37 Weeks...Is There An End?

I had been feeling pretty good and was looking forward to the end of this pregnancy and was so glad that I have made it this long and that the baby is looking good. Then last weekend I starting feeling more uncomfortable and then I started noticing some swelling in my feet, hands and face. I know that is not a good thing. I kept thinking "I wonder what my blood pressure is?" But I held off calling the Dr. because I had a regular appointment on Monday. Sunday was the worst of the swelling and my hands and face weren't as swollen when I woke up on Monday, but my feet were bad! I went to the Dr., and wouldn't you know it, he had left to do a delivery!! Just my luck! I opted to wait and see if he came back soon because my blood pressure in the office was 158/83 or something like that the first time. So she let me rest for a few minutes and took it again. It was 138/100 or something just as bad. So she switched arms and it was 143/96...something that was still pretty high. So I knew I wanted to visit with the Dr and see what he wanted me to do (secretly I was hoping he would say see you in the morning for delivery....ya right!) So he made it back pretty quickly and did the regular checkup. Baby looked good, he was just concerned about the blood pressure and swelling. So he was going to put me on blood pressure medication asap and wants me to start having bi-weekly appts. Also for that day blood work, 24 hour urine protein, and a non-stress test. WOW!!! It was almost 5:00 at this point and decided he wanted the lab work as soon as possible so off I went to the hospital to have the labs done and the non-stress test.

Matt was a little freaked out when I called and told him I was on my way to the hospital for some tests. But I wasn't too worried, the Dr. was calm and I knew I would have been able to tell if it was serious. I got to the hospital and the nurses in Labor and Delivery looked at me like I was crazy walking into the unit telling them what I was there for without a Drs. orders. But the called him and quickly verified why I was there, hooked me up to the machine and drew my blood (again!) The baby looked good, very active and I was having regular contractions...could I be in labor on my own?!! I wish!! The Dr. checked on me after about 1 hour and my blood pressure was way down, in the 126/60 range so what did he tell me?....BED REST for the duration on my pregnancy!! What?? How am I supposed to be on bed rest and still take care of 2 other kids and my house and all that other stuff?? Also still having bi-weekly appts for non-stress tests and blood pressure checks. I am currently filling a jug for the protein count and we will see what the lab results are on that. So we are still looking towards the 15th for the delivery, if all goes well the next few weeks. I just once want things to work out how I imagine them! So for now I am home all the time, relaxing and being bored. Trying not to see the mess and destruction the kids are making and just trying to get some sleep. Wish me luck...I am not one that sits still for long, I hope I can do it! Next appt on Thursday.