Some C-Section Talk

As delivery of this child grows nearer, I am starting to wonder about what my fate will end up being. Will I be able to VBAC as I am hoping, or will I be facing a repeat C-section?

We are proceeding in hopes of a vaginal delivery since I'm not sure that this will be my last child and I would hate to undergo major abdominal surgery two or three times if it can be helped.

Two months after my c-section, almost four years ago (in three weeks), I had to undergo a (traditional incision) gall bladder removal. That was two major surgeries in weeks of each other in one year. I was not happy about so much recovery time and I hope that I won't have to go through it all again after this pregnancy ends.

I was reading a few things online and ran across some interesting articles. This one is about the c-section rates in Canada, which are lower than they are here in the U.S. According to the article, first time moms are having C-sections for convenience or because they are fearful of delivery. Don't most people know that our bodies were MADE to do this?

The rates are even higher if you have had a C-section before. Apparently, most moms who have C-sections opt to have repeat Cs or are required to since fewer and fewer doctors are willing to take on the "risks" involved in VBACs. This article discusses how lightly the surgery is taken by doctors and moms. It seems that many are eager to see their children earlier rather than later and avoid the last week or two of pregnancy, which are infamously long, uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Doctors are often willing to accommodate these requests, or would like earlier surgeries to keep their own schedules balanced.

I just don't know how something so major and dangerous has become so common and misunderstood. Many first-time-moms are unaware of the risks of a C-section.

Here is a final great blog entry that does a good job examining the issue from several different angles. I found it interesting and enjoyed how it connected to so many other informative pieces!

ENJOY!

New Year update!

Time is FLYING!

I don't even believe the last post I made was after my last apppointment!? And I have another one in just one short week? It is my 28 week appointment, so I am just about 7 months along!

Looks a bit like this inside now:

The baby is supposedly 2.25lbs and about 14.5 inches long. This one feels really big and really strong! :) In only one week we get another peek at her and we'll get a better idea of her size.

This is what they call the home stretch I believe. It is really going quickly and we are closer to the end that I would have imagined. I just keep thinking we have all the time in the world, but we don't! I have quite a lot to get done before too much more time passes. The crib is in storage and there are lots of boxes to go through of old baby things. Hopefully lots of it is usable and it needs to be sorted and washed and put away.

I also have a few things I need to purchase before this next little one joins us. Our old intercom system crapped out, so a new one is needed. And I'd like to get a two-seater stroller. Not the regular kind where it holds two kids and its huge, but the kind where the big kid sits on the back part in this little pull down area. That way its not a huge bulky stroller, and we don't have to use if if Elena isn't up to it. I have a feeling with a baby getting a free ride, she'll want one too. Just in case, I think buying one of these would be wise.

Not sure if I'll be having a baby shower. I don't really know enough PEOPLE! :) LOL MY girlfriend wants to throw me one, but a party might be better than an actual proper baby shower (traditional one) since I don't have enough girls to invite really! :) I only know a few people I'd want there and that wouldn't make for very exciting festivities I think.

Happy New Year! Only three more months til I meet my new edition to the familia! :)

Still Growing....

I had my Six month appointment today. It went well!

THE BEST NEWS EVER is that I only gained 3 pounds! And I was wearing my heavy ass shoes since my heel spurs and sciatica have been acting up. (They are gross ass New Balance shoes that I call Frankenstein Shoes--for reasons you can imagine I'm sure.)

Last month I gained ...well lots more than three pounds! :) So I was very happy to see that number go way down this month!

The baby is healthy and seems to be growing more than the norm. She could feel the baby and said she seems large! She said, "You just don't have small babies." I concur. I knew this kid was big based on the movement and pain inflicted on me in the process of her wading around inside me!

Elena came with me and gave up one of her homemade sugar cookies to the midwife. She had a blast in the waiting room talking to all the moms and looking at all the babies. This girl is so social it is bizarre to me sometimes. I mean I like a good chat as much as anyone, but WHOA, this girl takes it to the level of a competitive sport it seems! :)

Next month will bring my second sugar test and another ultrasound. This should be my second to the last one. We'll have another at the very end just to determine birth weight and decide if it will be a planned C-section or if we'll attempt vaginal delivery. Since this kid is already running big, we'll see how things go!

OUCHIE!

So it started.

A few weeks ago I had little ouches and owies, but today, it was here in FULL effect. :( My pelvic muscles feel like they are screaming for mercy. My belly is growing, and with it, the weight on my muscles. OUCHIE doesn't begin to cover it.

If I'm sitting, it is fine, but once I stand up to walk, OUCH! It means I am growing realy fast. I'm just a few days shy of six months, so it feels really early to me for this to be happening, but they say it happens faster the second time.

While I'm mostly enjoying this pregnancy, I'm worried about what this pain means. At just 24 months, what is in store for the REST of this long journey? Will my pain get worse? Time to whip out the pregnancy girdle (sounds horrible but its a blessing and a half ladies). I just didn't think I'd need it so early!!!!

The second time is definately NOT like the first.

Other new development is realy bad heartburn. I didn't have much with dd or at the beginning of this pregnancy, but now it is everpresent! :( I'm curious to see what the next few weeks bring!

All I know is that this kid is HUGE. Feels like she has to be much larger than they say. I can *see* my belly moving now! Those kicks and bumps are visible to the naked eye because they are so strong! One kick woke me up two nights ago! :) Dh has felt kicks on his back waking him too! This kiddo is gonna be a tae kwando star!! ;)

Our Day Today...More Appointments!

We started the day off SUPER early. Well...early for me! :)

My girl was with her grandparents by 8am and we were on our way to the perinatologist for the second ultrasound. We got in quickly and the tech measured all of the body parts on the baby. Pretty much, looks like the baby is RIGHT at where it should be.

Heart has the right number of chambers. The organs all look to be developing fine. The brain looks good. All the stuff that should be there is there.

And the really good news is that the placenta has moved up some, meaning it won't be in the way later on when its time to give birth! We also found out that my fibroids haven't grown much at all, meaning one less issue to contend with later. Apparently when they grow too much they sap some of the blood supply from the baby, so they will want to keep an eye on that going forward...JUST to be safe.

We were asked again if we wanted to know the sex and dh and I looked at each other. I told him it was up to him. He said he wanted to. I asked the tech if she knew yet, and she said, "Oh yeah! I saw it at the beginning." So then dh says, "TELL US!"

LMFAO!!!!

So much for self control this time around, huh? Heheehee!

So we found out. No more not knowing. Will it be pink or blue? Will we need hair bows or little sneakers? Will Elena have a baby sister or a baby brother?

We had a hunch it was a boy. I hoped for a girl (afraid of the unknown). Josh had a boy dream and I had weird unable-to-figure-the-sex-out dreams. :)

At the end of the day, I was STILL surprised. How is that even possible? LOL!



After that excitement, I had my regular appointment with the midwives. Nothing happened there. Pee in cup, get measured, weighed and poked at. It was fine. No more ultrasounds for two more months. Gestational diabetes test at the same time. Next appointment is the week before Christmas! :)

So that is that!

Boogie Woogie Baby!!!

I thought this kid moved a lot three weeks ago after the ultrasound I had. But it seems like that was NOTHING!

The kid stopped moving and worried me some for a couple of weeks and now he/she just WILL NOT STOP! It is crazy and now this image:



has a complete new meaning to me!!!! THIS IS WHAT I FEEL is happening in my abdomen MOST of the time lately! :) LOL

It sometimes makes you feel a bit sick. Sometimes it is just entertaining for hubby and daughter. It makes it feel more real and gives them a way to interact with the baby. Sometimes it is very comforting because it reassures me, letting me know the kid is growing and thriving inside of me.

On occasion, it can be weird when you feel a round bump up against one part of my belly, and then feel it slowly move away. Was that his/her rump? Was it a head? What was that weird rubbing feeling that just went past against my hand? Yup. It can be weird!

Regardless of the feeling it gives me or others, it is life growing inside of me. I'm completely humbled by the miracle taking place. I'm also worried to some degree. it is just past the half way mark for me and yet, I feel like this kid is HUGE! There are 20 more weeks to go! HOW MUCH BIGGER will he/she get??? Hopefully no bigger than his/her big sister! She was a whopping 9lbs 4oz. I would like to not have a baby any bigger than that! I want a cute little guy who fits in all his/her newborn clothing! :) My daughter left quite a few outfits unused! :)

Things are going well. I go in one week to get another ultrasound and I look forward to seeing this little tatertot. HOPEFULLY he/she is right where he/she should be sizewize! CROSS YOUR FINGERS!

Germs, Boogers, and Sneezing...OH MY!

Feeling pretty gross right about now!!!! It has been a rough few days as I seem to have caught a cold from my daughter. I am not entirely convinced it is merely a cold, however, since I have never seen boogars this copious and this GREEN! SICK-- I know! :)

Hopefully, this will be passing soon. I'm as drugged up as a preggie can be and pretty tired and miserable. Lots of headaches, and lots of emotions running wild. I think my weakened state has left me more emotional and weepy. NOT GOOD!

I cannot wait to get my strength back!

Oh...and I'm almost 20 weeks! Almost at the half way mark! I just have one more week to go! :)