Ben,

I understand what your wife means about the swelling in her legs and arms, etc. I was on strict bedrest and there was never any truly visible swelling even though I felt like there was plenty! The only visible difference (other than the scales) was when wrapping my fingers around my wrist. After I delivered my daughter and was allowed to be upright my ankles and feet blew up like balloons! I didn't fit any shoes...not even slip ons! It went down considerably within a few days, thankfully and the rest was cleared up with a few weeks of meds. I have wondered just how much of that was accumulation durring my pregnancy and how much was after. My feeling -probably most, if not all came before delivery.

The vomiting doesn't sound fun at all! Make sure she atleast rinses her mouth with water afterwards to try and cut some of the acidity. Something along the lines of an antacid would be preferable but might not be something she could handle well.

I'm glad the steroids took a little of the heat off for a while. My prayers are also with you and your two loved ones!

Catherine (22)
DH Britton (27)
Emma Margaret (03/02/03) 37 weeks from PIH & oligo

Ben,

Thank you for the updates! Just wanted to let you and Rachel know that we're praying for you guys over here as well! I hope that yall are holding your new little baby in your arms soon.[:D]

Julie
Zachary James, 7/22/03-7/27/03, born at 26 weeks due to severe pe

You better believe we're praying for her. Just tell her to hang in there- who'd have thought some of the hardest mothering we'd have to do would be before the baby's even born! Tell her to keep up the good work, it's hard but it's worth it.
Hugs to you both...


Laura-28
DH Jack-30
Allie 5-13-98 (35 weeks-pre-e)
Baby Camille 4-17-03 (36 weeks- htn and oligo)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/c/camilleandallie/

Rachel is doing fine. She's in bed constantly and sleeping fitfully. She feels pressure constantly in her arms and legs like they're swelling, but they remain the same. She likens it to a balloon that is on the verge of swelling but is straining at the pressure.

She sees the doctor next on December 3rd. Please pray that they'll schedule a c-section for her. On top of PIH she has severe acid reflux and is vomiting acid daily. Her voice is scratchy and the pain is excruciating. That on top of the other "fun" pregnancy pain. She is glad this is her last pregnancy, I can assure you.

She is also very touched by your concern and your thoughts to her. She feels pretty lonely right now.

Thanks again,
Ben - Rachel's husband

Ben,

Thanks for posting. During my last pregnancy I was admitted to L&D seven times, all due to high bp. Each time I was sent home because of no protein in my urine. I ended up going to 37 weeks and they only took the baby because the stress tests showed that the baby was not active anymore. How are her tests when they strap the fetal monitor on? I was also in the same boat -just take the baby already!!! It is scary, but with the monitoring that you are doing at home and the bedrest will help some. Each day that the baby is in equals 3 days in the NICU that they miss. SO, the longer the better. Doctors don't seem to take action unless there is protein shown or the baby shows distress. As she may not have either, she is in the position I was -very high bps (although hers seems higher than mine), feeling awful , but still remaining pregnant. It looks like she has PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension), same as I had the last time. Tell her to hang in there and that we want updates daily (even if they are from you!). If possible with a laptop, have her log in to post on the bedresting section. She will get alot of support there too!!

Michelle
mom to Cole Thomas -former 28.5 weeker (3-5-99, 3 lbs)due to HELLP and Madelaine Grace "Lainey" -former 29.5 (10-11-01, 3lbs 4oz)weeker due to Pre-E and had PIH with Elisabeth Rose (Ella) -37 weeker,born June 30th 2003 weighing 5 lbs 12 oz and beautiful.

Ben,

Thankyou so much for the info! I had Pregnancy Induced Hypertension too (high BP without protein in urine). I hope her BP's are staying at a good level. Did the doctors do an NST and ultrasound? With the BP's she reported, they should DEFINATELY be done. Mine weren't anywhere near as high as hers and my placenta was already having problems causing low amniotic fluid (meaning the baby wasn't getting good ammounts of nutrients). I don't know the reasons for the waiting...is she on bp medications? The BP can be just as dangerous as BP with protein. I was induced without ever passing the "trace" mark. I hope all is going well and that she can make it to full term without further complications!


Catherine (22)
DH Britton (27)
Emma Margaret (03/02/03) 37 weeks from PIH & oligo

Wow! Please hang in there and stay healthy. The very best to you both!

Nancy-35
dh-34
ds-8yrs
dd-7yrs
Scott-born 05-14-99 @38 weeks-PE
Janie-born 05-12-03 @37 weeks-PIH, small for gestational age (oligo and low blood flow)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/4/4lbs/

I'm sorry that I haven't replied sooner.

Rachel is doing fine. The hospital admitted her for observation and gave her some steroids to mature the babies lungs. She's back at home but is refusing to get out of bed so that she has as little activity as possible to try and keep her bp down. While in the hospital they tested her blood and urine and said that there wasn't one trace of proteinuria but that her blood pressure was very high. So, we're on a waiting game. She sees the doctor on base next Wednesday and will hopefully be scheduling a c-section for the 14th of December, when she is term.

Ben - Rachel's husband

PS. Thank you for your concerns.

My prayers are with you as well. This is stupuid, the way they ignore the systoms of their patients. Do whatever you have to do to get other help. Nothing is more important than the health of you and your baby. God Bless.

Ughhh, I just read all this too. This is why the foundation is so important!! People are left totally in the dark about their own health!!!This is insane...Rachel, I hope all is okay, my prayers are with you....

Mada Harpster

Sam 6-29-00 36weeks P.E.
Ben 11-03-01 No P.E.