Early surprise

I was 7 months pregnant. Like any pregnant woman I would go from miserable to joyful. My husband and I were going up to New Jersey, where he is from, for a baby shower that my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law were throwing for me. I went to my OB got permission to fly because everything was going great with the pregnancy so far, besides I was only 31 weeks, nothing happens that early right? Well the plane ride was bumpy, really bumpy but we finally landed in NJ safe and sound. I was feeling fine a little grumpy, lack of sleep, but overall I was feeling very well. Well later that night or early the next, whichever you prefer, I went into the bathroom and found that I was bleeding. Not a whole lot but it was not just spotting either. So we got up and my in-laws drove my husband and I to the hospital. I got checked into observation and they checked my heart rate, the baby's heart rate , my blood pressure, and to see if I was having any contractions. Well the found that I was having what they thought to be Braxton-Hicks contractions, or false labor. But they put me on bed rest for several hours and gave me a magnesium drip to slow or stop the contractions. A nurse shift change later I was still having the contractions, so they took me downstairs for an ultrasound to see how my placenta looked and how the baby was doing. Placenta was fine, baby .. he was in the head down blast off ready to go position. So back up stairs for a pelvic exam, goody... Surprise!! I was 4 cm dilated and completely effaced, in other words I was in labor and the baby was coming out no matter what.

Mike and I during labor


Five hours later at 5.02pm on Jan 26, 2007 my son made his appearance to the world. Weighing in a 3 lbs 11 oz and 18 inches long. He cried when he came out, a good sign, but he was still 2 months early. Soon after he was born he was taken to the NICU, Neonatal intensive care unit. This is where he has been for 48 days and we are still counting.


Nathaniel on Scale