pregnancy woes update

So I went to the doctor just to rule out placenta previa, which was my biggest concern. Long story short, the ultrasound looked *perfect* (Jack is looking to be around 8 pounds or so!), and the urine test came back normal. My blood pressure was good while laying on my left side (134/65), but high while sitting up (when Mom took it later in the afternoon). I was told by people I trust not to worry about it as long as the one on my left side is good, but it did concern me at first.

I have been researching other possibilities online in an effort to self-diagnose whatever the problem was. The closest I can come up with is toxemia or possibly preeclampsia. However, yesterday morning's "episode" was so much lighter and shorter.....much more tolerable. Then today I didn't even wake up! NOTHING HAPPENED! I was so relieved to be able to sleep soundly for nearly 5 hours! In fact, I slept so well that I got up to go pee (otherwise I would have slept longer) and then couldn't get back to sleep because of all the energy I have!

Basically, the reason I am seeing such dramatic results so quickly is because I have been very aggressive with certain things. I have made sure to get plenty of rest (I am almost bored to tears), plenty of water and I am taking Hawthorn Berry for the blood pressure, though I may not really need it apparently. It won't hurt me though. I believe the main thing that is working for me though is my diet change. I've been saying all along that I need to "go raw", but I keep making up excuses (some legitimate, but still workable) as to not do it. Well, after my scare this week, I cannot afford NOT to go raw. So I am consuming a 100% raw vegan diet, and I am already feeling a world of difference! My hip pain is even barely noticeable after just one day!!! Myles asked me this morning if I think I could sleep in the bed again soon (I've been sleeping in a recliner for relief), and I told him I probably can if I continue my plan. He laughed and said "I may not want you to now!" LOL! I think he's enjoying having that king size Tempurpedic all too himself a little too much!

I plan to go back to the doctor again next week just to get a more thorough urine test and some blood tests. It can't hurt, and it's free for me! So I think that's about it for now. I'll update again in the next few days. :)

pregnancy woes

If I continue with what I've been doing, I will keep getting what I've been getting, and that is not good! Here is an email I sent to some friends two days ago with an explanation of what has been going on, followed by an update.

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I am about 33 weeks pregnant now. Two weekends ago I had some bleeding that started on Friday night. I thought it was gone by Saturday afternoon, but then I finally stopped seeing any signs of spotting at all on Monday morning of last week, so it was maybe a little over 48 hours. I basically put myself on bed rest as much as possible and started taking prenatal vitamins and liquid chlorophyll regularly, which I had planned to do anyway but wasn't doing. I think they both helped, but especially the chlorophyll.

Now I have been having some blood clots/very light spotting for the last 4 mornings after nearly a week of nothing at all. I don't know why it is always in the morning, but once it passes, I feel just fine and the rest of the day is great! I feel back to normal with no other abnormal symptoms or any kind of discharge, but then it happens again the next morning. (sigh) Here are the symptoms:
contractions off and on for probably a month, but more noticeable in the last couple of weeks
during the bleeding the weekend before last, I was having lower, crampy contractions, but now they are more normal (Braxton-Hicks)
I haven't been sleeping well....I wake up in the middle of the night (like right now) with a back ache which also extends around the sides a little. This is my middle to upper back like where my bra band goes around me. (The placenta is along the right side, in case you need to know that!) I slept better Monday night/Tuesday morning with my bra on, but this time it didn't help. :(
I am having hormonal symptoms like hot, cold, hot, cold, etc. with the occasional nausea that actually led to throwing up a couple of times. Afterward I felt fine for the rest of the day.
The clots themselves are pretty small. The first one on Sunday morning was the biggest, but it was smaller (maybe half the size) of a golf ball.
Contractions are slowing down in frequency (they are never regular) and are not as noticeable.
Baby is still bouncing around just fine!
Sometimes I feel like I need to have a BM and I have at times which seems to help temporarily, but I have not been constipated at all. In fact, sometimes it is the opposite, I think because of the chlorophyll. But going to the bathroom is only a temporary relief. :(
Oh, and when my back is hurting like this right now, it is hard to breathe and nearly impossible to get comfortable!
Headache on Sunday and Monday, which finally led me to take some Ibuprofen on Monday evening (bad, I know, but the only thing that gives me relief!)
Swelling for a couple of months now
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The rest of the email was just expressing my concerns and asking questions. I'll update in another entry.