34 w 5 d

Another day, another visit to the hospital.

There's been a lot of that lately. So far in the past month I've had two trips to the hospital (Labor & Delivery), 6 non stress tests, 4 biophysical profiles, and I'm getting ready to start my 2nd 24 hour urine test.

The Braxton Hicks contractions started about a month ago. All day. Every day. No big deal as I'm not dilated yet and they're basically just a (slightly painful) exercise in futility for my uterus. Nothing really impacts them - moving, not moving, laying on my left side, laying on my right side, drinking water.

Peanut's fun and games with the fetal monitor started about a month ago. Eerily remiscent of Danny's fun and games with the fetal monitor. I'm not sure how many trips to L&D I made when pregnant with him, but I'm thinking that Baby Brother is giving him a strong run for the money. See, OB visits these days pretty much consist of me getting hooked up to the fetal monitor and Peanut deciding that it's a lovely time to play possum. Apparently within a 20 minute time frame his heart rate is supposed to fluctuate approximately 20 bpm 4 times. Which he doesn't like to do on command. It's only after the hour drive to the hospital that he perks up. Today at least I was calm. Last time I was a little freaked out, wondering about who was going to pick Danny up from school, where was my husband (stuck in a work meeting while his phone was in his car), etc. Little things like that.

Today's visit had extra added fun. Not only was my blood pressure high, but Peanut was non-reactive, my fundal measurement was a little behind where I should be, and I've been feeling really ill and especially exhausted lately. Plus the really impressive swelling in my feet and hands (and forearms). This weekend I decided (in my psychosomatic way of being) that I may have HELLP syndrome, but bloodwork and everything today I guess ruled all of that out. My trip to L&D basically ruled everything out - the u/s was good, Peanut is measuring on track, he was reactive, and I only have a trace amount of protein in my urine. And I got a free lunch. And another bucket to pee in for 24 hours before I go back for another NST on Friday.

I really appreciate how cautious my doctors are being with me. They're very concerned about my risk of getting pre-eclampsia again and I feel like I'm in good hands. But it's a little mentally exhausting, wondering after every OB visit if I'm going to get to go back to work or if we're going to have to amp up our angst about choosing a name for this little bugger.

So I've been a little quiet lately. I haven't wanted to complain as I have a little survivor's guilt at being fortunate enough to be pregnant again, when I know others are still out there struggling.