So thankful...

Last night, we had a little scare. I had been cramping since Monday but yesterday it got a little worse, so I went to the GP after work who (after prodding my tummy and feeling a strong contraction) said, 'right madam, we'll send you into the labour ward for observation overnight - better to have the baby in your tummy for a few more weeks than in an incubator'. Not the most tactful but grateful he did it anyway! So John came and met me in Bromley and we popped back home for something quick to eat and to grab some bits.

We called both our mums to pray and they spoke to siblings and BTC and SLBC who prayed too. Just over two hours later, our prayers were totally answered! In fact, I'm more amazed today than yesterday as it was all a bit of a daze. John was a complete pillar of strength throughout the whole thing, however cliche.

My mum drove us to the hospital and we rushed up to the labour ward (maternity ward on the same floor - Level 3, signs for it too for those who want and need to know for visits in January!) and we got taken into triage. The midwife asked us a few questions and then took us into a labour room (we even got to see the birthing pool, which quite frankly looks massive). After doing a test or two, I was asked to hop on the bed and was wired up to this baby heart-tracking-monitor thing which was strapped around my tummy so had to lie perfectly still for a while. Unfortunately, our little blessing didn't lie still and was kicking more than he had all day - and that was a lot, so it was really hard to get the heartbeat tracked on the page. My BP, pulse rate and other bits and bobs were checked and we were asked a million questions. Then we had to get moved back to triage as there was a woman in labour who actually needed the room! She was more than welcome to it, a lady down the hall sounded like she was being bludgoned to death.

Back in triage, and after being wired up to the baby heart-tracking-monitor thing the doctor came in to do an internal exam (which wasn't so pleasant) and found the neck of the cervix was closed, which was a massive relief. So my waters hadn't broken or anything else that was needed to go into labour. The cramping and constant strong Braxton Hicks was what the GP was concerned about but as I told him, I've been getting BH since around week 21. Clearly, that is something that medical staff differ on as he said pregnant women shouldn't start getting them until week 31, whereas the doctor at the hospital said you can start getting them anytime. Both the doctor and the midwife commented a lot on how active our baby was and said the strength of the kicks was a great sign.

So, after being told that the cramping was likely pregnancy stretches, that we had an extremely active baby and the heartbeat was absolutely perfect, we are so grateful to our brilliant God and everyone who prayed for the protection and continued strength He blessed and continues blessing our little one and us with. We were driven home by my mum again, very relieved and very tired and flopped into bed.

We just can't wait to see what our baby is like....although not for a good ten weeks...!