Going to the hospital tomorrow...

[Mariposa]

well, since i am now without a MW or any care provider for that matter, i am going to the hospital tomorrow to hopefully get some labs drawn and whatever else they decide to do to me. my blood pressure just keeps rising slowly, but steadily and so does the amount of protein in my urine. i am hoping to convince them to just let me keep chilling at home and come in for weekly or whatever tests. that is of course if none of my labs have changed.

i am only 37 weeks exactly tomorrow. i just haven't had labs in almost 10 days and i am nervous as to what is going on in my body, since things are progressing with the high blood pressure and protein in urine. i would wait longer, but i don't want to risk it. baby is moving lots and i listen with fetoscope at least once a day and hear accels and decels, but i still want to be sure that nothing else is going on inside me, heading towards pre-eclampsia. (i know docs would say i already have pre-e with BPs of 140s-170s/90s-100s and 3-4+ protein, but my labs were okay at 35weeks.)

wish me luck. i really want to go to term. terrified of being induced, being on mag sulfate while in labor, etc. this whole situation sucks and i am trying to be positive. got everything ready, washed clothes, set up co-sleeper, installed car seat, etc. in hopes that things will be fine and i can just be sent home to rest and return whenever they want for more labs, etc.

[JillChristina]

:Hug Wishing you and your baby the best outcome. I sincerely hope that your labs turn out to be fine and you can come home and rest. If you do have to be admitted, I wish the best of care for you. I'll be keeping you and your baby in my thoughts and prayers.

Jill

[Tine]

Good luck, Mariposa. I'm sending you and your baby calming, low-blood-pressure vibes.

[Sopris]

mariposa,

I'm thinking of you also-- and wishing you strength for your birthing time.

One thing that has helped me with my own fears is from the Birthing From Within book- the author encourages you to do art (just a pencil sketch or with crayons- whatever) or write out your thoughts. In two parts, you first draw/ write what you most fear for your birthing. Part two is, if what you most fear should occur, how will you cope. I found the visualization of it very powerful- when I did my "most fear" drawing, my partner and I cried for about a half an hour because my drawing was really scary for me. Then, my second drawing was very empowering and I like to look at it, although it also made me cry for a while. It was a powerful process that helped me deal with some of my terrified feelings.

[AppleCrisp]

I don't have any advice for you, just good wishes - hope you can find some peace with the situation :hug .

Good luck with your appointment and keep us posted.

[corhorvath]

Good luck Mariposa! I hope your lab results come back ok and that you get some more time to rest and let your baby brew. No matter what, I hope you and your baby come out as two healthy individuals-either now or in 3 weeks. I wish you all the best!

[nikisager]

I hope everything turns out ok for you and little one. Keep us updated?

[Mariposa]

thanks guys. my BP is still going up, so i am pretty sure that they will be inducing me. docs don't like to play with pre-e and i am now mentally prepared to be admitted. i will be going later this evening after DH gets home. i am packing now and getting the house cleaned a bit. not that it won't be a disaster when i get home, but still...

i am definitely mourning the loss of my home birth, the loss of my MW and the whole situation. i am afraid that i won't be able to push the baby out on magnesium sulfate. i am afraid i won't be able to deal with artificial induction and will end up requesting an epidural and then afraid the induction won't work and i will end up with a c-section.

i am trying to think positive and think that the main thing is that me and baby be okay. so that is what i am doing.

[InochiZo]

Good luck I hope everything goes ok.

[Kam]

You've got a lot of strength to be making this hard decision. Frankly, I think you've cut your losses well with the MW--she doesn't sound like the most supportive, health-conscious person around, and maybe it's better that she is not the one you depend on when push comes to shove (literally!). I'm glad you're looking to someone(s) who will take your health issues seriously.

If there is a window for starting labor, like 12 hours or something, I wonder whether you could talk them into trying some natural techniques first (and then go straight to the powerful ones like cohash and nipple stim and castor oil). They could still monitor you, but you might make a little progression your own that way. Might be good for a few less hours on the pit/magsulf or whatever. Just a thought.

In any case, I hope you and baby come out of everything very well, and that your birth is still the wonderful event you have hoped for. It still can be, even in a hospital, you know! We'll all be pulling for you here.

warmly,
Kam, mamamama! to Meg and one more, due 3/20

[Mariposa]

just a quick update. noemi sofia was born on 2/28/06. she weighed in at 4lbs 11oz and was 17 1/4" long. we are doing good. got home last night. will update more later.

[beanbean]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

[bionicsquirrel]

Congrats. I am glad to hear you are doing well and both you and baby are home safe.

[Kam]

Congratulations, Mariposa! I hope Abby is adjusting well to being a big sister, and that everyone is healthy and well. Noemi is such a beautiful name--I wonder what kanji you've chosen for it. I'll be looking forward to hearing all about it.

Welcome to the world, little Noemi!

[Mariposa]

http://69.20.14.30/discussions/showthread.php?p=4707582#post4707582

there is the LONG birth story, finally.

we are all doing good at home!! thanks!!

[Jenny0116]

Mariposa,
Congrats on the birth of your baby girl!
Thank you for your birth story. I am inspired. I am on bedrest for gestational hypertension and being told by my MW that I will be induced on my guess date (3-14)-they are worried about the efficiency of the placenta since my BP has been up for 4 wks already (140/90 mostly). I have also taken the hypnobabies course. I have been really worried about the induction and ending up w/a c-sec, but you showed me I can do it. I am going to continue w/the come out baby script and dtd every night and the acupuncture appts I have this week. I am trying so hard to avoid the induction.
Take care! I hope you and your family continue to be safe and healthy.
Jen

[Mariposa]

jen-

glad i inspired someone. i didn't feel so inspiring then. the hypnobabies birth day tape really helped me to focus. i hope you don't have to get induced, but if you do, make sure the pump the pitocin on is working! :LOL

i was surprised about the hypnobabies because even though i always felt relaxed when i listened to the cd's, i never felt like i was in hypnosis.

you can totally do it! having a doula there might help as well! good luck to you!!

[Tine]

Congratulations, Mariposa, and welcome to the world, Noemi!

[Jenny0116]

Mariposa-
So I didn't have to worry about induction. My water broke at 930 mon night. I delivered naturally on Tues at 344pm. I have a beautiful perfect baby girl named Shelby. Thanks for the support!
Take care!
Jen