Shelby Hope Schreiner was due on August 18th, 2012.
We were planning to move into our house in a new town about
an hour away on July 28th,
2012. Tim and I had been talking about if we should make a brisket
on the grill/smoker for those that were coming to help us. I was looking
forward to having a few weeks to unpack and get the house ready before Shelby
arrived – and assuming that, like most first babies, she’d be later than her
due date. Six days late is the average, in fact.
On Wednesday, July 25th I went to work like any
normal weekday. I had a few protein bars and my phone’s charger in my lunch box
but nothing else, because Tim and I were planning to eat lunch together after
my now weekly appointment with the obstetrician. Around 11am I locked my computer, with an email I had been
working on open so that I could finish it when I got back. I obviously had no
idea what was about to transpire.
My blood pressure had been up for the last few appointments
… not dangerously, but borderline. So we had been keeping an eye on it. Tim had
started to frown a little when he checked it at home, but I felt fine so I
didn’t think anything of it. Sure, my feet and ankles were swollen – but that’s
just part of pregnancy, right?
Our appointment that day was with my Dr’s nurse practitioner
as my Dr typically schedules surgeries for Wednesdays. We should have been in
on Monday, but he had ordered a biophysical profile for Shelby
to make sure my elevated blood pressure wasn’t affecting her growth and one of
the sonographers was on vacation.
At the sonogram, Shelby
looked great – estimated to be 6 pounds 12 ounces and her heart was ticking
away steadily. We watched her almost stick her toe in her nose (how did she
have room to do that?) and with new pictures in hand went on to my part of the
appointment.
The rest of the appointment is a bit of a blur now. Upon
taking my blood pressure and being alarmed, the nurse practitioner had me lie
down and took it again. Then she tried my left arm instead. My blood pressure
had climbed to a more concerning level. She wanted to admit me into the
hospital (which my OB/GYN’s office is housed in) for observation.
I remember following her down hallways, up the elevator, and
into labor and delivery triage with tunnel vision. I had my purse, and that was
it. My stomach was growling as I dreamed of the Chic-fil-a lunch Tim and I had
decided we’d have afterwards. I changed into a hospital gown, scoffing as I
bundled up my clothes and rolling my eyes at Tim. We’d had a friend go through
this observation recently – I was sure we’d be home in time for dinner.
Besides, I had a baby shower at work on Thursday! I had to be there!
Blood was drawn, and the nurse continued to monitor my blood
pressure. Meanwhile … people kept coming in the room. Someone came in to ask
about my insurance (and they somehow still had me as working for Pflugerville
ISD? I’m not even sure how they got that information – that was years ago!).
The nurse continued to ask questions about my symptoms (like headaches, etc –
which I hadn’t had the entire pregnancy!) and talking about how they need to
start an IV. Oh no … here we go. I asked instead for a saline-lock and refused
the admission bloodwork – I wasn’t going to need to be admitted so it’d be a
waste of time – right? We were moving this weekend! I may not be able to lift
much, but I didn’t need to be in the hospital!
We were awaiting the arrival of the “hospitalist” whom she
was sure would want to start magnesium sulfate to prevent me from having a
seizure. Seizure? I remember yet again rolling my eyes at Tim, and when we were
alone we even discussed leaving the hospital “AMA” (against medical advice)...
to be continued
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