Practice run!

Friday night, baby Stephen decided to make a practice run for what labor will look like! With painful contractions coming between 3-6 minutes apart for over 1 1/2 hours, Brett and I decided to make a trip to the hospital.

By 10:00pm, we were hooked up to all the monitors confirming Stephen's heart rate was healthy, but spiking as each contraction came as close to 2 minutes apart, so the doctor was called in to check me. Thankfully Stephen was still "playing games" as there was no dilation and an ultrasound showed while he is finally in HEAD DOWN position, he is very healthy at 33 weeks and having fun just riding out the contractions!

After 2 hours of being pumped with fluids through the iv, the contractions slowed to be only 16 minutes apart. Since no dilation had occurred, we were discharged and allowed to come home to sleep in our own beds - finally being able to fall asleep by 3:00am! Strict instructions were given to rest, rest and rest as well as drink plenty of water and take magnesium oxide as I had been beginning at 22 weeks. If the contractions come back to 5 minutes apart, it'll be back to the hospital we go!

Saturday proved to be thankfully uneventful with the exception of only a handful of painful contractions, a 3 hour nap, and being so sore from all the activity that I felt like I'd been hit by a train! With a guesstimated weight of just under 4 pounds, the ultimate goal is to keep our little guy snug and as comfortable as possible for at least another week if not longer! He is expected to make his biggest growth spurt this week which will absolutely help his development and weight, so following doctor's orders is all that is important on the agenda for the rest of the week!

Daddy got the test run for what labor will look like! His little "dances" to the sound of Stephen's heartbeat may have helped ease his nerves, but didn't help me get through the contractions any easier! :) We both quickly found out the benefit of taking our own pillows when the actual time comes, as well as Advil for Daddy and Tums for me! Now our hope is that we'll be even more prepared than we were Friday night when Stephen decides he's done riding the contractions and would rather be in our arms - hopefully after gaining another pound or 2 before he makes that decision!