Getting So Close!

I try not to ONLY blog about pregnancy and the baby, but that's all I really have going on for me right now. To quote Tony, "all of our dates involve a trip to the doctor or hospital."

We have had some semi-eventful things happen in the world of baby lately. I had an appointment on Tuesday with the doctor and everything was just peachy. My blood pressure was higher than *my* normal, but still in the normal range so no one was worried. On Thursday night I got a really bad headache. I've suffered from migraines since my freshman year of college, so I'm familiar with how painful a headache can get. Unfortunately for me, this latest one was pretty bad and none of my migraine prescriptions are okay for a pregnant Hollie to consume. I remembered the doctor telling me that if I experienced any headaches with visual disturbances that I need to call him. This was also tricky because my migraines always produce what I call "sparkles." (It looks like the little flashes you get in your eyes after you get your picture taken.) I sort of brushed this headache off, chalking it up to pregnancy causing a migraine.

I went to my Prenatal Water Aerobics class Friday morning (don't laugh!) and talked to my teacher about my headache. During class I still had a dull headache, what I call migraine hangover, and the teacher suggested maybe I go to a drugstore and take my blood pressure. So, after class I grabbed a snack and headed to the store. I took three readings and averaged them out. You have to know that my blood pressure is usually something like 119/59 -- super low numbers. The average from these three readings was 141/91. AH! I called the nurse at my doctor's office and she sent me over to the Labor & Delivery unit for some Non-Stress Testing.

My blood pressure didn't get lower as I was monitored so they drew some blood and had me do a very lovely 24-hour urine collection. I had to report back yesterday.

The results? Well my blood and urine samples were great--the nurse said my urine collection was the best she had seen in a long time, that's right--but my blood pressure still refuses to come down to normal. I was told to rest and I go back to L&D Tuesday for a non-stress test and Wednesday I see my doctor. I guess if my blood pressure keeps creeping up like this, baby might make an early appearance.

I royally freaked out while we were in the hospital Saturday. They were swamped in L&D when I showed up and so instead of putting me in Triage (the transition room, basically) they put me in an actual labor room. Like, the room where I would be delivering the baby. The room was very nice and spacious, and we'll be quite comfortable there, but it was a little weird for me to realize this is all going to happen VERY soon. The nurse kept saying stuff like, "we just want to keep her in for a couple more weeks." Here's hoping my blood pressure goes down! I don't know if I'm ready for all of this!!