Doctor's Orders . . . .

2 weeks of bed rest down . . . with a possible 11 more to go!

On January 25, 2011, I went in for my 27 week checkup for this pregnancy.  As I sat down, the nurse took my blood pressure and it was 160 / 90!  Little to my suprise, that wasn't good.  Soon the doctor came in and wanted to double check my blood pressure after I had sat there for a minute, and when he checked it, it ended up being 160 / 100.  He then started to explain what I was up against with blood pressure that high this early in my pregnancy.  He asked if I had experienced any symptoms of having high blood pressure, headaches, heart racing, seeing flashing lights, nausea, etc, which looking back I had dealt with bad headaches, but I never thought anything about them.  He had me go to the hospital to take a non-stress test.  I was hoping I would be able to go back to work afterwards, but he said that I would be there as long as it was necessary to bring my blood pressure down to a safer range.  He said that I shouldn't worry about work, because these next few days could change drastically in my life.  So off to the hospital I went.  It only took 45 minutes for my blood pressure to go way down.  The nurse soon came in and said that the doctor wants to put you on bed rest for a few days and then he wants to see you again on Thursday.  So I followed doctors orders and went home and took it easy until Thursday.  

Well my appointment on Thurday, January 27, 2011, went about the same way as my Tuesday appointment.  I started by taking a non-stress test at the hospital first and of course like expected, my blood pressure is right where it needs to be when I am laying down, but a completely different story when I am up and moving around.  I went to the doctor's office, had the nurse take my blood pressure and this time it was 150 / 88.  (I can't remember the exact bottom number, but right now the doctor is concerned over the top number.)  The doctor came in and explained the details of toxemia and the effects that it can have on me and the baby.  He prescribed a prescription of blood pressure medicine and in the meantime, no cooking or cleaning and take things easy.

So last Thursday, I went again for another follow up appointment.  I did the non-stress test at the hospital first and then had my appointment with the doctor at 1:30.  Just like clockwork, my blood pressure again was a lot better when laying down compared to when I am up and moving around.  This appointment, the nurse took my blood pressure and my top number was 139.  The doctor said that after reviewing the report from the hospital and seeing how my blood pressure has lowered from what it has been in the past, he was relieved that things were starting to work!  He said he has been very nervous about me and that I should continue bed rest since we can see the results of it actually working.  He said in fact, I have probably bought bed rest for the rest of this pregnancy, which is 11 more weeks.  One thing he did say was that because of my situation now and because I ended up having high blood pressure at the very end of my pregnancy with Ally, he thought that my chances of going 40 weeks is slim to none.  So this baby may come around week 36 or 37 if she is ready.  I go again to the doctor tomorrow for another follow-up, so I hope things are still good.  And through all of this, this little one shows no sign of stress at all . . . thank goodness!