Monday, September 22, 2008

Spent the day in the hospital.

I fell down the stairs this morning. Which I was actually expecting, as I've fallen down with each of my pregnancies.

With Ella - I was carrying a drawer out to the car to take to Home Depot to do some stain matching and slipped on some ice and fell down on my knee pretty damned hard. Awesome. Since I didn't fall on my belly, I felt the baby was fine and didn't go to the hospital.

With Allison - I was carrying Ella on my hip, walked out into the garage and tripped on the top of the two steps. I fell all the way down to the cement floor doing everything I could do to protect my two babies. I twisted in mid air and held Ella close to my chest, as I took the entire brunt of the fall on my back. Ella was scared but not hurt. I was terrified I hurt the baby. I went inside and took out the trusty doppler and heard no change in the baby's heartbeat. No trip to the ER was necessary.

With Karl - I was just popping down a flight of stairs like I normally would. Suddenly, my feet were out from under me. My hand was on the railing, so I held on for dear life. My arm was what stopped the fall for the most part, but as you can imagine, the grip wasn't conducive to the position I would end up in, so it twisted my body and I ended up landing on my hip on my right side. My shoulder was screaming in pain but that was about it. I sat down and felt my belly for movement and Karl immediately kicked me to assure me of his existence. And then I remembered I have a velamentous cord insertion. On my right side. That scared me.

I called my OB's nurse line and left a message that I had fallen and I was going to go to the ER to get checked out. I knew that would be their advice, so why waste time? By the time I got to the hospital, the tears were flowing due to the pain in my shoulder. I checked in and they immediately sent me up to Labor & Delivery to check on Karl. He was happily kicking me, so I wasn't really worried, so I wasn't in any sort of panic.

Before I was even checked in, I was hooked up to monitors to watch for contractions. I actually had one braxton hicks contraction and a few "bleeps" but nothing disturbing. I did have some intermittent right sided pain, pretty bad, but it wasn't a contraction. I assumed it was RLP (round ligament pain) and the nurse agreed.

Through the monitor, she couldn't pick up the heartbeat too well, but did for a few moments and it clocked in around 150bpm. After 30 minutes or so of monitoring, she called my OB. Apparently, due to the pain and the lack of a documented heartbeat, my OB ordered an ultrasound. No complaint from me as I will never turn down a chance to see my little peapod. The tech went for all the main things first - heartbeat, fluid levels, placenta, cord, but before it was over I got to laugh at a few things. The first was Karl was pointing his finger like he was pretending to shoot us. The second was she showed me the gender money shot and declared "well, his penis is still intact!". The third was as we were finishing up and she was giving me a last "fun" look at him, he actually ~waved~ at us. Thank you baby boy. That made me smile.

Then they wheeled me down to the ER to get my shoulder checked out. I tried to protest, saying I only came to the ER to check on the baby, but the nurse said there was no reason NOT to, as I was already there. The doctor came in and performed an exam and determined I had a strained rotator cuff. I'll be pretty damned sore, but I should get better without intervention. Just ice it tonight and rest it all I can. Then he fitted me in a sweet sling. I look pretty hot in it. (Actually, I guess I looked pretty pathetic in it, as everyone who looked at me for the rest of the day gave me the "poor you" sympathy look.)

It's day two of ICLW and I need to get caught up on all my commenting. What a way to kick it off! Thanks to all of those whom have visted so far! I'll be to your blog soon!

48 comments:

Charlotte said...

Glad you and Karl are OK. Faaling down steps is scary enough, nevermind being pregnant! I, too, am much more clumsy when pregnant and fell at least once with all my pregnancies. No ER trips, though. Take it easy Nanc! :)

Io said...

Uf! I'm glad you and Karl are ok. Hope you got all the falling out of the way.
This made me think of my friend Mel who was struck by lightning while she was pregnant. Sucks, but sucks much harder when your little belly monster might be hurt.

MrsSpock said...

Oh geez- glad you are both doing fine!

Wordgirl said...

Whew Nancy, I was worried there -- I'm sorry about the shoulder but I am so glad to hear that you and Karl are healthy.

XO

Pam

P.S. W today said "I really like that stack of books thing"

Aunt Becky said...

I seem to be especially prone to falls when I'm pregnant, too. I'm so glad that you're doing well now, and that your Karl is hanging tight (almost said hanging tough).

Here from ICLW and I'll be back. We're due at the same time!

VHMPrincess said...

glad you're ok! That has to be terribly scary!! The only time I don't fall is when I'm pregnant, oddly enough ( I AM HUGELY uncoordinated )

chicklet said...

Good lord woman, you're as clutzy as I am! Glad you and Karl are good though:-)

Nikki said...

I've had several knee injuries (and I know you've had your share of injuries and falls as well) , but I do believe a shoulder injury is the worst type. Take care of yourself, and I'm so glad all's well with Karl!

Jendeis said...

So glad that you and Karl are all right. Get plenty of rest. My sister (the soon-to-be Dr. of PT) says the key is RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation. Usually, I get the first two right and that helps thing a huge amount.

Sarah said...

Oh my gosh! I am so glad you are okay, Nancy. That is so scary. I also fell down our basement stairs while pregnant--they're wood and slippery (I swear the guy who used to live here used a power sander on them). I caught myself with the railing too--and about ripped my arm out of its socket. Luckily, that's all I hurt. (((Hugs))) Hope your shoulder feels better soon.

Rachel said...

I'm so glad you're ok. Definitely try to take it easy tomorrow!

Jen said...

Don't scare me! I am glad to hear you are ok, both of you!

Chastity said...

Yikes, that is a huge fear of mine! Glad you and Karl are well!!

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Joining the chorus of "thank goodness"!es.

Denise said...

Jeez, I hate how google reader only shows me a few sentences of your posts and I have to wait the agonizing seconds after I click and your post comes up in full to know that you guys are okay! So relieved!

Meg said...

Wow, that must have been scary. Glad all is well, kicking and waving in Karl's bubble.

The Jensens said...

Oh my goodness!!! Talk about stress! I am so glad that you and Karl are ok and that the hospital was good to you. I'm also relieved that your rotator cuff is not torn and just strained.

Hang in there :0)

Amy said...

Wow be careful. Glad you and Karl are ok.

Topcat said...

Oh, I'm so glad you are ok! Freaked out when I started reading your post. Yay for intact penises!

XO

Geohde said...

I am very glad you and Karl are ok, but that shoulder sounds real sore. Look after yourself.

xx

J

Cara said...

Wow! Eventful day for you!!! First of all CONGRATULATIONS for your third pregnancy and your first BOY! (I say that with glee...but I had three girls and would have no idea what to do with a boy!)

Second, my middle name is far from grace..but oddly it was my HUSBAND who always got hurt each time I was pregnant. Emma - legs run over by a slow moving tractor. Bear - nasty car accident (w/o seatbelt) leaving a spider glass mark in the windshield from HIS head! And The Comedian?? Work accident, buried from the knees down, hyperextending BOTH legs and resulting in knee re-building surgery that left him in our living room immobile for months!

For the record, he's "young and strong" and totally fine now, except he can tell me when a storm is coming due to all the hardware in his leg!!!

Tricia said...

Oh gosh.. Sorry you fell. How scary for you. I am glad Karl and you are okay.

P.S. One of my brother's is named Karl (with a "k"). I love it spelled that way. Is that the name you chose or just a pet name for now?

loribeth said...

Yikes!! So glad both you & the baby are OK!

Leah said...

Glad you and Karl are okay. Sorry about the shoulder. Perhaps you should consider covering your entire house in bubble wrap for the next 18 weeks or so? :-)

Anonymous said...

Crikey Nance! That must have scared the socks off of ya but I'm pleased to hear that all is well with you and Karl...

Take it easy hon! No more falling allowed ;)

Misty Dawn said...

Oh my goodness Nancy....what a scare. I hadn't been to your blog since yest morning. Then when you commented on PAIF that you had been in the ER it made me very worried. I'm glad to see that Karl is doing well. Ouch! Hope your shoulder heals soon.

I'm very klutzy too. Everytime I've been PG (of course, no successful PG to speak of), I always have awful balance. Can't wait until I can reach 6wks+, then DH will be freaking out and overly protective, worried that I'll slip and fall at any minute. LOL

nancy said...

Tricia, It's his name. Karl "with a K" is it. I'm naming him after my best friend in the whole wide world, who passed away suddenly 4 years ago.

JJ said...

SO glad you and Karl are OK!

Birdee said...

Geebs I'm glad you and Karl are okay. I hope your rotor cuff heals soon, I strained mine the other day (doing yoga - how pathetic) and it's a B* to heal.

Anonymous said...

holy shit!
so glad you & Karl are ok. phew infinity.

Morgan Owens said...

OMG nancy...im so glad you and baby Karl are ok! I hope the soreness goes away soon!

Jen said...

I'm glad it turned out okay! Hope the shoulder feels better soon.

Kaci said...

Whew - glad Karl is ok. Hope your shoulder heals quickly.

Dr. Grumbles said...

It would've been even funnier if Karl waved his penis at you! Glad he is ok.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you and Karl are ok Nancy. What a crappy thing to happen to a pregnant lady. I hope your shoulder feels better soon.

Candi said...

Oh my goodness! Glad you two are doing ok!!

Anonymous said...

OMG... I am glad that you and the baby are not hurt more.

Maybe we should bubble wrap you.

Hopefully that will be the one and only fall during this pregnancy.

Stacie said...

Hi and thanks for commenting on my blog. Glad to hear you and Karl are okay. Falls are so scary especially when you are prgnant. Your center of gravity is just all over the place.

I fell down three steps on the way out of daycare when P was just a few months old. I was holding her carrier and I sliped. I saved her but sacraficed myself. We were both fine, her more so than I.

Watch those steps, maybe take ramps whenever possible.

To A T said...

Oh you poor, poor thing!! :( Glad to hear that baby Karl is fine though and that you will be healed in no time :)

Liz said...

Glad you all are well (and am LOVING the comment from the nurse during the u/s). At least you weren't carrying both girls AND fell!

IdleMindOfBeth said...

Well thank God that you & Karl are both ok!

Never a dull moment, huh? (wink)

Amanda said...

Ouch. Take care of yourself!

Shea said...

I'm so thankful that everything is okay! Hope your shoulder feels better soon!

jenn said...

Holy crap woman! I'm so glad you are both okay- well as okay as a rotator cuff injury can be...

I hope it heals quickly & no more falls this one- you are cut off! <3

The Captain's Wife said...

Ok let's go over this again Nancy....first you step with your right, then your left, then your right...just keep repeating until you get to your destination, then stop. Don't stop drop and roll...this is not a fire.

So glad you two wound up being ok, sorry about your arm. Any chance it happened at work so you can take some workers comp time :) (my mind is always looking for a way to get out of work!)

Jamie said...

Yikes! I am glad everything turned out okay. On the bright side, if you had to fall at least you got it our of the way. ;-)

tobacco brunette said...

Shit. I'm so glad that you and Karl are okay. So scary. Do you think the sadness you're feeling is somehow related to the scare the fall gave you?

No idea...but maybe you should talk to your OB about the sadness, hon. It sounds really intense. My heart was breaking for you as I read the post.

Carrie Ann said...

Glad you and Karl are ok!