2nd Trimester

The second trimester is known to be the best part of pregnancy. You get to experience life moving in your womb. Many of the uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms have finally gone and you are able to move on with life. For me I found this to be very true. But I also found that I sure was having a lot of braxton hicks contractions. It was summer time and I was very busy in our garden trying to grow and preserve as much as I could. At one point I felt like the contractions at 15 weeks were very intense and similar to real labor. I went to the ER, and they did an u/s of the baby. The baby looked great and the u/s tech even guessed that it was a little boy. The doctor came in and said that if they were real contractions they would do nothing to stop them. Needless to say that I was heartbroken. I couldn't imagine after seeing this healthy baby on the u/s that they wouldn't stop my contractions. After going home I contacted my old OB to find out if he could help us. He was happy to stop the contractions and do what we needed to make sure we made it to term.

I made an appointment to see the doctor. We were able to get into the doctor at about 17 weeks. He did an u/s and confirmed that something was changing my cervix as it had started to funnel and that put us in a higher risk situation. While he was looking I asked for him to take a little peak at the baby. And he confirmed that it was 100% a little boy.

When the doctor did my physical exam he found that the veins in my legs were in bad shape, and that my low blood pressure and heart palpitations needed to be looked into. He gave me referrals for a vascular surgeon and a doctor to run some heart tests.

The vascular surgeon was able to get us in at 20 weeks. He did an u/s on my legs and found that the superficial veins were refluxing blood and were diseased. He prescribed compression stockings and surgery after the birth of the baby.

The heart tests that were prescribed were a little troubling. The heart event monitor showed that I was having PVC's, PAC, and PVC couplets. They were potentially normal but annoying. They said that I would be able to take beta blockers to lessen them after having the baby. They also did a Echo Cardiogram on my heart. The results of that showed the upper chambers of my heart to be enlarged. I had a couple of minor leaks on my valves but it was considered normal. The doctor said we would have to repeat the echo cardiogram after the birth of the baby to see if my heart has returned to normal size.

At 25 weeks I had an appointment with my OB. I complained of all the braxton hicks contractions. He did a Vaginal probe ultrasound to see how my cervix was doing. He found that I still had funneling and that my cervix length had decreased to 24mm. That length put me at a 40% risk of delivery before 35 weeks. The doctor ordered that I take the Procardia and that I start modified bedrest. At this point in the pregnancy I had only gained 12 pounds. That was about to change in a big hurry.

The doctor wanted to see me weekly now to be sure to keep me out of preterm labor. At 26 weeks my cervix had become very soft and was a fingertip dilated. I was put on full bedrest and now that became our struggle. Needing to care for my family as my Railroad husband was constantly away from home and trying to keep the baby inside. Each week was a milestone. With us finally taking a breath of relief at 32 weeks knowing the baby would be ok if he came.

I think I gained 30 pounds in those weeks...Bedrest and holidays just don't mix.