December 5th, 2010 started out just like the previous four days - with me still in the hospital. I'd been admitted into L&D for observation that Thursday, December 2nd because my routine urinalysis showed some protein in my urine. This was what we feared and hoped would not show up as it is indicative of a pregnancy complication called pre-eclampsia. Pre-e is one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications, although one of the most common, because it affects both the mother and unborn child and the only known cure is delivery. I was about 31w3d at this point. It's funny how my husband and I had been joking the night before that I needed to get my hospital bag packed or the baby would arrive and I wouldn't be ready. That morning as I got ready for my appointment, I had a feeling I wouldn't be returning back home (but I STILL didn't pack my bag!)
So off to L&D I went - only to find out that my COBRA coverage hadn't kicked in yet, so I was listed as "uninsured." Now, my blood pressure was already high enough and this made it worse. I was checked in and told that they need to monitor my blood pressure to see if they could get it to go down and would be drawing blood to run some tests. My blood pressure didn't go down and as I showed protein in my urine, I was going to have to be admitted. GREAT. I was alone and scared - having not had the foresight to bring my husband or my mother along for my appointment. I finally got settled into a room, was allowed to eat and started my 24-hour urine collection which would determine if the levels of protein in my urine were increasing or staying the same. I was hoping that I'd be discharged before Sunday as I'd scheduled my maternity photos for that weekend. I had taken bump pictures each week but I needed my maternity photos!! I ended up having to stay an extra night, we did another 24-hour collection and we did an ultrasound to check on the baby. I was told that there was a big possibility I would not be leaving the hospital until I delivered - either that weekend or hopefully a few weeks later. This did not sound appealing to me, but I wanted to do what was best for the baby. I nervously asked the tech what my baby's chances of survival were if we had to deliver early, and was told the baby was about 3 pounds 14 ounces and the outlook was good -- not ideal as we were not yet at the "full-term" mark of 35 weeks, but better than if the complications had arisen earlier.
I was still in the hospital on Sunday, December 5th, and about to go stir crazy. I wanted out at all costs. I didn't care if I needed to be on bedrest (my doctor had already told me I couldn't go back to work - but the joke was on him because I'd already been laid off by then) I could do that at home. I didn't need to be in the hospital. Finally, my doctor came in and told me that if everything looked good Monday morning, I'd be able to go home. I was thrilled. Family came to visit me and the day proceeded as normal. Once visiting hours were over, I asked everyone to go home (my mom had been spending the nights at the hospital with me) since I was being discharged in the morning. Little did I know that less than 2 hours later, I'd be delivering my baby.
To be continued.....
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