On June 31st, I had my routine OB check up. Matt was able to come to all of my other appointments with me, but this time he had to work, so I decided to ask my sister Aly to come along with me. I really could have gone alone, but boy was I glad I had asked her to come with.
My appointment was at 11:20 AM, but they were running a little late, so they took me back around 11:40 AM. They took my blood pressure and it was immediately high. I think it was 150/102. The nurse brought us into a room and had me lay down in the dark, trying to lower my BP. Soon the DR came in and checked for swelling, and asked some questions about genetic high BP. I let him know my mother had high BP with each of her pregnancies, but it was only high blood pressure, nothing more. He then told me he wanted me to go across the street to Utah Valley Regional Labor & Delivery to be observed and run some tests. Of course that made me start freaking out a little, especially since I was only 26 weeks preggers. They took my BP again before sending me on my way and it had risen to 176/125!
So, luckily, Aly is a stay at home mommy (the best one too), and was more than happy to come with me across the street to the hospital. I called Matt at work and let him know what that we were headed over for some tests. He talked to his boss and was able to leave for a little while. When we got to the L&D they were expecting me. they brought me back into a room and gave me a lovely gown to put on. At this point, I was still feeling fine! I didn't have anything but the high bp. They then took several viles of blood for testing and had me give a urine sample. Matt had to go back to work, but I was feeling fine and didn't think we'd be staying much longer, so I told him that I'd be fine with Aly.
Soon the DR came back with the results. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia. I had only heard this name before, never had I known what it'd meant. The rest of that day was a blur! They immediately started me on an IV of saline and Magnesium Sulfate - which is THE WORST. It made me hot and flushed, nauseated, and so fatigued! Seriously I felt like I was going to die. I was a vegetable. They gave me a catheter to start the 24 hour urine watch, and my first steroid shot in my bum for the babies development. The DR assume it was severe preeclampsia and talked about possibly having to deliver the baby in the next day or two. YIKES. I was definitely not prepared for that kind of news! I was officially on hospital bed rest. I was going to stay in the hospital until I delivered.
Soon after starting the IV's, they wheeled me down to the first floor to get an ultrasound done to see how baby was. Baby's growth was right on track, but my fluid was low. At 26 weeks the doctor said usually it should measure between 10-20 cm, and mine was at a 6. The doctor explained that this was expected with having preeclampsia, being that it is a placenta disorder. It was exciting to see our baby again, though I was pretty drugged with that magnesium. The ultrasound doctor said that preeclampsia was so fascinating- yeah I didn't agree!
They took us back upstairs and the rest of the night was a blur for me. Matt came back and stayed the night. I started losing muscle strength slowly, and they checked my vitals every hour even through the night, so I definitely did not get any sleep.
Aly would come and sit with me while Matt would go home to shower and grab some things. They ran the tests with my urine, and there was protein in it, but not a whole lot. They moved us to a huge room! It was like the master suites of hospital rooms. One of the lab tech's that came in to draw blood said that this room was one that they put long-term patients in. Obviously the doctors and nurses were thinking (and hoping) I would be able to keep the babe in longer!
I remained on the magnesium sulfate for 48 hours - so from friday night to sunday night. So saturday and sunday were a blur to me as well. My face and feet started swelling, so I started to look like a vegetable, too! It was really miserable. Finally on Sunday they took me off the magnesium, and they also took out the catheter! So, I was finally able to get up to use the bathroom on my own, well, sort of on my own. Because I had been on the magnesium for 48 hours, and had the catheter, my muscles were almost nonexistent, and I couldn't stand up on my own. It was scary! The nurse said that magnesium also relaxes the muscles, so that was to be expected. I still didn't like the feeling at all. I had to have help every time I wanted to use the bathroom for the next 24-ish hours. Sunday night they also let me shower! This was a great thing, but also pretty miserable. I was still suffering from the affects of the mag, so I wasn't able to even shower myself. I sat in the shower, and all I could do was hold the shower head. Luckily, I have a pretty amazing husband, and he helped me. The nurse was impressed and said I had a great husband :)
Monday was a lot better. I had muscle control back, and was able to get up when I needed to use the restroom. My blood pressure was getting better with the medicine they had me on, so they checked me every 4 hours, instead of every hour! That was a nice break. For the most part my blood pressure was staying the same every time. Matt went to work that day, and Aly (such a wonderful sister!!) came and sat with me for the majority of the day.
Tuesday is when life, as we knew it, changed unexpectedly.
To be continued...
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