OK, so here’s where we start…. This time last week I went to my obs and my BP was measured at 140/90 which wasn’t good – he said that he would let it go for that day, as I had had a hectic day, and was a bit stressed out with the IL’s and some of my own family stuff that was going on. So he asked that I have it checked at the clinic at the chemist each day to monitor it, and should it get any higher, to go back to him to see what solution could be found – he told me that it probably would go up, and that BP medication would most likely be the result. He also told me straight out that if the tablets were not effective I would be off to see the obstetric and neo-natal specialist in Wagga.

So the next day I had my BP checked and it was up to about 158/108 – from memory. I have had so many readings over the last week that I cant remember which ones came when. I am sure that I posted it back in Jan mummies after I got back to work though…. So I went back to the obs and was put on the BP medication – 250mg of Aldomet twice a day.

Over the rest of the week, I took the tablets and had my BP monitored, which continued to rise unfortunately. By Sunday when I had it checked at the maternity ward (chemist not open) it was up to about 171/118 (again, I am just trying to remember). So they wouldn’t let me go home, which is fair enough.

Glenn was on the golf course, so I rang him and left a message and he came up as soon as he got that. I was stuck in bed and not allowed to have visitors, so I sent him back to play his last nine holes and then bring up my PJs and toiletries etc when he had finished. I tell you what, it was the quickest golf I have ever known him to play

He told me later on that night that when the midwife spoke to him, she mentioned that if it had got any higher, I would have started to fit (had a seizure or something) and that’s why she wouldn’t let me go home to get my own clothes etc (I had gone up to the hosp alone) and I was so upset by everything that was happening that I was crying and seeing stars and so on. I have to say though that I have so much faith in our little hospital now (you may remember my post a week and a bit ago about labouring in Temora fears). So I was a bit of a mess – stuck there alone with no idea what was happening to me. I tell you, I have never been so glad to see my husband as when he got back from golf that day!

So I think that the chat that he had had with the midwife really gave him a bit of a shock.

They upped my meds to double what I had been taking previously, and it seems to be helping, although not really working to the extent that it should. My obs came in that night and spoke to me about what was going on, and he was wonderful. I cant fault him at all at the moment! So he mentioned that if all goes to plan, and if the meds work, best case scenario is that he will induce me a couple of weeks early – between 37 and 38 weeks, meaning that my BP will be able to handle it. If not, then I could be booked for a c-sec that week when the travelling anaethasist is in town for their surgery days.

So I stayed overnight, cried when Glenn left and for about an hour after, and then went to sleep late. I hate sleeping in hospitals. So uncomfortable! I am nearly as wide as those damn beds and it feels like I need to do a 10-point roll-over turn every time I need to move!

Then the next morning I was up and bouncing, ready to go home until obs came in and shattered my dreams – had to stay in another night and rest some more. Again, I cried (seeing the theme here??). Luckily, Glenn’s rostered day off was yesterday, so he was around to stay with me and I can see that he was really bored, but he stayed all day and chatted with me (as he should! PMSL) and that was great.

I have never done so many sudoku in all my life… and am sure that I have peed in a cup more than I have peed in a toilet lately...

Last night the BP was a bit better, although still too high…

This morning the obs came in (very early!) and checked me over, took my BP and gave me my meds and did my CTG trace all himself (midwife noted I was privileged!) – I think because he had another patient labouring up there that he was waiting for progress from. He told me that it was still too high (was still about 135/90) but he let me go home as he could see that I wasn’t coping being cooped up there and I was quite tense, so it wasn’t helping.

I have to go back to the maternity ward twice daily (around 11am and then later on around dinner time) to have my BP and the baby checked, which will not be a problem. Although if it’s too high it’s very easy for them to detain me there! He he.

I have to go back to my obs on Friday for a full checkup, my appointment wasn’t supposed to be until next Tues, and he also mentioned to Glenn outside when I was having a shower this morning that he’s made me an appointment with the specialist in Wagga for next Wednesday – so hopefully I can stay home that long as it will mean that things are going OK.

I have also finished work – 3 weeks early, which I cant say that I am upset about really! They have been great about it, and Glenn has been wonderful too – I know the money’s not important, but it would have been nice to have that last pay that we budgeted for! Not to worry though, it will be fine.

I came home today and slept for four hours unbroken – Glenn started banging around in the kitchen (reorganising the pantry in ‘aisles’ like his supermarket so that he could ‘find’ things ) to wake me, as he didn’t think that I would sleep tonight otherwise – he was right!

SO – best case scenario is that these meds really come into their own and start bloody working properly, and then I will be able to be induced around the 15th Jan (I think that’s a Monday?)… worst case is that these meds continue to not work as well as they should, and I have the baby a lot earlier. At the moment, I just really want to be able to stay home and make it to 34 weeks which means that I would be able to go to Wagga…. If I go earlier (in the next couple of weeks) then I will have to go to Sydney or Canberra, whichever has the beds available… So I hope that doesn’t happen.

So yes, I’m scared – Glenn is scared, it’s very scary… Although I know we’ve done a lot better than others in the past, so I am very grateful, and staying optimistic that things will be OK. I guess that it’s just a fear of the unknown, and being very very overwhelmed because it’s all happened so fast.

Thanks very much is you made it this far girls… I have written way too much, but I guess that that’s what normally happens when I get going.

Thankyou again to those who posted messages of support, and all those that helped keep me entertained over the last couple of days.

Hey Megs... Thanks so much for asking after me.

basically, not too much has changed, although the tablets do seem to be doing their job, just not as well as my obs hoped. They have their days though. My BP is down to about an average of 135/85 - I have had a few lower days, and then a few where it's been /90 as well, which is pushing it back up. I have been very very good with my tablets - normally I am terrible with medication and remembering to do things on time. Helps with Glenn constantly at me 'have you taken your tablets' though.

I seem to have reached a stage where I have no energy whatsoever - I feel tired, uncomfortable, yukky all over, fat, awkward and constantly sick, and have terrible pain in my back which I am assured is not a kidney infection even though it feels like it.

I am not sure whether it's the tablets making me feel like this or if because I have finished work and am finally resting that it's all caught up with me and I am just trying to recover. I really dont know.

I have to go to see the specialist in Wagga on Wednesday at the high-risk clinic, as now I am obviously deemed as a 'high risk pregnancy' due to the combination of my BP and my weight, apparantly. My obs seems so concerned about my weight, but I dont understand how it's such a massive deal when I am still 8kg lighter than I was when I first got UTD. There's actually a lot of stuff that I dont understand, but I am wading through it.

I am however, still waiting for that appointment to be confirmed - the receptionist from the clinic is supposed to get back to me tomorrow. What a kerfuffle that was (if you wanna know about it, go back to Friday arvo in Jan mummies - it's not too far back, we havent been too busy chatting, or check my post history)

When I see this specialist Obs, then he and my obs will collaborate and see what they reckon is best as a plan for the birth of the bub... At this stage, looking like an induction around the 15th Jan, which is 5 weeks away... the way I am feeling though I really think that I will be more than ready by then!

Thanks for asking after me Megs

xxxx