So totally slacking!

So the latest updates are simple:

At risk pre eclampsia -

Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and protein in the urine that develops after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Symptoms

Symptoms of preeclampsia can include:

•Headaches
•Swelling of the hands and face (edema)
•Weight gain
◦More than 2 pounds per week
◦Sudden weight gain over 1 - 2 days
Note: Some swelling of the feet and ankles is considered normal with pregnancy.

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

•Abdominal pain
•Agitation
•Decreased urine output
•Nausea and vomiting
•Vision changes

Treatment

The only way to cure preeclampsia is to deliver the baby. However, if that delivery would be very early (premature), the disease can be managed by bed rest, close monitoring, and delivery as soon as the fetus has a good chance of surviving outside the womb. Sometimes, medicines are prescribed to lower the mother's blood pressure.

The pregnant mother is usually admitted to the hospital, but some women may be allowed to stay at home with careful monitoring of their blood pressure, urine, and weight, and the baby.

Ideally, the condition is managed until the baby can be delivered after the 37th week of pregnancy.

Labor may be induced if any of the following occur:

•Abdominal pain
•Abnormal biophysical profile (a test to monitor the health of the fetus)
•Abnormal liver function tests
•Diastolic blood pressure greater than 100 mmHg consistently for a 24-hour period, or any confirmed reading over 110 mmHg
•Eclampsia
•Failure of the fetus to grow
•Fluid in lungs (pulmonary edema)
•HELLP syndrome
•Increase in the level of creatinine in the blood
•Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
•Low urine production or severe protein in the urine, suggesting decline in kidney function
•Persistent or severe headache

Delivery is the treatment of choice for women with severe preeclampsia who are between 32 - 34 weeks pregnant.

For those who are less than 24 weeks pregnant, inducing labor is recommended, although the chance that the fetus will survive is very small.

Pregnancies between weeks 24 and 34 are considered a "gray zone." Prolonging a pregnancy has been shown to lead to problems for the mother in most cases. Infant death also can occur. The medical team and parents may decide to delay delivery to allow the fetus to develop.

Treatment during 24 - 34 weeks includes giving the mother steroid injections to help tspeed up the development of the baby's organs (including the lungs). The mother and baby are closely monitored for complications.

When labor and delivery are induced, the mother will be given medication to prevent seizures and to keep blood pressure under control. The decision to have a vaginal delivery versus cesarean section is based on the health of the mother, the baby's ability to tolerate labor, and other factors.

Causes

The exact cause of preeclampsia is not known. Possible causes include:

•Autoimmune disorders
•Blood vessel problems
•Diet
•Genes

Preeclampsia occurs in a small percentage of pregnancies. Risk factors include:

•First pregnancy
•Multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
•Obesity
•Older than age 35
•Past history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
Tests & diagnosis
•Increase in blood pressure
•Higher than normal liver enzymes
•Platelet count less than 100,000 (thrombocytopenia)
•Protein in the urine (proteinuria)
•Swelling in the upper body
•Weight gain

Prognosis

Death of the mother from preeclampsia is rare in the U.S. The infant's risk of death generally decreases as the pregnancy continues.

A woman with a history of preeclampsia is at risk for the condition again during future pregnancies.

Women who have high blood pressure problems during more than one pregnancy have an increased risk for high blood pressure when they get older.

Prevention

Although there is no known way to prevent preeclampsia, it is important for all pregnant women to start prenatal care early and continue it through the pregnancy. This allows the health care provider to find and treat conditions such as preeclampsia early.

Complications

Preeclampsia can develop into eclampsia if the mother has seizures. Complications can occur if the baby is delivered prematurely.

Also I'm anemic as well meaning that I have the potential for bleeding out while in labor and/or requiring blood products after labor. Considering I'm having surgery after I have Bella I am faced with the possibility of needing blood products anyways. For those that don't know, I'm getting my tubes tied after Bella's birth. I've tried taking the iron pills and such but it makes me so sick that it's not worth it.

32 weeks

In the latest womb reports, your amazing baby has now developed sensitivity to temperature! This means you’ll probably get a swift kick if you put a hot pad on your ginormous belly. For the Elton John lovers out there-- yes, baby’s got blue eyes. At this point, all babies do, although depending on their chromosomal disposition, this could easily change after birth (or even between now and labor), but for the time being, blue it is. Thanks to their recently matured lungs and a remarkably strong immune system, over 90% of babies born in their 32nd week, survive premature births. So it’s pretty much a done deal. Even if your little monkey’s planning on heading out early, their survival odds are in everyone’s favor. Time to celebrate (no, no, wait until after the birth to crack open the champagne!) We’re talking baby-showers and alcohol-free punch!

31 weeks!

Your not-so-little-one is just a bit closer to their birth weight and height at around 4 pounds and 17 inches. With each added layer of baby fat, your baby's skin starts to look more and more like it will when they finally get to see the light of day. The heavy news: you can expect your miracle-gro muffin to gain about a half a pound of weight per week from now until about two weeks before birth. Great. That's just what you needed. Even more weight to carry around!

Your baby's still-developing immune system has gained substantial strength over the past few weeks getting them in full gear to face our disease-ridden world o’ wonders. Obviously, a large majority of your child’s immune strength will be derived from exposure to breast milk as well as the outside elements. Their cute little noggin’ (which could already be covered with luscious locks or just purty peach fuzz), is still soft because the skull bones have not yet fused together. As much as that sounds a little too vulnerable, their “skull softness” allows for a much smoother passage through the birth canal during labor—something both you and your little swimmer will appreciate when it’s finally time to “go!” Also, some babies will have that “soft spot” on their head for up to one year after birth.

30 weeks

The light is visible at the end of the tunnel! Your oversized self and amazing growing baby have finally reached the single digits (in terms of weeks till birth)! The fine lanugo hair that has been growing all over their little monkey-like body is going to start falling off this week in preparation for the big day. But don’t be shocked if they’re hairier than you’d anticipated, some babies keep their lanugo until after birth. Still, it’s not any cause to be concerned as it will fall off eventually. No surprises here: your little porker is getting even cuter with increasingly pudgy arms and legs this week thanks to the ever-growing layers of subcutaneous fat. In terms of numbers, your baby should be weighing in at around 3 pounds 12 ounces (or more!) and be nearly 16 inches long.