Ciggy Ciggy!

My wife has pre-eclampsia. That's why I will be writing this bit for the next days in this blog. On her first day in the hospital a researcher came over and told her about their research on eclampsia. The student from Monash University said that it will help greatly in the cause of discovering what eclampsia is, how it develops and how to prevent it in the future because currently; there are no concrete findings on the causes of eclampsia. My wife gladly signed the waiver to donate a part of her placenta because she would rather use it for research than for skin creams. And I will also do my part so that moms-to-be will have a lay-man's reference if they will also come across something we just stumbled upon during her 28th week.

How do you discover if you have pre-eclampsia? You wouldn't unless you go to your doctor regularly. My wife was perfectly healthy during our last visit to our ob specialist that's why we decided to go for a public hospital midwife since we are also thinking of sparing finances for pink prams and indestructible baby beds or whatever they call it. You know what i'm talking about if you are a first time mom like my wife.

SATURDAY DAY 1

During our first visit to the midwives we were expecting it to be just a breeze since we are excited to get that 50 months interest free from Harvey Norman. A laptop and a DSLR wouldn't be that heavy if you are dishing in $80 every month would it? So she sat down to have her blood pressure checked by the very accommodating midwives. Looking at her doing the BP reading for the third time alarmed me a little bit. Hearing her saying, "you have to go to the hospital for a more thorough check because you may be at risk of pre-eclampsia" turned-up that alarm sound on maximum. Here are a few risks. And as a disclaimer these are not accurate reasons for you to qualify pre-eclampsia in your paranoia.

1. Her feet are swollen. I thought it was just normal if you are pregnant.
2. Her blood pressure is 150 over 100. Normally it would just be 130 over 90.
3. She also has gestational diabetes.

"Funny," my wife said, "I don't feel anything at all, well aside from a little bit of burning sensation on the ears, but I think we may still be able to rush to Harvey Norman." Unfortunately the whole hospital check ran for 6 hours. Four vials of blood was taken from her for checking, the baby's heart rate and movement was monitored while her blood pressure was checked every hour. Her blood pressure went down to 130 over 90 and the doctor told us to go home and get rest. She was given a 3 liter container for her to fill up whenever she pees. It was already 6 pm. I was so disappointed that I told her off for not exercising and just sleeping most of the time during the pregnancy. Which is absolutely wrong. Because pre-eclampsia (as of today's findings) has no known cause. No matter how careful you are, if it hits you, it hits you. So nobody has the right to blame you if you have it, not even yourself.

I just made her cry. I feel so guilty. And you never make a pregnant woman feel bad because they will literally cry over spilled milk. How could you Ciggy.

**One week has passed since she has been admitted to the hospital. And since I have been busy doing an office-hospital-home schedule everyday, I will postpone day 2 for tomorrow and I'll tell you about that three liter pee container**

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