The doctor's report---strict orders (35 weeks)

Well, today we had two doctor's appointments, and it was a good news/bad news situation. This morning we saw Dr. Reinhart (perinatologist) for the sonogram and heart rate monitoring, and this afternoon we saw my OB, Dr. Speight.

The sonogram looked very good. Dr. Reinhart said "we have a healthy kid" and that everything looks right on track. The baby is head down and the two corners I keep getting at the top of my abdomen are his little feet. Toward the middle of the sono, Dr. Reinhart said, "now what did I tell you as far as the sex of this baby?" As my heart jumped a beat thinking of all of the decorating, clothing, sewing of cowboy fabric, and "boy things" I've accumulated, I said "it better be a boy or we're in trouble!" Then he said with a smile, "yup, still a boy". I think he was just having a little fun with that one. He is a great doctor. He checked the fluid around the baby, the placenta, and took the picture above. (This is his profile with his forehead at the upper right hand corner, and he's making a fist) He said the baby is looking at my right hip. So, he's in a very good position. He did say he wants to see me weekly from here on out due to my blood pressure. And that leads me to my next doctor's report........

As I walked in to my appointment with Dr. Speight I said hello with a smile, and to my surprise, I got a very stern look from Dr. Speight asking if I had been resting today. With the earlier appointment, I admitted I had been up and around and that E and I had gone to lunch. Then she said, with her eyebrow raised, "if you don't stay on bedrest at home, you'll be on bedrest here at the hospital, and you don't want that". Yes, ma'am. So, I had my blood pressure taken once again, and lo and behold, it was 146/96. Not good. On top of that, the swelling is just getting worse and worse and the water weight is showing up big time on the scale. Dr. Speight instructed me to quit looking at my weight.....not a true reflection of my actual weight. The preeclampsia is causing all of the problem. And yes, she did declare that I have preeclamsia.

"So when you say bedrest....." was my next question. Ugh. Not my personality at all! She said I could get up for a shower, to eat, and to spend no more than 30 minutes on the computer. And when I am lying down, I have to lay on one side, preferably the left side. So, of course, my mind immediately thinks of all I have left to do before the baby comes. I think I'm in pretty good shape, but I hate having to ask for help. Packing my hospital bag, finalizing everything with the baby's room, making sure my house is clean for when the baby arrives....yikes! But people do this all the time.....this is where faith steps in, right?

Finally, I talked to Dr. Speight about the baby's weight. I'm a bit scared. Dr. Reinhart told us this morning that the baby is already at 7 pounds! I'm 35 weeks 3 days today. And babies usually gain about 1/2 pound per week. Are you kidding me? But she did say that I will not go past 39 weeks at this point. It would be too dangerous for my health. She estimated that I would last maybe 37-39 weeks...it all depends on my blood pressure and health in relation to the preeclampsia. She also said that we may induce at that point, or if necessary, we may need to do a C-section. It all depends on my b/p.

So, that is the full report. We will be meeting our son very soon! We humbly ask for your continued prayers for Austin's health as well as mine. Please pray for my sanity as well.

I hope this finds you all doing well! We will keep you updated!

With love,
Taryn