Dress Rehearsal - AKA The Great Fake Out

I had my last baby shower on Saturday the 15th.  It was such a lovely time.  I came home and was spending some nice time with my family when some random contractions started.  As the night progressed there were more and more.  It was around 8 pm that they started to become more routine, but I kept the secret to myself.  We started getting ready for bed and got the boys in bed around 9. 

I tried to lay down and fell asleep briefly, but the contractions persisted and woke me.  I had at this point told my husband, but he had laid down, just in case this was it, one of us needed to have some sleep under our belt.  I texted my parents and my sister to let them know that something was happening, just go to bed, but keep your phone close.  Since I couldn't sleep I sat and watched TV, thank goodness for the winter Olympics.  

Around 1am I called the on duty midwife at the hospital.  The contractions were pretty routine, but not that intense.  She said to drink water and take a warm bath.  I drank and drank and took a hot shower.  I wasn't sure if I could get back out of our little tub if I got down there.  Still no changes.  As I sat there watching the time tick by the contractions would hit every 5 minutes, 2:45, 2:50: 2:55. 

The whole time I am nervous about getting all the players in the game.  After all, with 2 kids here already, we have to get Grandparents over before I can go anywhere.  Finally around 3am some more intense contractions began, I had to breath through them a bit.  I texted Mom and got the Grandparents moving.  They arrived a little after 4am and Jeff and I drove to the hospital. 

I'm still very uncertain at this point, but the only way to tell between real labor and this fake stuff is to be checked.  I figure after 7 hours or so, getting checked would be a good idea.  Still a few more contractions on the way there.  Then we started checking in and things already started to slow.  Seriously!  By the time we got to the room to get checked I was pretty convinced we would be going home.  I was checked, and there were no signs of any progress.  We waited an hour, were checked again, still nothing. 

Aah, so frustrating.  Back home we went, the contractions continued to fade and I was finally able to get some sleep.  I had to kick poor Grandpa out of my bed though. 

This was not a fun thing to put everyone through.  Makes you feel a little silly.  But I keep going through it all in my head and I think we did the right thing.  With Peter, I was very uncertain as well, very similar intensity of contractions and by the time I got there I was 4 cm. 

I have always heard that this can happen, and know better then to call everyone and wake them with the news the baby is on the way, until you are officially checked in.  But no body has every told me about the crazy mind game that this can play on you. 

This sort of labor (Prodromal labor), just happens and it doesn't mean that the baby is coming any sooner then the original due date.  However, it makes you get ready in your mind for his eminent arrival.  I feel like I am in limbo.  I can't fully commit to my everyday routines, because, well, baby could be here any second.  Not only that, it puts the whole family on edge, wondering if they should do this or that, or if they should stay close?  Phone calls, asking about contractions. 

Yesterday I spent the day cleaning house and trying to get it in better order than when we left it on Sunday morning.  Today I hope to do the same, but add in some school time or something fun with the kids.  I am going to do my best to ignore the fact that I had seven hours of contractions and just continue on.  But it's tricky.

I talked to a friend of mine who is an OB/GYN in another town and she said, it's just your uterus practicing.  Now that is just not fair!  Why on earth does it need a practice run when it's done it twice before?  My midwife said sometimes the 3rd baby can be a bit squirrelly.  Well that's for sure.

All I have to say is, Baby #3, next time, can it be the real deal?  We would really like to meet you.  Not to mention the fact that my midwife guessed you are already 8 to 9 lbs.  That's plenty. 

So if you were wondering what I have been up to.  There it is.  Surviving and recovering from the Great Fake Out.  Wish me luck!  And share your story.  I have never heard anyone talk about the crazy head game this Dress Rehearsal plays.  Now I know.