It’s now official! I am a first-time pregnant woman who really has no idea what to expect!
I called my doctor Friday morning because I had not been feeling well for a few days, but especially the previous 24 hours. I was having contractions and other signs of preterm labor. After surfing around all the pregnancy websites and not finding anything that was very helpful, I decided to do what everyone says to do – if you aren’t sure, call your doctor.
He said that he suspected it was nothing, but to be safe he sent me to labor and delivery to be monitored. So they hooked me and the baby up to a couple of monitors, gave me an exam, and ran a few other tests. They suspected that I might be dehydrated so they put me on an IV while they monitored me for over an hour. I was having contractions, but was not progressing so they sent me home. (The positive part of the experience was laying there and being able to listen to Peanut all that time.)
The nurse said that they get a lot of dehydrated pregnant women in the summer. Dehydration will bring on contractions. I already knew that from my reading and had been trying to drink a lot of water the past several weeks, but I can see now that to get through this third trimester in the summer I am basically going to have to be literally drinking water all day while I am awake. I actually like ice water, but I have to admit this is already seeming like a bit of a chore.
It hasn’t been that warm here, but I can already tell that the summer is getting to me. We went out and bought a portable air conditioner we can use on the second floor and that has made a tremendous difference in my ability to sleep at night. (It has also allowed us to reset our thermostat so the first floor isn’t freezing cold which should help offset the cost of the new unit.) I already struggle a lot with summer weather when I’m not pregnant so I can only imagine how I might be feeling over the next two months. After being married to me for nine years, David can attest to the fact that I become a completely different person once mid-September rolls around and the fall weather kicks in.
I hope this post doesn’t sound whiny. It isn’t meant that way. Just wanted to write about the realities of life. I’ve been feeling great for a number of weeks, but am starting to experience first-hand why so many people have sounded so sympathetic when they discover I’ll be doing my third trimester through the hottest part of the year. 🙂
“Delight In Simple Things” by Lowell Bennion
Sallie, keep drinking that water! I’ve been through preterm labor (the real deal) once and it is very scary. I am glad little Miss Peanut is a-okay and you were able to come home and can keep it from happening again. Go prop your feet up 🙂
My midwife suggested I get a water bottle and just carry it around and sip all the time.
It is a pain.
My first baby was born mid-October, and my first four babies were summer babies. Summer really does take it out of me at the best of times, and it’s harder when pregnant. SO I really do sympathize.
In Jesus, Susan
One of my coworkers who is pregnant just had the same thing happen. Those babies will suck you dry!
I was lucky to have avoided the summer months for both of my pregnancies. I was miserable enough without enduring the heat.
Keep sipping that water!
Sallie, I’m with you about Summer. I’ll be 23 weeks pregnant this week with my third child, and I have experienced a previous Summer pregnancy that included 3 months of strict bedrest due to preterm labor/possible incompetent cervix. I don’t think you sound whiney at all. Better safe than sorry – so stay out of the heat, and kick your feet up when you can! Maybe this sounds bad of me, but perhaps all this new pressure on pregnant women to get exercise and to stay just as active as they usually are in the non-pregnant state isn’t such wise advice. (Note all the media and publications aimed at pregnant women that focuses on that outward vanity stuff. I personally tire of the “sexy mama†trend with the endless parade of celebs and all that.)
If it’s hot outside, I just don’t go outside for more than a minute. With two preschoolers, I’ve scouted out all the possible air-conditioned activities available to us. If the boys want to play outside, they have to wait until Daddy gets home from work!
I keep saying I can’t wait until cool weather arrives so I can feel free to move about (inside and out) again! But for now, God helps me to be content where I am. . .
Emily
Oooh, I feel for you. I went through part of my third trimester in the summer with one of my pregnancies and it was sooo hot. I found that it really helped to take a cool shower, especially before going to sleep.
Sallie,
I do empathize-my blessing was born at the end of August so I too had my third trimester during the summer. In fact, after I discovered I was pregnant, one of my thoughts was “Great! That means my third trimester will be during the summer.” She was 9.2 lbs, so she was a big blessing.
Do you have a Shaws near you? They have a big water bottle that has a removable insualted cover with a shoulder strap. The strap makes it easier to carry around and I would fill it up the night before and drink out of it all day. That way I was sure to get 8 glassess of water each day. That was on top of the smoothies I made most every day during the summer. That’s how I got through the summer without dehydrating myself.
I too carried all my babies through the summer, I tell ya, the best thing to get is a little paddling pool and just soak your legs in it when it gets sweltering. You’re so blessed to be expecting, I’d love to have more children.
Last June when I was pregnant with my litte Rebecca I went into labor and delivery because of contractions. They decided that I was dehydrated as well. It was nice being in the super cool hospital room listing to my little girls heartbeat. That was the only time I had that problem and I had little Rebecca right on time a month later.
Drinking water and keeping your feet up (aka: relaxing) REALLY helps. I was in prelabor starting at 6 months with my last one. It really helps to be as stress free as possible…..just hearing a whiney child could make my contractions start! As a last resort, they put me on Brethine (not sure of the spelling) and the baby was only 3 weeks early and very healthy!
Praying for you!
Christie
Sally-
I had to visit my midwife today because I was having fainting spells this weekend. Turns out I am dehydrated and need to keep off of my feet for a while (easier said than done with a three year old and one year old, both boys). Drinking water is so important! It was 103F here today and if you are not careful, you can get dehydrated without even knowing it.
Thanks for the reminder, and you don’t sound whiney to me either.
Ladies – Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and understanding. I found your comments after we got home yesterday from doing a bunch of things and I was so blessed by them. I think I’ve hit a wall physically in the past week and am realizing that I’m really going to have to slow down. But I sure appreciated the high energy weeks while they lasted! Today I am going to lay low, read, nap and putz around the house. I need to let my body catch up! Thank you again!
Hi, I think your blog is beautiful. I would like to be added to your blogroll. I have linked your site as one of the places I visit.
God Bless,
Melissa