My Pregnancy Journal - Episode II

They took Jen off the magnesium drip yesterday morning. The magnesium is a treatment to lower the blood pressure, it's actually magnesium sulfate. In theory she might be discharged today, and both she and the baby could come home. We won't know until later. They put her on some blood pressure pills yesterday, and while the numbers aren't any worse than they were on the magnesium sulfate, I don't think they are much better either. However, when Bill was born, it wasn't until Jen came home that her blood pressure stabilized at a level that the doctors were happy with. So, I'm hopeful that they let her come home and put her on rest, so we can monitor her blood pressure and watch it drop to the right level :)

Jen will probably fill in some details in a later post. She's doing ok, still at the hospital - they are monitoring her blood pressure. Grace is also doing fine, she was born Monday (5/16) at 8:34AM. She weighed 6lbs., 3 oz at that time and was 19.5" long.

You can see some pictures on her gallery page! If you are reading this, know us, and didn't get the e-mail I sent, I apologize. Mail me and I'll send you the details for the hospital.

Jen woke me up about 3:15AM and we were in the delivery room a little after 4. She said she woke up between 2AM and 3AM and her water had broken, but it took her a little while to be sure.

Appointment was at 11 am today. We put my bag in the back (just in case) of the Saturn, and Jay drove us over.

BP: 112/76
Weight: +3.5
Effaced: 80%
Dilation: 3 cm (still!)
Swelling: more noticeable

Well, my hopes of being induced today were dashed by that lovely BP figure. On the good side, she's proud of the numbers, although the weight gain is a bit of a concern. We told her how I had indulged in my birthday dinner of hamburgers, tater tots, and cake. She commented that she bet dinner was probaly not low sodium, and we laughed.

When I asked about when I might be delivering, she said "well, I'm on call Friday, Saturday and Sunday," and "I'll be surprised if you make it through the weekend." She also commented that she felt comfortable telling us to come to the hospital this weekend if I had contractions that lasted an hour - regardless of regularity and they would track her down, because "I'll be expecting you." I'm sure she said this to sooth my depressed look, but it was nice to hear. Jay and I both agree that I probably WON'T go this weekend. Sweetpea seems too comfortable in her little bubble to come out and share her face with us.

Weight: +1 lb
BP: 128/74
Fundus: 36.5 weeks
Urine: no protein
Swelling: normal

When asked how I was doing this morning, I said I was having a lot of pain from my tooth.

For those of you who don't know, I had a lot of teeth work done this spring, because we had the time/money/insurance to start the repair process. My bottom left 2nd molar had had a hole next to the filling for about 4 years, so it was the first tooth they treated (with a full crown). It hurt when they set the crown, but I chalked that up to the gum material they had to scrape away to make it fit. Next appointment, they placed a partial crown on the neighboring tooth, and I chalked up the pain to the teeth being a bit squished together. By the third appointment, I complained, and they said "oops, maybe that should have been a root canal before it was crowned." So, they recommended me to a specialist, but I know they have to knock me out with strong drugs, so I put off the appointment because the pain was only there when I chewed on my left side. The pain is consistent now, regardless of eating on either side.

Can't sleep. Woke up with my mind racing, and didn't want to wake Jay so I came to the den to try and settle my thoughts. This might be nesting - I'm not sure. I need to send Jay to the store today for some soft green thread, and I want to get Sweetpea's two rosebud blankets sewn today. I want to press the fabric, turn under the hems, and stitch with a pretty petal stitch that is on my sewing machine.

I was watching my feet swell last night, and all I can think of is "please, induce me Monday - let's get this over with." Monday, my appointment is at 10 am. The people at the embroidery shop where we get our summer musical polos made are both betting on Mother's Day because it is a full moon. Kenn and Brandy have both said the 11th, because it's my birthday. Jay is hoping to wait until Friday the 13th (ACK!), because then he is "free" to take up to 9 days consecutively off from work. My dad is hopeful for the same, so Mom doesn't have to pay to fly Noel with her (he'll be away on business from Sunday to Friday in LaGrange, IN). I guess it is time to "place your bets!"

Appointment time: 9:00 AM
Weight: -.5 lbs
BP: 170/60 and 140/80
Fundus: 37 weeks
Dilation: 2.5 cm
Effacement: 80%

They sent me next door to the hospital for observations again this morning, due to the higher than normal blood pressure. Here are the notes from that part of the morning:
Checked in: 9:57 AM
BP: 135/70 --> 10:03 AM
116/66 --> 10:18 AM
112/58 --> 10:30 AM
107/56 --> 10:45 AM
122/65 --> 11:00 AM
134/70 --> 11:15 AM
Nurse Laurie found trace amounts of protein in my urine, but they found nothing at the OBGYN visit. She said it wasn't even +1 and therefore was not a reason for concern. Lab results for abnormalities in liver enzymes and blood platelettes were negative.

Went in for my first "every 4 days" appointment today. They are going to see me every Monday and Thursday until I deliver, in theory.
BP: 124/82 (they said this is good)
Weight: +2.5 lbs (ACK! from me - not even a blink from them)
Effaced: 80%
Dilation: 2 cm
Mucus Plug: they believe is non-existant at this point

No other news except that at this point they can't predict when delivery will be. She said "if we have to induce, it won't take long," and laughed. Things are progressing nicely. The fundus reading was at 36.5 weeks, and all is healthy.

Keep your fingers crossed - looks

Ok - we started with a 9:30 appointment with Dr. Rodriguez.
Weight: +6 pounds
BP: 138/80
Dilation: 1 cm
Effaced: 80%

So ... no wonder I feel saddlesore. Miss Sweetpea is sitting on my pelvic bone already!!! But, the BP number didn't come down with a second test, so Dr. R said she wanted to send me over to the Women's Center for some observations and blood tests. Okieday we said, and Jay escorted me over to the maternity ward.

10:45 AM - I checked in to the Women's Center and they hooked up a fetal heartrate monitor, a BP cuff, and made me put on a pretty hospital gown.
10:55 AM - BP: 137/57; drew two vials of blood to test liver enzymes and platelette count - both of which are internal indications of pre-eclampsia; also took a urine sample.

Appointment date: Thursday, April 14

BP: 110/80 (high number is really good, low number was a bit higher than expected, but safe)
Weight gain: +5 lbs (for a total of 27.5 so far)
No protein found in urine
Swelling: very minor
Fundus reading: right on track for 34 weeks

Yes, that means all thumbs up from the doctor. She sees no signs of preeclampsia, and when we spoke about me feeling fatigued, she said that it was very normal for the last part of the pregnancy, and I should take it easy more.

Of course, I'm sure it wasn't reassuring to her that I was lying on my side on the "bed" when she came in. I was feeling pretty crummy yesterday (let's leave it at digestive distress), and it hurt to sit up, stand, or do much of anything ALL DAY. She told me to increase my fluid intake, and to drink Powerade cut 1/2 and 1/2 with water to help restore my electrolyte balance. I slept through the night last night except for a few Bill wakenings, and feel a bit better this morning. I actually WANTED to eat something.

Fundus reading: 32 weeks
Blood Pressure: 140/70 (10 minutes later -> 116/66)
Weight Gain: 3 lbs. (total for pregnancy 22.5 lbs.)

All is well. The doctor had laryngitis (poor thing) but she says I'm progressing nicely. No complications at this time, and swelling is very minimal (she presses on the front part of my lower leg, and it leaves a slight indentation). I go back on April 14 for 33/34 week appointment. Then around the last week of April I will go in for a 36 week appointment and it will be every week thereafter until I deliver. Jay and I talked, and have decided he will try to accompany me to those appointments "just in case." Appointments are usually Thursday mornings, and I will try to update this webjournal accordingly as each one passes.