At Home, Still On Bedrest

Well I'm home!

I still have to stay on bedrest, but I can do it from the comfort of my own bed and couch versus being in the hospital. And I've done this before when I was pregnant with Jack. At least I know what to expect. The nurses at the hospital were truly wonderful and caring, but it's hard being strapped to a monitor 18 hours a day and trying to rest all while they're coming in every 2 hours to take my blood pressure and temperature.

So far I've completed 3 24-hour urine tests. They've all come back the same, with my levels being in the 500's. The range is from 300 (pre-eclamptic) to 5000 (severe). My levels are still pretty low and they haven't increased over the past week and that is why I got to go home. That and because my blood pressure was regulated and normal as long as I was doing absolutely nothing. When I first got there, Friday afternoon, they were checking my BP every 27 minutes, then it was every 2 hours. Just getting up to go to the bathroom or showering made my BP rise, so I have been given strict orders to do absolutely nothing.

That is hard for me. I'm a somewhat lazy person by nature, but I like the freedom of doing what I want when I want and I just can't right now. It's not like I'm wanting to go shopping or partying or painting the nursery, I just want to sweep the kitchen floor and blow dry my hair while standing up without feeling overwhelmed. I want to make breakfast, not give orders from the couch on how to preheat the pan without overbrowning the butter. Ya know? It's only been a few days and I know I'll be okay. It's just frustrating because I feel like I've done my very best to have a safe and full term pregnancy and every little thing that can happen has, whether it be bleeding at 6 weeks, a wonky 1st screen and trisomy scare, or needing additional testing for gestational diabetes to this. I swear I didn't do anything different or wrong, it just happens and it's stressful.

I know I'm so lucky to be where I am in this pregnancy and I know that things could be so much worse. So I don't want it to seem like I'm complaining about the little things. I just worry about my little man and hope he's okay. And I know that even if he is born early and has to go stay in the NICU, that that will be the best and safest place for him out of the womb. And I've accepted that my belly may eventually not be the safest place for him to be either, even though that's a difficult one to comprehend. I just want him to stay in there a little longer and continue to grow.

I'm 33 weeks today and went to the doctor yesterday for another checkup. My weight is back down to where it was last week, minus a couple pounds. My BP was slightly elevated but that was after walking from the car to the exam room and it wasn't any higher than last week. The protein levels in my urine have stayed the same, which baffles my doctor. She says that they almost always increase from day to day and mine haven't. I'll have to do a 24-hour urine collection again on Thursday to take back on Friday for analysis. I'll also have to see the doctor twice weekly, rather than just once a week. So from now on until I deliver, I'll be going to the doctor on Tuesday and Fridays. And I'll be getting u/s with each visit to make sure that the little guy is still growing and that his blood flow is as it should be.

As of yesterday, he was just perfect. We were also able to see his face a little more clearly because it seems he always has his hands over his face. He clearly has my nose and lips :-)

I'll keep up all updated as I know something more. My doctor thinks I'll still deliver early, but perhaps we'll make it past the 34 week mark. Which is a good thing, because that's only one week away! I'm not quite ready for him to make his appearance yet. I'd be thrilled to make it to 36 weeks. Cross your fingers for me!

And as always, thank youfor being here for me. I appreciate your comments, emails, prayers and concern. They mean so much to me and help me get through another day.

~Monica