Hospital Detour

On Tuesday, I had my routine appointment with my OB.  Unfortunately, my blood pressure was terribly high, and the doc said that he could not save me from a trip to the hospital.  He authorized a quick trip back home, but told me not to eat anything in case my babies needed to be delivered that day.  He said that if they were not going to be delivered immediately, they would receive steroids to develop their lungs so that they would be better equipped to experience life outside of the womb.  In response to my question about whether there was a chance that I would be able to leave without delivering the babies, he said, "Sure, if your blood pressure is normal and all tests come back fine."  Challenge accepted.

I went home, finally packed my go-bag (check!), and completely disregarded doctor's orders by having lunch.  There was, I reasoned, absolutely no way in hell that my children would be born that day.  My pressure wasn't high enough for me to stroke out, and I was certain that I didn't have preeclampsia because I still had ankles.  Yes, I believe that all other tests are unnecessary.

Surprisingly, my blood pressure at the hospital dropped considerably from the readings that I'd been having the last few days.  Still, my OB would not let me go home without more blood work, the GJOP test, the steroid shots, and some consistently low bp readings, so I was admitted to the high-risk unit.

This stay was significantly better than my last two years ago, when I had a roommate who would not stop throwing up.  This time, the ward's census was low, so I had a room to myself.  Also, instead of getting a set schedule of meals, they had a menu from which I could order whatever and however much of anything I wanted at any time.  Room service!  The worst part was that there was no internet access, which made it so I was unable to work.  But still, that meant that I had really nothing to do except stay in bed, watch tv, eat, read, sleep, and otherwise enjoy the silence.  Turns out that that combination is wonderful for the blood pressure.   For two and a half days in the hospital, my blood pressure was lower than it had been this entire pregnancy, and all tests came back essentially fine.  The possibility of an immediate delivery of my children was taken off the table. And this morning, I was released.

One factor in favor of my discharge that was repeatedly mentioned by the doctors and nurses was that my mom would be here to allow me to continue this hospital-style bedrest.  So I have to take this opportunity to say again, thank goodness for my mom.  When I was in the hospital, I did not worry that Zachary was well cared for.  And now that I'm out, I know that she'll continue to take care of him, and all of us, and the house, because she's superwoman in that way.  I am grateful.

I'm also grateful for the results of the ultrasound I had yesterday at the hospital.  The babies looked great, and at one day shy of 34 weeks, our daughter weighed 4 lbs, 11 oz, and our son weighed 5 lbs, 6 oz.  I had been so worried that my blood pressure issues would restrict their growth that I was just hoping for over 4 lbs.  On the phone with The Husband, he told me that he had also been scared that they wouldn't be over 4 lbs.  We were both overwhelmed that they had grown so well.

When speaking to my doctor this morning, I asked how large the babies needed to be to avoid NICU time.  He said that it wasn't the size, it was the age.  If they can make it to 36 weeks, there's a good chance that they'll come home with me.  So that's the new goal.  Only two more weeks.  I'm going to be a good girl.  I will no doubt whine about the incredible rib pain while lying on my side and the boredom of being confined to bed, but I will do what I have to do to keep my blood pressure low and these kids cooking until 36 weeks or later.  Let's hope it works.

32w6d Update

I just had a follow-up appointment with another doctor in my OB's practice so that I could turn in my 24-hour pee test and take a non-stress test (NST) for the babies.  In the office, my blood pressure was up.  Again.  I tried to tell them it was from me walking from my car while carrying a giant jug of pee (GJOP), but they weren't buying it.  I'm not kidding though, it was a big jug!  Regardless, I have to wait until tomorrow or Friday to get the results on the GJOP.

In the interim, I learned the following today:  (1) The babies looked good on the NST, and (2) the doctor estimated that I only have 2-3 weeks left before they'll make me deliver because of blood pressure issues.  The latter made me cry.  On the way home, I tried to figure out why that prognosis felt like she was saying that I only had 2-3 weeks to live; it's because if my children are born at 35 to 36 weeks, it is almost certain that I have 2-3 weeks before my children are taken away from me.  Yes, I understand that they would be going to the NICU, but the thought of not being able to hold them close -- or possibly having to leave the hospital without them -- is heartbreaking to me.  And before you tell me to keep it together because they will still likely be quite healthy at that age, millions of other women have survived this, and it would likely only be for a short time, let me remind you that I'm pregnant, which means I'm automatically allowed not to have some perspective!

Right now, I'm sad.

  

Pressure!

My blood pressure has crept up at various times throughout this pregnancy, so I'm on medication to control it.  We started at a low dose, and as needed, my doctor has upped the dosage.  Last week, we maxed out on the amount of medication I can take, and pursuant to my doctor's recommendation, I had my last day in the office (it's all working from home now).  Although my blood pressure stayed down for a few days, it started rising again, so much so that I thought on Monday I'd be sent to the hospital for bedrest.  Luckily, that didn't happen.  I go back to the OB today, where they'll continue monitoring me to make sure I'm not developing pre-eclampsia.

I'm so bummed about this situation.  I thought my biggest worry would be premature labor, as it is common when pregnant with multiples.  But instead, my babies might have to be born early without me ever going into labor, just because carrying them longer is too hard on my heart.  That doesn't seem right -- it will be a million times harder on my heart for these kids to be born so early that they'll have health problems and I won't be able to hold them and comfort them after their births.  I was such a protective hormonal wreck after Zachary was born that I bawled during his whole circumcision even though he was in a different room, and was again crying hysterically and having visions of slapping a nurse when she was getting a blood sample from him for a test; if they whisk these babies off to the NICU after they're born, god help us all...

These pictures don't have anything to do with anything, except that seeing cute pictures of my boys must lower my blood pressure!  And seeing this scene did make me smile over the weekend, so I'm posting them here.  Although you can't tell from his expression, Zachary loved driving the lawnmower!