39 Weeks

Yesterday was an interesting day. It started off with a 9 a.m. weekly checkup with my Dr. My blood pressure was high, and they found quite a bit of protein in my urine sample, so my Dr. suggested that I go to the hospital to be monitored for a few hours. She said if my tests there came back the same, I would have to be induced. If they came back normal, she would still prefer that I be induced since the risks of staying pregnant at this point outweigh the benefits (Bradley is full term, etc.). She didn't want to risk anything happening over the weekend since I am so close anyway. She said she wouldn't have to give me a very high dose of Pitocin since I'm 4 cm already. She was pretty adamant about it at that time, not totally convinced that she should let us even go home to get our bags. But since we lived close by, she said ok.

So Xon and I went home, thinking I would be induced in the next few hours, with none of my family here with us and having to use the Dr. on call instead of my regular Dr. Not only did I not want to be induced (I'm still a week from my due date, after all...), but I REALLY didn't want to be in labor without my family around or even my Dr. I was pretty upset and bawled all the way to the hospital. By the time we got there, I think I had resigned myself to the fact that maybe none of my plans were going to work out.

So we checked in, and they started a few tests. They monitored my blood pressure every 15 minutes, drew blood, and took a urine sample. They also monitored my contractions and Bradley's heart rate. Bradley was doing wonderfully, I was having contractions on my own every 2-4 minutes, and my blood pressure had come down, although it was still a little elevated. My blood work was fine, and they didn't find any protein in my urine.

My Dr. came to check on me after lunch. She still preferred that I be induced, but we finally made a compromise that I would stay for a few more hours to monitor my blood pressure. If it was ok, the Dr. on call would release me for the weekend, and I would see my regular Dr. first thing on Monday morning. That was a plan I could live with, since my family would be here by then and it would give me some time to think about this whole induction thing. Over the next few hours, my blood pressure was still a little elevated but not as high as before, so the Dr. on call released me and said I was to be on bed rest for the weekend and then see my regular Dr. on Monday.

Mom and Dawn and Alex changed their flights so they could get here earlier, and Dad immediately started driving from home. So after I was discharged, Xon and I went to the airport to pick them up. I was still having regular contractions, and they got fairly strong by the time we got home to meet Dad in the driveway. I took a shower, and the pressure went away, although I'm still having regular tightenings. I guess my body is getting ready for labor but isn't quite there yet.

I don't know if my Dr. will let me go into labor on my own (I'm so close!), but I understand that the only cure for elevated blood pressure is to get this little guy delivered. She said I definitely can't go past my due date, so Bradley's birthday will be sometime in the next week. The nurses didn't understand how I had gotten to 4 cm without any pain, because they said that's the hardest part. So maybe the Pitocin thing wouldn't be so bad. But hopefully I will just go into labor on my own this weekend. Bring on the contractions! :-)

I will keep you updated!