Labor Scare at 28 Weeks

We had a labor scare. I am 28 weeks and started having contractions. I ignored them at first because being only 28 weeks they shouldn’t be happening. So I figured they were just the notorious Braxton Hicks that just come and go occasionally. I tried all of the tricks I knew to get the contractions to stop. I layed on my left side so I could make sure not to put pressure on the main artery. I ate dinner and drank plenty of water. I went to the bathroom and walked back and forth. I laid down again and tried to rest. Nothing helped. By the time I finished my home remedy attempts it was bed time for the children. I knew that if I went to the hospital they would monitor me for at least an hour. I didn’t want to take the kids out and keep them out in a hospital room so late. So I put the girls to bed and left Hashim to put Yasir to sleep and drove myself to my hospital.

Driving with contractions is not a good idea and definitely not easy. However it was the best decision for us at the time. I called my mom to talk to me during the drive and distract me from my pain. I spent more time looking for a place to park than anyone ever should. I pulled into the hospital lot and the attendant said it was closed. I told him what was going on and he told me I was good as long as I left before his shift was over at 5am. That was a huge relief especially since it was free.

When I walked into the hospital I had a huge rush of emotions. I got nervous, scared and felt completely unprepared. I was alone in a hospital that I have never been to with labor symptoms way to early in my pregnancy. The staff was great and welcomed me. They made me feel comfortable while diligently working. The only thing I could think to do was research premature babies. I was blessed to be in constant contact with my friend who urged me to go to the hospital to begin with. She kept me company and prayed for us the entire time. I checked in with Hashim and updated him frequently but he was in and out of sleep with the children.

They did a routine labor check on me to see if premature labor had started. The test came back negative so I was not in labor. I was very grateful for that. The staff kept baby monitored and watched my contractions. The contractions were strong and 2-4 minutes apart. The nurse was also in contact with my doctor. The doctor ordered me and IV and a shot with medication that would stop the contractions. The shot was called Terbutaline. This shot was one of the most painful things I have experienced. It is administrated with a little tiny needle but the medicine going in is very painful. It gives a burning stinging feeling that spreads through your arm. I was definitely not expecting it to be as painful as it was. It also had side effects that I didn’t enjoy. I felt anxious, shaky and got a headache after the shot. They had to administer the shot twice. After the first shot my contractions were not at strong. They were still coming 2-4 minutes apart so my doctor felt that was still to much. After the second round of receiving the shot I didn’t feel any contractions. So it worked but it hurt incredibly bad.

After the last shot was given they had to observe me and the baby for 20 minutes before they could release me. The contractions had stopped and the baby and I were doing well and given the okay to leave. I am so happy that I didn’t not go into preterm labor and we are both doing well. They did not know why I was having contractions but they wanted to make sure they stopped them and they did.