Hi everyone.

We're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with our NICU stay, so decided it was time to share our graduation story (long story ahead!)

Relevant information, I'd been dealing with discharge and mucus since about 24 weeks, which had been chalked up to a low lying placenta by my OBGYN.

On May 21st, at 31 4, for the first time the discharge was tinted pink. I called my OBGYN, who sent me to L&D. After a couple hours on a non stress test and a cervix check which showed I was completely closed, they also chalked it up to the placenta, scheduled me for another ultrasound, and sent me on my way.

The night of May 22nd, I started bleeding like I had a period. Called my OBGYN again, and they sent me to the higher risk hospital (the hospital I'd been scheduled to have a c-section at doesn't deliver before 35 weeks.) In the car I realized I was having regular contractions about 5 minutes apart. Once we arrived at the hospital, they hooked me up to the monitor and confirmed that the contractions were getting closer/stronger (at their strongest, they were 1 minute apart). I had an ultrasound, which showed that my placenta had moved up and was no longer low lying. Once that was confirmed, they did another cervical check, found me at 3cm, and officially diagnosed me as in pre-term labor. I was admitted, and started on magnesium since I was under 32 weeks (0/10, almost threw up on my poor husband), as well as the pills to stop contractions. The rest of this hospital stay was very uneventful; contractions stopped, I didn't dilate any further, and I was discharged the evening of May 24th at exactly 32 weeks.

On May 25th at several points throughout the day, I noticed that the pad I was wearing was damp. I didn't think anything of it, because I'd been told to expect some discharge. After dinner, I saw had soaked through the pad. Cue the "oh shit' and scrambling, once again, to find a babysitter for our 3 year old. Back to the hospital, where they confirmed immediately that my water had broken. I was informed I was not leaving the hospital pregnant, we'd hold out for 10 days if possible on antibiotics the entire time, and if we made it that far we'd induce at 34 weeks.

The next two days were uneventful, and I was hopeful we'd make it the 10 days. I was spoken to about what to expect in the NICU, as well as if I'd like to sign consents for a TOLAC (my 3 YO was a c-section after a failed induction due to late onset pre-eclampsia). Since the baby would be pre-term, it was highly encouraged; since he'd be so small the chance of a successful VBAC were super high. I agreed.

On the night of May 27th (32 3), a few hours after my husband had gone home for the night, I noticed some cramping, but chalked it up to gas. At about 9:15 pm, I realized that the "gas" was coming in regular waves, and called the nurses. While I was talking to them, they progressed from "maybe gas" to "I would like some painkillers please." They checked my cervix, and said I was still closed, and wanted to do an ultra-sound to re-confirm the baby was head down. I called my husband at about 9:50, and he was there by 10:15. At this point, the nurses are confused, because I am in very obvious pain (I'd call it a 7/10), but the contractions aren't showing up on the monitor. It turned out that they had the sensor too high. I was progressing so quickly, the contractions had moved down into my cervix. Once they adjusted the sensor, you could see the "oh shit" look pass over the nurses and doctor's faces.

The ultrasound gets done, and it was super painful. Once it's confirmed that the baby is head down, they check me again, and surprise! I'm at 6cm. It's been less than an hour since they told me I was still closed. Once again, I ask if I could get some painkillers, and they tell me it's too late for the promised IV drugs since it would affect the baby's heart rate, but I can get an epidural once we get down to L&D.

At this point, I am in agony. There was almost no pause between contractions, and it they are all in my cervix. I get wheeled down to L&D, and they send my husband out so I can get the epidural. As soon as I'm positioned on my side, the overwhelming, ridiculously painful need to push absolutely overcomes me. I can't accurately describe it-the closest word I can think of is convulsions. I start shouting "Shit, I need to push!" They roll me back over to check my progress, and in the less than 20 minutes it took to wheel me to L&D, I went from 6cm to 10cm. They called my husband back in, while telling me, straight faced, "I don't think you're getting that epidural." In 3 big pushes, and one giant rush of fluid, out came baby at 11:08pm. From the time I went "Is this gas?" to having a baby was less than 2 hours.

Connor was 4lbs, 9oz, a great size for being a few days shy of 33 weeks. He came out crying, and we were able to do skin to skin. We've been incredibly lucky with the most uneventful NICU stay ever. He was only on the C-PAP for 12 hours, was in an open crib within a week, and took up eating like he was born to do it. The hardest part has been that, because of Covid restrictions, his big brother hasn't been able to meet him yet. We're crossing our fingers Connor will be home this weekend at 6lbs and exactly one month old, 3 weeks before his due date!