I guess I need some hugs

[Lily's_Mom]

Dh only had so much time on the phone at work, and asked if there was anyone else I could talk to about this.

A week ago I was just cruising along, thinking how great this pregnancy is going, feeling so relaxed and just excited to wait until baby decides to be born.

Then I had my mw appt.

As she put the blood-pressure cuff on my arm, she asked how I was feeling and I went on for a full minute about how much better it is this time around, compared to when I was 37 weeks with dd and my blood-pressure was going up, I had to do 24 hour urine collections, go for u/s, NSTs etc. I said how relaxed I felt and how excited I was to just meet the baby. So she checks my bp and then gets a funny look on her face. My bp was 150/96. I never had a reading that high. Thankfully most of my readings since (at the grocery store) have been right around 130/80, so I'm not freaking out about my bp yet.

But my bubble is burst. I'm feeling like I'm headed to a hospital induction, just like happened with dd. That would mean $150 wasted renting a birth pool (which just arrived an hour ago), but other than that, I was thinking hospital birth was okay last time and I can live with it this time.

And then I had another mw appt today.

Find out I'm GBS+ and my mw mentioned how hardcore hospitals in this city are about managing babies of GBS+ moms. I don't want my baby to get a spinal tap! We really need to stay out of the hospital, since I don't want IV abx, and I don't want them traumatizing my baby (and it seems it will mostly likely be a choice between one or the other).

I'm 38.5 weeks, dd was born at 42 weeks. I've probably still got 3 weeks left. And rising blood pressure. And a big GBS+ on my record.

I just really want to go into labor naturally and have a homebirth so my baby doesn't have tons of horrible stuff done to it at the hospital. But it seems once again that homebirth is just something I can daydream about.

Thanks for listening.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

[perditafoster]

big huge s to you, mama! I am so very sorry for all this icky stuff so late in pregnancy. I would be a total basketcase right now if I were you....

RE the GBS +: can you be retested? If so, how about hibiclens/hydrogen peroxide (I think) douche, garlic capsules, and echinacea capsules? I did that with ds and I was a lovely negative. Took the capsules by mouth, btw And you know what? you might labor so quickly that you have an unplanned unassisted childbirth at home like I did last time...just sayin' that all is not lost!

I bet your bp went up because of situational stress; mine sure does super easy, even though I have nice low bp normally. But man, if I get worked up, those #s skyrocket! Good luck and I hope things get better; we're all kinda fallin' apart here at the end, aren't we?????

[First-Time-Mommy]

i didn't have high blood pressure much either, but there were a few occasions i was so stressed about a visit that my bp was crazy high. i would worry myself with something going wrong that i just panicked and poof my bp skyrocketed.

i'm sorry to hear about this... the pp's advice sounds reassuring though! maybe try it and see what happens with retesting? seems like it could be worth a shot!

i really hope everything goes good for you though... this is definitly a load of stress to be carrying around so far along . best wishes momma,

[jess152]

My mom has high blood pressure and her doc recommended she take her own bp at home with her own cuff. He said that just the activity of driving to his office, through traffic, parking, being out and about, etc would drive up her bp to past what it would normally be resting. Keep that in mind! It might not be as bad as it seems...

[vegasgrl]

You know, now that others have commented, my BP, which is normally 120/80'ish, has been CRAZY high the first reading at three or four midwife appointments...last week it was like 160/100 or something nutso. I kept telling them I felt great, other than the obvious eclampsia. We waited and took it again at the end, and every single time it was WAY lower - not necessarily 120/80, but like 135/85. And all of my drugstore readings have been right around 120/80. Anyway, I think there's something to be said for the anticipation of an appointment, and the driving and the walking and etc. So you don't necessarily have a BP that's going to rise for the next three weeks. Although worrying about it could be self-fulfilling. Is there a drugstore close by or some other place it would be convenient to check it? Maybe if you check it every day and see it's normal it would ease your mind a bit.

About the GBS, I'm so sorry to hear that. Try and take one thing at a time, though. To spin the web all the way down to your LO getting a spinal tap...well, I understand how it's easy to go there (I tend to explore worst case scenarios ad infinitum), but it's not going to help the BP!!!

So yeah, here's a hug for you mama. Hang in there!!!!!!!

[manzelliland]

Ideas for GBS +

I have been one of those silly lurkers here. Couldn't help but come out from the darkness for you. I was planning a home birth but tested GBS+, which in this state precludes me from having a home birth . I have researched the heck out of GBS and there are many different alternative protocols recommended including garlic suppositories, tea tree soaked tampons, and regimens of herbs. I didn't have a lot of time and the quickest results for reversing a GBS positive result is the hibiclens protocol (in a nutshell a vaginal wash with a diluted antiseptic soap), which is followed in several European countries where women may elect to do GBS testing (not standard anywhere except here, Canada, New Zealand and Australia). There are studies from Italy and Norway that support its effectiveness. Google "hibiclens protocol GBS" and you'll find a bunch of information that supports this alternative method for dealing with GBS. You can retest after a cleanse and get a negative result, hopefully. I just retested today at 39 +1 and am awaiting results in 3 days.

Another thought, should you be forced to deal with a hospital birth, is to call around and check in on protocol for a babe born to a GBS+ mom that delivers without antibiotics. I have found that the protocol differs a great deal, from mandatory blood cultures every twelve hours and 48 hours of monitoring to a do nothing just watch carefully for 24 hours. Fortunately, the local hospital in our very small town has the latter policy, so we will birth there.

I'll plan on following the hibiclens protocol at the onset of labor and arrive as late as possible so as to avoid the antibiotics and interventions. I am meeting with the OB that will deliver tomorrow to discuss my hopes and concerns.

Since learning that I can't have a home birth, I swear our little babe is slowly moving up...away from his passage out. Maybe giving us more time to deal or maybe responding to my stress. I am working hard on welcoming him and accepting his birth story, which is already underway, as beautiful and perfect in every way. It is his story and I don't want any negative emotions tied up in this special time. Keep touching base with your heart and the beautiful babe that you will be holding. And I second all the great advice about your blood pressure. Take it at home, after some deep breathing on your left side. Heck, next time you have it taken by a midwife ask to take 15 minutes to lay down and do some deep breathing and positive visualization beforehand. I dealt with high blood pressure towards the end of my first pregnancy and doing just that helped.

Sending positive energy your way!

[notjustmamie]

I had GBS+ and high BP wth DD. I had to change practices from HB to hospital at about 30 weeks. While it wasn't pleasant, they did NOT do a spinal tap on DD. I also would ask for a second test and try some of the tips PPs have suggested.

As for BP, stress will definitely shoot it right up there. I've found that it really helps me to practice visualizations of things I find relaxing (like, rocking in a hammock on the beach). Also, do your MWs take BP at the beginning of the appointment? I've found mine is much lower after they check on baby and I know he's doing okay.

[Lily's_Mom]

Originally Posted by perditafoster

RE the GBS +: can you be retested?

I could ask at my appt next Wed, but then I'll be 40 weeks anyways, so if I end up at the hospital say 40w5d and the new gbs results aren't in they'll just go with the + I'm sure.

I wish I would have known how they handle GBS+ moms/babies here. My mw says she doesn't get it, all the other major cities in the region don't have the same approach, but something about this city they are all gung ho about the GBS+ ones. I did my own swab. I wish I would have just swabbed my @$$ cheek and said 'GBS that!' I totally would have cheated the test if I knew I'd be facing what I am now. But I was thinking, "Oh, if I start labor with my water breaking, it would be good to know my GBS status." Just being a good patient.

Originally Posted by vegasgrl

Is there a drugstore close by or some other place it would be convenient to check it? Maybe if you check it every day and see it's normal it would ease your mind a bit.

Yes, there are 3 bp-checks very close by. I've been checking my bp probably every other day, or at least once a week this entire pregnancy (I had bp issues last time). My bp has been 120s/70s the whole time. It's just this past week that all of a sudden I'm 130s/80s, which doesn't scare me too much...that's what it was at the end with my dd! But tonight I got 150/90 again at the drugstore, and my first reading at the mw today was 145/90. Last time I didn't get systolic numbers higher than 140.

Originally Posted by manzelliland

Sending positive energy your way!

Thanks manzelliland! s to you too.

There's only one hospital in the city that my mw's have privileges at, and I think the protocol is the same at all the hospitals anyways.

Good luck with the GBS re-test, I hope it is neg and you can have your homebirth. Luckily GBS status doesn't risk us out of hb here. The mw can give me a prescription for abx, I can go pick up the bag and have it on hand for when I go into labor. When the mw come to my house they can hook up the IV. But they're cool with me declining abx. It's the hospital protocols I'm worried about, and I'm worried about ending up in the hospital because of my bp and post-dates like I did last time.

Originally Posted by notjustmamie

Also, do your MWs take BP at the beginning of the appointment?

We do all our chatting first. Then they check my bp with me sitting up (and it is high). So I lay down, they measure my belly, feel for baby, check the FHR and then we take my bp again while I'm lying down and it is lower. And that is the one they put in the prenatal records.


Thank you so much for all the hugs and support everyone! It makes me feel better to share the load and know that I'm not the only one who has had blood-pressure issues in pregnancy, or ended up GBS+ (obviously )

Just taking it one day at a time. Dh is being awesome and took over all the housework so I can rest. It would be the greatest thing ever if I went into labor spontaneously sometime before December.

[crunchy_mama]

Big HUGS!!!!

[ShwarmaQueen]

[Beppie]

Taking raw garlic every day is a POWERFUL way to lower your blood pressure.

During pregnancy my BP is usually around 120/70, roughly. Sometimes higher, too like 130/80. There were a few weeks a couple months ago when I was taking raw garlic every day because my family had influenza. On 2 different occasions my MW came for check-ups. We were SO confused for a while when she took my BP. On one occasion it was 102/54. (wow, I thought!) and on another occasion it was similarly 96/50! Both my mw and I were wondering... what is going on??????

then we remembered... I was taking lots of garlic!

it's worth a try. but I'd also say it doesn't work to just do it one day (for example, before getting bp checked), then I found it doesn't have much effect, if any. Instead it's better to do a little bit every day. Try taking a few cloves garlic, chop them up very finely, and swallow with juice... you will hardly taste the garlic at all (and when it's chopped very fine, put on a spoon, and then down it very fast!).

It worked for me!

[Lily's_Mom]

Originally Posted by Beppie

Taking raw garlic every day is a POWERFUL way to lower your blood pressure.

I will give it a shot! We garlic in this house. I had garlic on the shopping list (usually I buy a 3-pack) and Dh bought a pack with a dozen or so heads of garlic in it! So we've just been doubling the garlic in all our recipes lately.

Dd and I will head to the store later on to get some juice (and check my bp!) And then I can come home and start eating garlic.

[Lily's_Mom]

Okay, I don't know if dd and I are going to make it out of the house today. I don't feel so great.

I think this is the beginning of the end. I'm kicking myself for spending $150 for a pool rental that will go to waste. I had a feeling I shouldn't have rented it, but my mw's are so excited about waterbirths and our bathtub sucks, I thought better to have it and not need it, than want it and not have it. Now it's just sitting in the corner of our room, where it will probably sit until we call to have it picked up. Good business for them (the pool rental people).

My mw phoned today. The two of them discussed my measurements and are sending a referral to the hospital for me to get a NST, BPP and u/s to check how baby is doing. Yesterday I measured 32 at 38 weeks (and baby's head was in my pelvis). But the week before baby was floating and I measured 34 (at 37 weeks). Last preg I always measured 2 weeks behind. I don't know, I think I'm even a bit bigger this time around, who knows what's going on.

But I was going to phone them anyways today (funny that they called first!) because I do want to check in on baby. I want to do the NST, the u/s to see how the placenta is holding up and how blood flow is to baby, fluid levels and all that. I want to get the blood-work done to make sure I'm not developing pre-e, but the mw want to see how my pressures are next week before requesting the bloodwork. We don't have a car, so it will not be fun getting to the hospital and I want to get everything done at once! I hope I can meet their back-up OB too.

I hope the mw don't abandon me to the hospital like happened last time. The week before dd was born, we were at the hospital almost every day. I never knew who was going to be taking care of me. It wasn't my mw, because they would always say, "We don't really need to be there for that (ie. monitoring, cervidil induction etc.)" So whoever walked in the room (resident #1, 2, or 3, OB such-and-such, OB whoever) 2 minutes later they've got their hand up my private parts. I had literally 10 different people put their hand up my vagina by the time dd was born.

This time I'm limiting those hands to my mw's, or their back-up ob. Everyone else can keep out of my business and I will tell them so!

Okay, I guess that is my vent. Still hoping baby comes in his/her own time before the sh!t hits the fan, but I think baby wants a bit more time than I've got.

I just talked to my mom and she mentioned how she was induced at 40 weeks with my brother, me and my sister (for bp issues of course). My little brother, the only preg she didn't have bp issues, came in his own time...10 days late! It's not looking good! I will just mention that my sister has had three preg with NO bp issues, and still got induced for no reason with her 3rd. I wish I had the luxury.

Thank you to anyone who read this far!