What now?

Kristina started having some mild, regular contractions at about 1:30 this morning. By 3:30 AM, the contractions were increasing in strength and frequency, down to about every 10 or 12 minutes. We rolled out of bed, showered, had some breakfast, and started gathering up our bags. All the while, contractions were getting closer together, something like 7 minutes apart.

We trekked in to Bentonville's Northwest Medical Center and checked in. They put her on a monitor for 30 or 40 minutes, and talked to her obstetrician, checked to see if/how much she was dilated (finger-tip, the nurse said). Then they came in and told us to go home. The nurse gave Kristina a Vicodin and an Ambien -- on an empty stomach, which would prove significant later -- to "help her rest". Her contractions were still occurring at about 5 minute intervals.

Kristina's friend April offered to let us hang out at her house for the day, so we could be closer to the hospital in case something else developed. Kristina remembers little of the drive from the hospital, and when we got to April's house, she started vomiting. She threw up what little was in her stomach (a bit of a Sonic Sunshine Smoothie), and kept dry-heaving off and on for another hour or two.

She's been sleeping in between contractions ever since. We took a short walk a little while ago; she's crashed out again now. We're not really sure what to do now. She's supposed to have a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, but if contractions don't let up... Who knows? The contractions don't really fit what I know of the profile of "false labor" or Braxton-Hicks contractions, but I'm not a medical professional. We're talking about heading back home this afternoon, but... ?