Hospital Bedrest?

[marilyn621]

I've been addicted to these forums in my last trimester. Just wanted to thank everyone for their input and ask a couple of questions.
I've been to l&d four different times in the past four weeks and this last time I was there less than two hours. They sent me home with a BP of 154/97 and told me to double my current dosage of Aldomet (which will have me taking 500 mg 2x a day). I have been complaining of a headache this whole time. I've had an rx for Lortab and even been given Demerol and it does not go away. I wake up with it in the morning and go to bed with it at night (the opioids at least help me sleep) and my vision is blurry. I bump into things and use wrong words in my schoolwork. Now I have severe epigastric pain that keeps me up at night.
My question is exactly how bad off did you have to get before they kept you in the hospital?
They are telling me my labs are fine. I heard all this with my first and things were not fine at all. My mfm said to induce at 37 weeks which will be Friday and my Dr said no. He'll see me Monday and once a week til I deliver. Bpp shows baby is ready now.

[MomTimesThree]

Does one doctor know of all your symptoms- and have you had a chance to report your new pain? And does your MFM know that your OB is not willing to induce at 37 weeks?

I think it's concerning you were sent home to double your meds without being monitored to see if it would help or to explain your headache.

[sam10]

To answer your question, during my pregnancy with Henry I was hospitalized with sky-high protein levels and an unmedicated elevated BP of 150/90 ish ( not sure how high it was), severe swelling in face and hands. I did not have headaches, blurry vision or epigastric pain.
I find your symptoms concerning, and worrisome they sent you home. Have labs been drawn to check your liver and kidney functions?
As I am only seeing an MFM, without my OB, I am not sure who has the last word in a co-managed care. I would think that the MFMs opinion would outweigh the OB's.

[marilyn621]

I think the comanaged thing is the problem. Honestly if I weren't so far along I would fire my ob in a heartbeat but it's like pulling teeth to get an appointment with the mfm here (too many high risk pregnancies, too few high risk doctors). They have been taking blood and said it was "fine." I did a 24 hr urine test last week and when I called to ask for the results they didn't even return my phone call and the nurse in l&d said "no news is good news." No news ticks me off. I went through all this with my first, but I just thought I would be taken more seriously this time around after having gone through what I did and being older and wiser. I have told my ob all about it and he doesn't seem concerned. The only reason he even gave me anything for the headache is because I burst into tears in his office.

[angieb]

My OB defers to my MFM always.

Can you call the MFM office and tell them this issue? Maybe if the MFM puts something in writing recommending delivery at 37 weeks, the OB will agree, or has that already been done? (My MFM is good about putting important stuff in writing for my OB.) It would be a bit risky of an ob to disregard an mfm's rec like that, liability-wise, I can't imagine that they would.

A bpp can't really show the baby is ready now for delivery. It can show that the baby is doing well or not doing well in there (and if baby's not doing well, that could be a reason to deliver asap.) And it can give you a general idea of the baby's size, but that's the limit. You could ask for an amnio for lung maturity if that would help convince them to deliver (practice breathing in a bpp does not guarantee lung maturity, it's just a good indication baby is not in distress. A good amnio score does pretty much guarantee it.)

[marilyn621]

I will ask them about it tomorrow. I don't know any of this medical stuff, just that I'm getting different answers from different people. I'm not sure if the mfm sent anything to them in writing or not but I am ginger to be sure to get something. When they sent me home from l&d to double my meds and take tums I just spent half the night vomiting. Not sure how effective the medicine is if you throw it up right away :-/

[sam10]

How are you doing today? Have you gotten any answers from both of your doctors?

[MomTimesThree]

I also wondered how you were doing today? I hope you find that your MFM is willing to put things in writing, and that that gets you the recommended induction on Friday.

I would also ask the MFM office if the OB is still resistant and does not have you scheduled on Friday, what you are supposed to do... I suppose you could always show up at 37 weeks at the hospital your MFM has privileges at and ask to see him/her and get the show started.

[marilyn621]

I did go to the mfm's office and ask to see her. She is completely booked and they said all she could do was make a recommendation (which she already did) but that it's really all up to my ob. I also wouldn't think it is wise for an ob to just ignore a recommendations from a specialist. I did call my ob's office and get very stern over the fact that they kicked me out with my BP that high and that I spent the whole night throwing up. I have an appointment with him Friday morning and if I don't hear what I want, I will be going to a different hospital.

[sam10]

Been thinking of you! How are you? Let us know how things are going as you are able.