I became pregnant with my first child
at age 28 the first month we "tried".
Pregnancy was pretty normal. Put on
bedrest for a weekend in my 20th week
with more Braxton Hicks contractions
than my conservative doctor was
comfortable with. Other than that-
very
uneventful. Around 27 weeks my blood
pressure was mildly elevated in the
docs office-lots of stress at work.
This discovery made my high strung,
type A self panic with each subsequent
doctors visit. I literally was having
panic attacks before doctors visits.
Each visit my pressure would be higher
than the last. I could feel my body
pulsate as I entered the building. At
home and work I monitored my blood
pressure closely at normal levels
several times a day. The doctor
dismissed my readings, saying he had
to
go on the readings in his office. No
protein in urine, no swelling, no
other
signs of Preeclampsia-just elevated
pressures in his office. I might
mention he (my doc) was extremely dry,
stoic, and not at all helpful with my
situation. He kept telling me how this
could kill me and the baby. He was
certainly an alarmist and not someone
I
could relate to. I felt it was too
late to switch doctors, although in
hindsight I would have! I was put on
bedrest soon after. I was
hospitalized
when my pressure in the office soared
to 170/114. Normal for me is 120/80.
My blood pressure normalized in the
hospital, although I was
experiencing "panic attacks" prior to
seeing the doctor. I had sweaty
hands,
diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, dizziness,
and of course the elevated pressure.
Still no signs of preeclampsia much to
my doctors surprise. He kept
insisting
he was going to induce me at 36 weeks-
almost threatening- despite all non
stress tests and sonograms being
normal. I was discharged home on
bedrest. He scheduled my appointments
for twice a week which doubled my
panic
attacks. I was also seeing a
specialist every other week and
receiving multiple steroid
injections.
My water broke unexpectedly at 34 1/2
weeks. I delivered 9 hours later-
healthy baby girl 5 lbs 1 oz, 18 1/4
inches. Steroid shots had fortunately
matured her lungs enough to not
require
oxygen. She went home with me two
days
later and other than jaundice was and
still is very healthy. Was it the
stress? No tests were done on the
placenta-I didn't know to ask. Has
anyone else ever had anything similar
happen?
Pregnancy
#2
|
|