Veronica Off Bedrest

Thankfully, the torture only lasted a week. Veronica was re-evaluated for pre-eclampsia and her blood pressure was rechecked and was below the caution line. She was taken off bedrest but isn't allowed to go back to work. So now she gets to practice being housewife for a few weeks before baby arrives.

Veronica is on Bed Rest

On Friday, I went into the doctor's because I was concerned about my swollen feet not going down with elevation, like my doctor said they would. The nurse checked my blood pressure and it had increased from 102/80 to 130/80 in two weeks! Usually an increase in blood pressure combined with swollen feet indicate pregnancy-induced hypertensia (PIH), or preeclampsia or toxemia, which they are thinking I might develop. This condition doesn't necessarily harm the baby, but it could mean bad news for me in labor and delivery.

The on-call doctor (my doctor was out of town) put me on modified bed rest to prevent any more influx to my blood pressure. He said he wanted to get me at least through the next few weeks until I am full-term at 37 weeks. I can't go walking, go shopping, work, or even do major household chores. He even said I had to quit my job cold-turkey after I got back from my appointment because he didn't want me doing anything else for the rest of the day.

So now I am stuck at home at least for the rest of this week. I have a regularly scheduled appointment on Friday with my real doctor to see if he has a different opinion. I am sure they will check my blood pressure again to see if the bed rest has done any good. Either I will get off bed rest or I will stay on till I can have the baby. Since I am already almost 36 weeks, the doctor might choose to induce me at 37 weeks just to prevent labor complications.

I could have this baby in a week and a half!!