ObesityHelp

Jazmine Rose Ellis born 11/24 Tues eve 2201pm
20 inches 7 pounds 14 1/4 ounces
She is perfect & beautiful full head hair too everyone remarks at it! :-)
http://www.saratogacare.org/index.cfm?contentID=290&fromMonth=11&fromDay=24&fromYear=2009&submit=GO

My update:

36 weeks & 1 day

Pregnancy was a smooth ride up until 31 weeks and 3 days. That was my FIRST trip to the hospital maternity ward for elevated BP, swelling and headaches. It was the day I found out 10/17 that I was officially diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and the course of treatment was bed rest. Wrapping my brain around  that word and all it entailed was not easy! I was taken out of work on medical leave (about 8 weeks prior than anticipated)…. CHALLENGING!  All the best laid plans could not prepare me for that statement…..No driving, cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping etc….Learning to let go, accept and RELAX  was my treatment! Also allowing others to do all the things at home and work I was accustomed to….

So for 5 weeks on bed rest I am working on those goals. I have been back to the hospital several times since with BP issues, some for a few hrs others overnight frustrating  and scary  at times.  I made it past the crucial 34 weeks happily as it is now safer to deliver w/ baby girl’s lungs are mature.

 

The latest was my OB apt this week (Wednesday 11/18); had a non-stress test which is a 20 min test of fetal heart rate, activity then ultrasound to check amniotic fluid levels. Baby is well and lively! My BP has been steady at 140/80 (none of those scary 170/100’s!). Decision to not induce this coming Tuesday 11/24 was made due to my cervix not being ripe at all and that would put me at increased risk of C-section if induced so plan is to induce the following Tuesday 12/1 at 37 weeks 6 days gestation. This has given me some more certainty in the process. Still excited and scared! But they will induce me at any time before then if BP rises again, if I get headaches, visual changes, right upper epigastric pain, nausea/vomiting, labs that indicate (blood/urine) an increase in pre-eclampsia or just do not feel ‘right’; or if on my next non-stress test this Friday (11/20) there is concern or at my next ultrasound/OB appointment (Wednesday 11/25) off to induction we go….

 

My bag is packed, we have bassinet set up in our bedroom with changing table and supplies/clothes. The car seat is in Gene’s truck all ready to go. So that is my update just here home on bed rest, relaxing and waiting! J

LESS THAN 2 weeks to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update 35weeks and 2 days…

I decided to write one generic email to everyone as I am having trouble keeping up with personal replies to all of my dear friends!

 

My last OB appointment was Wednesday and went well. I had labs drawn and started another 24 hr urine for protein to see if my gestational hypertension is stable or progressing to pre-eclampsia. Fetal movement is good and she is very active! Her heart rate is also excellent…and she measures well also. Plan is continued medical mandated bed rest, monitoring my BP 2-3x day. My feet are somewhat swollen now & I was worried my wt was up 10# in 10 days but I think it is mostly fluid which MD agrees and is ‘common’ due to bed rest’…Hard though to see the scale creep up a pound a day especially when I am not eating any more if anything my appetite is down and ability to eat is down as she is pushing up so much I get full on ½ to ¾ of normal intake…

I am still not good at this bed rest challenge J but complying…I hope to get to 36-7 wk safely. My next apt is in 1 week next Wed 11/17 then 1 week later I have another ultrasound…Today I feel exhausted from not doing anythign1 mild headache watching my BP called OB office pending my labs from 2 days ago but found out the 24 hr urine was fine that was a relief so I am still not spilling protein or pre-eclamptic it seems…good news.

Feel free to email or call, don’t worry you won’t wake hubby he sleep soundly with earplugs in the daytime. He doesn’t hear visitors, the phone or TV thank goodness! My sister-in-law came down yesterday to help organize my clothes/nursery and that was a huge relief, she also kindly put the car seat base in hubby’s truck so we are ready when needed! Friends and family have been great with helping as hubby has been doing all the chores, dishes/laundry/cat litter boxes/cooking etc! O top of working 12 hr nights 4-5x most weeks now that it is QUAD’S BUSY SEASON AND THERE IS MANDATORY OVERTIME….

I am so happy I was able to attend my baby shower; so fortunate to have so many kind and generous friend and family as well and even those who couldn’t make it due to flu or other personal reasons great to have them there in spirit…I will keep updating…thanks for the support! HUGS JAMIE