Blood Patch

Last night as I got ready for bed I discovered I was spotting. I hadn't had any bleeding for more than 2 weeks. There was more blood this time than the last two times, but of course it was nothing compared to the hemorrhaging at 22w. I didn't want to go to the hospital unless I was bleeding more than that so I didn't make any phone calls. I contemplated asking Paul to put a garabage bag under the sheet to try to protect our mattress from further damage. I've ordered a waterproof mattress cover. I wish I had bought one of those more than 4 years ago because both times my water broke in bed plus the blood soaked through the mattress 4 weeks ago. Since I don't usually consume caffeine, it definitely has an effect on me. The caffeine plus discovery that I was bleeding meant it was very hard to sleep last night. I was so nervous that I was going to start hemorrhaging again. I kept going through our options in my mind as to which hospital I should go to. The decision will be easier starting tomorrow (when our Blue Shield insurance goes back into effect). The first few times I got up to go to the bathroom, the pain in my head was almost unbearable. Around 12:30am I noticed it was much better so I presumed the headache was gone. Was I ever wrong! My neck is doing better today than yesterday, but the headache is debilitating. Thankfully, it goes away when I'm lying down, but of course I do need to be vertical at times to do things like eat, drink, and go to the bathroom.

I spoke with the MFM doctor on call this morning and reported the spotting as well as the spinal headache. She said I should stay horizontal, drink lots of fluid, take Tylenol, and drink caffeine. I asked how much caffeine, and she didn't have any specifics to offer. I've had two cups of hot tea thus far today. She said I could ask the anesthesiologist to give me a blood patch on Monday. I asked her how long this headache typically lasts, and she said, "two weeks." I was stunned. Here I was thinking it might have gone away in 6 hours, and it might last 2-3 weeks! Right now I can't bear the idea of having his headache for 2-3 weeks. If this were my first pregnancy, I could handle staying horizontal all day, but it just won't work with two little kids. I am planning on asking for the blood patch on Monday. One good thing about this headache is that I'm being VERY good about staying on bedrest right now.

I feel silly for not thinking of it sooner. We were chalking Ian's fussiness and difficulties sleeping to my absences. It didn't even cross my mind until yesterday that he might be teething. Yesterday I felt his bottom gums and could feel that his canines are working their way to the surface. This morning I checked the top jaw and saw that those canines have broken through the gums a little bit. The Tylenol must have helped as he slept through the night last night.

The thing that put the biggest smile on my face today was the realization that I think we've picked a name for our son! Paul is not 100% ready to commit to the name, but I am 99% sure we've agreed upon a name. Paul picked the first name (a name he suggested for the first time yesterday; it was the 5th boy name he had suggested), and the middle name was my idea (the only boy name I suggested that he contemplated as a first name). I'll reveal the name as soon as Paul is certain. This is a BIG relief off of my mind. I have been so scared he'd still be referred to as "baby boy" following his birth.

P.S. Paul took these pictures since they involved being vertical.