Well, it's 1:30 on Tuesday March 8th, and I'm home resting per midwives' orders.
I knew I didn't feel the best when I woke up this morning. Just kinda icky. I took Jonathan to work and skipped an early meeting to give myself some time to take a long shower and relax a little (read: do laundry) before my non-stress test.
When I got to the birth center and weighed myself, I found that I'd gained 4 lb. since Thursday. I knew that wasn't good because I knew it's a sign of preeclampsia - rapid weight gain = fluid retention = all systems are not quite up to speed. I sat down for the blood pressure check and it was 150/108. Ouch! That could explain the general icky feeling I've had. I also had a mild headache - another sign of preeclampsia.
They went ahead with the non-stress test and we were all happy to see that Baby B is still as calm and healthy as can be in there. And I'm having small but regular contractions every 3 minutes or so. They just feel like a tightening, nothing awful though.
One of my favorite midwives, Allison, came in and we discussed what's happening next for me. First was the order to go home and rest. Next, take a couple Tylenol and report back if the headache persists (it's gotten a bit better as of right now). Then, they took some blood to make sure things are okay still. Finally, the fun part - I collect my pee for 24 hours so they can measure it for protein tomorrow! If protein is high in urine, that means that the kidneys are too stressed with the high blood pressure and they're not fully doing their job.
So we go back in tomorrow at 2:30, with our bags packed and in the car, and wait for an hour or so while they check for protein and get my blood pressure and monitor other symptoms again. If they're concerned, we'll head straight from the Birth Center to UNC for induction of labor. If things look okay and they want to give us more time, we'll head back home to rest and wait.
We talked about what induction at UNC would mean and Allison said it depends on where I am right now. I said I wasn't sure, as far as dilation, so she decided to check. Good news - I'm at 3-4 cm dilated! This doesn't necessarily mean that spontaneous labor is imminent, but combined with what we saw on the non-stress test it means that my body looks like it will be amenable to induction if that's what we need to do.
Jonathan left work at lunch to help with all of the remaining to-dos... He's out filling up the car and stopping by the post office (to mail the thank-you cards for our Christmas showers that have been written and addressed for weeks and weeks now...) right now. He's going to finish packing the bag, tidying the house, doing laundry... He's just amazing.
I'll keep you updated here and on facebook and twitter I'm sure!
I knew I didn't feel the best when I woke up this morning. Just kinda icky. I took Jonathan to work and skipped an early meeting to give myself some time to take a long shower and relax a little (read: do laundry) before my non-stress test.
When I got to the birth center and weighed myself, I found that I'd gained 4 lb. since Thursday. I knew that wasn't good because I knew it's a sign of preeclampsia - rapid weight gain = fluid retention = all systems are not quite up to speed. I sat down for the blood pressure check and it was 150/108. Ouch! That could explain the general icky feeling I've had. I also had a mild headache - another sign of preeclampsia.
They went ahead with the non-stress test and we were all happy to see that Baby B is still as calm and healthy as can be in there. And I'm having small but regular contractions every 3 minutes or so. They just feel like a tightening, nothing awful though.
One of my favorite midwives, Allison, came in and we discussed what's happening next for me. First was the order to go home and rest. Next, take a couple Tylenol and report back if the headache persists (it's gotten a bit better as of right now). Then, they took some blood to make sure things are okay still. Finally, the fun part - I collect my pee for 24 hours so they can measure it for protein tomorrow! If protein is high in urine, that means that the kidneys are too stressed with the high blood pressure and they're not fully doing their job.
So we go back in tomorrow at 2:30, with our bags packed and in the car, and wait for an hour or so while they check for protein and get my blood pressure and monitor other symptoms again. If they're concerned, we'll head straight from the Birth Center to UNC for induction of labor. If things look okay and they want to give us more time, we'll head back home to rest and wait.
We talked about what induction at UNC would mean and Allison said it depends on where I am right now. I said I wasn't sure, as far as dilation, so she decided to check. Good news - I'm at 3-4 cm dilated! This doesn't necessarily mean that spontaneous labor is imminent, but combined with what we saw on the non-stress test it means that my body looks like it will be amenable to induction if that's what we need to do.
Jonathan left work at lunch to help with all of the remaining to-dos... He's out filling up the car and stopping by the post office (to mail the thank-you cards for our Christmas showers that have been written and addressed for weeks and weeks now...) right now. He's going to finish packing the bag, tidying the house, doing laundry... He's just amazing.
I'll keep you updated here and on facebook and twitter I'm sure!
Comments
I, like Terry, have thought about almost nothing but you all - ALL day! I'm so excited for all of you! For all of US!
XOXO
btw i think you've got pregnant brain. its monday the 8th that you were home, right? I got all freaked out by the time change and thought that maybe now tuesday happened in the states before china...:) love you girlie!!