Day 3 Update 1

Slept pretty good although had bad cramping. Thank God for the Ambien though. I was knocked out until 3am and then up a few times until finally waking up for good around 7:30am. When they checked me at 7:30 they discovered that I am 1cm but the baby is still REALLY high. So they decided to put in another gel in to further soften my cervix. Since I've had that gel I'm cramping/contracting all over the place. They're not regular but they're very uncomfortable and although I know they're nothing next to real labor contractions -- they're hurty enough, thank you.

They'll check me soon (probably around 11:30am or noon) and then do the Pitocin. If the baby is still super high they might decide to scratch the induction and just do a C-Section. If I have a C-section it will be later tonight because they have 5 already scheduled today. Basically, it's all up in the air.

I'm fine with whatever. I'm on IV and just making it through.

More later -- if I can stand it!

Day 2 Update 3

So much has happend so fast in the last 2 days my head is spinning!

So, my urine came back with a mild amount of protein in it (bad) but the baby came back from the sonogram a good size. So -- they've decided that instead of sending me home to just get sicker (higher BPs, more protein, higher levels of all the other labs) and risk a devastating health issue for me and the baby -- that they'd rather just deliver the baby now.

FINE BY ME!

They've been gracious enough to let me try to delivery vaginally. The cards are stacked against me though because A) my cervix didn't naturally dilate B) my baby is "sky high" in the birth canal C) I'm being induced. So all the stars will have to be aligned tomorrow for me to have a successful vaginal birth.

Worst case -- C-Section. At this point I don't care if they have to delivery by C-Section as long as it's medically necessary. I am happy that the doctors and nurses are letting me try to deliver vaginally. I feel somewhat bad that I'm forcing the baby out of it's warm womb so early ...(as I type this I'm hearing a lady next door deliver her baby and I'm getting more excited..) but at the same time I agree it doesn't make much sense to risk the complications of Preeclampsia.

Tomorrow morning I start with the pitocin. Then the hard stuff starts! I wonder how long it will take? Eons?

(Ok...now the lady screaming and crying in the next room is starting to freak me out.......maybe this baby can stay in there for a few more weeks???)

Day 2 Update 2

Just had sonogram!!! So fun! They said baby is 7lbs and 11oz! And that my cervix is still intact and my mucous plug is still in there. So...I just need to wait!

Day 2 Update

My labs from today came back "OK". Still high in some areas but not terrible enough to do an emergency c-section or induce. I have 2 hurdles to get through today:

#1 - 24 hour urinalysis
#2 - Sonogram (weight check and fluid check)

If I fail one of the two hurdles -- they'll deliver the baby today via c-section. If I pass the two hurdles they'll send me home on bed rest. I will then have to go to the OBGYN on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for BP checks and cervical checks. As the doctor says, there "is no cure for this condition except delivery" so they want this baby out if my symptoms don't subside.

If I was dilated at all they'd just induce me now but I'm not. My cervix is still slammed shut so the baby is just not ready. I'm fine with a c-section as long as it's medically necessary. If not, and my symptoms are manageable by bed rest, I'd rather wait to see if I can deliver vaginally.


On the upside: My ankles look ROCKIN after all this laying around!

I'm feeling good. The baby has looked really good on all the fetal monitors.

Praise the Lord for Wireless Internet at Alexandria Hospital!

Hospital Evening 1

I just spent my first night in the hospital since I was born. I had a little bit of a hard time getting to sleep, which for me is surprising. Normally I can sleep anywhere. I knew once I got to sleep I would be fine. I tried reading which usually works like a champ but I guess my brains were working too hard. So I eventually just turned off everything and tried a relaxation breathing technique that they taught us in our L&D prep class and it worked.

Braxton Hicks Contractions were pretty annoying last night. I would say the worst they've been thus far. It seems to me that they've been stronger and more frequent since I got to the hospital but I have a sneakin suspicion that I'm just noticing them more because I'm not up and about. They told me they'd give me something to help me sleep if the contractions got too distracting -- but I'm still working on ignoring them. I guess my thought process is "if you're not going to do anything for ME I'm not going to aknowledge you". Stubborn streak? Me? Nooo..........

It's 6:35am and they just took my blood to the lab. SO CURIOUS to see how my results come back. Last night before I fell asleep, after hours of relaxing in bed, my blood pressure was higher than ever before. I can't remember the bottom number but the top number was 145.....doesn't make sense to me...but they reminded me that is why I'm here....

More in a bit! Thankfully I have this blog to check in to. It helps pass the time so I'll probably update all day.

38 Weeks

Stuff below from www.babycenter.com

My comments in green!


How your baby's growing:



Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek Leek soup is one of my favorite soups ever!). She has a firm grasp That s/he clings to my bladder with?, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Then I think it's time! But maybe that's just me?

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. Brown is my guess but I would love for green! If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

How your life's changing:

For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. You can say that again! Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery Pretty much done! Daddy has a few more things to do..or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born changed my sheets, finished up laundry, now just need to clean the house -- but when is that not the case?. Take naps check!, catch up on your reading check!, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can Hospitals are great for this! hahah!.

Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks Did you say "last 20 weeks?" because that's how long it's been since I've seen my true ankles, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Odd, I have none of these symptoms but yet I'm in the hospital for possible signs of preeclampsia. Hmmm....

DRAMA

I had my 38 week appointment today at 12:45 and all I wanted was a little dilation! Turns out they didn't even "check" me! Instead they put me in the slammer over night for complications possibly due to highish blood pressure. =/

My blood pressure was 135/84 and apparently that's higher than my normal BP. It is the same highish BP that it was last week. I guess they don't "play" when it comes to highish BP in pregnancy.

I will go in to more details tomorrow but for now you should know that I'm at the hospital being closely monitored by the lovely staff at Alexandria Labor & Delivery. They are keeping me until at least 2pm tomorrow. If my levels are still high they'll induce me.

They are doing something called a "24 Hour Urine" which means I pee in a milk jug for 24 hours and then they take the whole container to the lab. Then they'll also do the normal 5 tubes of blood in the morning. Labs labs labs.

I'm happy to be here safe with the nurses at Alexandria L&D. It's just like being at the Holiday Inn but there's no pool...and no bar either.

More in the morning!