Hospital adventures

Yesterday morning I had a routine visit with my GP. I mentioned to her that I've been having (apologies for TMI) a lot of discharge and often it was watery and clear. I was hoping there was some simple test I could do (like a POAS) to make sure it was indeed discharge and not amniotic fluid. There's no "simple" test, well, it's a speculum exam. She was concerned, as low fluid was an issue with Charlotte, and wanted me to get it checked right away. In this small city with one main hospital, it meant heading back to L&D, where Charlotte was born and died.

I went by myself. M was working and I didn't think the exam would be stressful and it didn't seem to warrant taking time off. He thought it would be emotional for me to go there alone and was worried, but I was determined. So, off I went.

The nurse was lovely. Her name was Ruth, and she was nice from the start, but especially nice when she realized my history. My bp was a little up, 146/96, but I attributed that to the stress of the day. I was given a bed in triage (a different bed than last year), and began my morning of waiting.

Sr med student came in first, and could have been straight out of ER or grey's or some tv show. Of course, the day I need a speculum exam the med student is ridiculously attractive and I feel like a chubby blob. I prayed for a female resident. No such luck. He wasn't quite as attractive as the med student, but still very good looking, and I was not impressed that these people would be examining me. Even the attending was a male. Normally I couldn't care less about such things, but I was a little uncomfortable yesterday.

Nurse came back. Bp was 150/104.

In the meantime triage filled up. The woman in the bed next to me was a week overdue and her water had broken. She was hooked up to fetal monitors until her doctor arrived. Happy birthday, baby, she said to her belly while rubbing it. Her husband gave her a hug and kissed her tummy. God, you forget what a happy place L&D is for most!

A blood curdling scream came from somewhere down the hall. A second later it was the first cries of a newborn. Everyone cheered.

Nurse came in again. Extra dose of meds for me. Mess of bloodwork to test for all the regular HELLP stuff- liver, etc. Gorgeous Med Student came in all concerned, rubbing my arm and asking me if I was ok.

(I was ok. I just wanted the hell out of L&D.)

Finally, we got around to the speculum test. They wanted Gorgeous Med Student to do it, supervised by both resident and attending. Female nurse was down there too for good measure. Dear God.

Of course, BP was not going down. It was mid afternoon when they told me they were admitting me for observation, and were going to try and get me a biophysical for the next day. The speculum tests came back fine, it was not amniotic fluid thankfully. They made me wait until my bp had stabilized some and then I was sent to the maternity floor.

Now, as a babylost mom in a high risk pregnancy, the maternity ward is not the best place to be. There are, of course, moms and babies everywhere. Lots of flowers and "It's a --" balloons. It's a very happy place. They thankfully gave me my own room, and it thankfully was at the very end of the hall, so I slept. I had many doppler heartbeat checks, kick counts and a non-stress test, more bloodwork. Truly wonderful care, if maybe a bit much.

Bp came down nicely. It was all L&D's fault.

This afternoon we had the biophysical. First time in that room since Charlotte. Bumblebee is doing well, scored an 8/8. I am a little worried about the measurements. Last time we had an ultrasound, I was 21w5d by dates, and the ultrasound came back at 22w2 days, so we were 4 days ahead. Today I was 24 weeks (YAY btw!), and we're now 23w5d. So, behind 2 days. In my mind, I lost 6 days of growth. The ultrasound tech (who was super super nice) and my MFM both said it's totally within "range" of measurements and baby looked great. The dopplers looked good, but (and this could totally be my mind messing with me), they didn't look as good as they did at the 18w u/s.

Anyway, they said he looked great, and my bp was stable all night, so I got discharged.

The stress of it all.

I'm home again now. Things are going as good as they could be. Bee is measuring 1lb5oz now or 600 grams, which is great. Dr MFM said she wants us to double (at least) that weight. Dr ObGYN said she wants it x4. Still so very far to go.