I have what?!?!

Preeclampsia?

So yesterday I had a doctor's appointment. I brought my papers with me to have him sign to decrease my work hours because it was becoming too painful to walk at work. I have been having some regular (or not so regular) swelling. This has been going on for about 6 weeks, and my doctor said it is normal as long as I didn't have high blood pressure or protein in my urine. I never did...until yesterday.

As you can see, I have elephant feet. This is not regular just so you know. (Taken 2 weeks ago)

The nurse took my blood pressure and it was normal. 118/68 or something. I typically have blood pressure around 98/60 or so, so it had been gradually creeping up. Then she saw my legs and feet. I have to tell you, its interesting when everyone wants to see them after they hear about them. Even the doctor was impressed by how swollen they were. He said they almost hurt him to look at. I had been getting pressure blisters from the swelling which caused my toes and feet to crack and bleed, making it very painful to walk. So then, the nurse said she was going to check my urine. Well, normally it's a 0. Yesterday it was a +4. Not a good sign. She came back in and took my blood pressure with a different cuff and it was 156/112 or something like that. Then she had me lay down and someone else came in and checked it. It was the same. I was indeed another one of their preeclamptic patients.

We heard Dr. Hutchison outside the door talking to the nurse and he told her to call the hospital and tell them we are on our way. He came in and told us he was going to send us over to have tests done and explained to us exactly what was going on. He told us to get a bite to eat on the way over, because if he were to have to induce me that night, I wouldn't be eating until that baby was out. We went to the hospital where they monitored me for about 3 and a half hours and did some blood tests to check the liver and an ultrasound to check fluid levels. My blood pressure decreased when I was laying down, so after talking with the doctor, he sent me home on complete bed rest. I will be going back tomorrow and Monday to the hospital for monitoring and then will be induced either Tuesday or Wednesday.

So until then, I lay in bed. I get to get up to go to the bathroom and shower. That's it. Awesome. I'm just so glad that as of Monday I will be 38 weeks, and he will let me have her after that. If anything changes, I will be induced right away so that nothing happens to me or to sweet Georgia Mae. I never knew how much I could love my little baby girl! I'm crazy about her already.

I don't envy those poor lady's who go on bed rest for months. It's hard, and it's been all of 4 hours for me.

I suppose the disgusting swelling that was leading me to only wear flip flops (which left indentations in my feet) and nick's slippers weren't signs enough. Or the fact that I have been gaining ridiculous amounts of weight at every appointment weren't enough for them to diagnose me. I have been taking care of myself and eating healthy. I haven't really been eating any more than normal either, so it was really sad every time I stepped on the scale and it jumped up another 1o pounds. I'm topping out at this point at 194. A nice healthy 55 pound weight gain. Scary!

This picture was taken 2 and a half weeks ago when I was about 35 weeks along.

At least our little Georgia girl is healthy still and is moving around as much as ever. I have officially been on bed rest for 12 hours, and I was sleeping for 8 of those. I'm ready to get up and do stuff now. Boy this will be a rough 5 days. Oh well! Until then, I will probably be blogging and reading.