37w1d Appointment

Things went relatively well... B/P was better, but I had 1+ protein in my urine... I've had increased swelling, headaches, and dizziness so as of Thursday I'll most likely be out of work....he asked me why I was still working and I told him (A) because you never told me I couldn't and (B) because I was told that PIH patients were allowed (generally) to work up until 38 weeks (by his office's standards)... He then told me that unless things improve drastically by Thursday morning's appointment that I'll be out of work as of Thursday morning. We'll be doing another internal on Thursday and if my cervix is favorable, we'll be discussing an induction. NST went well - Meghan got quite pissed off at the sensors...started kicking the crap out of 'em towards the end of the test and trying to roll out of the way. We did more blood work and he said that the results of the tests will also play a factor in where we go on Thursday. I only had one day of fingerstick results that he was unhappy with (and I admitted to him that I had a Twix (just one of the sticks - not both!) that day because I felt really shakey - so he wasn't too upset. He also put me on Visteril because I am not sleeping at night and the Tylenol/Tylenol PM is no longer working...Thank GOODNESS. A full nights sleep could be in my future!!! (Well, at least until Meghan comes that is!)

3 AM Ramblings...

It's nearly three o'clock in the morning and I can't sleep...so I do what I do best - think...sometimes too much! I'm sitting here looking at the bassinet that now sits next to the bed and am suddenly struck with the realization that in less than a months time, there will be a baby in there...my baby. OK, so it's not a "so sudden" of a realization and it's Scott's baby too, but you know what I mean. There are so many changes that are going to be happening in the next few weeks that it's overwhelming. So much left to be done. As much as I would love for her to be here, I'm scared at the same time...no, more of an uncertainty. A lot of the mommies on "my" March Board are having their babies - I think we're up to 15 or so...and it's not even March yet! 3 of those babies were due after Meghan! And there's another girl having a c-section in the morning...we SHARE DUE DATES! (Well, at least we did!) There's so much that I wanted to have done before she got here - and now I don't know if it will get done... She may not have a nursery finished before she gets here even! Which probably isn't a HUGE deal since we have a place for her to sleep, etc...but still. Talk about feeling unprepared. I'm in the process of cleaning off the shelves above the bassinet...some of them now have Baby CD's, stuffed animals and other various paranphenalia... There's a travel system on the front porch....baby laundry in the living room...a pack and play just waiting for me to to put it together...and swings, bouncers, and boppy's on the front porch... Such a little person that has SO MUCH stuff! And while I couldn't be happier - it's adding to the feeling of being overwhelmed! I'm going to be out of work for weeks...granted, disability will pay for some, sick time for more and then I have the disability insurance - but weeks...I'm not going to know what to do with myself.

OK - enough rambling...I'm going to try and get some sleep...thanks to all who made it this far!! *smile*

36w3d Appointment

I hadn't felt Meghan moving much today so I mentioned that when I got to the Dr...add to that the "gastrointestinal" issues I've been having for the last 4 days or so, the headaches, the dizziness and the Blood Pressure and I was quite nervous about what would happen today. Things went better than I had planned! I'm measuring at 38 weeks...not a huge deal. My B/P was 136/82...part of it could be a touch of dehydration, the other part could be the increased meds - either way - it was down! They did a Non-Stress Test (NST) not only because of the decreased movement, but also because of the PIH and the GD, and it came back wonderfully. The Dr has now stolen my line of "just ducky"...and it's quite funny to hear him say it... :-)

I now start going to 2 appointments a week...Monday's and Thursday's, and we've scheduled them up to the 19th of March. Monday's I will have the NST and see the Dr, Thursday's just the NST (unless something unusual pops up)... Most likely, they state, I will be out of work as of the 38th week...

Oh yeah! And, we finally had a test come back with a negative result! I don't have Group B Strep - so no antibiotics for me! WHOOO HOOO!

36w2d Ultrasound

SHE'S ADORABLE!!! Yes, I'm biased, but she's just so darn cute! They got an incredible picture of her face...such a chubby little face :-D They also got a picture of her foot - big like her Uncle's :-P

Both grandmother's got to be there and see her, so that was nice :-)

They estimated her to be at around 6lbs...

35 Week Appointment

I gained one whole pound...and my B/P is still up too high...he's doubled my B/P medication and pretty much ordered that it's bed or work and that's about it. I can have one "outing" a week and I'm to "take it easy". He got very indepth as to what my job entails and says that if doubling the meds doesn't work, he may take me out. My urine was positive (again *sigh*) for protein and I had some blood in my urine. They did all the cultures today and a cervical check...still up high and closed. She appears to be head down at this point. I told him about the few contractions I've been having and he said not to worry unless I get 6 or more in an hour. He did more bloodwork and I have another ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday. He wants to make sure of her growth and to see how much amniotic fluid she has - honestly, I think he's doing it just to make me happy since even he said she was growing a little ahead and had enough fluid at the January U/S...but I'm not going to complain - and insurance will pay for it, so why not?

They (the office) made sure that we have the carseat so we can take her home and the nurse (we had the nice one today :smile:) said to "keep her in there at least 5 more days"...which confused me... The Dr didn't seem to think there was anything imminent, but the nurse has always been more worried about my B/P than the Dr has...

I think that's about it- to be honest, I don't remember much of the visit - I do remember nearly passing out after getting up from the cervical check and cultures...poor Scott and the look he had on his face. What do they expect is going to happen when you go from laying down to sitting up so quickly?

They also gave us a "36 Week Packet" of information - I swear it weighs 5lbs...LITERALLY. A bunch of magazines and paraphenalia on Post Partum Depression (PPD) and getting ready for baby, etc.

Surgeon's Appointment

The Surgeon's appointment went well...it's not gallstones that I have, it's sludge in the gallbladder. Which really isn't anything. When I asked him if it could be related to the vomiting I had done prior to the test, he said it was a strong possibility. Pretty much it's going to be left alone. If after Meghan comes I'm still having symptoms, then we'll do either a scope or a nuclear scan...

As a side note, when he was doing the exam he said he thought the baby was still feet down... Guess we'll find out next week.

33 Week Appointment

I'm such a hormonal wreck today that it's not even funny. Poor Scott.

I've been feeling really crappy lately...well, I explained all the symptoms I was having and how I've been feeling and I feel like the LPN just pretty much blew it off. All she noted in my chart was "patient states experiencing contraction-like symptoms"...forget the discharge, the high B/P, the changes in vision, heavy cramping, lower back pain and pressure, etc...just leaves it at that. Then she takes my B/P and for some reason it's lower than it's been in MONTHS. 116/76. That's low for me... While I'm glad it's gone down, I can't help but wonder why it is down that low when just last night it was 152/94. The blood sugars were great. She puts me in a room with the Doc, and I explain to him what I've been feeling. He finds more protein my urine and then does a tummy check...Meghan's measuring a little ahead (which we knew) and the heartrate was great. He then tells me that at my next appointment, because of my symptoms, we're going to do the routine cultures and a cervical check. While I'm greatful I get 2 weeks to "prepare" myself for that - I feel like I was blown off... While I'm laying down to do the tummy check, it hurts so bad (a pulling pain) in my lower abdomen that I tear up. Then he pushes on my belly to do the measurements and it hurts even more...I was about off the table it hurt so bad. But he's waiting until 2 weeks from now to do anything? I suppose I should be greatful for the good news I got - but now I'm going to be paranoid for two more weeks until he checks.

The one thing they did tell me about the discharge was "if you have any amount call us, some people have slow leaks"..."but you don't have to worry about calling if it's urine"...well no kidding - but when I asked how to tell the difference she said there really was no better way to tell then coming in and having them swab...silly me, thinking since I'm already there and telling them that I'm having these problems, thought that they would check...nope.

So I left the Dr's office feeling crappier than I felt when I walked in...Scott wanted to go to lunch so off we went. We no sooner pull into the parking lot and I lost it...started bawling. I hate feeling like a Dr has blown me off when something just doesn't feel right...and now, with him pushing on my belly, it hurt even more...I could hardly move, let alone get in and out of the vehicle.

I'm just miserable. And rambling.