My Birth Story
This was my second baby and when i tell you this pregnancy and birth was nothing like with my first child. My pregnancy first started out with me having a sub chorionic hemorrhage (which is where the placenta is attaching and it causes bleeding) for the radiologist to read the report wrong and say that i am losing the baby when she was perfectly fine! The rest pf my pregnancy was great until i was 36 weeks and 4 days i was having very long and irregular contractions so we went in to be seen and i had one that was so hard it bottomed out her heart rate and they started rolling me and prepping for an emergency c-section. We avoided that luckily and was admitted and they broke my water after that she was here in about 4 hours. They always say the second labor is the fastest and they were not lying! Now shes 11 months old ❤️ #mybirthstory #lemon8challenge #momlife
Being a pregnant woman in a hospital bed, hooked up to monitors, is an experience many of us face, and it's rarely planned. My own journey involved moments like this, and it can be incredibly anxiety-inducing. One minute you’re going about your day, and the next, you’re admitted, wondering what’s going on with your baby. Often, these hospital stays are for monitoring, like a Non-Stress Test (NST) if you’re past your due date or if there are concerns about your baby's movements. An NST simply checks if your baby's heart rate accelerates when they move, which is a good sign of their well-being. Other times, like in my situation, it’s for irregular or concerning contractions. You’re monitored to see if they’re progressing into labor or if they’re just Braxton Hicks. During these times, they’ll keep a close eye on your baby's heart rate, which can be terrifying if it dips, as mine did! It’s moments like these that make you truly appreciate the dedication of hospital staff. The experience of being hooked up to monitors can feel cumbersome. You’ll typically have one band around your belly to track contractions and another to monitor your baby’s heart rate. Sometimes, they’ll even ask you to press a button every time you feel your baby move, helping them correlate movements with heart rate changes. While it can be uncomfortable, remember that these tools are vital for ensuring the safety of both you and your little one. It’s completely normal to feel a mix of emotions – anxiety, boredom, fear, and even impatience. To help cope, I’d recommend bringing a small bag with essentials: a good book, headphones for music or podcasts, and a fully charged phone with a long charging cable. Snacks you enjoy can also be a lifesaver, as hospital food might not always hit the spot. Don't be afraid to ask the nurses and doctors questions; they are your best resource and can help alleviate your worries by explaining what's happening. Advocating for yourself is also crucial. If something feels off, or you have a question about the readings on the monitor, speak up! It’s your body and your baby, and you have every right to understand your care. Leaning on your support system – a quick text to your partner, a call to a friend – can provide immense comfort during these stressful times. Thinking back to my own time on that hospital bed, monitoring my baby's heart rate and feeling those contractions, it was a mix of intense fear and overwhelming gratitude for the quick responses of the medical team. Ultimately, these unexpected hospital visits, while stressful, are a critical part of ensuring a safe delivery for both mom and baby. Every moment spent being monitored, every contraction tracked, and every heart rate dip observed is all part of the journey to meet your precious little one safely.