Warning: I know this blog, especially this post, is only interesting and relevant to about 2 1/2 people, so if you'd rather skip the lesson on uterine irritability, scroll down past the bulleted list that may be helpful to someone, to today's daily update.
Last night, I went back to the hospital to be monitored for contractions, I did have one actual contraction that was picked up on the monitors, but most of the discomfort was caused by uterine irritability. Irritable uterus (IU) is the name given to a uterus that contracts in a disorganized fashion during pregnancy. Most times, the contractions are constant and consistent, happening every three to five minutes. Unlike real contractions, which come and go in waves of regular intervals and last longer, irritable uterus contractions can feel more like knotting of the entire abdomen or quick twinges but can still be quite painful. In my case, UI causes lots of discomfort, especially with all the wiggling Baby Boy is doing.
Thankfully contractions caused by uterine irritability do not shorten or open the cervix, and therefore do not lead to labor, which is what I was worried about yesterday. So now that I know the difference between real contractions (which I WAS having on Sunday night and had to be stopped) and uterine irritability, I'm a less worried about all these quick aches and pains. I've done some research and figured out that when I do have a sudden bout of uncomfortable contractions from uterine irritability (not labor), I can take a bath, lay on my left side, and do the following things:
- Drink lots of milk. Apparently hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) and hypomagnesimia (low blood magnesium), conditions which are known to cause muscle excitability, are common in women with uterine irritability. Milk provides both calcium and magnesium, and also has lots of protein which can help bulk up this tiny (and I do mean tiny) baby.
- Eat foods rich in magnesium, a natural muscle relaxer. These foods include raw spinach, brown rice, avocados, and bananas, and almonds (though I won't be eating those because of a nut allergy). Magnesium relaxes the uterus, this is why my next treatment for preterm contractions will be magnesium sulfate, but getting magnesium through natural sources helps avoid the risks associated with the injections.
- Drink lots of water. The hormone responsible for water retention when we're low on fluids (called anti-diuretic hormone or ADH) is chemically almost identical to the hormone oxytocin, which is the hormone produced by the body to induce labor. The body gets confused between these two hormones and uterine contractions occur due to this "confusion." Staying hydrated will keep my body from secreting too much ADH.
- Empty my bladder regularly. Any sort of pressure against the uterus can cause contractions when you have IU, so reducing any irritants can really help. Plus, going to the bathroom gives me an excuse t get up and stretch (I can hardly believe a trip to the bathroom has become a highlight of my day, but anyone on strict bed rest would understand why that has become the case).
- Eat small, frequent meals rich in fiber that are easy to digest. As said above, extra pressure on your uterus can cause contractions, so it's helpful to eat smaller meals that help avoid gas and constipation, which can also cause contractions. (TMI, sorry).
- Stay calm. While being on bed rest, I've found I have A LOT of time to worry and feel every little ache and twinge and then freaks me out. Arguments or getting myself stressed out about a situation causes more contractions and makes things worse. Stress hormones are proven to cause preterm contractions, so staying calm is in my best interest. Again, now that I know that I'm just going to have to live with some discomfort because of uterine irritability and can recognize the difference between UI and real contractions, I can relax. It's times like these that I have to remember Psalms 46:10 -- " Be still, and know that I am God." I know Heavenly Father is aware of me and this baby, and whatever happens, we'll be Ok. I'm just praying for as much time as possible, as I know so many of you are, too.
- Get some sleep. At night, I contract WAY more often, so by sleeping through the irritability and getting rested up, I feel much better, and so does my uterus.
On personal note, today I've felt physically better, as the larger dose of anti-contraction medication (Nifedipine) less often has kept me more comfortable than smaller, more frequent doses. I also think I'm experiencing less discomfort and contractions because I'm less stressed knowing that uterine irritability isn't going to cause labor and there's a better hope of being able to hold out longer. My cervix, albeit, extremely short, is staying stable, and as long as that's the case, I can have peace of mind and focus on getting Baby Boy to term (or as close to it as possible). I also keep reminding myself that my cervix/uterus held out before with 8 weeks of modified bed rest helping B get to 35 weeks with no real health issues. I can hold out again for Baby Boy.
B said something about ear pain the other night and came in this morning saying he couldn't hear well, so J took him to the doctor, and found B has an ear infection in his left ear. I'm not surprised he has one because of the cold he can't seem to kick, but I am surprised B hasn't complained much. He's doing a remarkable job dealing with all this. He can now work the DVD player, type in "PBSKids.org" on the Internet browser, and get snacks independently. We've been talking to him a lot about why Mommy has to lay down all day (so Baby Brother doesn't come too early and has to stay in the hospital for a long time), but I know it's a lot for him to take in. We've also drug him back and forth from the hospital and I know he worries about Mommy being sick (having contractions). Thankfully, he seems to be taking everything in stride and manages to stay busy at the hospital or near my bedside, and we enjoy "B and Mom time" reading every day.
B has had his moments, though. He comes in to sleep in our bed more lately, he cries more when he's upset (like when we told him no Christmas toys could come to the hospital), and he worries about me. The other day he requested that I hold him when he woke up in the middle of the night, but first asked if I had to take medicine first so he could sit on my lap and not cause the baby to come too early. (B is very compassionate). After a few activity-filled days with Dad and Grandma and having a cold, B was on the verge of tears on Saturday. When I asked him what was wrong, he said "Oh, you're just resting all day." (It's nice to know I'm not the only one frustrated with bed rest). I asked what I could do and he said "Can I lay with you?" There is not a lot I can do while on bed rest, but laying with my son, I can do. So like I said, B has his moments but still manages to keep soldiering on. He seems to be pretty resilient, but I still want to keep things as routine for him as possible even while being on bed rest. B goes back to school next week, so that should help occupy his time and keep him from worrying too much about me, and J tries to take him on an outing everyday. Today they went to the mall.
J left for awhile today to go to a work meeting and pick up B's medicine and refill my prescriptions (when you take 8 pills a day to keep contractions at bay, they go quick). So he asked B to be "Mommy's helper." B has been great at retrieving things for me, emptying my meal trays, and refilling my water the last few days. He has also become a mini version of J, policing me every time I try to get up. Earlier, I was laying down rooting around in my bedside basket for something, and he called from his room, "Get back in bed. Do you want my baby brother to be sick?". I assured him I was still in bed, but he came to check anyway. I thought it was pretty funny. He definitely takes after Daddy who takes his responsibility as Bed Rest Police very seriously.
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