Oct 1, 2021

Pre-Term Labor at 32 Weeks Gestation










I am one of the many first-time mothers who experienced pre-term labor.
And here's my story...










In the morning of December 26, 2019
I went with my mom in our office at Manila to do some important errands with her.
On our way to the office, I experienced a very sharp pain on my lower abdomen.
I told my mom about it and about 30 minutes or less, the pain subsided and I was relieved.


My gut feeling was telling me that there's something off about it 
but I shrugged that thought off since I already feel ok.
I am also on Isoxilan since my 2nd Trimester.
I am confident that the medicine would always work.


As we arrived to our Manila office,
I asked my mom for us to pass-by the comfort room to pee and for me
to check if there was any unusual discharge.



To my surprise,
I saw a brownish (kind of rusty) discharge and was alarmed.
I told my mom about it then she told me to observe it for awhile.
It was already 4:00 in the afternoon and she wasn't sure if we will be able
to go to my OB-GYNE's clinic at Chinese General Hospital on time.





During our quick stay in the office, 
I experienced another cramp on my lower abdomen from time to time.
This time it was getting frequent and it's already bothering me.
I told my mom about it, we hurriedly head home so I could rest.





As soon as we arrived home, 
I took a rest on our bed and placed 2-3 pillows to lift my feet.
My OB-GYNE, Dra. Rosita Pardillo, 
always reminded me to lift my feet when I get home or when I feel tired.
I assumed that this was enough for the cramp to go away on its own but I was wrong.


While we were eating our dinner,
I felt another bad cramp going and this time it felt like I was about to menstruate.
My mom said that maybe I'm already going into labor.


I went back to bed again to rest.
For some time, I felt my baby going restless inside my womb 
and told my mom that it's time to go to the hospital...




















At 9:30PM, 
my mother and I arrived at the Emergency Room.
The resident doctor did their routine of questions and an internal examination 
(or what they call as IE) and was told that I am dilating at 1-2cm and bleeding.


They immediately called Dra. Pardillo and informed her about my situation.
The resident doctor handed her phone to my mom and they talked
about the possibility of me giving birth at 32 weeks gestation.



Dra. Pardillo told my mom that if we won't be able to prevent my pre-term from progressing,
it may cost us about Php 200,000.00-250,000.00 since the baby
will have to stay in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for a month.


I got scared with the thought of giving birth right at that moment.
I wasn't prepared to welcome my baby too early.



After my mom has fixed my admission forms and paid deposit,
I was wheeled to the Delivery Room.
They need to monitor my baby's movement 24/7 as per Dra. Pardillo.
At this time, I was getting anxious.
My IV fluids contains an increased amount of Isoxilan.
I was also given a shot that will help my baby to develop his lungs faster 
incase he decided to be born already.


I was on strict bed rest without restroom privilege.
Yes, you read that right.
I wasn't allowed to pee nor poop in the CR, only in bed using a bed pan!
That actually made my anxiety worst!


After some hours in the delivery room,
the resident doctor didn't see anymore labor pains on the monitor 
and thought that maybe my bladder is the one causing the cramping.
When I told her I couldn't pee using a bed pan, she left me and said to try again.


After an hour, she asked me again to pee.
I tried but told her nothing comes out.
This time, she helped me by using a catheter.
I don't know how she did it, it was bit painful but I finally peed.
And I did, a lot...


After another nap, the pain was already gone and they sent me to my room.
My mom and I chose a ward room since we don't really plan on staying in the hospital for long.
Reason?
Our dog, Eon and Wiwi, will miss us so much.


I was instructed to eat my brunch and after,
I'll be having my ultrasound.
Since I'm on a strict bed rest, they wheeled my bed to the ultrasound room.
After my ultrasound, I was then told that they will bring me back to the delivery room.
I was actually planning to bring my phone so that I won't get bored but wasn't allowed by the doctor.


Another hours has gone by, the pain subsided and I was cleared to go back to my room for good.
I was instructed that if I feel the same pain again, I have to tell the nurse so that they will bring me again to the delivery room for monitoring.



Everything went perfectly well after that...
Some close friends visited me at the hospital.

I was prescribed a Progesterone vaginal suppository for 2 weeks and 
an increased dosage of Isoxilan to 3 tablets a day for 2 weeks and 2 tablets a day until I reached my 37th week of pregnancy.










To all pregnant women reading my post,
cherish every moment with your bump!
The moment you'll give birth, there will come a time that you'll miss that bump. 
;)
Also, please be extra careful especially that there's still COVID-19 virus.

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