Starting back on Sept 6th; I started to feel contractions. They were not too painful, but were uncomfortable and I could feel the baby dropping and adding pressure to me. Breathing, relaxing, and teaching through them that day required a bit of work, BUT I did it. Most of my colleagues at work who knew what I was going through were confident that the baby was coming that weekend. The contractions progressed and increased in sharpness and timing. On Sunday I started timing the contractions and they were about 5 minutes apart...so we went into labor and delivery.
We were monitored, checked, and told that there would be no baby today; BUT they did confidently tell me that I would probably not make it to October. They put me off work for two days which was so difficult to relax on the couch and not work. Scott was great and stayed home with me for both days. The doctor predicted that I would have my baby within a few days of my first baby shower on Sept 19th or 20th. The contractions have not really stopped since Thursday when they began.
I had a doctor's appointment on Sept 19th. I went in thinking that the doctor would tell me that I was progressing more and that the baby would be ready to come out...BUT...NOPE!!! When I was checked in at the doctor's my blood pressure was really high and was not coming down despite my attempts to relax. I proceeded with my appointment and the doctor was extremely concerned about how swollen my feet and legs were. She told me that in the interest of my health and the babies health that I would need to go to labor and delivery for further monitoring of the baby and I to make sure that I did not have toxemia or preclampsyia.
Before I went to be monitored she told me that I was going to need to stop working. She told me that my swelling and blood pressure were high because of the amount of movement that I do in my regular school day. She asked me if I sat down for most of my day...I honestly had to tell her that I would not teach from my desk everyday. So I was going to need to stop working right away.
While I was monitored the nurse told me that the contractions that I am feeling regularly are because I am dehydrated. I was confused on how I could be dehydrated...I drank 80 ounces of water a day and a gatorade at minimum in the day. Maybe it was the amount of sweat that I did daily that was making me dehydrated.
I stressfully went back to my classroom to set up for my Thursday and Friday sub days. My first choice long term sub was waiting on a final clearance to happen. I wanted to cry because this was not the way that I wanted to leave my classroom. I wanted to leave the students because I was going to have the baby, NOT to be put on BED REST. I am officially on bed rest from my doctor because she wants my swelling to go down and for my blood pressure to get regulated. I go back to the doctor's on Tuesday and I am hoping that she will let me be able to do some stuff at home within reason so that I am not just able to walk to the restroom and kitchen.
What I have learned in this pregnancy
...patience...I have been told that patience is a virtue. I regularly practice patience with my students, but do not actually practice patience in my life. I am an impatient person when it comes to things that I cannot control in my life. I am going to be refined in this virtue over the next few weeks.
....rest...Over the summer I recommitted to taking a sabbath each Sunday resting and not doing any work. Most of the summer I took naps on the days that I was able to and did not feel bad about it. I am now being forced to rest and I am learning that I need to find peace in bed rest.
...timing...I have absolutely no control on the timing that everything has taken place. Scott and I did not plan out this pregnancy and were wonderfully surprised to find out that I was pregnant. I also learning that our wonderful surprise will make their appearance in their own timing too. There will be nothing that I can do to speed up or slow down this timing. I know who is in control of my life, but I might not be submitting to HIS timing.
Having patience in God's timing will help me to rest during this time that I wait for our baby.
