They continued the same medication, explaining in better detail the ins and outs and side effects it might cause the baby. It was such a calming experience, answers before I could word questions, that I almost didn’t care what happened next. I’m not sure if the medication dosage changed or the stones slowed their party tempo, but soon I had more control of thoughts and could actually carry a normal conversation. I had another ultrasound and this time the tech thought she saw some stones in my left kidney. I was given options by their on-call urologist, who also explained that the pain could be enhanced by the baby’s position. I found that staying on my right side was more comfortable to sleep rather than the left. They kept me on an IV drip for fluids and monitored the baby once or twice a day, checking on her health as much as mine. Only a mother could understand the piece-of-mind that brings. Finally, the providers care about my baby almost as much as I do.
There was no pressure to leave the next few days as I stayed in the ante-partum hall. It was all a matter of my comfort according to my judgment, and I needed to stay hydrated and keep food down. I wasn’t a medical record number or a chart on the door. I was a person, a first-time pregnant girl with concerned family and, thank God, a healthy baby cooking. I saw the doctor once or twice a day and my daughter was monitored frequently (when they could get her to stop moving so much!), and they took blood every morning to stay on top of my kidney function and watch for infection. I got an update everyday as to the results and how they felt I was progressing. Jesse and I were so pleased with the care; it couldn’t have been better. Then there was life going on somewhere else without me.
Thanksgiving was supposed to be at our house (we lived with my parents). It wasn’t the usual crowd; big Italian family had split up a bit so it was just us and the in-laws. I couldn’t thank God enough for the love of my family … My mother-in-law brought a picnic lunch to the hospital to share with my parents, Jesse, and later joining us was his brother and his wife. Sweet potato pie, turkey cold-cuts, and everything in between lined the vent by the window.
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