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Saturday, July 6, 2013

Bed Rest

What a whirlwind.  For a while, I had a relatively uneventful pregnancy.  I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, but it was well under control and I wasn't having problems with it.  It mostly just meant that I needed to be more mindful of what I ate, I had to take my blood sugar, and I had weekly appointments at my doctor.  April arrived, and with it, so did state testing at school.  I made it through testing, but after my students finished their last test, I was feeling off.  I saw the school nurse, and sure enough, my blood pressure was high.  For anyone that has had to administer state testing, that's not really shocking.  But, it wouldn't come down, so off to the hospital I went to be monitored.  I figured I would just be at the hospital for a few hours to run some tests, then I would go home.  I was wrong.  At just 31 weeks pregnant, I was having regular contractions (but completely not feeling them), so I got to stay the night at the hospital and was told I wasn't going back to work.  I had the joy of getting to be on bed rest at home.  I was allowed to move between the bed and the couch, and my days were filled with watching mindless TV.  It wasn't fun, but it was what was necessary for Micah to continue to grow.  I made it several weeks at home on bed rest, and things were staying steady.  Things were going so well, my doctor even let me participate in my best friend's wedding at 35 weeks pregnant!  I was hoping just to be allowed to attend the wedding and wear my bridesmaid's dress, but she even let me walk down the aisle and go to the reception!  The following week, at just under 36 weeks, my blood pressure was high, and I was the lucky enough to get to finish the rest of my pregnancy in the hospital.  It was at that point that I was told Micah would be delivered at 37 weeks.  The end was in sight!  On June 1, at 37 weeks, Aaron and I welcomed our sweet Micah into the world!  My bed rest was over!