PHG (pt. 2)

If you’ve missed part 1, I’d advise checking it out here before you read this post. It provides some great background info for the rest of this story.

So, let’s set the scene…

6:00 am, using the restroom, intense pain, unable to go back to sleep.

So I wake up my hubby, and I tell him I can’t go back to sleep. I also mention the severe (read: unbearable) contractions that I’m feeling.

To provide some personal commentary, I timed the contractions before waking him up because I knew it would be aggravating for him to be awakened if it was a false alarm. For anyone unfamiliar with pregnancy, both parents really struggle with sleeping at the end of pregnancy and as a dad, I knew I would need him to be strong for me when I couldn’t be strong for myself. If that meant extra sleep for Thomas I figured I’d give him that.

Fast forward, I’ve awakened Thomas and nearly sent him into a full panic. He’s mildly excited but still sleepy. We called the nurse help line and the nurse recommended we report to the hospital immediately. It’s something about the word “IMMEDIATELY” in situations like this that really get your adrenaline going. All composure Thomas had took a leave of absence. He shuffled around our house, picking up things that we really didn’t need, anxiously packing the car while I rocked back and forth in the house, alternating from the bedroom, to the living room, to the restroom.

If you’ve never heard anyone describe contractions, I’ll be the first to tell you that contractions are not for the weak. Aside from immense pain that felt like cramps, I could feel “something stretching”. I had no clue what it was but later realized it was my cervix.

The Cervix is the “Queen Bee” of childbirth. If she’s not budging, labor and delivery are going nowhere. The cervix dilating for labor is kinda like Lauren Hill, later than you’d like but when the process is all complete you’re grateful for her hard work. At my 32 week appointment my cervix was already 3 cm dilated so I just knew it was a painless process. After all, if I dilated in my sleep (essentially) contractions couldn’t possibly be that bad right? Wrong!

Photo courtesy of: University of Minnesota

We packed up our things, prayed in the house for all to be smooth as we journeyed to have the baby, and off we went.

We took several detours (CVS & McDonalds) before actually arriving at the hospital. But once we arrived, we masked up #coronavirus, grabbed our belongings, and proceeded into the hospital.

After being checked in, we were sent to "The Mac- Maternal Assessment Center” where I was monitored. A machine was hooked to my belly measuring contractions, Paxton’s heartrate, and my blood pressure & heart rate.

After two hours and a (negative) COVID test, I was admitted to Labor & Delivery to have the baby.

Part 3 coming soon!