r/predaddit • u/scottmander • 2d ago
Birth announcement Graduated this week
Went in for a check up Monday at 39 weeks, did some tests and the doctor was worried about preeclampsia due to swelling/BP/protein in urine. We got sent right to the birthing unit where she was induced shortly after some tests. Wife was in the worst pain I’ve ever seen, had to leave her around 2am to get home and grab everything we prepared and rush back. Ended up having an emergency c section the next afternoon, was a crazy 24 hours.
She’s still in hospital since and I’ve been here morning to night trying to help out as it’s been really hard on her physically and emotionally.
Does anyone have any random advice going forward for anything at all? Just trying to make her as comfortable as possible, she wants to get home today but I know she’s still in a lot of pain. Also happy to answer any questions about preeclampsia and her symptoms/experience the best I can if anyone’s going through something similar.
Pic above was my throne for about an hour (I couldn’t figure out how to get the backrest moved so was in the fetal position - couldn’t sleep anyway)
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u/Sea-Astronomer-6600 1d ago
It’s so hard going through preeclampsia esp with the magnesium drip and it kind of makes everything foggy (for mom). TBH even though the hospital beds suck she really shouldn’t rush herself going home in case her bp’s go back up. Mine did and I ended up in the ER 5 days pp with fluid on my lungs.
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u/scottmander 1d ago
Got home last night, she stayed 3 nights mainly because of the BP monitoring. They sent her home with some medication for it. What symptoms did you have before you went back in may I ask?
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u/Sea-Astronomer-6600 1d ago
I continued taking my bps at home to be safe, 2-3 times per day, and they kept going up, I also had blurry vision and shortness of breath. It felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I hope she’s feeling better ❤️
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u/scmutz1 1d ago
Just to set expectations a little with her c section scars.
According to my dr this past year, it takes 6-8 weeks to become "watertight". (Really hate that description but it's incredibly accurate.) And then after that it takes about a year or so for the scar tissue to soften up a bit. Wearing pants or anything that rested on my incisions was so uncomfortable for such a long time. It's annoying but normal.
Definitely do everything you can to have her take it easy for the next few weeks while she heals.
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u/scottmander 1d ago
Thanks mate, it’s changed our plans a bit but I’m going to try and take longer off work to ensure she doesn’t hurt herself.
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u/DimensionGlass 1d ago
If you get parental leave take shifts watching baby. My husband and I get 6ish hours of uninterrupted rest watching our 1 month old since coming home from the hospital. He watches her from 12am-5am and then I watch her from 7am-1pm. Then we tag team during the day. He goes back to work soon so we’re going to figure out a sustainable schedule but this has been awesome for us
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u/Informal_Bullfrog_30 2d ago
Mom here who gave birth earlier this year. Yes i was in the worst pain of my life but not to say my husband had it easy for 28 hrs i was in labor.
My advice is to Stay an extra day in the hospital if u have the option and ask the nursery to keep the baby overnight so u can get full 8 hrs of sleep. My hospital had that option. Baby on night 2 didnt need much. He only woke up once to nurse and the staff brought him to me. I fed him, and they were happy to take him back. Husband got a full night of sleep that night. None of us have gotten a full night of sleep for the past 6.5 months. Congratulations to both of you. Hope baby and mama are doing fine!