37w4d Appointment

This is going to be a long one - so hold on :-)

The brought me in to do my blood pressure (136/92), urine (1+ protein) and weight (up 3 lbs in 3 days) and then we went on for the NST.

We get into the room and the machine was out of paper...not a huge deal, the nurse changed it and we were ready to go. They hooked me up and the nurse left as the test was running. Well, apparently she didn't hook the paper up right because 4-5 sheets of the paper tried to come through at once. It starts jamming - starts smelling "hot" - and then the paper ripped off from the other segment. (At least the hot smell stopped). I didn't know what to do - if I screamed for them, it would have scared them, so I just let it go. The other (nice) nurse comes in - everything on the tracing that they DID get looks good, so I get put into a room.

The Dr took one look at my information and says, "are you still working?". I tell him yes and yet again, he asks me why...so I reminded him that he said we would talk about it today. He looks at me, goes "oh yeah...you're done." No discussion, no nothing. He asks me about headaches (check), dizziness (check), swelling (double check), spots (check) and bedrest... I tell him about how since my appointment I've done nothing but work and walk around Home Depot for a few minutes while Scott got stuff he needed. He does an internal (OUCH...I swear the man was digging for China!!!) and I'm high, *maybe* a fingertip dialated and only 50% effaced.

He starts writing out orders...Monday morning I'm to go in for more bloodwork to be called into his office (chem profile and uric acid)...I'm also going for an U/S (also to be called into his office) where they will measure estimated fetal weight, amniotic fluid levels and a growth chart. Then I see him at 1:45 for another NST and a follow up appointment. If the results of the test come back gopd, he plans on putting me in for an induction. If she's not ready, he plans on putting me in for "stabilization" of my issues. *sigh* Sounds like either way I'll be stuck in the damned hospital.

Then he tells me that I'm on Level II/III Bedrest. What is that you ask? Good question. I ask him that very question, he looks at me and says "essentially? house arrest." Yay. (<~~~note the sarcasm?) Here are the guidelines I have for the next few days:

*Get 8-10 hours of sleep a night (hahahahahahahahaha...yeah...right)
*Rest most of the day. Lie on your left side as much as possible.
*You may get up to to go to the bathroom and to take a shower. (gee...thanks)
*You may make simple meals for yourself and/or family.
*Do not do any physical sports or exercises, including walking.

Then - he said to do a "happy median" between:

(A) you will need help with housekeeping, laundry and grocery shopping and (B) you will need help at home for all chores and family care.

and

(A) You will not be able to work outside the home and will need to be out on sick leave and (B) you will leave the house only to attend doctor appointments.