Swelling. L&D... 1 month to go/Update

So on saturday night I was having more contractions and I started swelling so I went to L&D and was checked out. They gave me terb again and stopped the labor and checked my urine and blood pressure and that was fine. Also my blood pressure has been perfect all along so they just ignored the swelling really. It was basically my feet and hands only. I also had some visual changes, I was seeing white flashes of light but they didn't seem to concerned about that either. God, I hate my care! They also blew three veins in my hands in arms so I hate them right now and its hard to type

So totally I woke up with contractions 7 minutes apart for 2 hours then 5 minutes apart for 1 hour and then they stopped but now I am swelling again, but it is also my legs and ankles. I am drinking tons of water also like normal.

So my question is swelling normal in the 9 month. My due date is 5/26 so I don't know if this is something I should just expect to continue until Jack decides to come out for good. I am living in Florida and its warm out but I'm basically just indoors with AC and I'm not working.

I have been trying to call my OB clinic for the past hour and their is a problem on base and it is locked down so the phone is busy and I don't want to call L&D because I'm there every week with contractions anyway and I don't want to waste anyone's time.

UPDATED:

I saw a midwife today and she told me my swelling is most likely due to the weather down here and to try my best to keep my ankles above my heart. I gained 4lbs in the past week so she figures that is mostly my water and if it was more then 5 she would be concerned but to keep my eye out for right side pain, facial swelling, a headache that won't go away even with xtra tlyenol.

I also had her check things out while I was there and I was told I have an extremly ripe cervix that is almost fully effaced and 1cm dialted with his head fully in gear. Thanks for all your advice and concern ladies.

Less then a month till my due date!

Well yes, I've read that swelling is normal, especially during warm weather. The later in PG, the more swelling BUT... you are having contractions girl!!! I would at least call L&D just to be safe!!

Vision changes are not normal and can be a sign of toxemia. Please make sure you are persistant with them and if you feel sick, headache, more swelling (specially of the face) call them immediately!!!

I can give you a whole list if you need it. I had the same problem last pregnancy. Even though my panels and bld pressure were fine, I had other signs.

I had false labor from 37 weeks on. There were times I was convinced it was it and ended up being induced at 41 weeks because of the swelling getting so bad and other things that typically are signs of toxemia.

Swelling is very normal during the hotter months and when your on your feet alot. I was prego during the summer months I gave birth sept. 2nd 2004. The vision thing I would go to my regualr doctor and tell them about it. That is not normal. It is very scarey I know this first hand I was traveling to manhattan for work. This happend to me luckily I was sitting down cuz the entire train went black then white then I came too. I got off the train and went home called my dr. told me to come in did a check up on me hooked me up to machines and all. found out that nothing was wrong but they did monitor me. They said that a cause for the eyesight thing was lack of food and water whic h sorry but I ate a ton o f food and always had something on me. So it is a scarey thing

Sorry post is so long

I've been trying to call my OBClinic for 2 hours to no avail. The swelling is worse on my right leg, foot, ankle then my left which is why I'm alarmed.
I'm giving myself about 15 minutes before I try L&D.

My main problem right now is that my husband's work is on lockdown currently and hopefully will be coming off soon. He called at noon and told me he can't get off base and I can't get on. So as of right now going to L&D entails me driving myself an hour up there and I'm just hot, achy and have a headache.

So I'm just sitting on hold waiting for the obclinic to answer or Dh to call. I just know he will be royally pissed if I drive myself and most of my neighbors are at work.

Argh, I wish I had private healthcare because federally funded military care *****.

When I was PG with my son I got really bad swelling the last couple of months. From my shins to my ankles to my feet. My dr wasn't worried since everything else was normal. This is gross, but I was soooo swollen that when you pushed down on my shin, it didn't come back up. It was an indent! I was also working FT too which was hard enough as it is. I had to wear sneakers to work. It's probably nothing. It's just one of the joys of PG!

Melissa, my ankles are the same way if I press them I get indents.. yuck
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Well I called L&D and was told to stay home and walk and then lay with my feet down. *they* seem to think the swelling may be caused by the baby laying some wierd way.

My vision disturbances they said might be from dehyrdation (but it's not like tunnel vision or anything, I see sparklers of white light) and I sware I am not dehyrdated I promise you ladies and they just told me to take more tylenol every 2 hours for the headache and naturally drink more water and to just wait till thursday evening when I see a midwife at the ob clinic

I got some crotchy captain who was a nurse and made me feel like a idoit for calling (I hate that). The difference between my care and most of your care is that I get nurses and doctors who joined the military to pay for school and then after they got their DO,MD or RN they got put into some type of clinic or residency so they aren't the doctor's or nurses who want to really work L&D or OB.. and it *****.

argh, well thanks for writing ladies.

Laurie, I pray our little guys stay put for the next 4.5 weeks (I've been having contractions today also). Just do what they say for the time being until your DH can come home or someone else can take you to L&D. Do not drive yourself, especially if the drive is an hour.

You have a headache too? I'm sorry, but I really think you should be seen. Toxemia can develop very quickly and can be life threatening. I'm not trying to scare you, but I would definitely request a blood panel of result and to check for protein. I hope you feel better!

Here's a website for you to look at other signs/symptoms.

Toxemia Signs

Glad you're doing ok. Based on all the preterm contractions youre having sounds like when it is time you'll have a quick labor! Best of luck.

I'm glad you were seen by your midwife! I hope your L&D is a quick and easy one!