Third Trimester

Last week, when I thought about posting how my third trimester was going, I was able to say it was going so well...just a little more tired but no problems. Getting anxious for meeting our baby and getting everything ready for his or her arrival.

Unfortunately, this post will read a little differently. I spent part of this week (32 weeks) in the hospital with gallbladder complications, a common complication of pregnancy :(. Just a quick recap, since nobody really wants to read all the details: I went to bed Tuesday night with an intense stomach ache that I couldn't identify as indigestion, heartburn, stomach cramp or nausea. I woke up Wednesday morning with the same pain, pretty intense, and getting sick, so I called the doctor, who said to head in to the hospital. At this point, I was worried about preterm labor and just what was going on. I spent 8 hours in triage being poked and prodded (blood draws, exams, monitoring the entire time, ultrasound, fluids, medications, the whole nine yards). My pain was getting worse, I had developed a headache, and fever, and basically every test was inconclusive. They finally determined that the pain was from my gallbladder as shown on the ultrasound - I had an infected gallbladder, a gallstone, and sludge. I wasn't sure what sludge was, but it didn't sound good. I was admitted and stayed until Thursday night - 36 hours. With stomach cramps that came and went, headaches, different pain medications, fluid the entire time, a modified diet (really, almost no diet at all since I didn't have an appetite), blood work, and antibiotics the entire time, it was not a fun 36 hours. We made it through with the help of friends who watched Henry overnight and during the day so that Gabe could stay with me and I finally made it home.

The past few days have been recovery days, and trying to figure out what foods will work for me and what will not. Basically, healthy, healthy, healthy. No fatty foods, fried foods, low fat, low sodium, low cholesterol. It is hard to know what foods will trigger a stomach ache and which will not. Luckily, I'm off pain medications and am regaining my energy, so I'm starting to feel more like myself finally. I'm fighting off a cold to boot (a soar throat and runny nose since the hospital) and terrible neck/back pains from the beds, but hopefully those will go away soon too. Today - good news - first day with no significant stomach ache! Now it's just making it through the next seven weeks on a strict diet to deliver a full term healthy baby. And then have my gallbladder removed.

There's been a couple of positives:

* New Baby has been healthy and 100% this entire time. No contractions, no signs of pre-term labor.

* listening to the baby's heartbeat - a lot. He or she is apparently pretty active as the nurses had trouble keeping the monitor activated.

* another ultrasound and a chance to see New Baby. This was a good distraction during the most intense part of the pain and time when I felt the worst.

* a trial run at the new hospital before we deliver. I haven't really decided if this is a positive or not, but I need more to make a proper list. So I'm keeping it. At least I got to figure out what food options are better than others.

* Henry was such a brave boy, having his first sleepover (but I can't believe I missed dropping him off!) and being on his best behavior at the hospital and at friend's houses. He's been giving me and New Baby so many kisses and hugs and is so loving. He doesn't like to see mommy sick.

* I'm not on bedrest and not still at the hospital on bedrest.

* Gabe was and is a doting, loving, caring husband, tending to me with love and selflessness. But I already knew that. And he's probably going to get mad at me for writing that. But it's true and I love him.

* Supportive family who were willing to get on a plane at the drop of a hat, and who are helping out now that we're back home so I can continue to rest and recover.

Okay, turns out that was a lengthy list. Always good to focus on the positive. Hopefully I won't have any more flair ups and won't have to go to the hospital again, until it is time to deliver. Every one says all these troubles means it's a girl for sure. I'm not sure that makes any sense or that I even want to think that. But I still think that the baby is a girl. If nothing else, this pregnancy is now way different than my first. During my ultrasound, I almost thought about finding out the gender. And even contemplated keeping it a secret to myself since I was the only one there. But I stayed strong and New Baby is still a surprise. New Baby: just hang in there for seven more weeks - and if you want to come a few days or a week early and healthy, that is just fine too!