Day 70: 10 Weeks
March 3, 2011 at 1:33 PM | Posted in Baby Romaezi | 13 CommentsTags: Baby, bed rest, High Risk Pregnancy, hospital, hospital stay, medical resident, non stress test, pprom, pre-term labor, pregnancy, pregnant, PROM, ultrasound
As I have now been here for 10 weeks, the fact that I have not had a full night of sleep for that length of time is really starting to affect my sunny personality. If you think the standard new mom who returns to work is grumpy, you may not want to meet me 9 – 11 weeks from now when I make my return. Sorry, co-workers, I promise to really try to be nice and awake, and happy. If for some reason I show up at work and and am not as chipper as you think I should be, remember this, “Iced, Grande, Soy, White Mocha.”
This damn new resident needs to lay off of the coffee in the morning or I might find my crochet needles (not sharp AT ALL) and threaten to jab her with them. I’m sure that when she used the stethoscope this morning my heart was racing because it seems her training at the police academy has yet to wear off and again I found myself wondering if the police were barging in when she knocked on the door. I am used to the questions early in the morning, I don’t like it but they are OK. But this girl really needs to stop soaking her hands in that bucket of ice before rounding. She always wants to use her stethoscope–whatever. It also seems that she can’t take my word for it when I say there is no abdominal tenderness. This means that she puts these ice cold hands of hers on my belly to see if I jump or show pain when she touches me. She always seems to find the baby’s butt and pushes on it with her two cold hands (2 days of 3 now). This very action wakes the child who has been squirming in my stomach all night making it impossible for me to go back to sleep…at 7:00 a.m. Um, lady, my fluid levels are LOW. It is going to feel like I have a bag of bones in my stomach. Just because you find a limb, it does not mean I have a cancerous mass in my stomach for you to analyze. It is a baby. You are no longer working on the “medical” side of the hospital with sick people get used to this. In the words of one of my favorite nurses, the uterus is a muscle, you can’t press on it too hard. If I cannot press my belly that hard, neither can you. Looks like sunny Mrs. Jamie needs to crank up the mean level in the morning because the current dose is not working. It just seems that little miss resident has forgotten who’s body this is. Mine. She will not be touching me tomorrow….unless I think there is something wrong.
Here is how my nights typically go, for those of you who think that bed rest means sleeping. 8 p.m. – vital check and prenatal vitamin as I wind down and tell myself that it is indeed night time 12:00 a.m. – Vital check, turn off the lights and go to sleep (If I have already managed to fall asleep, I get woken up and have to force myself back to bed.) 3:00 a.m. – potty break 4:00 a.m. – vital check 6 – 7:30 – a.m. resident rounding (annnnnd now I’m up and try to force myself back to sleep) 8:00 a.m. – vital check 9:00 a.m. – food service calls–even if I have food here and don’t plan to order from them. This is where I give up on sleep and just wake up and commence ceiling staring.Yes, I know that I won’t get any sleep once the baby is here. Yes, I know that it is harder to sleep when you are pregnant but let me tell you. If it weren’t for all of these nighttime interruptions, I would only be half awake for a few minutes each night…one time. I could enjoy my sleep before the baby gets here as everyone keeps suggesting I do. Well, that sleep disappeared 10 weeks ago. I enjoyed it while I could but it is now forever gone and will only get worse in 3 weeks. At least 3 weeks from now I will have a really good reason to be awake every 3 hours.
The resident tells me I am scheduled for another measurement ultrasound today. I just had one on Tuesday and they have told me many times that weight measurements are only accurate every 3 weeks. Makes me wonder if they are now trying to get their money’s worth out of me. I know the doppler and amniotic fluid level check is absolutely necessary, I’m not fighting that. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing baby boy on the screen so often but I don’t want any unnecessary procedures. I’ve asked two people now and neither has been able to give me a reason for a second weight measure this week.
Since I’m posting so early, I haven’t had the non stress test or the ultrasound yet. I’ll share that update tomorrow if it is noteworthy.
***UPDATE***It seems the weight estimate last week was just taken from the size of the boy’s belly so they needed a more accurate read this week. According to the ultrasound I just returned from, the amniotic fluid levels are at 5.4 and weight estimate is in the 50th percentile at 4 pounds 13 ounces. Those of you who panicked about your contest guesses can now breathe a sigh of relief as he hasn’t hit gargantuan baby status yet. Besides, it’s a weight estimate and they can be off by 2 lbs.
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The Romaezis 
as hard as it is. At home you wouldnt be sleeping either. if things were normal and fluids were normal you would be peeing like every 15 mins. and between that taking tums or something. ( just trying to help 🙂 ) I think its Gods way of making a mother ready.. so your not in shock when baby comes. yours is just induced by humans rather than yourself 🙂 love ya momma!
Comment by Terri— March 3, 2011 #
I was just thinking, WOW, only 1 potty break per night??? I’m just ahead of her, I’m 34 weeks 1 day… at 30 weeks I was having to get up 2, sometimes 3x a night to pee. Lately it’s more like 4 to 5x per night. I am sleep deprived as all get out, between my huge belly making it impossible to get comfortable, all my aches from working all day and spending time on my feet, the frequent urges to pee, and the baby’s wild nighttime dance sessions… no wonder I’m getting grumpy more than usual these days! I get maybe 3 hours of actual sleep each night. I spend weekend days and weekday evenings a zombie in my recliner trying to catch up on sleep, to no avail, because I’m just as miserable in the recliner in the daytime!
No matter wether you’r at home or in the hospital, after week 30 or so, normal sleep becomes a fond memory you’ll not be reliving for a very long time!
Comment by Melissa— March 3, 2011 #
Although I will not argue that I would rather be at home, miserable, than hospitalized, miserable! You have my sympathy either way!
Comment by Melissa— March 3, 2011 #
Ha! I’ve always had this amazing ability “hold it.” Though, I’m not holding it. I think going to bed at midnight helps the cause a bit. So really, one potty break per night and at home that’s not too bad and I’ve been doing that since 22 weeks.
BTW Terri, my fluid levels are “normal” now. AND I have a belly. Not that this is a contest but I guarantee you guys I would not have as many interruptions at home as I do here.
Comment by The Romaezis— March 3, 2011 #
You deserve to be as grumpy, aggitated, aggravated, etc as you can. What you are experiencing is no easy feat. My last couple of days in the hospital, I was totally unravelling. By then, I think the nurses couldn’t wait to get me out of there. My thoughts are with you!
Comment by samantha— March 3, 2011 #
I know I’m not going anywhere so I’ve come to terms with that. I think I get a bit more frustrated when people forget that just because I’m in the hospital does not entitle them to touch me, or medicate me, or walk into my room because they feel like it without my permission.
I was so happy to see you got to go home! My nurses still love me. The resident may not though. 🙂
Comment by The Romaezis— March 3, 2011 #
I have been following your blog for a while since I am on hospital bed rest too (for previa). I haven’t been here nearly as long as you (so far a month), but I wanted to tell you that my doctor gave my sleep privileges so that I wouldn’t go completely crazy in here. I am not allowed to be bothered between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. so they take my vitals right before I go to bed and in the morning. It really has made all the difference in the world – you may want to ask your doctor if it would be possibility for you.
Comment by Anna— March 3, 2011 #
Hi Anna,
Sorry you are “in” too. I have asked if we can spread the vitals out at night but because I’m ruptured and though they call the fluid levels stable, it can change with one big gush. Cord compression is a huge risk with me so vitals have to be done ever 4 hours. However, some of my night nurses will give me an extra hour here or there. Glad you get some privacy!
Comment by The Romaezis— March 3, 2011 #
Seriously — 70 days in the hospital is enough to make someone insane. I think you are more than allowed your grumpiness.
Comment by Stacey— March 3, 2011 #
I agree… you have every right to be grumpy – besides, you’re not normally a grumpy person – and you’re pregnant and in the hospital. 🙂
Comment by Millie— March 4, 2011 #
girlie I was not dismissing your awesomeness in the situtation AT ALL! your being super strong with it all. I was just trying to help 😦 love ya! “baby k” has a awesome momma! hey when will I know this childs name?
Comment by Terri— March 4, 2011 #
You are holding up so much better than I ever would. You’re my hero! I am so excited that you have less than 3 weeks to go. Your little boy will hopefully be the best sleeper with no colic, in exchange for such a difficult pregnancy. There’s always thoughts and prayers emanating from the Adams household for you!
Comment by Andrea— March 4, 2011 #
Thanks so much Andi! You guys are awesome.
Comment by The Romaezis— March 5, 2011 #