July 6, 2011 started like any other... I was going to the OB for an appointment, and Jordan would be on his way to work after the appointment. Jordan had missed the last few appointments {I had them every two weeks from the very beginning} so he was excited to see the live ultrasound this time.
When you're on the multiples journey, the ultrasonographer does an internal view to measure the length of the cervix and to look for any opening of the cervix, also known as 'funneling'. I read A LOT during my pregnancy, and this 'funneling' was scary business. I had been so grateful for a healthy pregnancy, and we were expecting nothing short of normalcy.
During this July 6th ultrasound, however, the first thing I saw was funneling. I broke into tears. I was anxious and scared of the unknown. What would happen now? What did this mean?
We met with the doctor after the ultrasound, and we learned that I was 1 cm dilated and about 30% effaced. I was one day shy of 29 weeks pregnant.
He put me on Procardia and bed rest. Jordan stayed home with me that day. We had driven separately {he was supposed to go to work after the appointment, remember}, but Jordan picked up lunch and a movie for us to watch instead. We were watching... well, Jordan was watching, I was trying to wrap my head around all of the emotional and physical changes I was feeling. I kept feeling this tightening that I had experienced daily for the past couple of weeks. {I started having 'Braxton Hicks' contractions the day I turned 27 weeks... Well I thought they were BH at the time.}
I shared with Jordan that my stomach kept getting tight. We timed them, but they weren't painful so I wasn't nervous... Except the contractions were every 4-5 minutes. We called the doctor, and they advised us to head to the hospital.
We packed a LIGHT overnight bag just in case....
Mary met us at the maternity entrance with a wheelchair, and we waited in the waiting room. About an hour later I was called into triage. Another 30 minutes after {I had to put on a gown, pee in a cup, give insurance information, etc}, I was put on the monitors. The contractions kept coming... some 2-3 minutes apart. Me- no pain.
A resident came in and labeled me at '3 centimeters, 80% effaced'. WHAT?!?!
At the OB's office, the ultrasound measured Mac and Paisley around 2 lbs each- about the size of an eggplant.
Immediately I was wheeled to a delivery room and put on magnesium sulfate. No food, no water. I hadn't eaten lunch at home because I was too nervous, and I really regretted that decision at this point.
If you remember or lived this journey with us, you remember that it was only by the grace of God that Mac and Paisley weren't born that day, one year ago today. It was a whirlwind of a day between meeting nurses, doctors, neonatologists, labor, etc. We were surrounded by prayer, and we were at peace with whatever happened. Becca and Susie brought us {well, Jordan}dinner, Jessica, Leslie and Katie brought us clothes and pillows from our house, and Matt and Bart came to pray over my body in turmoil.
We had chosen to tour Erlanger two days before {July 4} because Jordan was off, and I wasn't at peace with the other hospital choice. I can't express enough my gratitude to the amazing hospital that Erlanger is! We feel very blessed to have such an incredible teaching hospital in Chattanooga. We have had friends go through preterm labor, and their babies are doing so well! So should M and P have come into the world that day, we knew we were in the absolute best place for them.
Selfishly, I am happy to say that today we aren't celebrating Mac and Paisley's first birthday. I am glad that they are only {only? ha!} 10 months old. I am thankful for these memories that I can share with you and Mac and Paisley.
So today, about 10 1/2 months later, here are the nuggets-
as always,
ashley
