My Second Pregnancy: 38 Week Consultant Appointment & Hospital Admittance

I have had the worst 24 hours of my life. I set off for my routine consultant appointment at 2pm yesterday fully aware of what would happen. I've been to enough of these appointments; blood pressure, urine check and scan. 

As soon as I handed over my urine sample, the nurse tested it and said "3 + protein". My heart sank. When I'd been admitted to hospital to have C there were 4 +. The doctor asked me to pop up onto the bed to check my blood pressure and it was high with the diastolic number being 95. I was then given my scan and baby looked fine and is estimated at around 7lbs. She spoke to me about her concerns and said that they might want to induce me either later that night or the following day. I was always led to believe that I wasn't eligible for induction as I'd had a previous Caesarian. 

She explained that they couldn't induce using their usual method of a hormone gel because there is a risk of scar rupture. I could be induced using a Cook balloon which is inserted into the cervix and it breaks your waters. She then had me remove my jeans and underwear to check if my cervix would be ready for it if need be. This was the most uncomfortable and painful experience of my life. It didn't help that I saw blood running down her gloved hand afterwards! Apparently my cervix is still quite high but she could get it to about 1cm - not a lot! She then consulted another doctor over what to do with me. 

When she came back, she told me that they had decided to admit me to the ward and they took some bloods. Cue me ringing Chris quickly as he was due to start work shortly. I needed my bags and we needed to arrange childcare for C. Luckily, his mum lives around the corner and she really helps us out when we need it which is fab. 

I was hooked up to the monitor to check mine and baby's heart rates as well as baby's movements but all was fine. My blood pressure was starting to drop a little too (lowest being 88). Chris dropped my bags up around dinner time but as we didn't know what was happening yet, he went home to C as we wanted to keep things as normal for him as we could. My blood pressure continued to be checked at regular intervals and the diastolic number even went as low as 77 on one occasion. My urine was also coming back with just a trace of protein which I thought was very odd.

Chris came up to see me at visiting hours (6.30-8.30) and at 8.15pm, I had another blood pressure check. It came back in the high 80s again. As this wasn't too high, I asked what the plan was. Realistically, I wanted to go home with Chris and by this point I was missing C a lot. The midwife came back and said that the doctors weren't able to come see me so I would be staying in and they'd come in the morning. I was so upset. I was on a noisy ward and being away from Chris and C, I knew I wouldn't sleep and I was right. I think I saw every hour on the clock during the night and even when I did fall asleep, I couldn't get into a deep sleep. I kept jumping and waking myself up.

This morning, my blood pressure was high again at 94 but urine was still clear of protein. The doctors came round at 10am and checked my reflexes which were brisk. I was told that if my blood pressure was back down under 90, I could go home. I had it checked at 11am (94) then 12pm (92) so at least it was going in the right direction. I was hooked up the monitor to check our heart rates and babys movement again and, as expected, all was fine. After lunch, around 1.45, I had my blood pressure checked again - 85. I had never been so happy. Home time!

The midwife will come out to my house tomorrow to check my blood pressure so if it's high again, we'll work it from there. I was also given an antenatal appointment for Thursday when I'll be 39+3 (if I haven't gone into labour already) and I'll probably be given an induction date. Okay, so I may be home with the baby still in my belly, but I've never been more glad to be in my own house cuddling my little boy!

31 Week Midwife Appointment

Today I had my 31 week midwife appointment. Due to the pre-eclampsia last time, I see her every two weeks. Urine was free from protein and blood pressure was fine, as it has been throughout my pregnancy, thankfully! Baby's heartbeat was lovely at around 128bpm too. 

I got my blood results back from two weeks ago and apparently I am anaemic with my haemoglobin levels being at 97 so I need to be taking an iron tablet in the morning and at evening with pure orange juice to help me absorb it. 

This was the first time I'd had questions for her. Firstly, for the past few weeks I've had a dull "pins and needles"-like pain in my right rib and it only seems to get tolerable when I put pressure on it. She felt my tummy and told me that the baby is head down, her back is to my right side so the pain in my rib is her feet - lovely! 

My second query was that her movements seemed to have changed since late Sunday evening. Usually she is active almost every minute of every day but I noticed a real difference all throughout Monday and she only really started moving more last night but even these kicks felt a bit more "muffled" than usual. From listening to the heartbeat, she told me that movement does seem okay but that she was obliged to sent me to the maternity unit to be checked over. At the risk of sounding awful, I really couldn't be bothered. I knew I'd be there for ages and I hate feeling like I'm wasting peoples time. 

I got my whooping cough vaccine too and now my arm is really starting to ache - boo! 

I got to the Maternity Unit shortly after and a lovely student midwife checked my blood pressure, urine and baby's heartbeat again and then I was hooked up the monitor and I had to push a button every time I felt a movement. I felt so silly because as soon as the pads were put on my tummy, the baby mustn't have liked the pressure and kept kicking away! 

All in all, everything was fine. The doctor gave me a quick scan after and she told me that the baby's head is right down in my pelvis (and so is unlikely to move) and as she grows, movements may change but I should never have periods where I don't feel anything at all. I was given the phone number for the unit and told that if it happens again, to have something sugary to eat or drink and lie on my left side. I should feel around 10 movements in a two hour period. 

I did feel like I had wasted time but luckily they were lovely and said that it's never a waste of time if it's something like this! 

Possibility of a Hip Splint

Back when we took C for his first jabs he was also given a quick examination (the GP administered the jabs so decided to do a check too). He asked if C was breech and I didn't know. He was born via Caesarean section and I was never told. I was then asked if there were any hip or leg problems in mine or Chris's families. My dad had Perthes' Disease where the top of the thigh bone softens and breaks down. He spent 18 months in hospital because of it. I let the GP know even though I knew that it wasn't a hereditary disease but he recommended that C go for a hip scan as he had an extra crease in one of his thighs.

We waited over a month to be seen, worried in that time about C putting any weight on his legs. I was so nervous. My tiny baby going for an x-ray. It was fine though. I stood behind the screen with the doctor and Chris put on a special robe, lay C down with his trousers and nappy off and stood with him in case he rolled anywhere.

We got C dressed and were told to wait in the waiting area. C, at this point, thought that it was great that he was in a place where there were lots of people and decided to shout at everyone.

A nurse came out and told us what we could expect if C needed a hip splint. He would need to wear it for about 20 hours a day then we were shown possible splints. I couldn't believe it. I was expecting them to be very modern but these looked like Victorian medical devices. One even had a metal bar sticking out the side which had to be measured to see if it would fit in the car seat!

Another nurse came back with the results. The angle of his hip was only slightly off and it could just be possible that the cause was the way he was lying or if not, it could repair itself without the need of a splint. I was relieved. No faffing about with that thing! Phew!

Have any of you ever had experiences with splints? Let me know!