Ultrasound leads to hospital stay

The last day and a half has been the longest of my life. I went in yesterday morning to have the growth ultrasound of the baby. (Preeclampsia can decrease the blood flow to the placenta leading to growth restriction, so they were just checking to make sure.) The baby looks great...she is growing normally and they estimate her to be about 3 pounds. The problem was that they took my blood pressure after the ultrasound, and it was a whopping 168/101. The perinatologist walked me right down to labor & delivery and said that I was their new little friend.

And so I was admitted to IMC (the big new hospital in Murray). The next few hours were filled with not so pleasant experiences, including 3 pokes for an IV (including another poke for a lab draw...hello? Can you not draw blood off of a 18 gauge IV?? I can...), 2 attempts for a urinary catheter, a bolus dose of magnesium followed by a magnesium drip (this medicine is given to prevent me from having a seizure...which is good, but I would not wish this drug on my worst enemy), another medicine to keep my blood pressure down, and the emotionally traumatic news that I may have to be induced to deliver in the next day or so if things didn't improve. I have decided that I do NOT like being the patient...I'm much more comfortable on the other end of the medical profession.

Well, it was a rough night last night with absolutely no sleep (the bed in L/D is horribly uncomfortable, the nurse has to come in the check reflexes every hour, the doc was in every other hour, the blood pressure cuff went off every 30 minutes, and magnesium makes you feel like CRAP!), but things are looking a little better today. I have a lot of good doctors watching out for me, including the perinatologist team and my OB. Basically it is in the perinatologists' hands as to how long I will be allowed to stay pregnant. Obviously the best thing for my body would be to deliver my baby girl as soon as possible, as this will make the disease process go away, but that means delivering a premature baby (I'm only 29 weeks along right now!), which is not optimal either. When staying pregnant is going to be too much of a risk to me, the perinatologists will decide that it is time to deliver. For right now, my blood pressure looks better and everything else has been stable, so they stopped my magnesium drip and sent me up to the maternity floor. The bed is MUCH more comfy here, I got my catheter out, and they heplocked my IV so I can at least get up to the bathroom. And...they let me eat for the first time since Sunday night...it was delightful!

So here I am in maternity, and according to the experts I will be here until I deliver this little peanut. I just hope it will be at least a few more weeks...there are too many complications that can happen with babies born this early. (This is a time when I know too much!)

Thanks so much for all of the good wishes and offers to help. I love you all!! Feel free to come visit! I would love the distraction...