Becoming The Human Oven

Hello to everyone reading this blog. I figured I would write this for all of you who text, message and email to see how I am from day to day. My goal is to reduce the amount of time I am on my phone from day-to-day, as I get pulled away for tests, meetings with OB's and nurses and randomly want to disconnect from everyone for a couple of minutes (a.k.a. I fall asleep randomly, usually pre-dinner) and on occasion people start to worry about me when I don't respond right way. I assure you, I am not ignoring you. I appreciate all the love and support Dave and I are receiving throughout the past several weeks as life has thrown some major changes our way. 

From my online research, some who are told they have to go on bed rest seem to adjust quite well to bed rest at home. Lucky women. On August 17th (29 weeks + 5 days), my first admission to the hospital with the lovely byproducts of placenta previa (I will spare you all from the TMI details but assure you it's like a horror movie) and from here on our will refer to them as PRI or placenta-related incidents, I was told I was no longer allowed to work. I was a little devastated and a little in denial. Some of this might have been from the emotional state from losing my Mother not even 48 hours prior to admission, but some of it was also from having the life I knew pulled from under me. For those that know me well, you know I love my job and do not stay idle for too long. The adjustment to bed rest (a.k.a. not allowed to do anything fun) did not go well. I resumed my usual household duties with the exception of lifting and vacuuming thinking that this would definitely work for the next several months. Boy was I wrong. On August 24th, I had another PRI while at my appointment with the Special Pregnancy Program has been following me since May. I was almost admitted to hospital AGAIN, but begged my OB not to admit me as I had appointments to manage my Mom's estate the two following days. She let me out, on the promise that if it happened again I was admitted until I delivered. Guess what? I didn't make it to the second day of appointments because at 6:30am on Friday, August 26th (31 weeks) my dear placenta decided to cause me grief again. Luckily being the planner I am, I had everything packed and ready to go for admission to Mount Sinai Hospital. 

What I have learned though no amount of planning can prepare you for the mental, emotional and physical (despite being very inactive all day long) exhaustion that comes with being confined to the antenatal unit and being told your only job is "being a human oven" until the OB decides it's time for delivery day. After a couple of days, you get into the antenatal routine. Here's a look at my daily schedule:

Any given day of the week 

(even Saturday's and Sunday's are the same - I really have no idea what day of the week it is. Thank goodness they write the date on the white boards in our rooms)

6:30-7:00am: Night Nurse pops in to drop off meds and sometimes takes my blood (such a great way to wake up!)

7:00am to 8:30am: Fall asleep, maybe (depends on how loud the nurses station is at shift change)

8:30am; Breakfast!! Love the food services people here. They are always smiling, even when I am half asleep and sure I look like a hot mess. I also get to choose my menu for the next day at breakfast. It's a great time of day because it's something I get to choose and have a little bit of control over.

9am or shortly thereafter: 

- Day nurse comes in and the fun begins - my vitals are checked and a Fetal Non-Stress Test is performed to ensure the baby is doing well. 

- OB Resident or Fellow on the floor comes in to update you on your status and any changes in the plan

- Shower and get out of my PJ's

- If it's a PRI-free day, I am free to wander the unit at will and can go downstairs for a short amount of time. If visitor's come, I am allowed to go outside but have to stay on the hospital campus. 

- If it's a PRI day, I am confined to the unit and usually my bed because I have to be on the monitors until the incident is over OR I head across to the "other side" - Labour & Delivery for closer monitoring

12:00pm: Lunch! 

1pm-5:30pm

- Find ways to fill these hours - don't worry though I have lots of reading material, free WiFi (hours of Netflix), colouring books, knitting needles and yarn (I have failed at knitting, I made a scarf for a mouse) and catch up on the hospital gossip (you would not believe how much gossip is on this floor. My favourite story is about the patient that escaped to get a hot dog!)

- Visit with visitors

- Vital checks every so often

- Visits from the OB that has been following me from the Special Pregnancy Program before I was admitted or my new OB team that is following me for a low platelet count. 

- Nap time

5:30pm: Dinner!! (although lately it has been late, very dangerous territory on a floor full of pregnant women)

6pm until night check

- Similar to 1-5:30pm without the medical visits

Night time check (sometime between 8pm and 10pm)

- time varies depending on the nurse and what's happening on the unit, but it includes a vital check and listening to baby. 

Every week on Tuesday's I have an ultrasound. It's the best day of the week because I get to see this little baby and get reminded that being a human oven will definitely be worth it. 

I am now on Day 18 (33 weeks+4 days) here on the antenatal floor. I am here until Baby A is delivered. We have no idea what day this might be, but if there are no more PRI she gets to join the world around week 36. The next big PRI might turn into her birthday. So I sit and wait.