Let the bedrest begin

We had a busy day at the doctor's office and hospital today.  Wednesday and Saturday are the days I have my NST's done.  So far they've been pretty uneventful, which is good.  I show a lot of contractions but no more than 6 an hour which is when you need to do something about them.  This past Saturday I had an increased amount and it was a doctor that's not mine on call and she had the nurse check to see if I was dilated.  I wasn't, but the cervix was thinned.  After talking to my doctor today she said that's a good thing and should be happening at this point in the pregnancy.  My blood pressure was high at the beginning of this NST so the nurse cycled it a few times during the appointment and it normalized.  But since it was a doctor who wasn't familiar with me on call, she ordered ANOTHER 24 hour urine test for preeclampsia.  Because, really, who DOESN'T enjoy those?

Unfortunately, Monday evening I got a call after hours from my doctor's office (which is never good) in which they said I was heading towards preeclampsia and needed to go on bedrest immediately.  Of course I didn't get to talk to them and both the doctor and the nurse were going to be out on Tuesday.  So I called into work for Tuesday and took it easy with the idea we'd get clarification on everything at today's appointment.

JM and I thought today's NST might get a little interesting today because Ali did some major readjusting and I had a couple of harsh contractions with it, but turns out it was fine. I think she just knew she was being recorded and wanted us to notice her.

Then we went to our doctor's appointment.  Side note, our doctor will be in town for the birth, so we're thrilled.  She clarified that the bedrest is strict bedrest.  I don't have to lay down, but I shouldn't be up for much more time than to potty, shower or make myself a quick snack.  The way the message was left, I thought I was just 'threatening' preeclampsia, but the level of protein needs to be over 300 to be preeclamptic and I was in the 400's.  She said it's mild, severe cases are over 5000.  She was still planning on inducing us at 39 weeks, but we basically started begging.  I obviously don't want to have her before she's ready, but any time I'm on bedrest takes away from the time I get with her after she's born.  Plus, when I'm not at work, I don't get paid.  To have me laying/sitting on the couch for the next 4.5 weeks, not bringing in any money, and not taking care of a baby will really hurt us.  The doctor said she would look at the ultrasound we were having later and evaluate a few things and then let us know when she can induce.  I'm assuming she'll let us know at our appointment next week. 

After that we had our ultrasound.  The new nurse had me empty my bladder during the doctor's appointment so we couldn't get a good look at Ali's face.  She is head down but the ultrasound tech said we're not far enough along to guarantee she'll stay like that.  Every time the tech would get a glimpse of her face she'd turn and hide it in my pelvis.  The tech said she'll be a baby that likes to cuddle and sleep with something against her :-).  Her spine, abdomen, head and femur are all measuring about a week and a half ahead of time, which isn't all that big.  But, her weight should've been around 5.5 pounds at this point and it was 6.6.  The tech even said that means she's chubby.  Just what every parent wants to hear about their daughter.  Ali did have these little chubby chipmunk cheeks though, a lot like JM's. 

So now we wait.  My hope is that (as long as Ali's ok with it), they'll induce me when I'm technically full-term, which will be in 2.5 weeks.  It'll be a long 2.5 weeks, but better than the 4.5 we're currently looking at.  If you're in the area please feel free to stop by!  It's one of my first days and I'm already going crazy.  JM works most every evening so I'm especially bored then!