Well, all I can say is that at least I got to be home for Christmas.
I'll spare everyone the gory details, but I am back in the hospital....and now for the duration of my pregnancy.
Everyone is fine, but this makes "3 strikes" for me and my doctor now isn't going to take chances with me being across town from a delivery room in case something happens....So now I am going to be a long-term resident here at "Hotel Riverside" and the next time I am home, I'll have a baby with me. Crazy.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Home Sweet Home
On Friday I got the best Christmas present ever -- I was discharged from the hospital!!!
It was certainly a long week in the hospital, but we're now at 26 weeks, so each week this baby grows the better. When I got home, I was "attacked" by my 75 lb. "baby" Abby, who is quite excited to have me home....I don't think she will let me out of her sight anytime soon.
I have settled down at home for what will be a long period of home-bound bed rest. The doctor discharged me with pretty strict orders. Basically, I can't leave the house except for doctor visits, and if I have another episode then he warned me that he is "trigger happy" and won't hesitate to plunk me back in the hospital for the duration. As a result, as I'm sure you can imagine, Jon is going to be VERY strict with the rules.
It was certainly a long week in the hospital, but we're now at 26 weeks, so each week this baby grows the better. When I got home, I was "attacked" by my 75 lb. "baby" Abby, who is quite excited to have me home....I don't think she will let me out of her sight anytime soon.
I have settled down at home for what will be a long period of home-bound bed rest. The doctor discharged me with pretty strict orders. Basically, I can't leave the house except for doctor visits, and if I have another episode then he warned me that he is "trigger happy" and won't hesitate to plunk me back in the hospital for the duration. As a result, as I'm sure you can imagine, Jon is going to be VERY strict with the rules.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Greetings from the Hospital
Last time I wrote I was wondering when I could go back to work....and I was allowed to go back to work on Wednesday, with some restrictions on my day -- I could only work 9-5 and I had to take a 15 minute break to lie down every 2 hours. (Really cramping my "style", but I understand that my health (and the baby's health) is most important.) By the time I got to work on Wednesday morning, the firm had already moved a couch into my office and switched my parking to a closer garage. My secretary very strictly monitored my breaks, and everyone at work was really good about my workload and making sure I was okay before we figured out the work part of things.
Things were going really well until Friday afternoon -- I had more bleeding at work and called the doctor's office -- they promptly sent me to Riverside (Riverside Methodist, a local hospital here), and as I type this message on Sunday afternoon, I'm still at Riverside. Jon met me at the hospital and by "sheer chance" (lots of prayer) my doctor (who doesn't often work on Fridays) was at the hospital for a surgery and the triage nurse saw him getting a cup of coffee and drug him into my room. So, we got to meet with him instead of the parade of residents (sorry to my younger doctor friends, but I know you understand). It made Jon feel much better to talk to our doctor, since Jon had missed my Monday afternoon appointment where we'd talked about risks and goals of the pregnancy.
Basically, we're only at 25 weeks -- past the point of viability -- but no one wants this kid to come out anytime soon. So, I was admitted Friday night....with a clear liquids only diet, and strict bed rest (i.e ., no getting up even for the bathroom), and these boots that puff air every 6 seconds into alternating feet to keep you from getting blood clots. Needless to say I didn't sleep at at Friday night (I was counting the minutes until 5am when I was SURE my mom would be up and I'd have someone to call!) By Saturday morning I was allowed to remove the boots, was onto real food (hospital oatmeal is like Thanksgiving dinner when you haven't had anything to eat in what feels like forever -- even the nurse was surprised I ate it; it is apparently very bad), and was allowed to get up for the bathroom. A real day of progress. Today I was allowed to take a shower and I got my IV removed (but had to leave the port in since I will likely be here for at least a few more days this week). Trust me when I tell you that I am really learning about small steps and simple pleasures at this point! The nursing staff has been great and when you're in the maternity ward, they actually let you sleep from 11pm until 5am without bothering you for vitals and all of that stuff.
So, the big question -- how long will I be here? At this point they aren't sure. I know for sure that I am not allowed to go back to work anytime soon, but my doctor said that I some point we can negotiate how many hours I can put in on the laptop from bed. I will be in the hospital for at least part of this week and "we'll see" about a discharge to home bed rest after that. The real issue right now is that since I'm only in my 6th month, it is much safer to be a floor away from a delivery room instead of across town, so that is the risk that is being evaluated. I've gotten some steroids to help the baby develop (lungs, among other things) just in case we have a real problem (and the only way to "fix" a real problem is to deliver the baby).
The goals that the doctor is setting are as follows: short term -- get to 28 weeks; longer term -- get to 30-32 weeks; even better -- get to 34 weeks (when everything is developed, but we're just waiting on the baby to grow); and best case goal -- my placenta "moves" as my uterus grows and this all goes away and I deliver full term. In the meantime, know that I'm fine and am not yet too terribly bored...and the baby is very active, healthy and growing.
Things were going really well until Friday afternoon -- I had more bleeding at work and called the doctor's office -- they promptly sent me to Riverside (Riverside Methodist, a local hospital here), and as I type this message on Sunday afternoon, I'm still at Riverside. Jon met me at the hospital and by "sheer chance" (lots of prayer) my doctor (who doesn't often work on Fridays) was at the hospital for a surgery and the triage nurse saw him getting a cup of coffee and drug him into my room. So, we got to meet with him instead of the parade of residents (sorry to my younger doctor friends, but I know you understand). It made Jon feel much better to talk to our doctor, since Jon had missed my Monday afternoon appointment where we'd talked about risks and goals of the pregnancy.
Basically, we're only at 25 weeks -- past the point of viability -- but no one wants this kid to come out anytime soon. So, I was admitted Friday night....with a clear liquids only diet, and strict bed rest (i.e ., no getting up even for the bathroom), and these boots that puff air every 6 seconds into alternating feet to keep you from getting blood clots. Needless to say I didn't sleep at at Friday night (I was counting the minutes until 5am when I was SURE my mom would be up and I'd have someone to call!) By Saturday morning I was allowed to remove the boots, was onto real food (hospital oatmeal is like Thanksgiving dinner when you haven't had anything to eat in what feels like forever -- even the nurse was surprised I ate it; it is apparently very bad), and was allowed to get up for the bathroom. A real day of progress. Today I was allowed to take a shower and I got my IV removed (but had to leave the port in since I will likely be here for at least a few more days this week). Trust me when I tell you that I am really learning about small steps and simple pleasures at this point! The nursing staff has been great and when you're in the maternity ward, they actually let you sleep from 11pm until 5am without bothering you for vitals and all of that stuff.
So, the big question -- how long will I be here? At this point they aren't sure. I know for sure that I am not allowed to go back to work anytime soon, but my doctor said that I some point we can negotiate how many hours I can put in on the laptop from bed. I will be in the hospital for at least part of this week and "we'll see" about a discharge to home bed rest after that. The real issue right now is that since I'm only in my 6th month, it is much safer to be a floor away from a delivery room instead of across town, so that is the risk that is being evaluated. I've gotten some steroids to help the baby develop (lungs, among other things) just in case we have a real problem (and the only way to "fix" a real problem is to deliver the baby).
The goals that the doctor is setting are as follows: short term -- get to 28 weeks; longer term -- get to 30-32 weeks; even better -- get to 34 weeks (when everything is developed, but we're just waiting on the baby to grow); and best case goal -- my placenta "moves" as my uterus grows and this all goes away and I deliver full term. In the meantime, know that I'm fine and am not yet too terribly bored...and the baby is very active, healthy and growing.
Monday, December 10, 2007
A Placenta What???
We've had a few complications with our pregnancy, but everything is fine right now.
First of all, after attending my firm's Christmas party on Saturday night, Jon & I had a low-key evening at home watching TV and then went to bed. On Sunday morning I woke up to some bleeding and my doctor wanted me to go to the hospital to be monitored.....at the hospital they couldn't really tell us much (despite having 5 ultrasounds and seeing 3 doctors -- at one point, all at the same time), other than that my placenta was a little low (they couldn't even tell the sex with 5 ultrasounds -- trust me, Jon asked!!), and the bleeding stopped, so I was allowed to go home. I was told that if I had no more bleeding I could go to work Monday, but that I was to follow up with my doctor in 5-7 days. My instructions after leaving the hospital were "limited activity" so I spent the night on the couch....with Jon monitoring how often I got up -- he is very strict!
Well, today I woke up to a little more....so I called the doctor and got an appointment for that afternoon. I was told not to go to work and to spend the day on the couch. During my appointment I saw my regular doctor -- he is a specialist in high-risk pregnancies (even though I'm not high-risk). I had 2 more ultrasounds. During the first, the doctor told me that the baby is super healthy and above average in size/weight (despite the fact that my belly is still so small). I have now gained almost 10 lbs, so we're doing fine in that regard. The baby weighs 1 lb, 11 oz right now.....and is a GIRL. He got a definitive shot, so now we know for sure (despite all of the previous "inconclusive" ultrasounds yesterday and the main one two weeks before). Jon missed this appointment because of school, but the doctor supplied him a picture because I'd told the doctor how much he wanted to know what we were having.
During my second ultrasound the doctor confirmed that I have what he is calling a mild case of placenta previa. What the heck is that??? Basically, when you have placenta previa the placenta is over the cervix.....in my case, it is not quite over the cervix, but is close enough to cause him concern (so he's calling it a "marginal previa"). Typically with a previa you have to have a c-section, although he told me he has been able to do vaginal deliveries where the placenta was only a little over the opening and he was able to induce and manipulate the baby out without disrupting the placenta. What does this mean for me??? Well, we now have a goal of keeping me from finishing out this pregnancy in the hospital. It is very difficult to predict what will cause bleeding from a previa and it can be dangerous, so the goal is just prevention (he likened predicting what can cause it to predicting earthquakes -- almost impossible).
How will it change things??? I am not to work again tomorrow, but if there is no more bleeding he will let me go back to work on Wednesday. I am no longer permitted to walk the dog. I am no longer to exercise. I am to basically become sedentary. I had to ask what "lie low" meant because I'm not one to enjoy sitting around......basically when I am not at work, I am not to carry anything heavy, the mall is off limits, walking a lot is off limits, etc.
The prospect of sitting around does not make me a happy camper, but I will follow the doctor's orders...and I live with a drill sergeant who will strictly enforce the rules. My doctor told me that I'll likely have ultrasounds at every appointment from here on out....and if the placenta moves out of the way, I can start to get privileges back. Until then, nadda. Should I start to bleed again, I will likely be sent to the hospital to finish out my pregnancy.....if it is only a small amount, I might be able to just be confined to home....but the goal is to avoid both scenarios.
First of all, after attending my firm's Christmas party on Saturday night, Jon & I had a low-key evening at home watching TV and then went to bed. On Sunday morning I woke up to some bleeding and my doctor wanted me to go to the hospital to be monitored.....at the hospital they couldn't really tell us much (despite having 5 ultrasounds and seeing 3 doctors -- at one point, all at the same time), other than that my placenta was a little low (they couldn't even tell the sex with 5 ultrasounds -- trust me, Jon asked!!), and the bleeding stopped, so I was allowed to go home. I was told that if I had no more bleeding I could go to work Monday, but that I was to follow up with my doctor in 5-7 days. My instructions after leaving the hospital were "limited activity" so I spent the night on the couch....with Jon monitoring how often I got up -- he is very strict!
Well, today I woke up to a little more....so I called the doctor and got an appointment for that afternoon. I was told not to go to work and to spend the day on the couch. During my appointment I saw my regular doctor -- he is a specialist in high-risk pregnancies (even though I'm not high-risk). I had 2 more ultrasounds. During the first, the doctor told me that the baby is super healthy and above average in size/weight (despite the fact that my belly is still so small). I have now gained almost 10 lbs, so we're doing fine in that regard. The baby weighs 1 lb, 11 oz right now.....and is a GIRL. He got a definitive shot, so now we know for sure (despite all of the previous "inconclusive" ultrasounds yesterday and the main one two weeks before). Jon missed this appointment because of school, but the doctor supplied him a picture because I'd told the doctor how much he wanted to know what we were having.
During my second ultrasound the doctor confirmed that I have what he is calling a mild case of placenta previa. What the heck is that??? Basically, when you have placenta previa the placenta is over the cervix.....in my case, it is not quite over the cervix, but is close enough to cause him concern (so he's calling it a "marginal previa"). Typically with a previa you have to have a c-section, although he told me he has been able to do vaginal deliveries where the placenta was only a little over the opening and he was able to induce and manipulate the baby out without disrupting the placenta. What does this mean for me??? Well, we now have a goal of keeping me from finishing out this pregnancy in the hospital. It is very difficult to predict what will cause bleeding from a previa and it can be dangerous, so the goal is just prevention (he likened predicting what can cause it to predicting earthquakes -- almost impossible).
How will it change things??? I am not to work again tomorrow, but if there is no more bleeding he will let me go back to work on Wednesday. I am no longer permitted to walk the dog. I am no longer to exercise. I am to basically become sedentary. I had to ask what "lie low" meant because I'm not one to enjoy sitting around......basically when I am not at work, I am not to carry anything heavy, the mall is off limits, walking a lot is off limits, etc.
The prospect of sitting around does not make me a happy camper, but I will follow the doctor's orders...and I live with a drill sergeant who will strictly enforce the rules. My doctor told me that I'll likely have ultrasounds at every appointment from here on out....and if the placenta moves out of the way, I can start to get privileges back. Until then, nadda. Should I start to bleed again, I will likely be sent to the hospital to finish out my pregnancy.....if it is only a small amount, I might be able to just be confined to home....but the goal is to avoid both scenarios.
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