Bump Day: Week 23 + Hospital Update

Let me start off today's Bump Day with an update on my pregnancy and the baby girls.  I went to my scheduled doctor's appointment on Tuesday at 1:30 and by 5 PM I was being admitted to the hospital. 

Waiting at the doc.

 

Getting to the hospital.

 

 

The reasons why my doctor admitted me were because my cervix is continuing to shorten (Thank the Lord I have that stitch from the Cerclage... See that post here) and I was having contractions that I could not feel.  I was put on the labor and delivery floor to begin Magnesium Sulfide, antibiotics, and given my first round of steroid shots (Ouch!) for the babies' lung development.  The Magnesium was to help decrease the contractions and help with the babies' brain developement.  After a while on the high dose of Mag, once again, my blood pressure decided to plummit to 51/29... no bueno.  They stopped the Mag and my BP quickly came back up.  When the doctor came much later that night (that poor lady is a workaholic) she instructed the nurses to put me back on the Mag at a lower dosage over a longer period of time.  At that time they also let me eat and drink... no liquids or food for this pregnant lady for about 8 hours up to that point, which is WAY too long.  Let's just say I was parched.

The night was not so fun.  Because my BP likes to go down, they set the BP cuff to automatically go off every 15 minutes.  So, I would settle down and at that moment right before you fall asleep be startled again by the BP cuff.  Over and Over and Over again.  Not only that but if it was too low for their likings (I still felt fine) then an alarm would sound...
 
bing bing bing Dah Dumb, bing bing bing Dah Dumb, bing bing bing Dah Dumb

You get the picture... it was soooo annoying.  That would go on for a full 15 minutes until the next BP reading and if it was also low, then about 5 minutes later the nurse would come in to check on me and turn off the alarm.  The resident doctor also came in at some point.  The only moment I fell asleep was in one 15 minute increment and was awakened by the nurse so it could have only been 5 minutes, tops... All... Night... Long.  Poor Brian stayed with me that night.  He said he was not woken up as much as me and got a little more sleep but I know he was worried and sleep deprived when he had to leave for work the next morning.

Yesterday was more of a blur.  I was moved to the antepartum floor (for ladies not in active labor but on hospital bed rest) in the morning around 9.  The Mag that I'm on has some side effects like any medication.  So I feel like its about 78 degrees in my room and anyone that walks in is shivering and complaining that they are in an ice box.  I feel like I have a horrible sunburn that is just radiating heat from my face, chest, hands, and feet.  The isolating fan helps.  Also, it gives me horrible dry mouth so I'm constantly drinking fluids and not wanting to eat as much.  I got in about two 30 minute naps yesterday.  Hard to sleep with the medication, BP being taken every hour, and nurses coming in and out.  My mother-in-law was nice enough to stay the day with me and watch me just lay there.  She finished 3 little baby hats though.  Super cute :)  I couldn't stand to look at the tv, my phone, or the computer... I think due to the lack of sleep.  I was having a horrible time concentrating and carrying on conversations as well. 

Snoozing while I get fanned.

At 6:30 Brian, my parents, and his parents all went down to our infant care class that I had signed up for weeks ago.  I was able to skype in and tried to pay attention but again, it was very hard to concentrate.  They seemed to learn a lot though and will pass along the knowledge before these bambinos get here.  Brian mastered swaddling one baby while holding another... Go Daddy Go!

The doctor came again late last night and gave us the next plan of action.  She believes I will be here at least a week and that they would begin weaning me off of the Mag the next morning.  My contractions had stopped but still a little bit of irritability so they want to keep a close eye.  I was actually able to get some sleep last night which felt sooo nice.

This morning, I began a lower dosage of Mag and at 3 PM was taken off completely... Freedom!  I'm now allowed to get up and go to the bathroom, hallelujuh!!  Now, its mostly a waiting game... see if any contractions come back and monitor the babies.

Everyone here at the hospital have been extremely nice and I just got moved to a new room with a very nice view of Houston. 

Now for the bump update...

How far along? 23 weeks.

Sleep? Very sleep deprived but catching up.

Maternity Clothes? No, just these glamorous hospital gowns.

Stretch Marks? Nope.

Best Moment this week? Meeting my new niece, Oakley.  My brother and his wife Stephanie got a new puppy and they brought her to my house over the weekend.  The cutest thing was that she was sleeping on Brian's side of the bed and woke up, walked to me, and snuggled right in to my baby bump... heart melted.  I was also rolled outside in the wheelchair to watch Oakley and Ryley play together... best buds.  See more pics of Oakley on Steph's blog here.

 

Miss Anything? Yes, lots.  The outdoors, my dog, sleeping next to my husband.  This is going to be tough but totally worth every second for these three girls kicking inside me.

Movement? Yesterday morning I think they decided to run a relay race.  It began with baby C moving and kicking for about 1 minute, then onto Baby A for a minute, and then Baby B decided to move around after that.  These girls are already working together.

Size of the Babies? Three Large Mangos!  They were actually measured at 1 lb 1 oz, 1 lb 4 oz, and 1 lb 5 oz on Tuesday.  Growing girls.

Food Cravings? Apples with nutella and Peanut Butter Patties Girl Scout Cookies. (Not together, I'm not that crazy).

Morning Sickness? Completely gone.
 

Gender? Three girls.

Bed Rest? Hospital bed rest.  See all the fun details above.

Limitations? No standing or sitting. Must stay less than 45 degrees.

Labor Signs? Yep, see above.

Weight Gain? 21 lbs.

Pregnancy Symptoms? Having to pee ALL of the time.

Belly Button In or Out? Slightly out.

Wedding Rings On or Off? They still fit, but didn't bring them with me to the hospital.

Mood? Up and down the past 2 days considering what we have been through.

Looking Forward To? Getting through each day and not going in to labor.  Its a count down.

What Brian is Saying: "You okay?"  About every hour 2 nights ago in the hospital.  He's worried and checking on me.
 

Bump Photo:
(Bump photo was taken at home just before we went to the doctor on Tuesday.)

 

 

FYI: My belly seems much bigger than it looks in these pics... just sayin'.