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I am a 32 year old, healthy, fit woman who exercises, eats right and takes |
| I am a 32 year old, healthy, fit woman who exercises, eats right and takes good care of myself. At 25 weeks I went to my doctor for a check up and was told my BP was high. She sent me to the hospital for a day of monitoring. I was then sent home as everything checked out. I was put on moderate bedrest by my OB who thought that working from home with feet up in bed was ok. She sent me to a perinatologist who said the baby was small but he wasn't worried as my hsuband and I are on the short side and we were both small babies. He thought that everything was fine and that the baby hadn't stopped growing which was my OBs fear. I felt fine otherwise for about 4 more weeks or so. On May 3 I started to feel horrible. Chest pains, short of breath, eye floaters. I thought the chest pains were from a spastic esophagus I have but was concerned becuase something just didn't seem right. So, I went to the doctor anyway. She sent me immediately to the hospital as my bp was unbelieveably high - 200/110. WHen omitted the goal was to stabilize me and keep me in the hospital a few weeks on bedrest since I was only 29 weeks and the baby was small. Within 2 hours my condition worsened and I was on magnesium and was receiving steroid shots as it seemed that they'd have to deliver at some point soon. It all occurred so quickly. I was unresponsive to the magnesium and so I was bolused up over and over again-which for anyone who has had this - knows how horrible an experience that is. I had gained over 30lbs in water weight in less than 24 hours. It was determined by an ultra sound the next morning that the baby hadn't grown in about 3 weeks so the rush to get the steroids in was even more important. The only problem was that you can only get those shots every 14 hours and the goal is to get 4 in you! They were having problems keeping me stable and the heart rate of the baby dipped several times. I honestly don't remember more than calling the nurses thoughout the night to come in and roll me over as I couldn't move, raise my arms to scratch my nose or lift my head. Magnesium makes you sweat and feels like your body is literally boiling - the temp in my room I was told by a nurse was "sub zero." Blood was taken every hour so I was bruised and sick as a side effect of the magnesium. My husband and doctor now tell me I was in and out of lucidity for a while - which was good I was told considering how critical the situation was for me. After the last steroid shot my son was quickly delivered at 2lbs 4 oz by emergency c-section. The doctor said not to be alarmed if I didn't hear him when he was delivered as magnesium babies are quiet-another potential dnager for the infant. My son, however, screamed. The NICU doctors were amazed as the dosage I had on board was enormously high for my size. After deliery my BP continued to rise and I was kept on the magnesium for several days. I was unable to see my son for 2 days. My recovery has been difficult. I was hospitalized for 2 weeks after delivery as my BP couldn't remain in control. I was scared I would have to go back on the magnesium and it would have meant not being able to see my son. My son came home 6 weeks later. He is an amazing, a miracle child. I look at him and can not believe how lucky we are. And my mom was right, the memory of how difficult it all was fades with time. He is 13lbs now - suffering no ill effects and has been strong since day 1. The NICU doctors were amazed that after the first day he was breathing on his own and within 2 weeks was bottle feeding. I am still on blood pressure medication and have been advised that another birth isn't a great idea. Although it may not happen again, it is thought that I am predisposed to high BP and that the pregnancy brought it out. Being small also the doctor didn't think my body tolerated being pregnant overall well. Even with the proper treatment and being on watch and bedrest there is no saying it wouldn't happen again and that it wouldn't be worse. My doctor said she hadn't seen a case so unresponsive. My husband doesn't want to risk coming as close to losing me as he did last time. So, we have a beautiful son who I thank the world for every time I see him. |
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