Tags
35 weeks, early labour signs, fetal fibronectin, hospittal, induction, IVF, mucus plug, twins, vaginal birth
Slightly jinxed myself with the last post then!
I’ve been getting some braxton hicks and abdominal pain but apparently that’s all normal. Nothing too regular so nothing to worry about.
Tuesday morning I went to finish off my Christmas shopping. Whilst walking from the train station I had some pains that stopped me in my tracks and came quite fast and regularly. Then after a few minutes they went away. I carried on my shopping. A little later I went to the loo and saw id had a show, at least part of my mucus plug had come away. I know this can be a sign of early labour but I had no pains and there was no blood so I continued shopping and met a friend for coffee. I ended up back at the in laws shortly after and phoned the midwife who asked me to go to the hospital to be checked over so I drove there with my father in law (not a small task for a learner driver in London who may or may not be in labour).
On arrival all my observations were normal and they did a cervical examination. My cervix was closed – yay! But I tested positive for early labour via the fetal fibronectin test. So I was sent to the labour ward where they monitored the babies heartbeats for a while – all fine. I expected to go home as no contractions but they admitted me. I partly wished I hadn’t gone in. Main reason was twins – they wanted to check I wasn’t about to go into full labour – I was pretty sure I wasn’t yet. They discussed giving me steroids to mature the babies lungs ready for early labour but as I was right on the cusp (35 weeks) decided against it, also I think it’s more common when having a C-section which I’m not planning.
I was admitted to the early labour ward which is where I’ll be when I’m induced (if I get to that point) until my labour progresses. So from that perspective it was useful to get a feel. There are 4 to a room and just one other lady who had been induced so it was quite useful to hear her experience. Though it put me off a bit. Then she left as her labour progressed and another lady came in. I’m not sure why she was being monitored but they put her right next to me and on a monitor which beeped until 2am and she kept the lights on round her bed until one of the midwives asked her to turn them off which I think was around 4am. I had earplugs and eyemask with me (thanks to my husband making a dash home to pick up part of my hospital bag) but had a very disturbed nights sleep. Still, the babies were fine which was the main thing and I didn’t go into labour.
Wed am I was put on a monitor for a while and as no contractions were showing up and the babies were good (although twin one hates being monitored and managed to kick the monitor off at one point – doesn’t bode too well for labour) I was discharged around lunchtime. If I’m honest I think the hospital were a bit too overzealous in admitting me and it was only because I was having twins.
The consultant said that the babies could now come any day – or maybe they’d stay in another week or two. I’m now 35 weeks and all the drs I saw in the last 2 days said that was great for the twins and weren’t too concerned if I went into labour now. Good news is both twins are head down and reasonably unlikely to move now (though I’m convinced twin 2 can move into any space they want) so all is looking good for a vaginal birth.
I’ve still got a few things to sort out for the babies and also for Christmas and don’t really relish the idea of being in hospital over Christmas or the babies having a Christmas birthday so I’m hoping they hang on a few more days. I’m now really trying to take it a bit more slowly – not an easy task for me!