Baby Update

No, I haven't had him yet and no I'm not in labor. Friday marked my 37th week, so I'm now considered full term. But Saturday I had an appointment that turned up some familiar news.

I've been really swollen the past couple of weeks, which can happen in any pregnancy. But when I went to the doc, my blood pressure was up and they found traces of protein in my urine. Put all these together and the most likely culprit is toxemia.

Toxemia is pregnancy induced high blood pressure. It can't really affect the baby, but it can be dangerous for me. If my blood pressure goes high enough, I can go into seizures. And if I get that sick, then there is a danger to the baby. The only cure for this is to deliver the baby.

Since my blood pressure was only slightly up and there was only a trace of protein, the doc isn't doing anything rash. I have to get some labwork done Monday morning and then I go back to the doc Tuesday afternoon. If my blood pressure or protein go up, out the baby will have to come. Though they may try to control it with other methods first, like medication. But it all really depends on how bad it is and how developed they feel the baby is.

At last check, the doc thought the baby was already a good size, so I'm not too worried. Once the baby is delivered they'll put me on an IV with magnesium for 24 hours. Then everything should go back to normal.

So today we're rushing around trying to get everything finished. The baby could come at any time now, and here we thought we had another 3 weeks to get everything done.

But that's the way it goes sometimes. I'm not as nervous as I thought I'd be. I've been through this before. Of course, talk to me once I'm at the hospital and it may be a different story. Anyhoo, I will try to update you as much as I can.

That's it for now. I have to get back to finishing up this freelance work before teh baby comes.

Till next time...