Friday's OB appointment... lots of news

Well on Friday, my blood pressure was 156/84... and there was protein in my urine, so I was sent directly to the hospital for preeclampsia testing. The doctor told me that, depending on the test results, they might be inducing me that afternoon!

I did pretty well at the hospital testing... my blood pressure was down to 116/70 as soon as I got there! But there's still that whole protein thing... they did blood tests too, though I'm not sure what those results were. So I got sent home and put on bedrest. I also got to do a 24 hour urine test which I found rather amusing. See, you collect it all in one big jug that looks like an orange juice jug and then you have to keep it on ice. And somehow the whole idea of a big oj jug full of pee over ice just strikes me as funny.

Anyway, at the end of the 24 hours, I had to take it back to the hospital and do another round of testing - more blood tests, more monitoring, and more blood pressure tests. The blood pressure wasn't as good as the day before, but it wasn't so terrifyingly high either.

However, the doctor decided to induce me anyway.

So I'm going in on Monday for an induction.

Oh my god, the baby is going to be here REALLY REALLY SOON. When they first started talking about induction I was just freaked out and scared. And disappointed that I won't be able to do it naturally. But now I'm getting more and more excited.

The nurse did warn me though that since my cervix isn't soft, it may take a few days to induce labor. What? It can take that long? Good lord. I had no idea.

So the idea of the baby coming made me pretty antsy, and if I could I'd be running around doing all sorts of last minute things, but of course I'm on bedrest now and can't do anything, which is pretty much driving me insane. But the boys have been really good about getting things done for me - they spent the morning cleaning the living room and doing laundry, which made me feel better to know these things were done.

Ultrasound and a quick OB visit

So I had my ultrasound today... everything looks good! Baby is measuring a whopping 7lb13oz according to the radiologist's estimate, though this could be high by 10%. (My OB thinks it's closer to 7lbs right now). Anyway, the radiologist's estimate puts baby in the 90th percentile for weight - or measuring about 2 weeks ahead. (Which I'm guessing is how some people get revised due dates, especially if they got pg on their own, but since we all know exactly when I got pg, it's just a darn big baby.)

Anyway, the baby is still in a good position, head down and everything. S/he was busy sucking on his/her hand and wiggling it's little tush around. We could see the baby practicing it's breathing and the little heart was thumping away (heart rate was 160). Fluid levels and placenta looked good.

At the OB's office, I found that my blood pressure has dropped back to the normal range, so things are looking good there. Haven't gained any weight since Friday. So that was my OB visit for the week. I'm not going back until next Friday - the 25th of May - unless anything changes or feels 'weird'. (which means I get to skip an internal exam since I didn't get one today - woohoo! I didn't mention it after my last appointment, but the internal really sucked. Stay the heck away from my cervix! And for all that I wasn't dialated or effaced or anything.)

I really really need to start calling some pediatricians!

Anniversary and Last Day in the Office

Today is my 4th wedding anniversary. And it was my last day in the office.

I did go in to the office this morning, but I'm at home now. My boss and my coworker took me out to lunch and then kicked me out - carried my stuff to the car and everything (um guys, it's just a laptop, really, I can carry it myself… carried it home earlier this week didn't I?) My office was all packed up so I didn't argue with them (had to literally pack it up as we are moving offices sometime in July).

So I've been home since 2:30, but still working (at least a little). Sitting on the couch with my feet up.

The baby seems to like it - s/he's very squirmy this afternoon. Not kicking so much as rolling around it feels like. Had some hiccups earlier too.

I go to the doctor tomorrow at 10.

We aren't doing anything for our anniversary today, but plan to go the the M.elting Pot tomorrow for dinner - I've never been, but it sounds cool. It's a fondue restaurant.

Reducing my work schedule

I will start working from home next week unless things are looking better regarding my blood pressure and proteins when I go for my appointment on Friday. (Because I actually prefer working in the office to working at home - weird, I know).

Anyway, I spoke to my boss today and he's fine with just about anything I arrange, which makes things easy.
My original plan, previously discussed with my boss before this last OB visit, was to start working from home on the 21st. So I'm only moving it up a week.

I'm also going to take all Fridays off, so my hours will be reduced. (I currently have every-other Friday off based on the company work schedule.)

I'll also pass off the most irritating aspect of my job to a coworker who will be in the office, and pass off the most tedious part of my job to the lady who will be covering most of my job while I'm on leave.

I do feel some added pressure to tie up loose ends and make sure everything's covered at work, but I think we're in pretty good shape. I only have one task left that would be next to impossible for someone else to do, and that's putting together some user statistics. Not exactly high stress stuff. And frankly, not the end of the world if it didn't get done until I came back. Other than that, my role these next few weeks is to answer questions from the people who are covering my job. Hmmm… when I think of it that way, it's a good thing I'll be reducing my hours. I don't think I could fill an entire work week with just that.

I had my OB appointment on Friday.

I gained 4 lbs in the last 2 weeks, bringing my total up to 13 lbs. So that's one less worry.

But my blood pressure was up. And I had protein in my urine. And my fingers and toes have been swelling...

which are all signs of preeclampsia.

Not to say that I have preeclampisa - but it's something "we're keeping an eye on", according to the doctor. (well, at least that's what the doctor said, but according to Dr. Google high blood pressure + protein = preeclampsia)

Not sure what preeclampsia is? "Preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading global cause of maternal and infant illness and death."

And the best way (really the only way) to end preeclampsia? Have the baby.

The good news is that the later you develop preeclampsia, the less severe it tends to be. If you get it earlier, the baby tends to be small. (My baby is still measuring large, so yeah! Go baby go!)

I didn't realize how serious the increase in my blood pressure was until the doctor said, "... I'm not saying you can't go to work..." - ACK! What? Anyway, the gist of it is that I'm supposed to go to work and that's about it. No shopping, no running errands, put my feet up and rest as much as possible. "Don't do anything you don't absolutely have to do."

I need to make an appointment for an ultrasound this week if they can squeeze me in. I go back to the doctor on Friday - it's time for weekly appointments.

quick update

A quick update since I've been chastized for not updating my blog (gee thanks dad.)

We've been busy taking classes - the last two Sunday's we've been taking "Prepared Childbirth" at the hospital. And this past Saturday we took a breastfeeding class as well (yes, R went too, all the guys did, they need to know what's supposed to be going on too).

After the first childbirth class, I was quite upset because the teacher told us that it is hospital policy that every woman have an en.ema when admitted. I'd heard that this was pretty outdated and that it just wasn't done any more, but after hearing this I started doing more research. Not only could I not find many modern birth stories where an en.ema had been administered, I found out that the World Health Organization has stated that this should NOT be a routine procedure since 1985. Yes, for THE LAST 27 YEARS. And there are still people out there doing it routinely. Quite prepared to argue and be a pest in class over this little issue, I wasn't sure if I was relieved or not to find that we had a different teacher for the second half of class. When she mentioned in passing that routine shaving, en.emas, and epidurals were all pretty much a thing of the past, I told her what the last teacher had said. She was surprised to hear it. She said it was not hospital policy, though perhaps it was part of the standing orders of the doctor for whom the first teacher worked. And to ask my doctor what her standing orders are. Don't worry, I will. I've got enough to worry about trying to squeeze out a baby without thinking about someone messing with my behind. (The second teacher also pointed out that most women will end up making a little mess on the table even if they've had an en.ema, said not to worry about it, the nurse will have it cleaned up in a jiffy.)

Anyway, after our Saturday class, we went to A Woman's  Work, which is a specialty shop in town that sells everything to do with nursing, as well as slings and some of the cutest clothes I've ever seen (I didn't look at price tags on the clothes though, I'm sure they were outrageous). But the reason we went was to get me a nursing bra.

It's recommended to have one ready to go before the baby comes, but not to stock up on them because you can't be sure of the sizing until the milk comes in. And since I have an outrageously huge "nursing facility" built onto the front of my body, I was a little worried about being able to find something in my size.  (Because you see, even those bras you see at Walmart that look SO HUGE (you know the ones I mean, the ones where you think, dear god, who wears those things?!) Even those are many sizes too small for my pre-pg size, let alone my new and "improved" size) Even shopping online I didn't seem many options in my size, so that made me really worried. BUT the good news is that the specialty store did have a wide range of bizarre sizes, including mine (and even some that were too big - what a great feeling!) So I bought one and there's one less thing to worry about getting done before the baby comes.

Got the car seat installed too. It freaks me out to see it back there every time I get in the car.