Week 32 Bed Rest Dr. Appt.

Week 32:

At 32 Weeks Jordan started his Pediatric rotation at Dell Children's Hospital. 

(Finally! Surgery is over!;) He does Inpatient Pediatrics for 4 weeks (at Dell Children's), 

Newborn Nursery (at Brackenridge hospital) for 1 week and then finishes with 

Outpatient Pediatrics (at a private practice pediatric office in Round Rock) for 3 weeks.

So total, its 8 weeks of Peds, we'll see how he likes it! 

On Tuesday (August 28th) I had my 32 week appointment. Since Jordan

had just started his new rotation the day before and he didn't know is schedule until that day,
 I went alone to the appointment. I didn't think it was a big deal, I

just wanted to tell the Doctor about the increased swelling I've been having, the carpal tunnel,

and the upper right quadrant pain in my abdomen (in my rib area).

I've tried to remember to take a picture at every appointment;)

Once the nurse came in she took my blood pressure...it was high.

My entire pregnancy I have had really good low blood pressure, so she saw this as a concern.

They also took my weight, I had been gaining weight normally the entire time as well, but all of the sudden, in the last month I have had a ton of rapid weight gain (due to all the swelling), also she saw this as a concern. She told me to wait until the doctor came in so we could talk more about

these things. He came in and immediately saw my swelling. I told him I'd been having really

bad carpal tunnel as well. He asked me if I had been seeing stars ever- (which I had, but I 

totally thought I was crazy or just seeing things!) I told him yes, but that I didn't realize that

was associated to the blood pressure (nor did I know my blood pressure was high-because

I've never had a problem with it before). Then he asked me whether I had any pain in my upper

right rib area-I told him yes! I really wanted to discuss that with him because it was incredibly

painful and its making it hard for me to work and stuff....well, that's apparently my liver.

All of the (what I thought) random symptoms I had been having weren't random at all.

 He told me that this was very serious, especially this early (at 32 weeks) and that he wanted me

to go on bed rest. He didn't want me walking around (unless necessary at the house for 

bathroom, shower, letting dogs out when I'm alone, etc) or leaving the house. He also

ordered me to buy a blood pressure machine and check it at least 3 time a day and email

it to him to monitor. He then proceeded to talk to me about the diagnosis of 

pre-eclampsia and how I should be taking this very seriously so I don't develop HELLP syndrome. 

He said if I was further along he would "take the baby now", because that is the cure.
But since I'm only 32 weeks we need to be cautious and try to keep him in as long as possible.

He wanted me to get 2 steroid shots (betamethasone) for fetal lung development for

Conrad. I got the one shot that day and then was supposed to come back tomorrow for the

next shot. This is in case my symptoms worsen so quickly/badly they have to deliver me

pre-term. I also got blood work done and had my urine checked to see how my platelets, liver

and kidneys were functioning. (All tests they do for Pre-E and HELLP)

Well, as you can imagine, this was quite overwhelming for me! I had no idea there would

be a problem, let alone that I would be put on bed rest! The worst part was that

Jordan wasn't with me, so I had to relay all this information to him,  (when my head was kind of spinning with overload) and he wasn't able to be 

there to help in asking questions, explaining to me what was actually going on, etc. 

I was a little freaked out, especially since I wasn't quite familiar

pre-eclampsia, or Hellp, and, anytime someone says 

"I would deliver the baby now if I could" it kind of scares you. I called Jordan when I left the 

office and let him know. He left work early to come home and talk to me 

about what was going on, as well as help me set up my new "bed rest" station

in the bedroom. The doctor said I could sit at my desk to work some, but it would

be best if I was in the bed. 

Technology, technology, and more technology is what my bed rest setup consists of:)

...oh yea, and my cute lil pups there to keep me company...or should I say, "stare at me" lol:

It was kind of hard to get my mind back into working at that point. 

I felt like i had been overdoing it before, so I started to revamp everything

in case something happened and I couldn't work anymore.

I am very very grateful I have a job I can do in bed at home, or

anywhere really. That is certainly a blessing!

Jordan got to learn how to be a cook! haha. I sat in the kitchen and told

him everything to do to make us some food. It's pretty funny, he's doing a 

great job though!

The next day, I went back to the doctor to get my 2nd shot

of betamethasone. I look happy, that was before the shot-they hurt!;) haha

It just so happens that Jennifer's baby shower is next weekend! I am one of the hostesses

and so I was really sad if I wasn't be able to make it. I thought I would ask the doctor if

there's any way I could please go if I have someone drive me, and promise not to be 

up and around doing stuff-just go straight to the shower, and back. He said YES! (reluctantly though...

haha, he kind of gave me a 'look', but I just smiled and said pleeease;) The fact that I had

my blood pressure machine now made it easier to know what was going on and make sure

I'm not overdoing it. So I will be looking forward to that!

I also decided to take my 32 Week sticker pictures that day since

I was already dressed. lol.

he's definitely growing in there, so that is GOOD!:

That weekend was Labor Day, and since we couldn't do anything "special" I had put Jordan to 

work;) lol!

I wanted the bassinet put together just in case! I didn't like worrying about

that kind of stuff...Bella wanted to help! (and yes, that is MY

toolset I keep upstairs that apparently he wanted to use:)

Just being weird. 

(I'm trying to catch up on blogging!! :)

YAY! finished bassinet;) I love it!! (Its the Safety First Nod-A-Way Bassinet-

its a great price compared to the others with lots of great features-has a night light, sound,

vibration, storage underneath and the windows on either side) Which, I love the little

"window" so I can see in from the bedside! This made things feel

more real, although I know we still have over a month to go, it just 

was neat having this in the room to anticipate his coming!!

Hoping to make it to 37 weeks at least! Here we go;)