Last Tuesday Craig and I were making our normal 0.5 mile walk home from school. I had decided to bring home some stuff from my classroom since I would not be teaching after the Holiday. When we had almost reached home I started to have really bad pains in my back. I passed on my backpack to Craig who was not too happy to find out how heavy my pack was.
When we got home, the pain kept coming. However, it would come in waves. The pain then started to wrap around to my front. We decided to head to the doctor. Unfortunately, the doctor was out sick and the mid-wife had left for the evening. The receptionist suggested we head to the University Hospital (where I will have the baby). So, we didn't go back to our apartment but instead hopped the bus to the hospital. At this point I only had my Mutterpass and insurance card with me because I thought we were making a quick trip to the doctor. I didn't even have my cell phone!
From the point where the bus dropped us off, we still had a good 10 minute walk to the Women's Clinic. I was not too thrilled about walking into the labor and delivery ward, so we went to another part of the clinic that seemed to be more for walk-in paitients. We rang the bell, the doors opened, but then an alarm started going off! So, we high-tailed it out of there and headed for the labor and delivery ward.
I thought the mid-wives would politely tell Craig and I we were overreacting and send us on our way. This, however, was not the case. They ushered me into a labor and delivery room and hooked me up to the monitor. This showed that I was having mild contractions. After the monitor, an exam, my blood being taken, receiving an IV, and then passing out; the doctor checked me into the hospital for an overnight stay.
Everything up until this point had felt like a whirlwind. Baby is not due until February, so I couldn't get my head around the fact that I was sitting in an antepartum room.
My sweet husband went home and made me dinner and got me some clothes to sleep in (they didn't give me a hospital gown).
After a restless night's sleep, I was woken up at 6:30 a.m. for another go with the monitor. Luckily, everything with me and baby was fine. A round of doctors then came in to discuss my situation. I asked when I would be going home and they said the next day! I was not too happy about that.
I spent the day playing games on the computer and trying to get Craig's Kindle to pick up 3G so that I could check my email. Unfortunately, the hospital didn't have wifi.
I did get a roommate for a short period of time. She was being induced. I, however, explained to her that I was not at all ready to give birth and only checking out the hospital.
My sweet friends and colleagues stopped by in the afternoon for a visit. I was extremely grateful for their company.
That night I got a new roommate (the previous roommate had gone into labor!) Unfortunately, my new roommate was VERY emotional. When the doctor came in to give me an injection into my IV I begged her to let me go home. There was no way I was going to be able to do this all again for another night; especially with a crying woman in my room. Thankfully, she also felt it would be best for me to go home and I was happily released.
I am so thankful that baby girl is still baking away and I hope that she continues to bake until February. Craig and I had been to an orientation at the hospital the previous week, but it had all been in German. This experience was like a personal orientation to the hospital and I was able to get the experience of the hopsital without being in labor.
Even though it wasn't fun to stay in the hospital, and the IV felt like a torture device, I am thanfkul for the experience and I feel better prepared for my hospital stay in February.
-Amy
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