Bed Rest..

So, Monday of this week I went into my OB's office for a regular prenatal visit and my blood pressure was high (139/96). My doctor was concerned and had the nurse check again. It was still high. He decided to send me to the hospital for a non-stress test (NST) and some blood work. I got all hooked up to monitors, one to monitor baby's heart rate, one to check for contractions, and one to check my blood pressure every 5 minutes. Baby was fine, her heart rate was perfect and she was super active during the whole test, but my blood pressure stayed high. My doctor had some blood drawn and they tested it. I was sent home and told I was to be on bed rest until Thursday (oh, and I got to collect my pee for 24 hours!), at which point I was to come back in for more blood work and to see whether the bed rest would be permanent.

This isn't me, but it's pretty much what I looked like:



I went back on Thursday and when the nurse took my blood pressure, she said it was 120/76! I was so excited. I thought for sure that meant I wouldn't have to be on bed rest. Then the doctor came in and looked at the results from my 24-hour urine collection--and said my protein levels were too high. The diagnosis: mild preeclampsia. So then he said, "Looks like you're on bed rest." I'm pretty sure my face turned red and my eyes got teary and I asked him if it was permanent. He said, "No, once you have the baby you'll be off of it." So not funny. So then he detailed my restrictions; luckily I can still get up, I can shower and come down stairs to get myself something to eat, I just can't do much else. Also, I have to go in once a week from now on to get an NST and have my fluid levels checked, which means I'll be seeing a lot more of baby. My doctor said that I will probably end up delivering around 36 or 37 weeks.

So life has taken a crazy turn. And even though I know it will be hard for me, the baby's health and mine are the most important thing at this point.

How do you feel about being touchy-feely?

A lot of people I know really don't like when other people touch their pregnant bellies. You know, the classic example of a stranger coming up and rubbing the pregnant woman's tummy. I've also heard a lot of people say that they don't like when people ask when they're due, or comment on the size of their baby bump. I guess I can sort of understand where they're coming from, but personally, I'm the opposite.

Maybe I'm just a touchy-feely person; I've always been really open with people physically and emotionally. But it seriously doesn't bother me when people try to touch my belly. In fact, I kind of like it. It's like someone else is sharing in my excitement for the moment. And I love when people open up conversation about my pregnancy by asking when I'm due, or when they comment on my belly. I think I just like being pregnant, and talking about it.

I guess the only time someone has commented on my pregnancy and it bothered me was about a week ago in one of my classes. There were about five minutes left before the class started and I was sitting in my seat eating a granola bar. The teacher walked in, looked at me, and said, "Eating in class? You pregnant women eat without repose." I was definitely a little offended. It wasn't like I was eating a whole cake in the middle of his lecture. Anyway, as long as people aren't blatantly rude to me, I really enjoy the attention pregnancy brings.



What's the worst thing someone has said to you when you were pregnant? Does it bother you when people try to touch your belly?