The Joys of False Labor
So yesterday, I wake up around 11:AM with excruciating pain in my lower back. It hurt so much that I couldnt' help but let the tears pour down my face. I hobbled myself out of bed hoping that if I changed my position, the pain would subside. I even tried walking around my apt and got as far as the couch, hunched over like a little old lady with a hunch back. (For those that aren't familiar with my tiny apt, my couch is literally four steps away from my bed. The bathroom is like seven steps away.) I plopped myself down on the couch, regretting it as soon as I was seated, for the pain just got worse. Nothing I did seemed to make the pain go away. So I just sat there, sobbing, wondering if the pain would go away. Wondering if I should call the doctor. Wondering if I could call my neighbor. Wondering if maybe this was the beginning of labor.
Then all of a sudden the pain just disappeared. I got up from the couch carefully, hoping against hope that it wouldn't come back, and went to the bathroom to relieve myself. I hate having to pee so much. AFterwards I sat on the couch again, deciding whether or not to eat something and then go to work.
At roughly 11:15AM the pain came back, just as badly as the first time. There was nothing I could do except sit there and cry. I tried massaging my back a little, but it was a bit difficult trying to reach around my big belly, but I did the best I could. It still didnt' help. I just waited until it went away.
This can't be labor, I kept telling myself. It just can't be. I know it's supposed to hurt, but why was it just in my lower left side of my back? I wasn't leaking any fluids nor did I have any blood. These couldnt' be contractions, could they? I decided that I was going to put off calling the doctor. Wait until the pains were closer together, see if my water breaks or something. I just didnt' think it was time. But I knew something was up, whatever it was.
By 12:30 in the afternoon I didnt' get teh pain again, but I was really thirsty so I went downstairs to the store to get a gallon of water. I ran into Johnette and told her of my back pains and that I had a feeling that pretty soon, but not today, it would be time. I paid for my water and went back upstairs. I opted not to go to work and decided I should just rest for the day.
About 1:PM I decided I needed a slushie, so I tromped my way downstairs yet again and went into the deli. I came at the wrong time, cuz just as I got there, the cheese lady came in wanting to replace the cheese that she'd bought the previous night saying it was bad. Laurie got John to inform him about it since he is the owner. John had mo problems replacing it, but he did taste it and said that there was nothing wrong with the cheese. During that scene Laurie's daughter came in wanting her check cashed, but since she didn't have an ID on her Sally wouldnt' cash it. So Laurie's daughter got all huffy and started complaining to Laurie that she needed money and blah blah. Laurie told her daugther that she was working and that she'd have to wait until her customers were all set before she dealt with her.
I've, by this time, was sitting at the table, waiting for all this shit to simmer down and go away so that I could get my slushie.
Laurie's in the middle of slicing more cheese for the cheese lady and her daugther starts getting mouthy with her yet again. Apparently she's one of those teenage girls that have that "look at me! look at me!" attitudes that you just have to drop whatever you're doing to tend to her hand and foot. (God I HATE girl like that!!!) Laurie starts to tell her again that she'd have to wait, but John beat her to it. HE told her to leave and that her mom has a job to do that he pays her for and if she can't understand that he had to leave. The girl just looked dumbfounded at John, so with his booming voice told her to get out of his store right now. She finally left. Laurie apologizing to John and to the cheese lady. John wasn't mad at her, since she was trying to tell her bitch of a daugther to wait or leave her alone. The cheese lady sympathized, stating that she has three daughters of her own and that she understood those annoying teenage years.
The deli phone rings and Laurie took a call in order and finished up with the cheese lady. I start feeling a slight pain in my back coming on. I gripped the table as the pain just kept coming. I figured I'd wait untile Laurie finished her call in order and by then my pain would be gone. Laurie looks over and immdeiately asks if I'm okay. Just at that moment the pain was so bad that the tear just streamed acroos my face. She hurried over asking if it was time, where did it hurt. AS I sobbed that I didnt' know if it were time and that it was in my back, John runs over, saying that Sally's labor was in her back, and that he was going to run over and get Johnnete. During this time, Merlin said taht his girlfriend's labor was in her back too and then Johnnete appeared in front of me, hugging me and smiling, thinking that it's time. She called the doctor and we waited for him to call back. All the while Sally and Johnette are jumping up and down, excited that I'm going to have a baby. I told them taht I wasnt' so sure it was time, but they said it wouldtn' hurt to go tto the hospital away.
Finally the doctor call back and asked me a few questions and told me to meet him at the hospital. Johnette and I drive to the hospital and wait about 15 minutes for my room to be cleaned. In the meantime I started getting the pain in my back again, but slow at first.
The room's ready and Johnette assisted me as I hobbled over to the room. The nurse gives me a gown to change into and since I had to pee really bad I went into the bathroom to change and everything. As soon as I got out of the bathroom the pain in my back was full force. The nurse comes in with the machine to monitor me and immediately leaves to go get me a hot pack for my back when I said yes to it. She comes back with it and the pain started to go away a little. By the tiem she hooked me up to the machine, the pain was gone.
The baby's heartbeat was perfect and, yes, I was having contractions, but I didn't feel them. The nurse (Amy) would ask me every once in a while if I was feeling this. I shrugged and said that I felt the baby move but I was in no pain. Apparently the numbers were pretty high for the contractions. The contractions were at somewhat regular intervals, but I didn't feel any of them.
Amy checked to see if I was dialated and I wasn't but she couldnt' tell if the head was down. She had another nurse check it out and she said that she couldnt' tell either. So they waited for Dr. Robbins to check me out. They wheeled in an ultrasound machine.
Dr. Robbins started out with the ultrasound and explained everything he saw. The baby's head was indeed down. He then checked my cervix and immediately understood why the nurses thought maybe an arm or somethign was down there with the head, or that it was possible that she was breech. Apparently my body was getting ready for a bowel movement and that's the pressure that they felt. (So much worry over shit. Ridiculous.)
Dr. Robbins looked over my documented contractions, and didnt' seem all that concerned. When the numbers showed I was having another one of those supposed big contractions, the nurse asked me again if I felt them, to which of course I didn't. Robbins asked me about the contractions that I did feel and I told him about them and that since I've been hooked up to the machine I haven't gotten another one. Mentioned that I was having false labor.
He sent me home with instructions to rest up and call again when the symtoms of labor show up once more.
Johnette and I went back to her place for a little bit. Told Chris and Joey (her brother) what happened and then I decided to go upstairs for a nap. AS soon as I got into my apt, I realized that I was really hungry and that I wanted to eat plums and watermelon. I figured why not just go to Walmart for that cuz not only is it cheaper, but then I can let Tim know why I wasn't at work that day, and if I ran into Lori (my boss) I could touch base with her (since I really haven't bothered since she started).
So I had walk in the door to WAlmart and Jodi was the door greeter (obviously coving a break) and we talked for a little bit and I told her about my trip to the hospital. Then I saw Tim and talked to him for a little bit and Lori comes up the aisle to talk to Tim about something and I was like, "Just the person I was hear to see!" all in a cheery attitude. I told her what happened and had a good talk to her about that and my leave of absence and the vaca/personal time I wanted to use. I'm surprised that she's willing to work with me so easily on this. I didn't get that from her when she started. But then, she's had a few weeks to ease into the position so I'm sure she's mellowed out a little bit. I'd either just been trying to avoid her when at work or just not there altogether. She kept telling me that I should hav ejust called her from home to tell her, that I need to be at home resting and sleeping as much as possible, that I dotn' need to be keeping myself awake and then come to find out it's time to have the baby and I'm too exhausted to give it my all so to speak.
So, anyway, I got my plums. There were only full and half cut watermelons there and if I'd had some good cutting knives at home I definately would have gotten one, but since I don't, and there wasnt' any precut watermelon I opted for pears instead. They're not watermelon, but they'd just have to do.
By the time I checked out, it was about the time Tim got off of work so I told him I'd be outside waiting. I really just wanted to go home and go to sleep at that point, but I said I'd give him a ride.
I drop him off and go home. I ate some plums and some french fries and then I was in bed at about 8:30PM. Josh called and left a message at about 10:20ish PM, but I couldnt' make out what he was saying and I didnt' want to get up either. Just as he hung up my phone rings again to which I just rolled over. They didnt' leave a message, but they did call right back and still didnt' leave a message. Finally I had some peace and went back to sleep.
When I got up this morning and checked the caller id the second number after Josh was a Virginia number. I just figured it was my brother froma calling card. Well, that same number came up when my phone rang about twenty minutes after I got up. So I answered it and it wasn't my brother afterall. It was my ex-fiance. I hadn't spoken to him in about 3 years. We talked for a long time. An hour and a half. It was good to hear from him. And to know that he doesnt' hate me and that over the years he still thought about me and that he'd wanted to call but was just afraid to. He's back from serving in Iraq and hopefully will be taking a leave starting in October and coming back to Maine to visit and hopes to see me while he's here. He isn't sure if the leave is going to have to be postponed or not since his next mission is soon. He's got about a year left in the Army.
I want to write some more abuot Nate, my exfiance, but I'm so tired and I'm getting heartburn like crazy again. But that's what's happened lately. I started writing this around 6 and it's 7:30 now. I need sleep, and food, and heartburn meds, but mostly sleep.
Then all of a sudden the pain just disappeared. I got up from the couch carefully, hoping against hope that it wouldn't come back, and went to the bathroom to relieve myself. I hate having to pee so much. AFterwards I sat on the couch again, deciding whether or not to eat something and then go to work.
At roughly 11:15AM the pain came back, just as badly as the first time. There was nothing I could do except sit there and cry. I tried massaging my back a little, but it was a bit difficult trying to reach around my big belly, but I did the best I could. It still didnt' help. I just waited until it went away.
This can't be labor, I kept telling myself. It just can't be. I know it's supposed to hurt, but why was it just in my lower left side of my back? I wasn't leaking any fluids nor did I have any blood. These couldnt' be contractions, could they? I decided that I was going to put off calling the doctor. Wait until the pains were closer together, see if my water breaks or something. I just didnt' think it was time. But I knew something was up, whatever it was.
By 12:30 in the afternoon I didnt' get teh pain again, but I was really thirsty so I went downstairs to the store to get a gallon of water. I ran into Johnette and told her of my back pains and that I had a feeling that pretty soon, but not today, it would be time. I paid for my water and went back upstairs. I opted not to go to work and decided I should just rest for the day.
About 1:PM I decided I needed a slushie, so I tromped my way downstairs yet again and went into the deli. I came at the wrong time, cuz just as I got there, the cheese lady came in wanting to replace the cheese that she'd bought the previous night saying it was bad. Laurie got John to inform him about it since he is the owner. John had mo problems replacing it, but he did taste it and said that there was nothing wrong with the cheese. During that scene Laurie's daughter came in wanting her check cashed, but since she didn't have an ID on her Sally wouldnt' cash it. So Laurie's daughter got all huffy and started complaining to Laurie that she needed money and blah blah. Laurie told her daugther that she was working and that she'd have to wait until her customers were all set before she dealt with her.
I've, by this time, was sitting at the table, waiting for all this shit to simmer down and go away so that I could get my slushie.
Laurie's in the middle of slicing more cheese for the cheese lady and her daugther starts getting mouthy with her yet again. Apparently she's one of those teenage girls that have that "look at me! look at me!" attitudes that you just have to drop whatever you're doing to tend to her hand and foot. (God I HATE girl like that!!!) Laurie starts to tell her again that she'd have to wait, but John beat her to it. HE told her to leave and that her mom has a job to do that he pays her for and if she can't understand that he had to leave. The girl just looked dumbfounded at John, so with his booming voice told her to get out of his store right now. She finally left. Laurie apologizing to John and to the cheese lady. John wasn't mad at her, since she was trying to tell her bitch of a daugther to wait or leave her alone. The cheese lady sympathized, stating that she has three daughters of her own and that she understood those annoying teenage years.
The deli phone rings and Laurie took a call in order and finished up with the cheese lady. I start feeling a slight pain in my back coming on. I gripped the table as the pain just kept coming. I figured I'd wait untile Laurie finished her call in order and by then my pain would be gone. Laurie looks over and immdeiately asks if I'm okay. Just at that moment the pain was so bad that the tear just streamed acroos my face. She hurried over asking if it was time, where did it hurt. AS I sobbed that I didnt' know if it were time and that it was in my back, John runs over, saying that Sally's labor was in her back, and that he was going to run over and get Johnnete. During this time, Merlin said taht his girlfriend's labor was in her back too and then Johnnete appeared in front of me, hugging me and smiling, thinking that it's time. She called the doctor and we waited for him to call back. All the while Sally and Johnette are jumping up and down, excited that I'm going to have a baby. I told them taht I wasnt' so sure it was time, but they said it wouldtn' hurt to go tto the hospital away.
Finally the doctor call back and asked me a few questions and told me to meet him at the hospital. Johnette and I drive to the hospital and wait about 15 minutes for my room to be cleaned. In the meantime I started getting the pain in my back again, but slow at first.
The room's ready and Johnette assisted me as I hobbled over to the room. The nurse gives me a gown to change into and since I had to pee really bad I went into the bathroom to change and everything. As soon as I got out of the bathroom the pain in my back was full force. The nurse comes in with the machine to monitor me and immediately leaves to go get me a hot pack for my back when I said yes to it. She comes back with it and the pain started to go away a little. By the tiem she hooked me up to the machine, the pain was gone.
The baby's heartbeat was perfect and, yes, I was having contractions, but I didn't feel them. The nurse (Amy) would ask me every once in a while if I was feeling this. I shrugged and said that I felt the baby move but I was in no pain. Apparently the numbers were pretty high for the contractions. The contractions were at somewhat regular intervals, but I didn't feel any of them.
Amy checked to see if I was dialated and I wasn't but she couldnt' tell if the head was down. She had another nurse check it out and she said that she couldnt' tell either. So they waited for Dr. Robbins to check me out. They wheeled in an ultrasound machine.
Dr. Robbins started out with the ultrasound and explained everything he saw. The baby's head was indeed down. He then checked my cervix and immediately understood why the nurses thought maybe an arm or somethign was down there with the head, or that it was possible that she was breech. Apparently my body was getting ready for a bowel movement and that's the pressure that they felt. (So much worry over shit. Ridiculous.)
Dr. Robbins looked over my documented contractions, and didnt' seem all that concerned. When the numbers showed I was having another one of those supposed big contractions, the nurse asked me again if I felt them, to which of course I didn't. Robbins asked me about the contractions that I did feel and I told him about them and that since I've been hooked up to the machine I haven't gotten another one. Mentioned that I was having false labor.
He sent me home with instructions to rest up and call again when the symtoms of labor show up once more.
Johnette and I went back to her place for a little bit. Told Chris and Joey (her brother) what happened and then I decided to go upstairs for a nap. AS soon as I got into my apt, I realized that I was really hungry and that I wanted to eat plums and watermelon. I figured why not just go to Walmart for that cuz not only is it cheaper, but then I can let Tim know why I wasn't at work that day, and if I ran into Lori (my boss) I could touch base with her (since I really haven't bothered since she started).
So I had walk in the door to WAlmart and Jodi was the door greeter (obviously coving a break) and we talked for a little bit and I told her about my trip to the hospital. Then I saw Tim and talked to him for a little bit and Lori comes up the aisle to talk to Tim about something and I was like, "Just the person I was hear to see!" all in a cheery attitude. I told her what happened and had a good talk to her about that and my leave of absence and the vaca/personal time I wanted to use. I'm surprised that she's willing to work with me so easily on this. I didn't get that from her when she started. But then, she's had a few weeks to ease into the position so I'm sure she's mellowed out a little bit. I'd either just been trying to avoid her when at work or just not there altogether. She kept telling me that I should hav ejust called her from home to tell her, that I need to be at home resting and sleeping as much as possible, that I dotn' need to be keeping myself awake and then come to find out it's time to have the baby and I'm too exhausted to give it my all so to speak.
So, anyway, I got my plums. There were only full and half cut watermelons there and if I'd had some good cutting knives at home I definately would have gotten one, but since I don't, and there wasnt' any precut watermelon I opted for pears instead. They're not watermelon, but they'd just have to do.
By the time I checked out, it was about the time Tim got off of work so I told him I'd be outside waiting. I really just wanted to go home and go to sleep at that point, but I said I'd give him a ride.
I drop him off and go home. I ate some plums and some french fries and then I was in bed at about 8:30PM. Josh called and left a message at about 10:20ish PM, but I couldnt' make out what he was saying and I didnt' want to get up either. Just as he hung up my phone rings again to which I just rolled over. They didnt' leave a message, but they did call right back and still didnt' leave a message. Finally I had some peace and went back to sleep.
When I got up this morning and checked the caller id the second number after Josh was a Virginia number. I just figured it was my brother froma calling card. Well, that same number came up when my phone rang about twenty minutes after I got up. So I answered it and it wasn't my brother afterall. It was my ex-fiance. I hadn't spoken to him in about 3 years. We talked for a long time. An hour and a half. It was good to hear from him. And to know that he doesnt' hate me and that over the years he still thought about me and that he'd wanted to call but was just afraid to. He's back from serving in Iraq and hopefully will be taking a leave starting in October and coming back to Maine to visit and hopes to see me while he's here. He isn't sure if the leave is going to have to be postponed or not since his next mission is soon. He's got about a year left in the Army.
I want to write some more abuot Nate, my exfiance, but I'm so tired and I'm getting heartburn like crazy again. But that's what's happened lately. I started writing this around 6 and it's 7:30 now. I need sleep, and food, and heartburn meds, but mostly sleep.