Preterm Labor :(

I thought I would post a quick pregnancy update...

I went to work Friday night, and by midnight had been working pretty hard (I had a patient who was withdrawing from alcohol who was keeping me on my toes), and started noticing the frequent contractions. I timed them, and sure enough, every 3 mins for an hour. I told a fellow nurse friend that I was going to lay down for a few, and somehow it got around the entire unit and my sweet charge nurse Danise banished me from working anymore and got a replacement for me and sent me to the OB floor to be monitored. Sure enough, I was having contractions every 2 minutes lasting 40-50 seconds each time. However, they were not painful and I am not dilated at all, but I am 75% effaced. They had to give me 3 shots of turbutaline to stop the contractions. Let me tell you that stuff is horrible! I was so shaky and nauseated! The worst part was that my doctor doesn't deliver at Mercy, so if the labor hadn't stopped I would have had to use a different doctor. After paying so much for a high risk MD, I would have been pretty upset if he wasn't the one involved in the delivery. However after 4.5 hours of being monitored, the contractions had mostly stopped and I was able to go home. Last night (Sunday), they started up again-3 mins apart. I called St. Lukes and told them the story, and they said they would not give me more medication to stop labor and that if the contractions started to be painful that I should come in and have a baby! Geez, that sure gave me something to think about. Luckily I was able to sleep through them and woke up with less contractions than I had last night. The doctor's office said I need to be complete bedrest today-which is funny because I have a 2 year old! So I am doing my best to do NOTHING-it isn't as easy or relaxing as I thought it would be. I see the doctor tomorrow, and I am wondering if he will let me go back to work this weekend or not. I will be 37 weeks by then, and considering that's full term, maybe he will let me finish work out. I would rather work as long as possible so I have more time off with baby. We'll see though-you never can tell!

I will try to update again soon-wish me luck!

Abrie