Weekly Pregnancy Calendar: Week 37

Photo by bam61907

Wednesday night after work, I started peeing blood. It didn't hurt, and at first is was just tinged pink, but each time I went it got redder. I called the nurse, and she told me to pack my bags and get there ASAP.

My blood pressure was sky high. They were freaking out, running around, thinking I have pre-eclampsia. They'd totally forgotten the blood in my pee. Finally they took a urine sample, which was clear of infection. My bloodwork came back fine, too.

They sent me home to do a 24 hour urine collection to test for protein in my urine, which would indicate pre-eclampsia. The blood was probably just part of the bloody show, a sign of pre-labor, which I think is weird because I did not bleed at all unless I was peeing, but I took their word for it.

Last Friday I called the nurse to check in. I told her that the bloody pee was gone, but I was exhausted with a headache, dizziness, and seeing spots at times. Well this really freaked her out. She ordered me back in. Again. I got frustrated.

"Ma'am, with all due respect, I know you are a nurse but I was just there Wednesday," I said. "Why are you demanding that I come in now?"

She was worried about the dizziness and seeing spots, so Justin took me in. When I arrived, my blood pressure was sky high again. They checked my blood and urine -- all normal. So they kept monitoring me. Checked the baby and her heart rate on the monitor. Fine. Checked my amniotic fluid with an ultrasound. I had plenty. Another urine sample showed trace protein, but not enough to be pre-eclampsia. 

The doctor guessed that the dizziness was from my elevated blood pressure or the increased blood flow from pregnancy. I was happy I was discharged because my brother graduated last weekend and I would have felt horrible if I had missed it. 

Yesterday my midwife said that the 24-hour urine showed some protein, but still within normal range, so I do not have pre-eclampsia. My blood pressure was high when I first went in for the appointment, but when they took it again as I was leaving it had lowered right at the cut off line of normal. 

I am now 1 centimeter dilated and 50 percent effaced. The baby is extremely low, and my midwife estimated the baby to be long but small. She also does not think I will make it to my due date, perhaps several days to a week early.

What's Happening with Baby:

I'm about 19 inches long and nearing closer to about 7 pounds, gaining an ounce a day. You may be noticing certain daily patterns -- I'm quiet at the same time, active at the same time each day. That's because as I stretch your uterus and stomach thinner, your body is letting more light in. So I'm actually following a bit of a schedule (don't count on that lasting too long once I'm out).

Question of the Week from Answers:

Is the mucus plug and bloody show the same thing? -- Chas21

Anonymous: If you're bleeding enough to soak a pad, then you definitely need to go to the ER. With the bloody show, it's just a little bit -- kinda slimy like snot, but pinkish or with a brownish tinge.

Kennadismom: My looked like a bloody booger. My water broke 48 hours later.

Steff107: I had bloody show for four weeks. I would have contractions and it would happen, then it would stop and happen again ...