I Can't Take the Pressure!

Updated: So, I do not have a urinary tract infection. I was told to drink more water and if the pressure continues, to either go to the walk in clinic or emergency room. I would definitely feel silly going to the ER. This isn't pain, it's pressure, and even if something is wrong, I don't think it's a medical emergency. I would maybe be okay with going to a walk in clinic, but again, I think I am overreacting.

The nurse was very kind and offered to do a heartbeat check tomorrow at 2 PM. I took her up on it, but then my husband thinks that he should be there and can't make that time. So, he wants to go into the walk in tonight so I won't worry. I just called and the wait is over two hours and they don't have an ultrasound machine. So if we didn't hear a heartbeat, I would have to go the ER for an ultrasound tonight or wait until the morning and my OB's office to open.

Oh, I hate that I can't seem to enjoy this pregnancy for five minutes. The fear is almost closing in around me. It's horrible and agonizing. I wish that the innocence and joy of pregnancy hadn't been robbed from all of us.

I did so well in my quest to be a "normal" pregnant woman. For about three weeks, I managed not to have any major freakouts. Okay, so I did call the doctor about what were most likely round ligament pains, but I have managed to steer clear of any sort of heartbeat-detecting or ultrasound device. Despite a few moments of anxiety here and there, I actually have found that it has made the time go by much faster not having our weekly appointments.

I think I am going to have to break down and call my doctor again today, though. This time, I think I might have to go in, but I don't think I will need to be seen by the doctor. I think I just need to pee in a cup.

When it comes to urinary tract infections, I am a frequent flier. I get them several times a year, and it's most likely due to a chronic underlying bladder condition called interstitial cystitis [IC]. Sometimes, it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms from my normal IC and an early bladder infection. So, usually, by the time I realize that I have an actual infection, it's pretty bad: blood in the urine, fever, and often turning into a kidney infection. Coming into pregnancy, even before miscarriage and IF struck, I knew I would have to keep a careful watch on my symptoms.

Saturday, I started feeling a "heaviness" in my bladder region. Since my stomach is continuing to expand, I thought it was probably just uterus settling pushing against bladder.

Yesterday, that feeling got more intense, almost even painful when I put on my maternity jeans, since they seemed to push against my abdomen. I also started having to go to the bathroom a lot more - even more than in the first trimester - I am talking the minute after I am done going to the bathroom, I need to go again. I don't have a fever or the classic burning during urination that is my usual tell-tale symptom, but remember that I want to catch it earlier rather than later. I am having some burning after urination, which can be another sign.

Of course, me being me, I have had some significant thoughts about premature labor (that's another possible reason for pressure in the lower abdomen), but really, I don't think that is likely. So, I am waiting for my OB's office to open in about a half hour. I might not even need to see them, I am actually hoping to go in to the walk in clinic instead. It should be faster than going to Dr. S. Fingers crossed that a simple UTI is all that it is!