Another Hospital Visit

Well, I managed to do it again! I think I'm an accident waiting to happen, and I need to just lock myself in the house. It may take a while to read this story, so I'll start by saying that the baby and I turned out just fine! :)

After being cooped up inside for over a week during the holidays, I decided the day after New Year's to try to make it to the office to get some work done before this baby comes. We had non-stop snow for the past few days, and then it got really cold. The roads looked like they were fine, but it was 0 degrees when I got up that morning, and maybe up to 2 when I left at 9:00 a.m. When it's that cold, the salt they put on the roads doesn't work to melt the ice. I made it out of the neighborhood just fine & Highway 30 was clear sailing.

When I got to Highway 47, I started slowing to a stop at the light at Cross Street. My lane had a literal sheet of ice in it, and my car started sliding. The ABS kicked in, and the vehicle stability control that my new Pilot has came in handy in keeping my car pointed straight. I came to a stop just at the red light without getting into the intersection. I was so nervous for a minute, and then very grateful that I had actually come to a stop!

The car behind me wasn't so lucky. She slid right into the back of me & there was a crash. She also hit the car to our right. I panicked & didn't know what to do next. I knew that if you're pregnant & in an accident, you will need to be monitored, so that was my first thought - another hospital trip.

I got out of the intersection by pulling into the gas station. The 3rd car that was also hit pulled in beside me & I called the police & requested an ambulance to check me out. The police came immediately, followed by the ambulance, & they helped me out of the car. It was so icy that the paramedic slipped while helping me to the ambulance! The cop helping the woman at the intersection also slipped & fell on the sheet of ice we had all driven on.

The paramedics checked my vitals & hooked me up to a monitor. My stomach had been in a tight contraction since the accident, and they decided to take me to Mercy to continue to be checked. The woman who slid into the back of my car came into the ambulance, and she was also pregnant! They checked her vitals, she apologized to me (no need!), and then she left. So, I had my first ambulance ride. They took me to the ER where I was checked & then sent up to labor & delivery.

So, I found myself again being monitored at Mercy Hospital. Barry came to meet me. I had some contractions, and then there was one long, painful one that lasted 8 minutes. It made the baby's heart rate drop to about 65 bps. This one concerned the doctors - they called it a tetanic contraction and said it was unusual. They called in an ultrasound technician to check the placenta. It looked just fine, as did Charlotte! She had plenty of amniotic fluid, and she measured about 7 lbs 3 ozs, with her head measuring at 38 weeks. The tech kept saying her head was so low, and she had trouble getting the doppler wand down there.

So, they kept me until 4:00, at which point they decided I hadn't had any more than just the usual "irritated" contractions, and they let me go home. At home, I continued to have the tight contractions and some cramping ones every time I was up or moving around. When I laid down & relaxed they went away. I have an OB appt. at 4:00 today, so we'll see what she says! So far we seem to be ok, though. Can't say that much for my new car. :(

Maternity Photo Shoot

On New Year’s Eve, I went to Kiddie Kandids photography studio inside Babies R Us to have my picture taken with my big belly! It felt silly to take pictures with my belly showing, but I wanted our little girl to be able to see what I looked like when she was growing inside me, and how happy I was knowing I would soon be meeting her. I was 36 weeks and 4 days pregnant.