So the appointment today was rather inconclusive. My blood pressure was highish (127/84) and my urine was measuring 1+ protein on the dipstick. So both are higher than they have been at any point during this pregnancy but not so high that he can say I’m definitely heading towards pre-eclampsia, or take any kind of action really.
I think he was reassured, at least for now, by the fact that I haven’t been having any headaches or blurred vision and no visible swelling. He said I don’t really need to worry unless I start hitting 90 on my diastolic reading or getting consistent readings over 85. He also ordered a repeat protein/creatinine urine ratio and comprehensive metabolic panel along with the CBC and iron studies Dr. OB ordered.
He also confirmed that I’ll need to start NSTs at week 32 (I forgot to ask how often I need them done). Since baby boy is currently measuring 56% for growth he said there was no need to start them before that. I also got a peak at the actual measurements from last Friday’s growth scan and his tummy and femur were both measuring right on track, his head was measuring 2 weeks ahead for width, but Dr. MFM said they don’t really look at the width because this just varies based on head shape and the other head measurement was only one week ahead so that is not really far enough head that it would indicate any kind of issue. I guess he is just going to have a basketball shaped head or something.
Unfortunately, during the quick ultrasound the nurse did today she confirmed that kiddo is still breech, and not only is he breech, he was actually presenting as footling breech today, the most dangerous kind to attempt va.ginal birth with! When I commented about that to the nurse, she looked at me funny and said, “They will not let you attempt to deliver if he’s still like this!” Which, I know. I told my mom and she was like, “Well in the old days you would have one or both of you just died during labor, so a c-section really isn’t so bad.” Which, again, I know. I’m glad that if he decides to stay this way we a) have the technology to know ahead of time and b) can have a c-section, but I really, really hope he turns! The nurse tried to reassure me that it’s far too early to worry about this but she did say that it seems like the ones who prefer the breech position tend not to want to turn. She didn’t know that he’s been breech pretty much the entire pregnancy as far as I can tell 🙁 I need to start doing those turning exercises.
I’m actually a little surprised that Dr. MFM didn’t order a 24-hour urine collection but I guess at this point he feels the ratio will be good enough since based on my dipstick it doesn’t look like I’m spilling that much protein. I’m guessing that if the ratio comes back much over 1 that that will be when I once again know the joy of the giant pee jug in the fridge. (Who doesn’t love that right?)
I also completely forgot to ask about bedrest, but I’ll see him again on the 21st so I guess I can ask then. I won’t lie, a little part of me was hoping that with all these little unreassuring signs starting to pop up he would put me on sooner rather than later but I guess he doesn’t think it’s necessary yet which I guess is still better than the alternative. I started perusing the pre-eclampsia forums yesterday and it does sound like even if I’m showing signs, I still have a long way to go til I get to full blown pre-e and given how closely I’m being monitored, it’s unlikely I’d suddenly get so bad that I’d end up suddenly dying of seizures. I hope anyway.