I have been blessed with many medical issues, most of which have caused issues with pregnancy, so why would my blood pressure be any different?
Unicornuate Uterus, Clotting Disorder, PCOS, Varicose Veins (thank goodness only in pregnancy) and Hypertension.
I thought that with exercise and weight loss my hypertension would get better, and it did. I was able to cut my dose in half. With weight gain (around 20lbs now :-( boo!) and pretty much nonexistent exercise...my blood pressure is creeping up. 32 weeks of pure bliss being under 120/80 or right around there (most likely between 100-110/66-78). Then suddenly at my last appointment my BP was 135/93. To my defense, they didn't retake it to check later, the nurse did it over my thin jacket and long sleeve shirt, and I had been stressed about a test for microbiology.
The doctor told me if I was 36 weeks they would be moving me over to labor and delivery to take the baby. At first I thought he meant C-Section and everything, then he mentioned how baby is head down and that means we will most likely avoid C-Section as long as my body cooperates (thank goodness!). He said the goal right now, instead of 39 weeks is 36 weeks unless this one blood pressure is a random event. He was concerned with possible sign of pre-eclampsia. Which if you didn't know is only cured by delivery. I have had no huge complaints this pregnancy and would love to stay pregnant for at least 5 more weeks to allow our son to be to term, and know that he will be avoiding the NICU.
He went on to say if my next appointment I was still running 130s/90s that they would be upping my appointments from not ONCE a week but TWICE. Two trips to Lansing, plus two trips to Battle Creek, on top of working in Hastings? Um...yikes. Can you say holy business (and gas money! at least the prices are down some...). And if my blood pressure goes up to 140s on top...then I would be delivering the baby that day. Um...holy guacamole!
Suddenly I was forced to admit that I did not have 7-8 weeks to meet the baby, but instead have most likely 4 at tops. Can you say emotional roller coaster? Our house is a unorganized mess, the nursery isn't put together, and our hospital bags are not packed. I was a huge B-word, I will admit it. James couldn't do anything right, I was told to stay off my feet and try to relax (when I even said I would be praying about it, the doctor's response was, "well you can do that laying down, God will understand."), but there was (ok is...lets face it) SO much to do! And James has been sick the past week, thankfully he is starting to feel better even though his cough sounds disgusting still.
So I bought an automatic blood pressure cuff, and have been tracking like crazy. Fingers puffy? Take blood pressure and drink a huge glass of water (we are talking 3-4 servings in one sitting, at least 4 times a day...I am a peeing machine). Headache? Take blood pressure (and maybe a nap ;-) wishful thinking some days with my lovely acid reflux). Feeling "off"? take blood pressure. Been busy at work? Take blood pressure.
In all of this, I have had 2 readings where my blood pressure was elevated. Both were after busy moments at work, once was 130/80, and another 135/85. The rest of the time I have averaged 118/76, with one time where I felt off it was 106/62. Yes, low. How is that for crazy blood pressure?
So all I can do is pray, and believe God is going to allow me and this baby to safely go past the expected 36 weeks that the doctor gave me. Which would be November 19th in case you are wondering. I am still shooting for a December birth, but it is ultimately in God's hands. I just want our son to be healthy and avoid a stay in the NICU.
Before meeting with the doctor, the ultrasound went well, the amniotic fluid level was right where it needed to be, and while it took some persuasion to get him to move for the nice lady (LOTS of pushing on tummy and me telling him to move! lol) they eventually saw the movements they needed to and she even saw him doing practice breaths. He definitely takes after his dad on not wanting people to take pictures of him, he was hiding his face again, but did show us his not-so-tiny feet (one of which you could count five toes for sure!) and his perfect little hand with all five fingers (ok maybe also not-so-tiny...I may have a baby giant growing in my belly, we shall have to wait and see when he gets here!).
Then came the NST, if you haven't had to do a Non-Stress Test (NST) they are something else! You get hooked up to two belts, one that picks up on any potential contractions, and another that monitors the baby's heart rate. Let me tell you, little mister did not enjoy having something trying to track him. He kept moving away, or kicking the monitors. He was so much more active during this part than during the ultrasound. It took awhile to see the accelerations that they wanted to, but didn't have to worry about meeting the count kick requirements. It was amazing listening to his heartbeat for that length of time. But his kicks were SO much louder than his heartbeat and made me jump!
So...today's task? Finish packing our hospital bags. Yes, bags, I am an over packer. We have one with snacks, the ipod/ipod dock, and movies for James in case we end up being at the hospital for awhile. And another with our clothes and toiletries, and third for baby's things. I am an over-packer. This will be no different, but I promise, if you need something...it will most likely be in one of our bags! :-)
I need to get motivated though, I have to go to my micro lab. And I would love to finish packing the bags and have my list of last minute things I need to get to put in them.
But a nap sounds SO tempting!!
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Let the Weekly Appointments Begin!
Life has been hectic lately. Between work, baby showers, trying to get the nursery put together, and life in general...Oiy! This pregnant woman gets TIRED! And warm...holy toots I swear I am an oven! Even more so now that our pellet stove is hooked up through the furnace. Have a feeling we will have no problem staying warm this winter! Which is a good thing with a baby on the way!
James is in busy season at work, got to love the farming world...harvest = many more hours at work and less at home. I will be excited for him once harvest is over and he is finally on days. He is also currently fighting a cold, so prayers that it passes quickly without infecting me would be wonderful this girl doesn't need to get sick, and to prevent i I have diligently been drinking OJ with Emergen-c and taking all of my vitamins.
Two weeks ago I had quite a scare, I really thought Matthew was going to decide to come early. My Tuesdays and Thursdays are REALLY long days due to work and school, meaning that I am usually up for 24 hours straight with up to one to two 1-2 hour naps. It was causing me to have some contractions. Mixed with the fact that he decided to explore the shadow land of my uterus, also termed.. the dark side. It causes so much pressure and cramping when he tries to stretch out on that side. Enough that I prayed, poked, and prodded until he moved back other to my right side. The contractions at the worst were 5 minutes apart, about 20 seconds each. This only lasted for about 20 minutes (before that it was only every 15 minutes or so for an hour or two), until I was able to guzzle a ridiculous amount of water and lay down for awhile. That night I called in tardy to work. It hasn't happened since, but I have been trying to keep up on drinking 14-18 servings of water a day! I feel like I should have an IV hooked up to me to keep me properly hydrated, and a catheter inserted as often as I am drinking water and running to the bathroom!
Last week began my weekly appointments. That appointment was mainly to check the growth of our little man. Which he measured in in the middle of the growth chart at 3lbs 11oz. His little femur was 5.84cm long (or close to 2 and a quarter inches) and his head is measuring a week ahead!! Holy wow! Hillards do have big noggin's that is something we can attribute to that side ;-)
At this appointment I learned the reason that we are doing weekly appointments has more to do with the history of hypertension and clotting disorder, and less to do with my uterus shape. Every appointment from here on out there will be an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid level, and the functioning of the placenta and umbilical cord. At my 35 (and possibly 39) week appointment they will also be checking the growth of the baby again. On top of the ultrasounds they will be starting nonstress tests, basically this will watch for any contractions, and see how the baby is dealing with them okay. The doctor also informed me that they usually induce at 39 weeks for those that have hypertension.
This was news to me, and made me quite sad! She said we can play it week by week. But, to be honest, God has made a way and answered every prayer for this little guy thus far...from silly things from him being head down at 19 weeks so he wouldn't get stuck in breach position, to more serious things such as helping me keep him cooking into the third trimester. We will have to wait til birth to see if he got James' dimples though ;-). So by our praying for my blood pressure to stay controlled, and the placenta to continue functioning properly...I have to have faith that God will make a way for this as well and our little man will come into the world in his timing, and will allow mommy to come out from labor with a wonderful natural labor story.
Anyways, I thought I would share photos, all the ones that I have been slacking on thus far...along with a few edited maternity photos! Then nap time before work, and hopefully talking James to help me move things into the nursery and out of our hallway before work!!
James is in busy season at work, got to love the farming world...harvest = many more hours at work and less at home. I will be excited for him once harvest is over and he is finally on days. He is also currently fighting a cold, so prayers that it passes quickly without infecting me would be wonderful this girl doesn't need to get sick, and to prevent i I have diligently been drinking OJ with Emergen-c and taking all of my vitamins.
Two weeks ago I had quite a scare, I really thought Matthew was going to decide to come early. My Tuesdays and Thursdays are REALLY long days due to work and school, meaning that I am usually up for 24 hours straight with up to one to two 1-2 hour naps. It was causing me to have some contractions. Mixed with the fact that he decided to explore the shadow land of my uterus, also termed.. the dark side. It causes so much pressure and cramping when he tries to stretch out on that side. Enough that I prayed, poked, and prodded until he moved back other to my right side. The contractions at the worst were 5 minutes apart, about 20 seconds each. This only lasted for about 20 minutes (before that it was only every 15 minutes or so for an hour or two), until I was able to guzzle a ridiculous amount of water and lay down for awhile. That night I called in tardy to work. It hasn't happened since, but I have been trying to keep up on drinking 14-18 servings of water a day! I feel like I should have an IV hooked up to me to keep me properly hydrated, and a catheter inserted as often as I am drinking water and running to the bathroom!
Last week began my weekly appointments. That appointment was mainly to check the growth of our little man. Which he measured in in the middle of the growth chart at 3lbs 11oz. His little femur was 5.84cm long (or close to 2 and a quarter inches) and his head is measuring a week ahead!! Holy wow! Hillards do have big noggin's that is something we can attribute to that side ;-)
At this appointment I learned the reason that we are doing weekly appointments has more to do with the history of hypertension and clotting disorder, and less to do with my uterus shape. Every appointment from here on out there will be an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid level, and the functioning of the placenta and umbilical cord. At my 35 (and possibly 39) week appointment they will also be checking the growth of the baby again. On top of the ultrasounds they will be starting nonstress tests, basically this will watch for any contractions, and see how the baby is dealing with them okay. The doctor also informed me that they usually induce at 39 weeks for those that have hypertension.
This was news to me, and made me quite sad! She said we can play it week by week. But, to be honest, God has made a way and answered every prayer for this little guy thus far...from silly things from him being head down at 19 weeks so he wouldn't get stuck in breach position, to more serious things such as helping me keep him cooking into the third trimester. We will have to wait til birth to see if he got James' dimples though ;-). So by our praying for my blood pressure to stay controlled, and the placenta to continue functioning properly...I have to have faith that God will make a way for this as well and our little man will come into the world in his timing, and will allow mommy to come out from labor with a wonderful natural labor story.
Anyways, I thought I would share photos, all the ones that I have been slacking on thus far...along with a few edited maternity photos! Then nap time before work, and hopefully talking James to help me move things into the nursery and out of our hallway before work!!
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