5.30.2009

The Tour Before the Tour and No Surprise



I've been having this crazy pain since Monday in my pubic bone which I attribute to Pelvic Symphysis Dysfunction. I basically got it after working an all nighter on a Special Olympics program. As best as I can describe the pain, it feels like I rode my bike from here to about Mexico, and the after arriving to Mexico, one of the locals kicked me directly in my crotch. The first night I experienced it after getting up during movie night with Phil. I hurled over in pain and had to be helplessly escorted to the bathroom. *shameful* I've since been accustomed to the pain and have dealt with it more effectively; mainly by grasping my hands under my ever growing belly while I walk.

Enough was enough, and I called my doctor yesterday to see if this was something normal or if I should be concerned. Describing the type of pain to her, she immediately wanted me to go to the Labor & Delivery (L&D) department at the hospital rather than waiting for my next appointment on the 9th of June. Two and a half hours later—thanks LA traffic—me and Phil arrived at the Torrance Memorial Hospital. They checked me in and were quite cordial to me despite my anticipation that I was going to be preyed on for being a paranoid patron. I put on the hideously annoying hospital gown of which the back end tie was broken so I was bare-assed.

My 3 hours at the hospital consisted of a pelvic exam which checks for amniotic fluid leaks. The nurse said this would be like a normal pap smear but slightly more uncomfortable. Uh.... No! This was more like comparing a paper cut to a knife wound. Ouch! No leaks were found. They monitored the baby's heart beats and signs of contractions with these two monitors strapped to my belly. So far everything A-OK. Then I head down to the ultrasound department which was semi embarassing. I was wheeled down by one of the orderlies and passed by the gift shop and waiting room 2 floors down from L&D. The tech was a doll. She asked me the gender and I proudly said, "A little girl" with the slighted response, "Unless she's grown some parts since my last ultrasound." She chuckled. My fluid was checked and was 11.7 cc's. I'm guessing that's a pint of Guiness perhaps. She also checked my cervical length and said I was nice and long at 4cm. The length has always been a point of contention with me since I've felt weird stabbing pains off and on during this pregnancy. It was a relief to know the thing was staying shut and long! At the end she turned the monitor to try and show me the baby's precious face. But alas this little girl had a repeat of her 13 week ultrasound where parts of her were hiding. Guess I'll have to wait until September. The very end the tech pointed to the monitor and said, "Well there's the girl junk, she has not grown any new parts." It was great to not have a gender surprise.

All tests were normal. I was sent home instructed to drink more fluids, bed rest til Monday (Obviously I'm not following it since as I'm writing this blog), and to purchase a maternity belt. Today I went to a local medical supply company and bought this crazy contraption which lifts my belly off my pelvic floor and moves it to my back. So far it works pretty well.

I have two hospital tours on June 14th and this was a great tour before the tour, where I got to test out the nurses, and hospital accomodations.

Thank God everything is okay!

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