Boo to you Preeclampsia

Somewhere down in my gut, I had a feeling I'd be down this road about a month ago when things started to get uncomfortable for me.  Last week, I dreaded every day of work because of how swollen I was getting.  I know swelling is normal in pregnancy, and I hated complaining about it, but it was hard to walk and sleep with all that fluid.  Then BAM, Tuesday morning I thought I noticed some swelling around my eyes.  I figured I just didn't get enough sleep and kind of shrugged it off.  Then, Wednesday morning it seemed a little worse to me.  I thought I only noticed it, until I asked someone else.  Well apparently it was noticeable haha.  Also over the last week and a half, a handful of times I noticed little rainbow stars coming into my vision but really didn't think anything of it.  I decided yesterday morning to call my OB to see if it was necessary to see me and they definitely did.

Now it's time to go off on a little tangent for a moment.  Some of you may recall me asking for prayers throughout my pregnancy for a friend of mine who was also pregnant.  She was due two days after me on February 23.  She had been on bedrest since 24 weeks due to preterm labor.  Tuesday night her water broke (she was two days shy of being 35 weeks).  We always joked that it would be cool if we delivered at the same time so we could keep each other company in the hospital.  Well, when news came that her baby would be delivered sometime yesterday afternoon, I commented to her that it didn't look like we'd get to deliver at the same time after all.

Ok, now back to our regularly scheduled program.  I went to my OB's office and my BP was anywhere between 160s-130s/80s-90s.  They were so concerned they had three different people, including a machine, take my blood pressure.  That started to worry me.  I really didn't want to call in the first place because I was afraid they'd think I was being annoying because of how many issues we've had and how often I feel like I've had to see them.  Then my OB came in the room and gave me this "I really hate to have this conversation with you" look.  He had me go over my symptoms.  Now out of the two OBs in this office, he is more laid back.  When he started talking about the potential plan, I knew this was something serious.  He first said that I wasn't going back to work.  Yeah, yeah, you told me that two weeks ago and then retracted that statement the next day.  He said this was serious and wasn't going to change this time.  He then said I was on strict bedrest.  Yippy, lucky me lol....note sarcasm please.  So, he was done talking and I thought that was that.  We walked out of the room and they led me to another room where they did a non-stress test.  I was supposed to note when the baby moved and they wanted to then see if the heart rate increased appropriately.  After sitting there for quite some time and after downing some grape juice, the baby still hadn't moved much.  Both OBs came in and immediately re-took my BP.  It was 150ish/90ish.  They immediately disconnected me and took me to the US room.  They wanted to check on Hobart since he wasn't really moving around.  They were then reassured by the US findings.  After I gathered my things, they were standing out in the hallway with three other nurses.  I felt like the lonely fish in the large fish tank with everyone staring at me.  The laid back OB said I was going to the hospital.  I was in shock and then of course started to cry.  They wanted them to triage me, run more tests, and see if it was necessary to have a c-section that night.  I don't really remember a lot of what they said to me after that.  I just kept thinking that there was no way I wanted to deliver Hobart that night (and also how ironic it was I was going to the hospital after my dear bump buddy just delivered her little peanut lol).

I ran to Wendy's on my way home because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat after I got to the hospital.  I already had my bag packed from when I thought I'd be induced for low amniotic fluid.  I had to wait for Jeremy to get home so he could pack a bag and then we were off.  It was kind of surreal walking into the hospital not knowing what the heck our life would be like in 24hrs.  Would we have a little Hobart in our arms or still inside of me?????  I was scared but kind of giddy at the same time.  As we were walking to the labor and delivery, we passed my former bump buddy as they were wheeling her to her new post-partum room.  That will always bring a smile to my face :)

I was checked in, hooked up to monitors, asked a trillion questions, gave samples of myself left and right, and then had to lay there.  Each BP reading showed that my body and baby loved me lying down. Seeing how the blood pressures were stable, I had a feeling that my OB would let me go home, provided my liver panel was normal.  After a couple hours, we found out that the liver panel was normal and my OB was comfortable sending me home on strict bedrest.  Considering our rooms...yes I said ROOMS are not finished being remodeled, and we are sleeping in the dining room, we were thrilled that I could go home and that Hobart could hold on a little longer.

Now it's just a waiting game.  If my symptoms do not get worse (which preeclampsia cannot get better, you can only hold things at bay), then the OBs said I would not go past 37wks (which is less than two weeks away).  I could then potentially be induced and have a normal delivery.  If my symptoms do get worse, I will most definitely be rushed to the hospital to have a c-section.  So....I'm off to wait and pray!  Thanks to those of you who have kept us in your prayers.  We really appreciate it!

Scratch That!

First off, thank you everyone for your kind words, prayers, and offers of help.  Today we went for our level 2 US and consult.  I could tell when the images were first coming up that the fluid looked like a larger amount.  I wondered if I was just wanting to imagine that or if it was really the case.  Well, there was more fluid.  Today I measured about 9-10 instead of the measly 6.7 on Monday.  The perinatologist explained that it's like putting a baseball in a bag of water, moving it around and trying to find exactly how much fluid is in there.  Basically, that the number can fluctuate based on the US, the US tech, the position of the baby, how much the baby had drank and produced, etc.  The perinatologist said that they do not recommend me being followed closely like they had originally anticipated and that I can proceed on with my normal life.  That's not to say that they won't recheck me, but I basically am not classified as having low amniotic fluid at this point.  Thank you God!

Just as with the other US, Hobart measured appropriately and is in the 49th percentile.  They estimated the weight as 4lb 13oz.  Heartbeat was 148.  Because it was a level 2 US, they had to document the gender.  Despite Jer's disapproval we looked away haha.

Words cannot describe the happiness but disbelief we were in.  I had rushed around last night and this morning cleaning baby items, the house, laundry, loose ends, all in preparation for being put on bed rest.  I had to wrap my mind around the fact that I might not be able to take off as much time as I would have liked for maternity leave because I'd be tapping into that time being put on bed rest.  While I was not looking forward to being off work/bed rest, I have to admit I was thrilled to not have to work my last thirds shift weekend hahaha.

Hobart, you sure have been one roller coaster of a pregnancy!!

Growth Check Update

Monday I went in for a growth check US on Hobart.  I haven't updated since then because a lot things have been up in the air and there was no need to induce unnecessary panic.  The good news is that Hobart's organs look great, he's measuring on track except for his abdomen (which is behind a week...they get concerned when they are behind two weeks), he's 50th percentile, approx 4.5lbs, tone/movement looks good.  The placenta and cord look good too.  The not so good news is my amniotic fluid level.  It's only at a 6.7.  They get concerned when it's below an 8.  Back at 20 weeks, it was a low normal at 9.7.  So what that signed me up for is a level two US and consult with a perinatologist today at 1:20.  My OB wants a 2nd opinion on how we should proceed.  On Monday, he didn't "think" it was emergent enough to send me to the hospital to deliver Hobart right then and there.  I've already been told not to expect going back to work.  Rest is apparently proven to help increase amniotic fluid levels.  The 2nd opinion is for the following options:  1)be admitted to the hospital on strict bedrest, 24hr monitoring, being pumped full of IV fluids to hopefully raise my amniotic fluid levels  2)bedrest at home with OB appts and US 2-3 times per week  or 3)deliver Hobart now.  We obviously do not want the last option just yet, but I've already been told that if my levels drop below 5 (this is by my OB) that they will deliver Hobart.  Now I guess the perinatologist could have a different opinion that's more aggressive.  Who knows, we shall see today.  Prayers would be appreciated.  I will update later.