We spent the morning getting monitored for the babies - it was a regular check-up for blood pressure and the lot. Only it took longer than fuck because of the Lemonheads acting up, in their usual Lemonhead way.

A few times a week now we have to get the bloods checked, the urine checked, their heart rates monitored and my blood pressure taken. This morning was one of those mornings. You show up to the maternity Day Assessment Unit, get seated in a pink vinyl armchair (vinyl in case we pop our waters, I think, so, um, ewww.) And then you get wired in.

They cover you with a sheet for modesty. What they don't know is most of us in there could really give a shit who sees our stomach, if you're in the day assessment unit it means things aren't going well, we have better things to stress about.

This morning's monitoring was no different than usual - my blood pressure is still high. I knew this actually as not only do the headaches and starry vision continue, but yesterday I was a disaster. I have had severe dizzy spells that make me have to sit down immediately over the past two days. My spell yesterday morning did the most damage.

Work had sent me a new mobile phone to test. It's a prototype and I'm madly in love with it. This phone and I will spend our lives together, or at least we'll last for the next 6 months, until I get bored of it and get sent a new phone, then I will dump this phone like yesterday's Moby Dick. I was in the bath yesterday and the phone rang. I reached for it, the dizziness hit, and (you can probably guess what happened here)...the phone went into the drink. It's sitting in the airing cupboard now, as I am filled with wishful thinking that it will work.

It was one of a series of things I dropped when spells came on. Lotion hit the deck. As did my watch, a bottle of water, and some bread. I gave up then and spent the majority of the day on the couch.

So blood pressure still too high, although I am negative for protein so still no pre-eclampsia. My tests are still positive for infection, blood, and kidney problems. It's never going to end.

The other women in there were larger than I am, and had the usual pregnancy issues that I have so far luckily escaped-no swollen ankles or fingers here, no stretch marks from my pubic bone to my chin, I don't even have pregnancy induced fat-face from water retention. I've been lucky (apart from that whole kidney/UTI thing. Oh, and the blood pressure. And the Braxton-Hicks. So really, I'll take the swelling over my current caseload anyday.)

And of course today the Lemonheads acted differently. Gone was their favorite game of monitor football. They were calm, their heart rates lower than normal but still within normal range, and I realized that I hadn't felt our son move in about 12 hours. Their heart rates were so similar (which is unusual) that we also had to have a scan just to make sure that the boy was actually ok.

He is.

He's just out of room to move.

Next doctor's visit is on Tuesday, where I think I'll beg and plead for an induction date (and when I say plead, I really mean it. I'm desperate. Blow jobs, anyone?). We're leaning pretty heavily towards a C-section in this house, as research on ECV has shown that there's only a 58% success rate, and the worst case scenario is a vaginal birth for one and a C-section for the other. That'd be like getting run over by both a bus and an airplane. Angus' Mum is convinced I'll give birth tomorrow, because her father (a fraternal twin himself) was born on the 29th.

I got very, very little sleep last night and am exhausted today. We have a visit to the eye doctor's later today, which I really do need to do as I'm out of contact lenses and Angus and I both need new glasses. Then I want to take it easy, and maybe sleep.

In the meantime, I give you the following very good news, which was cause for much celebration in our house:

They'll be born before the extension's ready, but at least we got past the biggest, worst hurdle and now we can start the real work.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 12:19 PM | Comments (21) | Add Comment
Post contains 760 words, total size 5 kb.

1 Wait- I just realized that would mean you'd have workmen banging away when you're wishing the Lemonheads would be napping. Oi vey. You're a stronger woman than I!

Posted by: Tracy at September 28, 2007 12:29 PM (0rzA0)

2 So... is there a delivery date pool started yet? I'm picking 10-01 because I like the symmetry of it.

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at September 28, 2007 12:53 PM (+MvHD)

3 Writersblock-funny you mention that, because I do actually think a pool would be cool, I just have no idea how to administrate it! I want to at least get to October 1 myself. I can't explain it, I just think October babies would be cool.

Posted by: Helen at September 28, 2007 12:56 PM (BXpy2)

4 I am still holding out until October 2, my daughter's birthday. My son's is the 14th, and like you I love those October birthdays! It gives me a reason to buy all those cute Halloween plates and napkins, and bring cupcakes to school with those dangerous put gawdy picks on the top of mummys and vampires. The picture of you all hooked up brings back memories. I didn't have quite as many things running up to me, but I remember the stress test. My daughter was so big she had no room, but she needed to kick to have the test monitor properly. So I ate tootsie rolls and other sweets, and they gave me ice chips too-all in an effort to get her going. It would take forever, and finally we would get maybe two quick kicks. This went on everyday for two weeks. Needless to say, she is still a slug (almost) 9 years later. Waking her up in the morning is like waking the dead. Congrats on the extention approval-can't wait to see it all finally happening. Angus must be in his glory.

Posted by: Teresa at September 28, 2007 01:10 PM (G2HRH)

5 <<)...the phone went into the drink. It's sitting in the airing cupboard now, as I am filled with wishful thinking that it will work.>> Just consider it reaserch into the duribility of the phone... And in ten years (or so) at least the boy is going to hear ""Oh your one of the Lemonheads!! SQEEEEE.""

Posted by: LarryConley at September 28, 2007 01:17 PM (DmQOX)

6 Send the lemonheads an eviction notice if they have yet to vacate by next week!

Posted by: Tracey at September 28, 2007 01:25 PM (jgdKP)

7 Re: Tracy @ 12:29 Having a noisy environment when babies sleep is actually good for them, at least after the very first few months. Many books recommend that you vacuum (or "hoover") around babies during their naps. They quickly learn to tune out noise and become sound sleepers all their lives. We did this with our kids and it worked, which has major payoffs when they are older.

Posted by: A Reader at September 28, 2007 01:50 PM (nYMZn)

8 Congratulations on the permit being granted! Great timing. How DO you manage to look lovely even sitting in a chair will all sorts of wires and stuff leading to you? It won't be long now - I'm guessing they're quiet gearing up for the work to be done (being born, learning to breathe air, meeting their family). Well, in addition to being out of room.

Posted by: Lisa at September 28, 2007 01:57 PM (EcHBm)

9 Glad the lemon flavoured babies are well and about to have a bit more room on the outside with an extension, even if they are squished up currently on the inside. Abs x

Posted by: abs at September 28, 2007 02:28 PM (pejJ8)

10 Yay for the extension! That must be a real relief! Take it easy and keep your feet up, and just know how much you're loved.

Posted by: caltechgirl at September 28, 2007 03:39 PM (WCjns)

11 I'm beyond excited for you. PLEASE ask Angus to come in here and let us know how you are doing once they are here? please please please please I'm living my upcoming grandmother status vicariously via YOU, Helen. (okay, wistful thinking on the grandmother part since my kids are currently on their honeymoon, but hey! Maybe they'll come back from Maui pregnant! A person can hope, right? )

Posted by: The other Amber at September 28, 2007 03:51 PM (zQE5D)

12 Ahhh, the non-stress tests. (That's what mine were.) Nothing like those chairs, eh? Heh. No Boston Marathon for you, missy. Take it easy and rest. We're all rooting for you! xoxo

Posted by: Margi at September 28, 2007 04:43 PM (wpu3a)

13 Congrats on the permit! Now, I know you want to wait until October and that's all well and good, but I'm hoping it is soon so you can get all this high blood pressure nonsense taken care of... it is worrysome. We want YOU to be healthy, too! I had to laugh when you were listing all that stuff you've been through,then saying you've been "lucky"... what a great attitude! Hang onto that. You're gonna need it in the years to come! LOL!

Posted by: sue at September 28, 2007 07:47 PM (WbfZD)

14 I didnt take the time to read the other comments so forgive me if this is a repeat. I read recently when another blogger dropped her phone in the can that putting it into a cup full of dry/uncooked rice for 24 hours helps draw the water out. good luck with that Also, even bigger luck in the begging for your induction date on Tuesday! Keep hanging in there.

Posted by: Christina at September 29, 2007 12:05 AM (cu+y1)

15 Great news about the extension approval. Ugh, that photo of the day assessment unit brought back memories. I spent a day there at 41 weeks and 3 days (inhumane, no?) and was told I had very little chance of going into labour on my own. Still had to wait another week to have my baby! At least there is no chance of you going for that long! It must be worrying now as your lemonheads get too big to move around much, I hope you are able to get some rest and the dizzy spells don't get any worse! RE the delivery date pool, I CAN'T DO AMERICAN DATES! I just draw a blank when faced with 10-01, it looks like a sports score... I can only read 01/10!! And I am going for 10/10, not because I hate you, but I love the number thing!

Posted by: Super Sarah at September 29, 2007 08:52 AM (HiUoN)

16 October babies are great. Mine arrived Oct 5, 2006 while the due date was Oct 26. Good luck with the dates.

Posted by: Priya at September 29, 2007 03:25 PM (wE4qw)

17 October 3rd is a great day for a birthday if you ask my husband. I hope your weekend is going well and you're feeling okay. Hang in there and rest up. Thinking of you.

Posted by: Lisa at September 29, 2007 04:07 PM (EcHBm)

18 Sorry about the super cute phone, and exponentially more sorry about the dizziness and stars that are only funny when they happen to Bugs Bunny. I am totally jealous of the no stretch marks! I think these little tykes are just in a hurry to meet their mama. You'll be brilliant. And just to prove I'm about 12, hee, you got approved for an erection! (not the first time, eh?)

Posted by: Mallory at September 29, 2007 04:40 PM (4ymUL)

19 How frightening that blood pressure and seeing stars. You look great, and no swelling. I hope the babies arrival resolves it all. I hope they grant your wish of a date for delivery! Take good care of yourself.

Posted by: Steff at September 29, 2007 07:28 PM (a5iyR)

20 At another date and time great fun could have been with the granting of permission for "Erection of rear extension." But under the circumstances It's just nice that there's one less thing for you to worry about.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at September 29, 2007 10:06 PM (Z3kjO)

21 My vote's 10/07 (or 07-10, depending) since 07 October's my birthday. While Halloween babes would be cool, your BP would be in the stratosphere. [Thinking about costumes for the Lemonheads.]

Posted by: maura at September 30, 2007 02:56 AM (R4Y9Q)

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