23 Weeks

I barely made it into 23 weeks before I was back in the hospital. It started Friday with contractions and I would say that I have probably been having contractions for awhile. Nothing changing my cervix, but still contractions none the less. After the first L&D stay, it was pretty clear that I had an irritable uterus, but yesterday's contractions were much stronger than I had previously felt.

Saturday was my baby shower. My mom thought she would do it earlier since we didn't know where I would be at later in the pregnancy. I am superstitious, but have been trying not to be. My big thing since starting treatments and finally being blessed with three baby girls, is to not be too cocky. God is in control. Well, I refuse to open anything from the shower (not unwrap, but actually open), because I really don't want to jinx anything or get too cocky. I don't want to open and assemble any cribs or anything else. I'm too nervous that it means I'm getting too cocky.

The shower was beautiful and it was so nice to see so many people come out for my girls, my family, for me. We received so many beautiful, wonderful gifts and our girls are spoiled already. We are truly blessed.

After the shower, I was exhausted, but I couldn't sleep at all. I stayed up tossing and turning until 2:45 am and then finally fell asleep, only to wake up at 7:00 am. I took it easy on Sunday and literally did nothing, but lay on the couch and watch TV. By 5:00 pm my contractions were getting stronger and there were more of them. I called the doctor, but he just said to call the office in the morning and set up an appointment to come in, unless that is, you have 6 contractions in an hour or less. By 5:44 pm I had had my sixth and I was calling the doctor again. Within minutes we were driving to the hospital and I was nervous. My husband was even more so and even though we are best friends, we do so badly when both of us are freaked out about the same thing.

Hospitals are scary, but labor and delivery nurses (in my very limited experience) are very pleasant and helpful people. They do a good job of calming your nerves, while also being honest and informative. I don't like being a pain, but they always say that it's better to come in and nothing be wrong then not to come in at all. I believe them (halfway), but still end up feeling like such a pain when I leave.

Last night I was glad that I called and went to the hospital. They were able to stop the contractions with some type of asthma medicine (it began with a "B", but for the life of me, I can't remember). I only needed one dose to get rid of the very strong ones. My FFN test came back negative and my cervix was closed and still over 4 cm, so all of that was positive. I was sent home.

I woke up ready to follow-up with the OB as told, but ended up having some spotting first thing. I was so freaked out by that and panicked immediately. After seeing the OB this morning, they determined that the spotting was most likely due to the pelvic exam I had at the hospital last night.

I hate bleeding. It's just one of the worst things that can happen while you are pregnant. I know it is so common, but I just cannot stand it. It freaks me out more than anything else. If you have ever had a miscarriage, bleeding can always feel like the beginning of the end. It was hard to just have a regular period after. I think from now on, it will always make me feel like something is wrong.

My OB also put me on Procardia to help minimize my contractions, which they said were just because I was pregnant with triplets and measuring at 36 weeks, even though I am only 23. It is "normal" for a triplet pregnancy to experience contractions and the Procardia will just keep them at bay, hopefully.

We are also having two days of steroid shots this week, once we are 24 weeks. Saturday and Sunday we will go to the hospital to receive them. They will hopefully jump start the girls' lung development and hopefully make them stronger, just in case we have to deliver earlier than we would like to.

The ultimate goal is to make it to 30+ weeks, but my short term goals are to make it to 24 weeks and then from there make it to 28 weeks. It sounds and feels so far away, but I am hoping that I will be able to pass the time quickly with work and non-stressful things like TV and reading.

I pray for my girls to continue growing and for the strength my body needs to continue to hold them in there. I still don't understand how anyone could say they "loved" being pregnant. It just seems crazy to me at this point.