More Doctor Stuff

My most recent appointment (on July 8th) made me a little nervous before I went. Swelling had not been getting any better and I knew my blood pressure was still too high. I had (and still have) absolutely no desire to go on bed rest.

The nurse took my blood pressure and, as expected, it was in the high 140s. So after I did the ritual pee in the cup I waited for the doctor to come in and tell me bad things. First, however, I asked him if he would retake my blood pressure because the last time we tried that it was significantly improved. He tested my reflexes (I think he did that last time, too, which surprised me both times) and said they looked good. He took my blood pressure again and it had dropped somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 points to be in the 120s. The doctor smiled and said, "I guess we just make you really nervous when you first come in." I wouldn't be surprised if it's just leftover anxiety from having to see my weight. Ugh.

Dr. Carn then had me lay on the table to hear Baby's heartbeat. Her heartbeat is still up high in my belly, but he thinks she has turned head down now. He said it was either that or "she has a very bony bum." If she does, she got it from her father. When we finished with that he helped me sit up and squeezed my feet and ankles to look at the swelling, which is abundant. He then gave me advice on how to keep it down. The first thing he said was to try to keep out of the heat, then rolled his eyes. I'm so glad he understands that it can be difficult to stay out of the heat in the summer. I'm also supposed to elevate my feet, drink lots of fluids, and rest on my left side as often as possible. I already knew those things.

As we ended the appointment I asked him about an episiotomy. I told him I would like to avoid one if possible and asked how to prevent it. I said I had heard and read about massaging the perineum (pronounced, as I found out when he answered me, pair-uh-NEE-um, not per-IN-ee-um like I said). He told me that studies haven't showed it to make a difference. Then he told me about all the factors that go into it with a first baby and why they do it. I, of course, don't remember most of them now. The concern for me was finding out whether or not he just does them routinely. He doesn't, which I appreciate.

My next appointment is in two weeks and that will be the one that starts the pants-dropping. At the next appointment he'll take a vaginal culture to test me for bacteria (Hepatitis B, I think, but I'm too lazy to look in my book to find out for sure). He will also start checking me for dilation and effacement. That's information I want, so it will make the pantlessness easier to bare. I mean bear.