My visit to the hospital

[Shay] Well....I had my first scare last night with my pregnancy. It was not fun to say the least. Before I get ahead of myself, let me tell you who I am. My name is Shay and I am expecting my first child. Some may call me a "mature" expecting mother because of my age. How old am I? I am 39 years old but I will be hitting the big "4O" in December.

Let me tell you what happened. I was at work yesterday and started feeling pain in my lower back and abdomen. I was hoping and thinking it would go away. After and hour I decided I should call my doctor. I called the office and the front desk nurse answered, I told her what was happening and the doctor was at the hospital at the time. The nurse then called the doctor who returned her call within minutes. The nurse called me back and told me to get to Labor and Delivery at the hospital. My mouth dropped, I said "Are you serious?". She said yes because she wants to make sure that I am not having contractions. I think I hung up on her while she was still talking. Let me explain why I reacted this way. I am only 29 weeks which is too early to even think about having the baby.I started shutting my computer down and packing up and left for my trip. You see, I work in Stamford, CT but I live in New Jersey. I know it sounds crazy but currently that is how things have to remain.The whole ride to the hospital I was chanting over in my head "My baby is OK, My baby if fine."

Once I got to the hospital, I went up to Labor and Delivery and as soon as I went through the door, that asked me my name and shuttled me to a room to change and connected me up to monitors. I was relieved when they told me my baby's heart rate was perfect as well as my blood pressure. The nurse was very reassuring. I was waiting on my doctor so I was just laying there watching television until she came. She came in and told me everything looks OK but she wanted to run some tests to make sure. I had to lay in the room and they continued to monitor the baby as I laid there and waited on the test results. Then the shift changed. Another nurse came in and started asking me questions I already answered to my doctor and the other nurse. I am sitting there wondering why is she asking me these things when my chart is in her hands. Then she told me I need to lay on my left and starting shifting me and putting this wedge pillow on my right so I can lay on my left. I can't see the TV laying this way. So am I suppose to watch the door for the next hour or so. I know it is good for the baby to be on my left. I lay that way for the baby all the time but goodness she was nerve racking. Thankfully about thirty minutes later the tests came back OK and I could leave. I was still in pain but at least everything looked good for the baby. Now all I have to worry about is how much pain I will feel once I get the bill for this episode. Even with health care it is always a pretty penny.

Well, I am feeling much better today. At least I can mentally prepare myself on what to expect when I do go into labor.I don't think I prepare myself for the pain though.