153/96

Slice of Life '24 2 Minutes

On March 13, 2023, I was hospitalized a second time due to my high blood pressure at 37 weeks. Dr. Diaz and I had agreed on delivering you via C-section on the 16th because of that high BP and also some issues with Mama’s back that I’ll tell you about later.

That evening, after saying goodbye to your cousin Clarissa and Nanita, I got in my pajamas, brushed my teeth, and sat on the new rocking chair we’d bought the week before. I closed my eyes and imagined talking to you, narrating what I was doing at that moment.

Breathe, and feel the belly. Count to 4 each time, and relax. We want 140 or less.

I took the BP monitor from the cart on my right and placed the cuff on my left arm. The white and squared monitor rested on my right thigh, waiting for me to push the blue start button. I placed my finger on it and again closed my eyes to focus on my breathing as this machine did its thing.

I heard the air rushing to fill my cuff and began feeling my pulse. The number 130 is on a big screen in my mind. Breathe, and feel the belly. Count to 4 each time.

I opened my eyes when I heard the beep, indicating the reading was waiting. 153/96. I took a deep breath, jotted the number down, and repeated the process three times in 5-minute intervals as the cardiologist suggested. It never did as I hoped, and the number never came back down from 150. It was time to head to the ER again.

Dada asked if tonight might be the night. My first thought was, “Ugh, I don’t want your birthday to be on the 13th. Maybe if we wait until it’s past midnight, then you’ll share a birthday with your grandma!”

We got there, and as the time before that, I was rushed inside, hooked up to monitors, and waited to be evaluated. Dr. Diaz came to see us a couple of hours later and said I’d be staying overnight again to be monitored. He wanted to wait until we were 38 weeks exact, and we just needed two more days.

The next day, the perinatal specialist and Dr. Diaz agreed that I could go home and wait until the 16th for our scheduled encounter. Dad dropped us off and continued working on his sub plans since I was clearly a ticking bomb.

I was trying to decide what to write about in today’s slice, and then Google showed me some photo memories from last year. I saw the few photos I took of Dada and me at the hospital and played the short video I made demanding he explain to future you what was going on. I can’t believe I’m writing these words a year later as you sleep soundly in your crib.

Published by Ana Valentina Patton

I aim to be a learner, not a knower. If I forget, please remind me.

Published

12 thoughts on “153/96”

  5. It’s interesting how one’s subconscious works during a time like that. I don’t remember being scared more than anxious about having a baby before everything was ready. I understood the risks of high BP during pregnancy, but perhaps my survival instinct made me push through without feeling too much. As I look back now, I realize how scary it actually was.
    Thank you, Amanda! ♥️

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  6. Oh! That must have been really scary. I notice how now, looking back, you recount the story with a clear statement of fact and then a calm retelling of taking your blood pressure. I actually felt calm reading it as you breathed, to the point that I was shocked your BP didn’t come down! I’m glad Elena got a little more time and that you are both healthy and happy today.

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  7. Ana, hooray for baby Elena’s successful entry into the world. Especially with the questions and worries of a year ago, this celebration of her safely in the crib is extra sweet.

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  9. Those were scary times, I remember the anxiety I felt for and about you at the time. I’m so happy that everything worked out, and baby Elena is here! Almost a year… so hard to believe!

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  11. This is a strong reflection filled with concern and worry but with a clearly happy, life changing ending. Happy almost birthday!

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