induction? I need help!

RyanandManda

So my BP is 112/60 when I'm not pregnant. It's been consistently 140/70ish throughout pregnancy and since I'm full term, OB wants to induce. She gave me the option of the NST (which was perfect), a 24 hour urine collection, and blood work tomorrow. If all looks normal, she's ok letting pregnancy continue but her rec is to induce on Wednesday and not risk it.

So, I hated pitocin when I delivered Emmaline buuut collecting urine for 24 hours, taking my BP several times/day at home, modified bedrest to keep BP down while trying to take care of my 18 month old sounds like a nightmare.

What do I do??? DH wants to go ahead and schedule induction. OB stripped my membranes today. I'm at 2cm, 50-60% effaced. Having contractions but nothing even uncomfortable and not timeable at all.

I'm having no other signs of pre-e other than mild swelling and an increase in my indigestion. Trace protein in my urine at the office but normal for this late in pregnancy.

I'm having such a tough time with this... Thanks for reading...

catsinawindow

Is your BP going up at all or has it been consistently 140/70?  Also, your 24 hour urine will tell you a lot, much more than a dipstick could.

I had normal BP during pregnancy (110s/70s), developed PIH around 37 weeks (140s/90), and that turned into full-blow PreE around 39 weeks.  When I arrived at the hospital to be induced at 39 weeks, 4 days my BP was a whopping 190/115.  I was put on bedrest at 38 weeks, before I had PreE but when my pressure was well above normal.  Even though I was full-term when I developed PIH, my OBs wanted to try to avoid induction.  They told me they wouldn't induce until I developed PreE or was very close to developing it.

I did end up needing to be induced.  It was not a good experience (for many more reasons than just the pitocin).  If I were you, I'd do the 24 hour urine and the bloodwork to make sure you don't have PreE (if you do, obviously, you'll need to be induced).  If you don't have PreE yet, I'd consider the bedrest.  Do you have someone who could help you with your 18 month old during the day?  Bedrest might be your best bet to keep your BP down and baby inside until they are ready to come out on their own.

If you do have any questions about induction with PreE, ask away, I'd be happy to answer.

judahsmommy1

The things that you've listed (urine collection, taking blood pressure, modified bed rest,) actually don't sound that bad. I would at the very least do the 24 hour urine sample. It doesn't taken any extra time because you have to pee anyway! I have a  (very active) 22 mo old and if there's someone (anyone!) who can come out and take her outside for an hour, it's very doable. I have a mattress in my toy room and my son and I play "drums" together, we stack blocks, we play "basketball" (with a big blue ball and a giant basket), and watch movies on my laptop. I don't need to get out of bed all that much on the days that I need to take it easy. My son and I took a quick trip to our community pool (2 minute walk) today, but out of the 8 hours I've been awake, I've been in bed for about 6.5 of them. If your DH could prepare food for you both before he leaves for the day you could cut down on "out of bed" time even more. You just have to make yourself okay with the fact that the house is going to go.

Other things that we do, we cuddle and "tickle". He has a lot of fun tickling his stuffed animals as well. We read a lot of books. I move my feet, hold his hands, and he jumps on the bed. (He loves that!) We play hide and seek - I cover my eyes, he covers himself with a blanket or runs into the closet, I say "where's Judah?!" and he pops out. When he covers his eyes I just cover myself with a blanket.) Art projects are pretty easy to do in bed as long as you leave the glitter and paint in the closet. I've even done a few painting projects... very carefully. He also plays by himself quite a bit. On really hard days we rely on my Netflix and Amazon movies quite a bit. It's not the greatest thing ever, but it means that I can sleep more if I need to and he's still right there. I do what I have to do. 

RyanandManda

Thanks ladies.  I've been collecting for the 24 hour urine sample but my BP is continuing to read high, even at home, even after a massage... boo...

 

Hoping a trip to the chiropractor tomorrow, some sex tonight, and some castor oil tomorrow afternoon will have me in natural labor by the time they want to induce at 6am on Wednesday!  ; ) 

catsinawindow

Good luck to you.  I hope the castor oil works.  I wish I would have done it before my induction (I was in denial at the time).  Let us know how things go for you!