Update

You won't find this update on Facebook because...well because I didn't want to post it there.

I feel good. Sure, I have the usual aches and pains that accompany being nearly 36 weeks pregnant, but in general, I feel good.

My heart, on the other hand, isn't handling the excess fluid very well. Over the past week or so, my swelling has been maximized which has lead to a sudden increase in my blood pressure. Until about 2 weeks ago, my BP was averaging 120/70...PERFECT! Totally perfect. Even though I had been dealing with swelling in some form or fashion since the 18th week, my BP remained excellent until just recently. Average BP yesterday was 150/102. Thats really high. And, was a big increase over my BP during my OB visit just a few days earlier.

The bottom number of a BP is the pressure your heart exerts when it's between beats... that number should be lower (70-80)...so the fact that my heart isn't really resting between beats is a slight problem.

I called my BP readings into Dr. T and he said I needed to come in for a visit. His Medical Assistant also told me over the phone that he would be putting me on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. This drew a huge laugh from me, which quickly subsided when Angela informed me that she wasn't kidding.

BED REST FOR FIVE WEEKS?

SERIOUSLY?!

Of course, I started crying (for only the 3rd time during pregnancy).

Looking back, the tears weren't really about being on bed rest. I'll do whatever I have to do to ensure Bub's safety and health.

As much as I hate to admit it, the tears were about control. I know how I want this delivery to happen and after hearing that bed rest is my likely future for the next month, my mind immediately jumped to induction and then c-section...two things I DO NOT want. Every night for weeks, I've been sitting on the yoga ball to open up my hips and begin the cervical dilation. I rock and roll on the ball, patiently swaying to and fro, mentally picturing things "opening up" down there.

Five weeks of bed rest will ruin the progress I've made up to this point. Lying down, abdomen wide open allowing the baby to shift into whatever position it wants to (instead of being encouraged to stay in the head down, face down position).....it's counterproductive to what I know needs to happen for labor and delivery.

I wasn't too concerned that our hospital bag isn't packed yet. I didn't think twice about the fact that our house could use a good cleaning. I hadn't offloaded anything to anyone at work.

Those are minor things, though. I wasn't too upset about those. I was getting disappointed thinking that this isn't AT ALL how I wanted things to go at this point. Of course I wasn't delusional enough to think I could honestly control every aspect of the labor and delivery; I just didn't expect to have to be thinking about things this early (five weeks seems like a ways off to me still).

Needless to say, I'm doing WHATEVER I can to get a handle on this swelling. I'm drinking enough water to practically fill an olympic sized pool. I'm lying on my Left side, even though it's uncomfortable on my hips :) I'm eating salad, salad and more salad (no sodium!). I'm visualizing the fluid filtering through my kidneys and leaving my body. Like I said, WHATEVER I can to get this fluid out of body.

Assuming I "passed" the lab tests they drew yesterday and I can control the swelling, I should be able to make it several more weeks and then get back on track for the delivery I want.

Baby is doing great. Strong heartbeat (144 at the office yesterday), moving TONS....sticking it's little bootie out at us numerous times/day...Bubs is doing wonderfully.

I'll have my BP read this afternoon and have a follow up appt with T tomorrow. I'll keep you updated. In the meantime, would you please say a prayer that Bubs continues to do well and that my body gets its act in gear? :)

Until then, XOXO...