Drugged, Temperamental, and Pregnant (the best part)

Today, I am 23 weeks and 4 days pregnant.  Two days ago, I decided to call my doctor in the afternoon because I was having non-stop cramping and contractions.  I couldn't really tell if I was really having contractions as I didn't feel my abdomen relax at any point all day.  Everything is so confusing during pregnancy, even if you have done it before.  I can barely go to my annual exams and remember when my last menstrual cycle was...and that is how I ended up 23 weeks and 4 days pregnant :)  I guess the good thing about being a scary preggo with a "history" of PTL (pre-term labor) is that my doctor wants me to come in if I complain about anything.  Further, they want to get you in and also get.you.OUT.  No one wants a messy preterm delivery scaring their perfect record...and that is why after the monitor showed I was having contractions every 4 minutes, I was sent to labor in delivery..on the second floor....to be their problem.

I was admitted to labor and delivery for three lovely hours.  I say lovely because we recently and painfully cancelled cable at home, and I found myself in a quiet room with cable tv and a remote all to myself.  After 2 shots of terbutaline (ouch) I was sent home with a prescription for procardia.  Terbutaline is a rapidly acting drug that relaxes the uterus and stops contractions.  It didn't work very long when I went into labor with Emma, which is why I wasn't all that surprised (but still mighty frustrated) when the contractions returned 2 hours after I got home.  Procardia is a calcium blocker that is usually prescribed for high blood pressure and angina, but has an off label use for stopping labor.  I started taking the procardia at 11pm, every 6 hours.  By 10am the next morning, they stopped working and my doctor doubled my dose.  It *seems* to be working for the time being although now I feel like I might fall over at any second as my blood pressure is pretty darn low.  Still having contractions, but only 4-5 per hour.  They are mostly okay when I'm sitting/laying and then fire up the second my feet hit the floor making me an excellent and unfortunate candidate for bed rest.  Next scheduled appointment is next Friday.  I'm praying for a quiet weekend and week so I don't have to go back before that.  At this point, I am there so often they could probably charge me rent.