Feeling a little off...

[scheelimama]

no, it's not labor related. I've got a bit of a headache for the second time today. The weird thing is that the headache came while I was sleeping both times (wee hours of the morning, then after a nap today). I had high blood pressure at my last two appt's with trace protein in my urine at the last appt. I haven't had much of an appetite today, but I think I've eaten okay. I've had plenty of water and I've forced myself to eat a fair bit of cheese to keep from getting too yucky feeling (from lack of protein.) I just had a glass of water and a larabar, and still, I just feel kind of off and yucky. Can't totally pinpoint what, just kind of lightheaded, kind of icky tummy, slight headache. And I took a nap and had my feet up for several hours this afternoon. I'm trying to decide if I should call the mw. The office is a half hour away and I don't really have anyone to drive me and I hate driving when I feel this way. This isn't the first time I've felt yuck these last few weeks, but given the fact that my blood pressure has been elevated recently and there was protein in my urine at my last appt., I'm more concerned this time. What should I do? Any other tricks I can try to help myself feel better?

[scheelimama]

So, I sat down and felt even worse, so I decided to call. They told me to come right in. I'm trying to figure out a ride and childcare at the moment, but I'll update you all this evening when I get back. Please pray that it's not preeclampsia. I'm not ready to have this baby and I certainly don't want to go to the hospital. I've been fearing pre-e for the last few weeks.

[Hezzy]

I hope everything's okay, and that it's just a bug or something. Sorry you're feeling so bad. Let us know what happens.

[dcgrl]

hoping it's nothing to worry about!

[Curlita]

Hope it's nothing major... and sending you lots of empathy over having to figure out childcare to get there AND feeling crummy at the same time.

[TulikaEma]

Hope everything is ok, and its just normal-pregnancy-crappy feelings and nothing more...sending good energy your way.

[aylaanne]

I hope everything's okay, but I'm really glad you're going in.

[GinaRae]

Waiting to hear news! I am really concerned for you. Hopefully it's just being worn down or something...

[scheelimama]

Everything checked out fine. I still feel a little off, but my blood pressure was lower than the previous two appt's, no protein in my urine, baby sounded great and everything measured good. She had no reason to be concerned. The mw concluded that perhaps it is something sinus related coming on or my blood sugar was too low (though we didn't actually check that, since it was checked on Monday.) I told her maybe all I needed was to be away from the kids for a few hours and that's why everything was better, which she thought was a definite possibility.

She asked me if I was having any contractions and I told her none today, but that I had quite a few 2 days ago but told my body it wasn't time and it stopped. She asked me why in the world I would do that (there are several mw's at this office so they don't really me). I told her my husband isn't here yet and I want to wait until he gets here. I got a lecture about how that never works. Babies are usually born right before or after their daddy's r&r. And if I try to keep my body from going into labor when it's what my body needs, I'm just going to end up with problems and feeling yucky more than I should.

So, what, should I tell my body its okay to have this baby whenever its ready? I'm wondering what the chances are of me going into labor tonight given the fact that I've felt crummy and just *off* all day (I really don't think its sinus/cold related, it's very much pregnancy related) if I talked to my body/baby and made peace with her coming before dh gets here. I've had prodromal labor for the past 5-6 days (which I've never had with previous pregnancies.) And although I don't ever respond to the poop related threads, I've definitely had my fair share of bowel cleansing over the last two days. I just don't know if I can do this without dh. :

I think the mw thinks this feeling crummy-ness is more related to me trying to hold off labor. Baby was very quiet yesterday, almost to the point where I was ready to go in for an NST. It's been such a rough pregnancy, maybe I just need to give into my body and allow things to happen as they need to. (Now watch me go 2 more weeks, well into dh's r&r, and past my due date.)

[wwisdomskr]

I'm glad everything is okay. I can only imagine the stress of trying to time your birth around your sweet dh's r&r... Anyone in your position would do/hope for the same thing. You are in my thoughts.

Baby will come when the time is right. I hope that the right time coincides just right with the leave, etc. Either way, you are an amazingly strong mama and you will be able to do it.

[Curlita]

I think there is a fine line between allowing things to happen or discouraging them from happening AND performing actual baby-conjuring voodoo. If it were REALLY REALLY time for baby to come, I don't think that you would win that argument with him/her, regardless of whether your husband is home or not. Silly for your MW to chastise you for holding your baby back.

I'm glad that they didn't find anything wrong... hopefully you'll be feeling better. Hang in there.

[GooeyRN]

I'm glad the midwife didn't find anything wrong. I don't blame you for wanting your dh present. I would have had the same talk with my body and baby if it were me. I hope you feel better, soon.

[Isaac'sMa]

Originally Posted by wwisdomskr

Baby will come when the time is right. I hope that the right time coincides just right with the leave, etc. Either way, you are an amazingly strong mama and you will be able to do it.

:
I would want my dh there too...I can't say I blame you one bit for that. I would want the same if I were in your shoes. I am sorry that the MW was not more understanding of the situation.

I'm glad you went in and everything checked out okay....I know you've been struggling with the fear of pre-e.

I was thinking as I read your OP that maybe it was just the cheese that gave you the headache the second time around? For pp prone to headaches, esp. migraines, cheese is a pretty common trigger... I hope that's all it was

[scheelimama]

I've never had problems with cheese before Laura. Hmmm... Who knows what it was...I've felt off before, and never worried about it. I really was only worried since the headache reoccurred twice in one day and with my previously high blood pressure. But I'm happy all turned out well.

[TulikaEma]

Originally Posted by scheelimama

She asked me if I was having any contractions and I told her none today, but that I had quite a few 2 days ago but told my body it wasn't time and it stopped. She asked me why in the world I would do that (there are several mw's at this office so they don't really me). I told her my husband isn't here yet and I want to wait until he gets here. I got a lecture about how that never works. Babies are usually born right before or after their daddy's r&r. And if I try to keep my body from going into labor when it's what my body needs, I'm just going to end up with problems and feeling yucky more than I should.

This nearly made me cry when I read it...IMO, we have a very strong mind-body connection, and your body will be ready when your mind and emotions are ready. From your posts, its clear that having DH at the birth is important to you, so chances are your body will be ready when he's home. And--I'd bet that you didn't even have to tell your body that, I'm sure it already knows (powerful mond-body connection). Furthermore, if there was some important reason for you to go into labor sooner, your body would know that and over-ride your desire to have DH there. I don't think your harming yourself by asking to wait--I think its a healthy affirmation of what you are hoping for. Of course, its also wonderful to come to peace with what whatever happens, and it sounds like you are doing that.
Best wishes and hope you feel better soon!

[scheelimama]

Thanks Heidi. That makes me feel much better. I felt like that, but after what the mw said, I wasn't so sure. Thanks everyone for reaffirming me. The secretary at the birth center agreed with me. She said women will struggle in labor, but then their dh will walk in the door and suddenly, their bodies will cooperate and everything will start to work as it should, moving smoothly along.

[LittleBrownDog]

I have a friend who started labor as soon as she got the call that her DH had made his connecting flight and was on the way home from Iraq. She was in active labor when his plane touched down, they went straight from the airport to the hospital and the baby was born.

It sounds like having your DH there is really important to you and I think if your body can make it that is awesome!