17-7-2009 - Today's hospital appointment

My mood while writing this blog: Ok

Well, I didnt get any additional symptoms of Swine Flu overnight and DH had time off for this appointment booked, so he was reluctant for me to reschedule. Thankfully, I had a better nights sleep than I have had in a long time, got about 4 hours in one stretch.

I forgot to take a wee sample with me, so had to produce one at the hospital in the natty grey cardboard mini jugs. Despite the 3-4 pints of water, squash and carbonates I drink everyday it was bright orange (think Lucozade and you're not far off!)

There was a lot of scurrying around today and hushed conversations before I got seen today. I thought it was because when I had my Ultrasound on Wednesday the Sonographer's PC locked out and she said she would sent me the results through the post and promised me faithfully they would be on the system for the Consultants team to view today.

Well, the results were on the system and they dutifully printed off a copy of the notes and stapled it to the front of my notes. I was ushered in to Consultation Room, where one of the Antenatal Nurses took my blood pressure. A little on the low side compared to my previous pregnancies, but roughly in line with readings so far this pregnancy. The Nurse went over to the table to make a note of it in both the hospital records and my personal notes, I noticed a bright yellow square sticker on both sets of notes out of the corner of my eye. The Nurse tucked my records very deliberately inside the hospital notes and said the Consultant would be in to see me shortly.

Before my curiosity could get the better of me, I started to feel "funny" and shaky so I had some water and DH grabbed some paper towels and drenched them in the sink. I asked him what atrractive shade of green I had turned this time! No jokes back this time, he just told me to lay back on hospital bed for a couple of minutes until the worst had passed.

Still patting myself all over with wet paper towels, the Consultant came in holding a leaflet. I explained this is happening more frequently now. She agreed that getting the Carpel Tunnel sorted out it top priority to allow me to get better quality of sleep and should help stop my body trying to run on empty and suffering these unexpected dips! She then sent the Nurse off to get the referral form to the Physio Team, while she went over the main points of my Antenal Notes.

I was desperately trying to focus on the writing on the bright yellow sticker, but still being shaky I couldn't quite make out the words upside down.

"Have you previously been tested for GBS?" the Consultant asked. I looked at DH for some guidance as if she were speaking another language. Seeing I was still a little away with the fairies she asked if I had any swabs taken.

I said yes I had a couple of swabs taken in this pregnancy to check for infection because of the Haematoma.

She then said GBS stands for "Group B Streptoccocus" - boy did I get focussed in an instant! Streptoccocus? Thats meningitis! The Consultant went onto to say that I am a GBS Carrier and there is a significant risk that baby will be infected during delivery, but it means as soon as I go into labour I must get straight to the hospital to go on antibiotics via IV straight away. The upside is there will be none of this waiting for contractions to get 5 minutes apart nonsense as there needs to be a minium of 4 hours worth of IV Antibiotics in my system before the baby is delivered.

She went over the details in the leaflet, to put our minds at ease that with the appropriate drugs in labour, strictly intensive monitoring for the first 48 hours of baby's life and if appropriate antibiotics for the baby after birth, the risk of meningitis or other complications is quite small, but vigilance will be needed for the first three months of baby's life.

Talk about shell-shocked! All the issues with my work have paled into insignificance now.

I have also been told that because of my Anterior placenta they would prefer me to go for normal delivery rather than C section because of the extra blood loss. Looks like I am gonna have to push after all!