@ 34 Weeks

Monica and I went to the first of our every-two-weeks doctor's appointments on Wednesday this past week. Everything looked good: baby's heartbeat was loud and strong, he's gained some additional weight, and he's quite active at numerous times in the day. Following the appointment, Liz and Shelly--sweet people that they are--had arranged for a NMA baby shower for Monica and me, so many staff people gathered in the Founders' Room to watch as we opened a bunch of lovely gifts organized by our friends around the idea of travel: space shuttle baby plate, bowl, and spoon; children's books about adventures and travels all over the world; Ann's homemade blanket that "really is meant to be used" in the car, in the stroller, wherever...thank you, Ann.

On Thursday evening, Ann gave a talk at the Museum about her "Suburban Escape: The Art of California Sprawl" exhibition and catalogue, to which many of us at the museum had gone. Afterward, Ann, Amanda, Liz, Monica, and a few others, and I went to the Silver Peak restaurant in town to celebrate the conclusion of Ann's show, and to get a bite to eat. We all sat around the high tables in the pub (so much nicer without any cigarette smoke!) eating, drinking, and talking. Ann commented that Monica looked uncomfortable, and Monica joked about how the kid was probably pushing on her diaphragm. Suddenly, though, Monica said she thought she felt faint, so I moved my chair to the side, and told her I thought she should stand up. I wish I hadn't. As soon as her feet hit the floor, she fainted, and I caught her, trying to keep her from hitting head, butt, or belly on anything. I succeeded--as she didn't hit her head or her belly on anything--but it wasn't very graceful. As soon as she stood, she lost consciousness, and just sort of slumped down. When she got to the floor, she was kind of curled up in a fetal position against a pony wall in the restaurant, and I told Ann to call someone, and then held Monica's face in my hands for just a few seconds. I said "Monica! Monica!" and she came to. She couldn't have been out for more than ten seconds, and when she did come to, Monica thought initially that she had fallen asleep, until she realized she was on the floor, and then the embarrassment set in. All the tables and chairs had been moved out of the way, which Monica remembers hearing, but she has no memory of the episode otherwise. My first thought was just to get her out of the restaurant and home, but the paramedics were already on their way, thanks to Ann and Silver Peak staffers (thank yous in abundance, friends). When they arrived, which couldn't have been longer than four or five minutes after the call, the initial reading of Monica's blood pressure was 72 / 39. That's about half of normal pressure, which is usually 120-139 / <80.> Paramedics Adam and Keith checked all Monica's vital signs, asking her a bunch of questions to check her lucidity. She could answer them without any trouble, but we all concluded that she should be checked out more thoroughly in the ambulance, at least, and determine from there if we should go to the hospital. So Adam and Keith brought in the gurney, and Monica got loaded onto it, and wheeled out of the Peak, much to her later embarrassment. I have to say, though, that if there were ever a time for rubbernecking, most of the patrons at the Peak, from my point of view, anyway, were very gracious, and minding their own business, despite the fact that a four foot tall, six foot long, yellow cart was wheeling a prone pregnant woman by them as they ate. The paramedics re-checked Monica's vitals once in the ambulance, and her blood pressure had moderated to a much more normal 125 / 64, but even so, we concluded that the doctors should check her out, and with that, both Monica and I had our first ambulance rides. Had one now, so I'm good for a long while, thanks very much. Liz and Ann followed us and left the truck for us at Emergency, and we lay there for several hours as Monica was checked and re-checked, given IV fluids for dehydration, antibiotics for phylonephritis (a kidney infection relatively common during pregnancy, and probably unrelated to the fainting spell), and fetal heart monitoring. After about three hours in the Emergency room, with our O.B.G.Y.N's approval, the E.R dismissed us, and sent us to the Maternity ward for monitoring, which we thought would last the rest of the night, but after blood tests came back fine, and Peanut's condition was monitored for an additional hour, we were discharged to go home with a prescription for an antibiotic.
I'll just say that it was exhausting, and that neither the paramedics' arrival, the ambulance ride, nor any of the hospital checks gave me any concern like that which I experienced in the ten seconds or so that Monica was unconscious and non-responsive. You can imagine, I'm sure, the relief I experienced in seeing Monica's eyes open and hearing her wonder if she had fallen asleep at the table...
We spent most of the rest of the weekend laying low, tanking up on fluids, and watching the NCAA tournament, most all of which was good medicine (except the part about the Wolf Pack losing in the 2nd Round). I put together the crib, which I went ahead and got, and which is pictured here, and you can see that we're awaiting a little body to wrap in that awesome orange robe...Many thanks to all of our friends who helped manage Thursday night, especially Liz, Ann, Amanda, and Mark.