Birth Story Part 2

180/100 was my blood pressure on Sunday, June 21, 2008.



The clinical definition of preeclampsia (in pregnancy in terms of blood pressure) is 140/90.



After taking my blood pressure on this fateful day, Edgar -- naturally -- panicked. After taking my blood pressure, thankfully, Edgar did not let on that he was concerned. I had no idea that I was in the danger zone. Thankfully. He did, however, decide to make a few phone calls. At this point I was blissfully unaware of the dangers that accompanied my situation. As with the entire pregnacy, I felt really thankful that I had my own personal physician to follow my pregnancy. Edgar took my blood pressure every single day of my pregnancy. Every.Single.Day. After all, he is a cardiologist. AND he delivered 18 babies in medical school. I think he is qualified to know what is he talking about. Right? Right.



Anyway, I digress. He never let on that he was concerned. I thought my blood pressure was normal. Really. I had (have) no clue what is acceptable.



After he took my blood pressure... I clearly remember his face. He was stern. And thoughtful. Quick in action. I imagine this is how he is when he is dealing with a patient who is really sick. I've never been on the receiving end of this interaction. EVER. I've never been truly sick. Never broken a bone. I was stung by a bee for the first time when I was 22. Hmmm. I've always imagined what Edgar was like with his patients. Compassionate, understanding, expedient, smart ... never did I think that I would truly understand or experience his bedside manner. He was, afterall, my husband and not my doctor. But, as it were, he saved my life... in more ways than one. Dramatic? No, I'm not kidding.



So, he made some phone calls. He called the ER attending, OB resident and the MFM fellow (!!!!). The ER was packed. He let them know that he was bringing me in. One of the many (you know, if we're being honest, us wives, we put up with a great deal with you know, the constant call and whatnot) great things about being married to a physician is that they let you bypass the waiting room. Physicians take care of their own, right? So I bypassed the waiting room...



They put the wristbands on me and rolled me back to the -- haha-- they saw me in a pediatric triage room. They rolled in the monitors, etc. I had three monitors on my big ole belly -- two monitors for each heart beat and another for contractions. I also had a blood pressure cuff and a pulse oximeter.



So, there I was, Sunday night ... hooked up to all of these monitors. FREAKED OUT by now. I was 33.5 weeks pregnant. They sampled my urine (if your think this is TMI... stop reading now) and it was negative. I was not spilling any protein into my urine. The doctors were still skeptical with my blood pressure being so high.

Called all the family, told them not to worry. Mom came the next morning.


To Be continued....