First Halloween as a family!!!

A baby is born a little early

I was 36 weeks and had an ultrasound on Wednesday October 16.  The doctor had scheduled to induce me for October 20 due to my recent diagnosis of preclampsia.  He mention the possibility of delivering early if baby was small.  He estimated she was 5 pounds and a half. The perinatologist did my ultrasound and said she was 4 pounds 7 ounces which was too low and that I would have to be emergency induce due to intrauterine growth restriction from preclampsia. 

I never wanted to be induce but for the safety of me and my baby I will do what I have to do.   I was allowed to go home to pack and eat.  We ate Thai food before heading back to the hospital.  I had stuff chicken wings, spring rolls, pad thai and jerky.  It was so good!!!  Last good meal before I delivered!!!  Who cares about checking my blood sugar!!!

When we got back I was placed in the same room from the last time, labor room 7.  I got stick 2x trying to get a IV.  They check my cervix and I was 3cm.  I was started on pitocin since the ob-gyn staff did not think I need the cervidol or misoprostol. I was only allowed clear liquid diet and they kept checking my blood sugar.  My blood pressure was not high at first but during the night it started to act up so I was started on magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures that could occur with preclampsia.  It made me feel very horrible.  Felt hot and like I got ran over by a bus or just finish doing a marathon or hike.  I was so drowsy.  I started to have some contractions but they were not painful, just uncomfortable.  I had more back pain since I was not allowed to move around, only could stay in bed and move side to side.  I look forward to getting up every hour to pee.  

Thursday morning they did a cervix check and decided to stop the pitocin since I was not dilating, I was still at 3cm.  They finally gave me misoprostol x3 to soften my cervix.  I was allowed to eat but had to stay bedrest.  One day went by, even though I still had the magnesium drip, I felt good.  I started to have bloody show so I was most likely more dilated. 

Friday morning they let me shower, did a cervix check and I finally was 5cm.  They restarted my pitocin.  The contractions got more painful and my blood pressure started to get higher.  They had to give me hydrazine couple times again.  They ask me if I wanted an epidural since it could help me with my blood pressure but I chose not to have one.  

The midwife finally checked me and I was 7cm dilated. They decided I should have my water bag broke to speed the labor since my blood pressure was getting too high.  They also did my labs to check my liver.  I was diagnosis with HELLP syndrome:  H (hemolysis),EL (elevated liver enzymes) and 

LP (low platelet count).  I never realize at the time the symptoms I was having was related to the preclampsia and HELLP syndrome: nausea and vomiting, epigastric/heartburn pain, bleeding nose, swollen legs.  I couldn't tell if I was having headaches or blurry vision since I took my contacts out and was closing my eyes most of the time.  I was having more rectal pressure like I had to poop and tried but no poop.  Must be baby coming down, but it was hard not to push it was getting more uncomfortable not really much painful.

My bf, sister, cousin Lisa and my BF sisters were in the labor room with me.  I almost never notice who was there I was so concentrated about labor and upcoming birth.  I started to feel unsure about things and doubt my plan.  I wanted a natural birth free from Meds, but it was not going that way.  I was thinking maybe I should ask for pain Meds since the recital pressure was irritating me.  I kept telling everyone in the room "I dunno what to do!" since I was told not to push.  Finally the nurse did a final cervix check and said if I push a little I will be fully dilated.  They started to prepare the room for birth.  They open te birth table with supplies and turned on the newborn warming bed.  

It was time to push and everyone was supportive.  Pushing is kind of awkward.  They say push like you need to poop or like your holding your breath going under water.  You gotta imagine pushing out and up so baby can get through the pelvic.  I dunno how to push, I just did.  It was not easy.  I could see why someone would give up and get tired.  Thank God during the pushing part my blood pressure was stable!!!  The ob dr, midwife and neonatal team came to mh room in anticipation of delivery.  I think after about 5 tries+ of pushing I finally pushed out baby Jazlyn on Friday October 18 at 9:57pm.

Since she is a late preterm with low birth my bf did not have the opportunity to cut her cord.  They rushed her to the baby warmer to assess her.  Her APGAR score was 7/9, weight 4 pounds 6.9 ounces and was 17 inches.  Her temperature was stable and said she could stay with me in mother baby, she did not need to go to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).  I was able to bond with her and tried to breastfeed too!!!  Definitely a very life changing event for us!!!  I was in disbelief I actually pushed this baby out and 

happy to finally meet her.  We are a little family now!!!

Shortly after changing to the mother baby unit the nurses were concern about baby unable to keep her temperature due to her being so little.  The pediatrician was notified and she was sent to the NICU after 4am.  I was sad but it was for her health.  I couldn't go see her since they were still monitoring my blood pressure and I was still on the magnesium drip.  

I felt so helpless for her.  So I learned to used the breast pump and started to pump.  Colostrum that came out first was about 20 ml!  Amazing, but then after it was about 1-5 ml per session.  Maybe I was stressing, but milk was not ready yet.  I kept trying since this is the least I could to help my baby since we are apart!!!

It was only after 24 hours that I was finally able to to see my baby, but it was sad to see her hook up to monitors and IV.  The warmer was regulating her temperature and she was getting my colostrum and formula.  We were only allowed to hold her for feeding for 30 minutes.  Otherwise all we could do is watch her.  I felt so disconnected since we could not bond as much.  I was feeling really sad.  Postpartum blues kicked  in and I was always crying for her.  I wanted her to get better!!!

Baby had to start phototherapy for Jaundice on Saturday.

On Sunday, baby having a lot of spit up and not eating well.  So they had to put a feeding tube/gavage.  She still tried to breastfeed, take my expressed breastmilk and then formula if not enough.

They did not discharge me right away because my blood pressure was too high most likely from stress.  I finally was able to leave on Monday.  It was bittersweet since I would be leaving without baby I came to the hospital for her 11am and 2pm feeds and came with my bf for the 8pm feeds.  They told me on Wednesday to bring in the car seat to test her breathing and took out her tube feeding that day. She stayed in the NICU till Thursday.  We were so happy to finally bring her home.  Now we can enjoy her.

Mild preclampsia

I'm 35 weeks.  It's been over a week since I was pulled off work for modified bedrest.  I like to keep myself busy, but it is nice to be off from work. I definitely feel less stress, but I imagine my blood pressure could still be high if I was still working.  It is boring to lay around all day and do nothing.  I look forward to getting out of the house for my twice a week non-stress test and weekly obstetrician appointments.

I guess I haven't been as cooperative with the bedrest.  I still run errands, cook, mild house work/cleaning and prepare for baby.  Of coarse I am not going to over do it.  I always check my blood pressure twice a day and its been high in the morning and night 140/90-100. I spot check it during the day and it is 130/80.  The doctor has not made any changes to my blood pressure medications.  I occasional get frontal headaches but its not painful.  Swelling in my leg looks mild but I don't seem swollen anywhere else.  Lately I been feeling bigger and more tired. My weight been consistent 179-182 pounds.  I'm only allowed to gain 20 pounds total so I am glad never hit 186!  I try to keep up with light exercise/walking/stretching including kegals, pelvic tilts, squats.  I know it sounds crazy to keep doing it, but I don't want muscle dystrophy plus I need to prepare myself for childbirth too.

On Wednesday night my blood pressure was 160/100 but then went down.  I figure it wasn't too high to go into labor and delivery so did not bother calling.  They would want me to come in for 160/110.  So next day I just stayed home and did my 5th 24 hour urine collection.  I turned it in the next day and did my non stress test.  Baby is still head down, very active with good amniotic fluid.  I was a little stress this morning because my stupid passenger rare car door would not go up so my blood pressure was 140/100 in the clinic but better than Wednesday night's reading.  Anyways went to my boyfriend work to get my car fix and my obstetrician calls me about my 24 hour urine collection being in the 300s.  He diagnosis me with mild preclampsia, but says he wants to keep me pregnant until 37 weeks.

I'm a little overwhelmed, nervous but I got to be positive, brave and take it easy.  We can't do anything but relax and stay pregnant.  I guess this means keep bedrest too!!!

Started maternity leave

I'm 34 weeks pregnant in my third trimester.  I started maternity leave early because of my blood pressure.   I have pre-existing hypertension so this pregnancy had been high risk for me.  In addition I was diagnosis with gestational diabetes.  I failed my 1 hour and 3 hour glucose tolerance test, but my Hemoglobin A1C is 5.2 so it is just my pregnancy!  I am not a diabetic!!!  I have to check my blood sugars in the morning and 1 hour after meal.  It's a pain, but at least it's just diet modification and no insulin.

September 17, my blood pressures have been running in the 140/90.  I notified  the doctor via email and had to do repeat 24 hour urine collection that week to check for proteins that could indicate preclampsia (Read more about it here).  I have been doing a urine collection every trimester.  First reading was in the high 300s, but second one was in the 200s.  This third trimester urine collection proteins results was close to border line close 300s again, but I was NOT diagnosis with preclampsia.  They just wanted to monitor me and make sure I had no symptoms of preclampsia like headaches, blurry visions, right abdomen pain and swelling.    

September 18 I started bi-weekly non-stress test to check my baby's heart rate.  So far so good.  Her heart rate is normal, her head is down and amniotic fluid is normal.  I also had a follow up ultrasound.  Baby is a little small, 3 pounds 12 ounces.  The doctors and nurses said it is expected that babies are smaller when mom's have hypertension.  I hope she gains more weight!!!

Last week Thursday, September 27, before I went into work my night shift at the hospital I started having headaches and when I checked my blood pressure, it was 140/100!  I took my medication Methylodopa 500mg.  I went to work at the hospital and checked my blood pressure again and it was 150/110 to 160/120.  I called Labor and Delivery department and had to go in.  I notified the night shift supervisor and left work.

Now I know how it feels like to be a patient.  In August, I had a false alarm due to left side pain, headache and high blood pressure 140/90 but my labs were normal and I was sent home.  This time I was admitted with an IV, fluids, fetal monitoring, lab draws and another 24 hour urine collection.  They had to give me hydralazine 5mg twice to bring my blood pressure down.  It did not come down right away so they gave me Labetalol 200mg.  Finally my blood pressure started to come down, but sometimes comes up 130/90.  I could not leave the hospital until my 24 urine collection was done and we know the results.  I ate hospital food, had to get insulin when my blood sugar was more than 120 and watched MTV the whole day while going in and out of sleep.  Being a patient is boring!  The scary part of my day was when the obstetrician, perinatologist, and neonatologist, talked about delivering early if I had preclampsia to save me, but baby would survive, just be in the neonatal intensive care until breathing and feeding is stable.  It was a scary thought, but in the end my 24 urine was in the 200s again.  I did not have preclampsia and I was able to go home with new blood pressure to take at home, Labetalol 200mg.

I was out of work until my next doctor appointment, but then my blood pressure was still up this past Monday morning at 140/100.  So I called the doctor to ask if I should increase my Methylodopa back to 500mg since they changed it to 250mg, but they wanted me to go back to Labor and Delivery.  I was in the hospital being monitor just for a few hours.  My blood pressure kept going up and down, but they agreed they should increase my Methylodopa back to 500mg.  No IV or labs done at this time.  I was able to go home.

On Tuesday I did my non-stress test in the morning.  My blood pressure was still running high 140/100.  Baby still head down, amniotic fluid is normal, but her heart rate seems like she is still sleepy 130-140s with not much acceleration in the 150s.  They had to stimulate her couple times, and finally had to do an ultrasound to check her heart, breathing movement, and extremity movement.  The perinatologist thinks the blood pressure medications is making her sleepy, but everything was normal.  I went to the obstetrician that afternoon to follow up my blood pressure.  The doctor decided I would benefit from modified bedrest and should be off from work until I deliver.  He did discuss making sure I reach full term, induction and the possibility of c-section.  I would have to be seen weekly to make sure my blood pressure stay below 160/110.

So I got my doctor note and notified my work ASAP.  It is definitely a blessing in disguise.  I would love to work because we all got bills to pay and I wanted to save for baby, but at the same time I need to be stress free for me and baby and control my blood pressure so I don't get preclampsia and deliver early.  The goal is to stay pregnant for as long as I can.  I wanna make sure me and baby is healthy so if bedrest is what I have to do then we gotta do it.