Where to start...oh where to start...
So, I had a Hematology appointment today. My blood platelet count has been dropping the past 2 weeks & they finally hooked me up with a specialist (instead of a resident) to talk about steps to take with this pregnancy. It took me 6 weeks to get this appointment and I was really looking forward to it.
She was a great doctor, very smart to say the least. She said that I do not have Protein S Deficiency, in fact, I don't have anything except that my blood platelets drops when I'm pregnant, which is actually quite common. She believes that they will stabilize around 60,000. I hope it does.
What does this mean? Nothing concerning the baby. This won't bother him in the least (thankfully). But what it does mean is that I can't have an epideral. Seriously---did you hear me? I CAN'T HAVE AN EPIDERAL! Um, yeah, I HAVE to have an epideral. I am a pain baby and I really, really, really am not looking forward to having this baby naturally. So if any of you naturalists out there have any tips, I'd love to hear them.
Anyway, the story doesn't end there (unfortunately). They took my blood pressure 3 different times and it was elevated. High blood pressure plus a dropping platelet count equals hospital admission. So, here I am in the hospital. They are worried that I have HELPPS. Don't ask me what it stands for, because I seriously don't know. But if I do have it, I will have to have an emergency C-section. But so far all the tests have come back negative. My gut feeling says that everything is fine. But I have to stick around this place for 24 hours anyway. Bummer.
My blood pressure is stable and not high. I have no protein in my urine (so far) and I will have an ultrasound to moniter the baby's growth before I leave. However, the baby was started on steroids. I will get 4 shots in the next 24 hours. There is no down side to this. No side-effects on my part. The reason they did this was to help the baby mature faster, just in case I have to deliver before 37 weeks. It's a precautionary measure. Depending on how everything goes, I may or may not be put on bed-rest. If I am, my amazing mom will fly out and take care of Joshua and me for 7 weeks. But it's all up in the air for now. I could walk away from this situation home free. And that's what I'm hoping. Optimism and faith.
7 comments:
Oh Kim! You will DEFINTELY be in our prayers, you and your sweet family! I know we are in VA, but let us know if we can do anything at all to help:) Do you need chocolate chip cookies or anything to fatten up that baby just a bit?:) Email me your physical address, I would love to have it and add it to our book:)
HELLP actually. It stands for Hypertension, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets. It's a severe form of eclampsia (that most people know as toxemia). I really hope that Kim doesn't have it and I am pretty confident that she doesn't. But she's being seen by doctors who are smarter and more experienced than I am, and I'm glad they're taking such care with her. On a side note all the doctors I work with have been really helpful, they let me take off yesterday and today and have just been covering my work. That is a huge deal considering how much work there is to get done.
Kim, we are praying for your baby and your family. I hope everything turns out well, I know it can be extremely stressful.
As for natural delivery, my only advice is to prepare beforehand, and figure out some relaxation technique that works for you, whether it be breathing, hypno-birthing, etc... I had to have Cade natural (not by choice) and was not at all prepared for that. I think I made it a lot worse for myself by tensing up and fighting the pain. So...for my next one I'm definately going to prepare for a natural birth but hope for an epidural! Good luck...some people think it's the greatest--maybe you'll be one of them!
Kim, I want to help and can't. That is so frustrating. How long will you be in the hospital? I am sorry about being stuck in the hospital and the idea of a painful delivery is awful, but you can do anything.
We sure love you and will pray for you.
Wow, I hope everything works out for the best, but it sounds like you have good people to take care of you. Good luck, and I'm sorry you're stuck in the hospital!
I am sorry to hear you are in the hospital. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.
I'm so sorry you're in the hospital and hope that everything is fine. I did natural childbirth and it really is fantastic. There are two suggestions I would make. 1. Start believing that you can do it. I honestly think it's 90% mental. 2. Enroll in a Bradley class right away. Natural childbirth is more than it seems. It's diet and exercise and mostly it's about your spouse coaching you through it. If you want to talk to me about it, it's one of my favorite subjects. You can call or e-mail me. Good luck!!
Post a Comment