This week's theme is hypertension and questionable pre-eclampsia.
After my last doctor appointment 2 weeks ago, when I had a higher than normal blood pressure reading, my doctor told me to take my blood pressure every day at work. Well that's not easy to do considering the blood pressure cuffs are on patients at work. I was bad the first week about doing so. Then I had one day of really bad day of swollen ankles that had me curious. So I started taking it more often at home. Here's some of the readings from this week:
Monday:
13:53 - Taken when I just got home from work. My middle finger on my right hand was numb all day despite being in a brace all day. Ankles were very swollen despite wearing TED hose all day long. 126/91*
18:16 - Rested in bed with feet elevated from 14:00-17:30, taking a 1.5 hour nap. 124/78
20:23 - Repeated after a bath, right before bed. 118/80
Tuesday:
16:48 - Taken after returning home from work and running errands. 142/85*
20:20 - Taken after eating dinner and doing dishes and watching tv. 128/92*
21:02 - Taken after a bath spent reading a book. 128/77
Wednesday:
06:57 - Taken right before leaving for work. 109/79
09:41 - Taken after getting sent home from work. Had a dull headache, may be sinus related though (post nasal drip and nasal congestion). 123/80
Wednesday at work I asked my boss about how high is high and when I should mention it to my doctor. Would it be too late to wait until my appointment on Friday? My boss sent me home from work with instructions to rest and call my doctor. I emailed and put a call in to my doctor. He told me to rest as much as possible, take it easy at work and keep track of my numbers and we'd talk about it on Friday.
Thursday's numbers were pretty all day. I didn't work that day though due to Yom Kippur.
Friday:
06:28 - Taken right before I left for work. 123/87*
15:01 - Taken right before leaving for the doctor. 123/87*
At the doctor: 135/87* (repeated twice)
At the doctor appointment I had trace amounts of protein in my urine. Coupled with my edema, and high blood pressure, the doctor said I am at risk for pre-eclampsia. So I had to get a blood test done which tests platelet count, and liver enzymes. If the platelet count is low and liver enzymes high, along with my other symptoms, it would lead to an induction relatively soon. BUT, I got a call from my doctor today with the results of my blood tests and they were okay. I still need to rest as much as possible and keep track of my blood pressure readings for my next appointment.
I had a group b strep culture done and a cervical check too. The doctor said BG's head is still high, but my cervix is open and starting to dilate. No specific numbers or % effacement or anything, but it's a step in the right direction. Next appointment is this Wednesday.
I'm starting to get into that uncomfortable state. Walking hurts due to swollen feet, hurting pelvis, baby on the cervix... Sleeping sucks with a gremlin kicking every part of my belly that touches the matress/pillow and a bladder the size of a thimble. Getting up to pee sucks with edema that pools in my achilles tendons and makes flexing the foot down right painful. Sitting in a chair or with my feet up hurts b/c BG attacks my ribs. Laying down hurts my back. A few more weeks and then I'll get a lovely dose of that mommy amnesia hormone. I can't wait!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Shower time
Yesterday we had our baby shower. Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful presents! BG is definitely spoiled! My mom, my grandma, and aunt Teri threw a great shower. We decorated with a pink theme because It's a girl! In the photo album are a few from the shower and a picture of all the goodies BG received.
I'm working. Finally decided that October 10th will be my last day of work. I'm starting to get swollen ankles pretty much anytime I'm out of bed. Some days are worse than others. Carpal tunnel is still around, and the fluid retention is more noticible now in my hands. BG is running out of room, her movements are becoming painful some days, especially in my rib area. Some days I think she's dropped a little with lots of pelvic pressure and other days she's burying her feet in my lungs. She just can't make up her mind. Doctor said she weighed about 5 pounds last Monday.
We did the maternity tour last week as well as post-partum care class. Kinda feel like I know a little more to expect when the big day arrives. The maternity wing of the hospital is brand new. Apparently it was rebuilt after the Northridge Earthquake and just opened not too long ago. The entire 4th floor of the new wing is maternity. There's a triage/observation room you visit and chill in first to make sure you're in labor. Then you get moved to this ginormous (well in comparision to the other rooms) labor and delivery room. They've got everything they need for delivery in there, including a warmer, sink, etc. to clean up the baby afterwards. Then after chilling in there for few hours, you get moved to a postpartum room which is way smaller. All rooms are private and baby stays with you the entire time unless there's a medical reason for separation. The OR for a c-section has direct access from the labor and delivery rooms in case an emergency c-section were required, and the post op recovery rooms are all in the same area as well. Overall, very impressed with the hospital. I'd venture to say that it's MUCH nicer than Cedars.
Now we're just counting down the weeks/days til BGer decides to make her appearance.
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| From Baby Pruett |
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| From Baby Pruett |
I'm working. Finally decided that October 10th will be my last day of work. I'm starting to get swollen ankles pretty much anytime I'm out of bed. Some days are worse than others. Carpal tunnel is still around, and the fluid retention is more noticible now in my hands. BG is running out of room, her movements are becoming painful some days, especially in my rib area. Some days I think she's dropped a little with lots of pelvic pressure and other days she's burying her feet in my lungs. She just can't make up her mind. Doctor said she weighed about 5 pounds last Monday.
We did the maternity tour last week as well as post-partum care class. Kinda feel like I know a little more to expect when the big day arrives. The maternity wing of the hospital is brand new. Apparently it was rebuilt after the Northridge Earthquake and just opened not too long ago. The entire 4th floor of the new wing is maternity. There's a triage/observation room you visit and chill in first to make sure you're in labor. Then you get moved to this ginormous (well in comparision to the other rooms) labor and delivery room. They've got everything they need for delivery in there, including a warmer, sink, etc. to clean up the baby afterwards. Then after chilling in there for few hours, you get moved to a postpartum room which is way smaller. All rooms are private and baby stays with you the entire time unless there's a medical reason for separation. The OR for a c-section has direct access from the labor and delivery rooms in case an emergency c-section were required, and the post op recovery rooms are all in the same area as well. Overall, very impressed with the hospital. I'd venture to say that it's MUCH nicer than Cedars.
Now we're just counting down the weeks/days til BGer decides to make her appearance.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Doctor and first prenatal class
Last weekend I was the maid of honor in Courtney's wedding in Denver. Her wedding was beautiful. And traveling wasn't too bad. Got an aisle seat both out there and back. Discovered my ankles swell really bad when I sit or stand too long. So there is some truth to the whole putting up your feet thing. Think BGer dropped a little on Sunday. Don't know if it is just the change in her position (the left side is getting kicked instead of the right), but I can feel the head really low in my pelvis frequently pressing on the bones and getting the sudden intense urge to pee. There's actually space now between my chest and the top of my belly.
Had a doctors appointment on Monday--32 weeks. Finally saw my normal doctor again. Despite all the bad stuff that people say about Kaiser, I really like my Kaiser doctors. I hadn't seen my normal OB in 2 months due to schedule conflicts. But he came in and asked me how work was, and if we'd been busy in the OR before he'd even pulled up my chart. The fact that he remembers what I do really impresses me. Anyways, we talked about my carpal tunnel and the impact it's having on work. He offered to write me a note for work, but I figured I could wait it out another 2 weeks til after my next appointment. We talked about disability and when I can go on disability/maternity leave. Then he measured BG. The BGer is 1.7kg or about 3.74lbs and she's still head down-- thank goodness! Then he threw something out there I didn't expect. He told me when he was on call during my 39th and 41st weeks. He said that if my cervix was ready he would allow me to go in on one of those days and be induced if I wanted him to be the one to deliver BG. It's kinda nice to know I have that option, even if I don't know if I'd ever take it. Who knows how I'll feel at 39 weeks though. Just thought it was interesting. Finally a productive OB appointment again that went beyond weight, protein in urine check, quick ultrasound, questions... done.
Tuesday I went to breastfeeding class. Interesting that Kaiser is now a "baby friendly" hospital meaning they essentially are breastfeeding only. They don't provide formula to the babies unless it is medically necessary. They encourage you to ask for a medical reason as to why a formula bottle would be suggested. Kaiser offers a lactation clinic every weekday in the afternoons where you can walk in and get help from lactation consultants. Nice to know that help is so accessible if/when I may need it. Overall, pretty good class, but the format was really disjointed so what could have taken an hour and a half took three hours. Made for a long day.
BG is moving a lot more frequently throughout the day. It's like a gremlin is living in my stomach with a mind of it's own. Kinda funny when all the sudden my badge goes flying all over the place during my case as BG is finding a new comfortable position. I have more energy lately, the most I've had the entire pregnancy. Even 10+ hour days a few days in a row didn't exhaust me as much as a few weeks ago. Sleeping is also a little easier, as my back hurts less. Now I just have swollen ankles and sore knee joints, and a right hand that consistently goes numb.
Had a doctors appointment on Monday--32 weeks. Finally saw my normal doctor again. Despite all the bad stuff that people say about Kaiser, I really like my Kaiser doctors. I hadn't seen my normal OB in 2 months due to schedule conflicts. But he came in and asked me how work was, and if we'd been busy in the OR before he'd even pulled up my chart. The fact that he remembers what I do really impresses me. Anyways, we talked about my carpal tunnel and the impact it's having on work. He offered to write me a note for work, but I figured I could wait it out another 2 weeks til after my next appointment. We talked about disability and when I can go on disability/maternity leave. Then he measured BG. The BGer is 1.7kg or about 3.74lbs and she's still head down-- thank goodness! Then he threw something out there I didn't expect. He told me when he was on call during my 39th and 41st weeks. He said that if my cervix was ready he would allow me to go in on one of those days and be induced if I wanted him to be the one to deliver BG. It's kinda nice to know I have that option, even if I don't know if I'd ever take it. Who knows how I'll feel at 39 weeks though. Just thought it was interesting. Finally a productive OB appointment again that went beyond weight, protein in urine check, quick ultrasound, questions... done.
Tuesday I went to breastfeeding class. Interesting that Kaiser is now a "baby friendly" hospital meaning they essentially are breastfeeding only. They don't provide formula to the babies unless it is medically necessary. They encourage you to ask for a medical reason as to why a formula bottle would be suggested. Kaiser offers a lactation clinic every weekday in the afternoons where you can walk in and get help from lactation consultants. Nice to know that help is so accessible if/when I may need it. Overall, pretty good class, but the format was really disjointed so what could have taken an hour and a half took three hours. Made for a long day.
BG is moving a lot more frequently throughout the day. It's like a gremlin is living in my stomach with a mind of it's own. Kinda funny when all the sudden my badge goes flying all over the place during my case as BG is finding a new comfortable position. I have more energy lately, the most I've had the entire pregnancy. Even 10+ hour days a few days in a row didn't exhaust me as much as a few weeks ago. Sleeping is also a little easier, as my back hurts less. Now I just have swollen ankles and sore knee joints, and a right hand that consistently goes numb.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Rocker/glider!!
We got our rocker/glider and ottoman yesterday!
It's more burgandy than the pictures let on. New belly pictures posted in the photo album.
BG has been lifting weights and trying using those new muscles to try to escape through my right side. No longer is it cute little kicks, now it's brutal blows and spaz attacks creating internal bruising. The carpal tunnel continues. Today it was so bad when I got up, I couldn't write period, my hand couldn't hold the pen. But only in my right hand. The left has only had one episode of tingling. I've resorted to wearing a brace pretty much constantly at work and most of the time not at work. My next doctor appointment is next Monday, the 8th.
I'm finishing up my last week of first call for the year. Have 2 days of second call next week before leaving for Courtney's wedding.
Oh yeah don't forget to enter your guesses on the BGer's stats! Link to the poll is on the right side tool bar under the photo album.
It's more burgandy than the pictures let on. New belly pictures posted in the photo album.
BG has been lifting weights and trying using those new muscles to try to escape through my right side. No longer is it cute little kicks, now it's brutal blows and spaz attacks creating internal bruising. The carpal tunnel continues. Today it was so bad when I got up, I couldn't write period, my hand couldn't hold the pen. But only in my right hand. The left has only had one episode of tingling. I've resorted to wearing a brace pretty much constantly at work and most of the time not at work. My next doctor appointment is next Monday, the 8th.
I'm finishing up my last week of first call for the year. Have 2 days of second call next week before leaving for Courtney's wedding.
Oh yeah don't forget to enter your guesses on the BGer's stats! Link to the poll is on the right side tool bar under the photo album.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
GD results
Woo Hoo, I passed the 3 hour glucose tolerance test! That means I don't have gestational diabetes. That was the good news for the day, just had to share.
New belly picture to be posted soon, it's getting huge! BG is awake more often now, moving around more frequently, and kicks are getting stronger. She's also starting to do this new stretching of legs thing putting her foot in my ribs.
Yesterday, I started to get this tingly/numb sensation in my right hand when I was charting during my case. Continued today too, more frequently now, and not just when I'm writing, but when I'm doing any fine motor activity. (Actuallly it's tingly and kinda numb now typing.) I'll definitely have to ask the doctor about it. Just think it's kinda odd to show up all the sudden.
EDIT: Looked it up, my hand numbness has a name. Pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome caused by increased fluid retention. (Funny cause my right hand, which is going numb isn't swollen, but my left hand is.)
New belly picture to be posted soon, it's getting huge! BG is awake more often now, moving around more frequently, and kicks are getting stronger. She's also starting to do this new stretching of legs thing putting her foot in my ribs.
Yesterday, I started to get this tingly/numb sensation in my right hand when I was charting during my case. Continued today too, more frequently now, and not just when I'm writing, but when I'm doing any fine motor activity. (Actuallly it's tingly and kinda numb now typing.) I'll definitely have to ask the doctor about it. Just think it's kinda odd to show up all the sudden.
EDIT: Looked it up, my hand numbness has a name. Pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome caused by increased fluid retention. (Funny cause my right hand, which is going numb isn't swollen, but my left hand is.)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Okay so I finally got around to doing one of these.
Want to see how your baby predictions stack up against the rest of the family's? Want bragging rights come BG's arrival? Click below and enter your guess on BG's gender, weight, length, and birthday. PS. If you're one of the few who know the sex enter in what your original predictions were before you found out, just to make it fair... although most of you guessed correctly anyways :)
Want to see how your baby predictions stack up against the rest of the family's? Want bragging rights come BG's arrival? Click below and enter your guess on BG's gender, weight, length, and birthday. PS. If you're one of the few who know the sex enter in what your original predictions were before you found out, just to make it fair... although most of you guessed correctly anyways :)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Update: Doctors appointment, GTT, 3D Ultrasound
CATCH UP:
7.30.08: Wednesday-BG was very active
7.31.08: Thursday was a quiet day.
8.1.08: BG came back with a vengence on Friday. Kicking like mad starting at 3am. Was still breech at this time so the kicks were to the pelvic region. Punches to the round ligament, jabs to the pelvic bone, and entire River Dance numbers on the cervix. Around 10am there was a huge summersault. About that time I was getting ready for work and I got the biggest punch to some internal organ ever! It hurt like mad. I instantly got tears in my eyes and screamed out loud. This internal organ fight continued most of the afternoon. Think BG fell asleep around 5pm during my case, but I was so sore all weekend.
8.2.08: Thankfully BG woke me up Saturday kicking me in the right side. WOO HOO no more breech. I figured it was just a momentary phase, but she seems to like it there for now. We got BG's dresser/changer. It's all set up and full of the expanding wardrobe. Here it is:
8.5.08: Had my usual every 4 week appointment (okay so maybe it was like 3 since my last one, I dunno I don't do the scheduling). This time I saw another new doctor Dr. Hershe. I was one of the last appointments for the day and had a bunch to do at this appointment. I had to take the glucose challenge test. This is where you drink a super sugary drink with a known amount of sugar, and then they draw your blood an hour later and check your glucose level. It's a test for gestational diabetes. At the same time they do a test called the Indirect Coombs test, which you have to have done before you can get your RhoGam shot. I had to go back to get the RhoGam shot the next day (Chris found out his blood type is A+) since they closed before I got back from the lab. But my blood pressure fine (for once), measurements were good, did the ultrasound to check the baby's position and BG is head down now--YAY! The doctor said it's "very unlikely" that the baby will turn breech at this point, which would be completely lovely considering the great pain I was in on Friday.
8.6.08: BG was kicking like mad when we were going to bed. Since the feet are on my right side, I was laying on my left so Chris could feel the kicks. BG didn't let up, so I took the opportunity to poke around and try to see if I could tell if it was a knee, leg, heel, whole foot... I definitely found a foot. It was so cool. A little over an inch and a quarter or so long. BG held it up against my belly between my two fingers just long enough for me to figure out what it was.
8.9.08: Today was super busy! I failed my glucose screening test (by 5 points), so today I had to take the 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT). Here's what the test consisted of:
*No food/drink after 8pm. Water is okay. Not too hard, but I really wanted something to eat this morning after waking up at 5:30am.
*Arrive at 7am when the lab opens (okay earlier if you want to be registered and start the test ASAP), so I got there at 6:45 and so glad I did. By 7 the place was standing room only!
*Fasting blood draw (RESULTS: baseline of 81 fasting.)
*100g sugar drink. Don't know what the one before it was, but I think it was 50g. But this one was fruit punch flavored.
*Wander around the hospital for a while. BG was freaking out jumping and spazzing all over the place. Little kick here, head butt there, knee to mom's arm...
*Played mario party on my nintendo ds. Thank goodness I brought that thing. I would have died from boredom!
*1 hour blood draw (RESULTS: 141)
*Texted Chris and my mom multiple times. Kept getting these little throw up burps of fruit punch. Ugh, I hate that! Discovered that Kaiser has wireless internet available on the hospital/clinic sites. SCORE, another way to kill time! By now I think BG went into a sugar coma and totally quit moving.
*2 hour blood draw. By this time I was getting that jittery feeling. (RESULTS: 156, tagged as high, no idea what that means for the final results).
*Some more Mario.
*3 hour draw. She had to stick me in my forearm. Never had blood drawn there before, and it hurt like mad! Was so excited to be done, and be allowed to eat. I made a bee line for the car. A granola bar never tasted so good. (RESULTS: 88)
Went to Ella's 1st Birthday Party. Can't believe it's already been a year. She's already walking!
Then we went to the 3D ultrasound. I really wanted to get one done just for the pictures. I think it's a neat keepsake of something that only happens once. So the good pictures are uploaded in the photo album. BG was stubborn (like Chris and I) and covered the face for the majority of the appointment. Spent most of the appointment napping, with an arm across the face, or a hand in the mouth sucking a thumb, and when the hands moved out of the way BG decided it was time to snuggle up against the placenta. So we only got a few good pictures. We also have a DVD, so we'll have to see how that turned out. Figures as soon as we leave the ultrasound place to go to dinner, the kicking and jumping around started.
Only 12 weeks (or less, since a lot of people have a feeling BG is going to make an early appearance) til we get to meet the BGer.
7.30.08: Wednesday-BG was very active
7.31.08: Thursday was a quiet day.
8.1.08: BG came back with a vengence on Friday. Kicking like mad starting at 3am. Was still breech at this time so the kicks were to the pelvic region. Punches to the round ligament, jabs to the pelvic bone, and entire River Dance numbers on the cervix. Around 10am there was a huge summersault. About that time I was getting ready for work and I got the biggest punch to some internal organ ever! It hurt like mad. I instantly got tears in my eyes and screamed out loud. This internal organ fight continued most of the afternoon. Think BG fell asleep around 5pm during my case, but I was so sore all weekend.
8.2.08: Thankfully BG woke me up Saturday kicking me in the right side. WOO HOO no more breech. I figured it was just a momentary phase, but she seems to like it there for now. We got BG's dresser/changer. It's all set up and full of the expanding wardrobe. Here it is:
8.5.08: Had my usual every 4 week appointment (okay so maybe it was like 3 since my last one, I dunno I don't do the scheduling). This time I saw another new doctor Dr. Hershe. I was one of the last appointments for the day and had a bunch to do at this appointment. I had to take the glucose challenge test. This is where you drink a super sugary drink with a known amount of sugar, and then they draw your blood an hour later and check your glucose level. It's a test for gestational diabetes. At the same time they do a test called the Indirect Coombs test, which you have to have done before you can get your RhoGam shot. I had to go back to get the RhoGam shot the next day (Chris found out his blood type is A+) since they closed before I got back from the lab. But my blood pressure fine (for once), measurements were good, did the ultrasound to check the baby's position and BG is head down now--YAY! The doctor said it's "very unlikely" that the baby will turn breech at this point, which would be completely lovely considering the great pain I was in on Friday.
8.6.08: BG was kicking like mad when we were going to bed. Since the feet are on my right side, I was laying on my left so Chris could feel the kicks. BG didn't let up, so I took the opportunity to poke around and try to see if I could tell if it was a knee, leg, heel, whole foot... I definitely found a foot. It was so cool. A little over an inch and a quarter or so long. BG held it up against my belly between my two fingers just long enough for me to figure out what it was.
8.9.08: Today was super busy! I failed my glucose screening test (by 5 points), so today I had to take the 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT). Here's what the test consisted of:
*No food/drink after 8pm. Water is okay. Not too hard, but I really wanted something to eat this morning after waking up at 5:30am.
*Arrive at 7am when the lab opens (okay earlier if you want to be registered and start the test ASAP), so I got there at 6:45 and so glad I did. By 7 the place was standing room only!
*Fasting blood draw (RESULTS: baseline of 81 fasting.)
*100g sugar drink. Don't know what the one before it was, but I think it was 50g. But this one was fruit punch flavored.
*Wander around the hospital for a while. BG was freaking out jumping and spazzing all over the place. Little kick here, head butt there, knee to mom's arm...
*Played mario party on my nintendo ds. Thank goodness I brought that thing. I would have died from boredom!
*1 hour blood draw (RESULTS: 141)
*Texted Chris and my mom multiple times. Kept getting these little throw up burps of fruit punch. Ugh, I hate that! Discovered that Kaiser has wireless internet available on the hospital/clinic sites. SCORE, another way to kill time! By now I think BG went into a sugar coma and totally quit moving.
*2 hour blood draw. By this time I was getting that jittery feeling. (RESULTS: 156, tagged as high, no idea what that means for the final results).
*Some more Mario.
*3 hour draw. She had to stick me in my forearm. Never had blood drawn there before, and it hurt like mad! Was so excited to be done, and be allowed to eat. I made a bee line for the car. A granola bar never tasted so good. (RESULTS: 88)
Went to Ella's 1st Birthday Party. Can't believe it's already been a year. She's already walking!
Then we went to the 3D ultrasound. I really wanted to get one done just for the pictures. I think it's a neat keepsake of something that only happens once. So the good pictures are uploaded in the photo album. BG was stubborn (like Chris and I) and covered the face for the majority of the appointment. Spent most of the appointment napping, with an arm across the face, or a hand in the mouth sucking a thumb, and when the hands moved out of the way BG decided it was time to snuggle up against the placenta. So we only got a few good pictures. We also have a DVD, so we'll have to see how that turned out. Figures as soon as we leave the ultrasound place to go to dinner, the kicking and jumping around started.
Only 12 weeks (or less, since a lot of people have a feeling BG is going to make an early appearance) til we get to meet the BGer.
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