Kidney Stone or Labor?

I am 28 weeks pregnant. Whew! Less than three months to go. As excited as I am to hold my sweet little Emma, I don't want that day to come a moment too soon. A couple nights ago I started experiencing a lot of back pain. The pain was enough to keep me up through the night, but I still figured that the pain was probably caused by gas, or maybe just soreness from a busy couple weeks. The morning came and the pain was getting worse. It also got worse when I stood and especially when I walked. After being awake a couple hours, it became obvious that something was not right.

So off to the hospital we went. My pain felt more and more like labor pain. My mind racing through all the possibilities and beginning to fear the worst. I feel prepared to have my baby in China. I do not however feel prepared to have my baby at 28 weeks in China. I do not feel prepared to have my baby at 28 weeks anywhere! I had to put thoughts of the worst aside and make it to the hospital.

We got a cab pretty easily. We showed him the address and asked him to drive quickly. Normally, our cab drivers race to the hospital! Not this guy. He took his sweet time, until we realized he didn't have clue where he was going. We called the doctor and asked him to help give our driver directions. Our driver said he now knew where to go, but he was lying. I also notice in the midst of all this that there is porn scattered all over the man's cab. My stress level was rising very quickly, but when the driver decided to light to cigarette and answer a personal call - that was my limit. "Get me out! Stop the car." Philip who was worried about his girls and very angry with the driver was happy to grant that request. We got out and walked away with out paying the man or saying a word.

We realized we were only about a block or two away from the hospital. We walked there and made it inside. When the doctor asked what was going on, I started to tell him about my pain and few other TMI details that may sometimes indicate early labor. The tears came pouring out. (Honestly I'm shocked they held out that long).

In our experience, Chinese culture has been very direct. I hardly go a day without someone asking, "Are you pregnant, or just fat?" But openness is another story. They don't seem to be all that comfortable sharing as intimately with others or sharing their feelings. The doctor seemed really uncomfortable with my crying and not really sure how to respond. He looked at Philip and in a very robotic voice pointed at my face and asked, "What is happening here? What is this?" "I am just very worried," I responded. Looking at my now blotchy checks he asked, "Do you have an allergy? I think maybe you have a reaction." No, this is my face when I cry. lol

After a very thorough exam and some tests, we found out that I was not in pre-term labor or experiencing any pregnancy related problems. Emma is doing great - a healthily growing baby! The ultrasound showed that I was experiencing kidney stones. I have never had those before, but I have to say that they feel a LOT like back labor pain (which is what I experienced with Bella). I was sent home with orders to rest and no lifting (even Bella). Still feeling pain, but SOOO relieved that Emma was alright.

As if our day needed just a touch more drama, the doctor had suggested using a heat compress. I actually brought a heating pad from America, and it felt so good! Now, I am not technological (if thats even the category).  I really don't know, understand, or pay attention to the whole voltage thing. All I know, is that I plug things in and if they work they work. Sometimes, when I plug things in the voltage is wrong and it breaks them, like our baby monitor. However, usually if the voltage is wrong, the item just doesn't work.  Well while using my heating pad, I started to notice a smell like burning chemicals. Philip didn't smell anything. A few minutes later, I asked again. "Wait, turn that off" he said. He came rushing over and after examining the heating pad,  he found that it had already burned through the plastic and cloth cover. My back was fine. No burns. Only a close call. Not exactly the kind of fire I like in the bedroom if ya know what I mean ;)

20 Weeks. (4 months)                         24 weeks. (5 months)                            28 weeks. (6 months)

The kidney stones seem to have passed now. I am feeling much better! Just recovering from a couple nights of not being able to sleep through the pain. Philip is taking good care of me and still enforcing the doctors suggestion of bed rest and no lifting for several days. Its been hard not being able to play and hold my Bella Bella and has resulted in a little bit of acting out on her part. Although its been really nice to catch up on some things and have time to post pictures and blogs about our current events from the past couple weeks without internet. Bed rest ends tomorrow and we go back to unpacking and settling into the new apartment!