Looking Back...April 9-13

This is a post I've been meaning to write for a few days now. Part One is a recollection of the hospital stay and Part Two is about the delivery and couple days after...It's mostly just for my benefit because I like to document important things that happen in my life. However if anyone else wants to read it, here it is...

I had another "routine" appointment with my doctor on Wednesday the 9th. My blood pressure, which has never in my life been an issue, was again too high. So my doctor had me admitted into the hospital for more fetal monitoring. We went across the street and I was hooked up to the machines for 45 minutes before they determined that I was okay to go home. They wanted another 24 hour urine sample so off I went with my stupid brown jug. I laid low on Friday and that evening, Chris drove me to Good Sam to drop the sample off and have my BP checked again. It was still high so they got my doctor on the phone. One of the nurses came in and said "your doctor wants to induce you tonight".

I was not prepared to hear that at all...Chris asked for a few minutes alone and we discussed what to do. I really wanted my sister home and was ready to tell my doctor no. But...next thing I knew she was on the phone asking to talk to me, and she talked me into being induced that night. The medication was administered and Chris went home to pack a bag for me.

Later Thursday night and into Friday morning, I began having minor contractions. After five hours of contractions my doctor stopped by to tell me that my last urine sample came back fine (she had been watching the protein level) so if I wanted, we could stop the labor process. We decided to stop so the baby could have more time to develop, and I started to get my hopes up about going home. But no, she wanted me to stay *another* night so they could continue to watch my BP and protein levels.

Friday afternoon, I was moved to the post-partum section because the bed was more comfortable. I told Chris it was okay for him to go home because there was no reason for him to sit around the hospital. I spent Friday night alone and rather depressed because I was missing a huge fundraiser at my mom's school. It's something that has been in the works since last year and I had been looking forward to working there. (They did good...raised over $8500 for the National Niemann-Pick Foundation in Ty Quandt's honor.)

I woke up on Saturday with hopes of going home, but was told that my BP was still out of control and apparently I'd had another urine test come back with high protein. I was so frustrated because I felt just fine. No aches, pains, dizziness, nausea, etc. It was 70 degrees outside and I was stuck in a place I did not want to be. In hindsight I do feel a little bad for being so negative about the whole thing...it's not like my doctor was keeping me inside to torture me. My pregnancy had become high-risk and she was concerned for both me and the baby.

Anyway I spent Saturday night in the same post-partum room and figured that I'd be going home FOR SURE on Sunday. Well guess what...no such luck. After sitting around for much of the day and eventually being told that I had to stay, a nurse came in to say that my doctor wanted to induce me on Sunday night. She called my room shortly after and explained that my body was rejecting the pregnancy and that my own health was beginning to be at risk. My sister was due to fly home from the Caribbean early Monday morning and I told my doctor "if you want to induce me, we're ready. But I can't have the baby before my sister gets here". She said no problem, that I wouldn't have the baby until at least noon on Monday. We hung up and I told the nurse that we were ready to get started.

Chris packed up my belongings and I was transported back to Labor and Delivery...