Not your average day @ 30wks...

Those who might have been reading the due in June/July thread might have seen that I hit 30 weeks yesterday, and it was at this point that I thought it was time to look ahead to plan for the impending birth of our child.

I decided it was time to think about what to pack in my bag/baby's bag for hospital, what to do with my DD, make sure baby's room was ready, birth plan, etc etc. Little did I know how important this would be.

This morning 30w+1 I woke with a pinkish discharge. Hmmm, ok. What to do... Pulled out What to Expect when You're Expecting to get a few ideas. In the end I called the midwives at the hospital for their advice. They suggested I put on a pad, and got ready as usual - breakfast, shower, dressed etc then to call them back to let them know how I was going.

I called them back after about an hour to tell them that the discharge was continuing and that my belly felt quite tight. I wasn't constantly tight, but was tight while I was on the phone and also when I was in the shower. They suggested I come in to see them. No problem, dropped DD at school and headed to the hospital, envisaging I'd be there for 30 mins or so and head off to work.

Well that was fine in theory until they put me in a delivery room to put me on a monitor and started taking my obs. Blood pressure fine, temp, fine, pulse fine, baby's heart rate fine, uterine contractions.... approx every 10 mins!!!! What the...???? Stayed on the monitor for over an hour, watching and feeling the contractions increase in severity and decrease in time between, down to approx 4-5 mins. And definitely not Braxton Hicks. Holy Cow!

Fortunately after few more tests, they confirmed that waters hadn't broken, nor had my cervix dialated. However the contractions were still with me. They gave me a brief on worst case scenario - can't stop contractions, cervix dialates/waters break, get transferred via ambulance to Monash, Mercy or the Womens as they have NICU beds (neonatal intensive care unit). Box Hill has a Level 2 special care nursery and I'd be needing a Level 3 if they couldn't stop the contractions and I was going to deliver.

After several more hours and some Panadeine Forte to try and slow the contractions, they seemed to think the drugs were working (and so did I cause I couldn't feel regular contractions.)

More test, more time and less contractions, they finally sent me home around 4.30pm - 7 hours later, with strong recommendations to keep an eye on what was happening, and if there were any more contractions or any more discharge to call IMMEDIATELY.

Since I've been home I've been feeling OK. Not great, uterus is still fairly tender. I don't think I've have any more contractions, but I'm certainly aware that they may happen. Or not. OB & Midwives were happy for me to go to work tomorrow, so I guess I will be.

My suggestion to you all... Pack your bag! You can never be prepared too early. Fortunately I didn't need it, but as soon as I can, I'm heading out to the shops to buy a new nighty/pyjamas and I'm packing my bag. Hopefully I won't need it and this little one stays put for another 10 weeks. If not, I'll be ready.

Gotta say, not your average day at 30 weeks.

Oh wow! What a day! Please take care of yourself, it's time to pamper Mummy for a change.

Kerrie

Holly cow, Rachel, I hope everything will be ok with you and bubs. Take extra easy from now on.

Wow! I'm glad you and bubs are ok. How very scary for you.

Good to hear that everything is ok at the moment. Maybe you should listen to your body and slow down alittle. Here's to another 10 weeks of growing bub.


Take care
Trish

Rachel, glad to here that the little bub has decided to stay put for the time being. Maybe Trish is right & you need to slow down a bit....

Rachel how scary. Take care of yourself and you little one.

I couldn't believe what I was reading Rachel, you poor thing! How scary to be having contractions and possibly being rushed to Monash/Mercy. Take it easy and look after yourself and bubs!

What a day! You poor thing. Make sure you rest up and take it very easy!
Glad everything is ok now and I hope that bub stays put for another 10 weeks! [-o<

Rachel - What a scare you must have had, hopefully your little one will stay where he/she is for the next 10 weeks.

Take Care

Deeanne

Oh Rachel! Your poor thing! How stressful and scary for you!

I hope things are much better today and that your little one looks like staying put for another 10 weeks. Please rest up and take it easy! :hug:

Hooley dooley, that would have been a HUGE fright!! I hope you are able to rest up and take care of yourself and that your little one stays put!!

OMG how scary for you Rachel!! Fingers crossed your little one stays in there for quite a few more weeks yet!

Take care.

Lots of rest and relaxation for you!!

Wow you poor thing- that must have been terrible.
I am glad you are okay and at home now.

Take Care

Ok I say relax, relax, relax, relax!!!!!!
I hope you are relaxing! =;

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and recommendations.

So far - since Tuesday - everything has been quiet. No more contractions, taking it easy but still working.

I'm carrying so much lower than I was before so I think I'm starting the pregnant waddle. Everyone tells me that I'm much lower. Don't know what it means, but as long as Squishy stays put for a bit longer I'll be happy.

And I've got a bag packed in the boot of my car, just in case it happens again, I'm admitted and we can't stop the contractions. (It's a bit exciting really, but nerve wracking all the same)

Hi Rachel,

I am so glad everything has been going well since your last post. Good to hear you are taking it easy. All the best with the rest of your pregnancy.

LOL @ having the pregnant waddle now.

Hi Rache l,

I know how scary this happening @ 30 weeks because something similar happened to me at exactly the same time in my pregnancy.

I started bleeding brown blood at home and because I'd had some before earlier in my pregnancy and ignored it, the GP told me next time to come see her or go to the hospital. So I rang the labour ward and explained my situation, they said that everything was probably fine but to come in anyhow.

The did an external exam and took a swap of the blood, which was starting to get heavier, and decided I should stay overnight for observation. Within an hour of getting to the ward I started hemorraging bright red blood, and the nurses went into panic mode and the drs were called. (I felt fine mind you) I was told they were going to give me steriods and that if they couldn't stop the bleeding they might have to transfer me to brisbane for a c-section (same sitution no level 3 NICU at the Gold Coast) luckily after awhile it all slowed down and everything was fine, no contractions thankfully.

I spent 2 nights there terrified my baby would come out that early, and wondering if he/she would survive, it was horrible.

I went home and packed my bag (I wasn't prepared at all) and just counted the weeks praying he'd make it to 35-36 at least.

Turns out he engaged @ 34 weeks, and then the stubborn little boy stayed there for another 7 weeks..induced @ 13 days overdue..those steriods certainly worked well!

So be assured sometimes things can inexplicably happen, and even afterwards you can return to a normal pregnancy!

Fingers crossed your little one stays in there a little bit longer!:crossfingers:

I can't imagine how nerve wracking that must have been for you..here's hoping bubs stays put for a few weeks to come at least...

Also wanted to let you know that NICU is amazing, a friend of mine went in to early labor & gave birth at 27 weeks, and their happy, healthy baby is now at home with mum & dad..

Rachel, I was just going to post that it sounds like your baby has engaged in the pelvis, which midwives have told me happens 1-2 weeks before the birth (although mine never do til I'm in labour), but then I read Katanya's post. Wow, all sorts of things can happen eh? Apparently the hospitals you mentioned are for any babies earlier than 32 weeks, so I'll be checking out Monash myself just incase. It's amazing what they can do for early babies these days. I panicked when my daughter was born 2 weeks early, but now I hear of heaps of babies born much earlier, & it's a big possibility for me this time.

Hope you & bubs are keeping well. Sounds like a great excuse to take it very very easy the rest of the way.

Hi again,

Just a quick update on this. Went and had a midwife check up last night. Since my 28w check (now 32w) my uterus measurement has increased heaps. Was 28cm for 28wks, now 35.5cm for 32wks. Midwife suggested this may have brought on the discharge and contractions. She's also recommended they keep a close eye on in case the growth spurt continues at this rate! It could even out to being the right size over the next week or two, but it could mean I have to be induced a couple of weeks early.

Stay tuned for further installations in this saga!

(Picked up the bassinet we are borrowing from my g/f last night on the way home from the check up. At the thought of going early, I wanted it at my place!)

Thanks for the update, I will be watching this thread to see what happens. Your belly looks almost ready! Good luck Rachel.

Good Luck Rachel, will keep our eyes out for your news!!!

Had a check up last night. Baby's still growing although this week's growth rate not as large as previous - also different person measuring so that can make it different.

The OB decided to send me for another ultrasound all the same, so Thursday morning is when it's all going to happen. We're almost ready to find out what sex the baby is too because we're having sooooo much trouble with boys names. At least if we find out what it is it will help us with the name game. Guess we'll have to wait and see how cooperative bubs is on Thursday!

Will give you the update then.

Thanks for the update Rachel,
Can't wait to hear how the scan goes & if you do find out the sex of bubs!!!!

Racheal great to hear that everything is going fairly normally (except growth) all I can say is that big babies tend to be healthy 8-[

I just wanted to say unfortunately at this stage babies are pretty well curled up and it may be hard to see what you are having(I tried too with felix at this stage) I had 4 scans throughout and never found out, TBH I was really glad as it was the best surprise ever!

I told my DH this morning we might not be able to see the sex of the baby and he was disappointed, Katanya. But I guess it's not really important in the scheme of things. We're having the scan to make sure the baby is nice and healthy and to make sure things will be ok for labour/delivery.

Will keep you posted all the same. :)

Good luck Rachel, look forward to hearing from you.

Ultrasound went well this morning.

Baby is healthy and HE is average on the percentile scale so nothing for me to be worried about.

And yes, we found out the sex... it's a boy! :D

Congratulations on a great result and finding out you are having a boy!!!

That's great news Rachel!

Great news on both accounts :D

Congratulations, Rachel!!

Rachel so glad he proved me wrong and showed himself!!! HOW exciting!!! Ahh..little boys are wonderful :) of course I am biased! ;)

Also VERY happy to hear all is well!! See I was right on that one!

Thank you for all your lovely thoughts everyone.

We would have been thrilled with either a boy or a girl. I think it's just so exciting to know. We didn't find out with our DD, we waited until the birth, however with this one seeing we were struggling with names for a boy so we thought it was a good idea to find out and that way we'd either stop thinking about it if it was a girl or get down to some serious thinking if it was a boy.

Guess we've got some serious name contemplation to do!

Any suggestions anyone???