went off when the lines were kinked or medication empty and so on.  45 minutes here, 30 minutes here, and on top of that the mattress I was on was not comfortable so I had to continue switching sides which included not messing up all of the wires I was attached to.  Morning came and I was hungry.  No food prior to surgery and then I vomited my dinner, so naturally I needed food.  I ordered a nice sized breakfast and nibbled on it while waiting to find out if I could leave. 

 

Around 10 AM, my doctor called and said she was going to send her resident to release me.  Whoo hoo!  I was ready to leave, one night in the hospital was enough for me.  By 11 AM, my Mom had showed up and soon after the resident and a med student came in to do an ultrasound and check the babies’ heartbeats.  Everyone looked healthy which was a great relief for Brian and I with all of the eventfulness the day before.  Time to go home.  Dressed and wheeled out of the hospital by the hillarious John (in pic), my Mom drove me home so Brian could get some work done.  Since then, I’ve been feeling like my old pregnant self but definitely taking it easy.  I’m glad all of that is over with, however I know there will be obstacles along the way to growing these three little miracles.  One day at a time.

 

 

On another note, my awesome sis-in-law {see her blog} and my brother arrived last night with dinner and an adorable gift…

 

These girls are already so loved.