Friday, July 3, 2009
32 weeks and a doctors appointment...
My doctors appointment today went well. I've gained another 8 pounds in the last 3 weeks (!!!) The nurse once again said my numbers for the glucose tolerance test were great. I am measuring 32 weeks exactly. I know I look huge, a girl at church told me I look like I'm 9 months along, she said, "not just your stomach, but everything" pointing from my face to my feet...whatever that means. I kinda take it like I look gigantic, if I didn't agree I might be offended :) By night time I am starting to swell a little, mostly only during the week, cause I'm on my feet for 8 hours a day. Jakob's heartrate was 140. Overall everything looks good. There are no plans to bring the baby early even if he is a big boy. The doctor said that it's just not a good idea, the baby's body will not be ready, and then you risk all kinds of problems. I'm o.k. with that. I really want to go into labor on my own. (no pitocin!) I do not want to kill myself pushing out a huge baby though. If I need a c-section I'm up for it. The way Dr. Hennessey said it I will have to try to push the baby out before he'd consider a c-section. I guess delivery day will be a big surprise...we'll just have to wait and see what happens. So now I'm gonna ask you all a question (those that have kids) and I want to hear your experience...you can save all the gorey details, but I'm totally pondering this and asking as many people as I can. Did you have an episiotomy with your deliveries??? I know, kinda weird question, but I want to know if you had one, and did it work out well for you, or did you not need one, or what? Everything I read now says it's better to let your body tear if it has to than to get an episiotomy, and I find that very painful sounding... maybe not so much in the tearing, cause you'll be all medicated, but in the healing process. (mom, you don't need to respond, because we've already had this discussion) The doctor basically told me yes, it's better to let it tear and heal... I told him I don't want to be hurting for 6 months after the baby is born because I tore and it's more painful in healing. He said if it's needed he would give an episiotomy. Once again, I guess I'm at the mercy of the doctor, he is good, and alot of people I know have had babies with him and gone back for their next child, so i just have to trust his judgment. I am a person who wants all the answers, and usually I don't ask the doctor stuff, I just read alot, but with this situation everyone has such differing opinions. I'm finding more and more in life that we cannot control just about everything. I need to trust and pray that God will give wisdom where it's needed. I have to make an appointment with the anesthesiologist to learn about the epidural. I know I want one, no way I want to try things the natural way... :) but I guess I have to go to the appointment to make everyone happy. All my friends with kids have said that once you get to the point of epidural you don't care what they're sticking in your back as long as it helps the pain. Well, I turned a very simple short doctors appointment into one loooong post. Hope you all have a great weekend, and a great 4th of July. Thank God that we were blessed to be born in America. It's not perfect, never has been, but there's no greater place to live. I'll try to post some pictures from our bbq tomorrow. Love, -me p.s. remember to answer my question!
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9 comments:
#1Episiotomy!No way in the world would I get one.Hannah was 8lbs.10oz and I only had side tears(TMI)Yes it hurt like CrAzY to potty for a few weeks,but wouldnt a cut hurt just as bad?!!By 4 weeks I was perfectly fine.
#2Epidural.I cant say anything about not getting one because I only made it to 6 cm. before I was begging for one(and it does hurt a lot,just less than contractions do)...but if you arent getting pitocin, then you should try to go natural, I Really regret getting it.
#3Your belly is big,but not you..I think you look great everywhere, and you have the cutest maternity clothes btw...
I've heard (from some of course others say the opposite) that the episiotomy hurts less because it's a straight cut and heals faster...I don't know! I've obviously never been in this place before. :) Why do you regret having your epidural?
Because I wanted to be able to say that I did it...I was induced with hannah so I made the excuse that pitocin made the contractions unbearable and planned to do the next one natural but he was c-section and all future kids have to be c-section too...so I will never get to experience true childbirth.I think it would be "fun" to see if I could do it.
I noticed that alot of women have the epidural with the first baby, then the second one they know what's coming and decide to try it natural.
I had a an episiotomy with Kymberly and it just took me a couple weeks to get over the pain. It wasn't horrible....with the boys I didn't have one but I tore a little and it was on the bottom instead of the top and that burned like crazy when I peed. I even tried pouring water on myself while I peed and it didn't help. I liked the episiotomy better. Less painful and that is my advice having it happen both ways.
As you know from my experience, I tried to go natural with Kymberly and after a whole day of labor, the next morning I decided that I wanted the epidural. I LOVED mine. With the boys I got to have one before I even started feeling pain, that was nice. Of course they wanted me to have one in case they had to do a c-section, I would already be prepared and I had no objections. As you know everybody is different and I could tell you about what I know from being with Katlin and Nichole, but that would be better if you called me because it would take too long to tell those on here. So, I hope that helps some and hope to see you soon. Love ya,
Shelly
First of all... think of the wimpiest woman you know who has children. She made it thru just fine! ;) I know with Jess I was honestly scared to death. I was in a lot of pain and knew it would get worse and had NO idea how much worse! I think the problem was fear of the unknown. I had pitocin, an epidural, narcotics (yuk! against my wishes) and an episiotomy! None of it planned but that was the Air Force for you... they sent my doctor TDY! HA!
With Becci I was determined to do it as natural as possible. This time I had a midwife. I was ready to deliver when I went to the hospital - to avoid all the craziness... The person checking me into the OB ward broke my water "to keep things neat" and my contractions immediately stopped. This stopped the entire process. They had to wait to see if the contractions would start back up and they never did. And, since they had already broke my water they had no choice but to start the pitocin! *sigh* This time, no pain killer at all and no episiotomy. I tore a bit but I didn't notice any difference healing or pain wise from the first time.
And the Scripture is true... once you have Jakob in your arms you will forget all the pain and suffering! :) Praying for you!!!
Gina
Shelly is the reason that I know I want the epidural. We've been friends forever, and I was there when she was in labor with Kymberly. When I first saw her I was like, "o.k." "I could do this" once the contractions got really strong and Shelly needed an epidural I knew I wanted one. She's always been the stronger of the two of us. I agree with you Mrs. Gina, I think I'm more nervous than anything. It doesn't help that everyone has their own opinion, which they don't hesitate to tell you and their own horror stories. I know I'll survive. I keep reminding myself that these days even children do this...I just want to make wise decisions, they've just made it more difficult by having so many options. Whatever did women do in the old days without meds??? j/k
Hey Shauna,
I think the epidural was the only question they asked me about but then it's been a while and you forget, or I do. I didn't have an epidural for any of them. 3 to be exact, ha. Anyway, money was a factor, for one I didn't have any and it costs a lot to get one of those. Secondly, I hated needles and thought of it going in my back was not even an option! Thirdly, back to the back, I had so many back issues already, made me way to nervous.
I am kind of a tough natured person, I cry over pain, don't get me wrong but I can take it. If I had another I wouldn't have the epidural. As soon as the baby is dleivered it's all over and you can get up and go to th bathroom. No "cath" for me!!!!! So anyway, it is rough and it isn't easy, I had hard labor! But I am glad I din't take the epi!
As for the tearing and cutting, I had both, not by choice. I didn't have a clue either was happening. It's all too much happening at the same time, I didn't want to know they were doing such a thing. I did sits baths and Praise the LORD for those!! Amen! I don't know that either was any different. I still have tenderness though! Hate that part.
I love you! And can't wait to see Jakob! You look great!
I'm freaked out about the whole episiotomy tearing thing too! This was super helpful.
I think the key is being flexible. I had a crazy birth - my mom was in labor for hours, emergency c-section, really big baby, broken tailbone - and everything worked out. Women have been doing it for years and years. BUT it doesn't make it any less painful. :o)
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