Today we had my 37 week check up, and all is looking good, for the most part! We had a slight scare with my blood pressure, it was initially 158/98, which is very elevated for me, so they had me lay on my left side for a few minutes and then took it again, and it went down to 138/80. Whew! The Dr. did not seem concerned since I had no other symptoms that would indicate things going awry such as pre-eclampsia. The Dr. predicts that the baby is approx. 6 1/2 lbs right now, so if I last until 40 weeks, he'll be around 8 lbs.
Last Tuesday we met with our Doula, who we hired to attend/assist at our birth. Since I'm attempting a VBAC, we chose to have a Doula present to support me in my laboring, and be an advocate for our needs. Too often, women who've had previous c-sections are pushed into a second c-section, when many times a vaginal birth can be accomplished successfully! I'm a perfect candidate for a VBAC, since Addison was breech, and I had no other reasons for the c-section. (I didn't push for hours, or have complications that ended in an emergency c-section) Don't get me started on the "unnecessary c-sections" that occur in our country....I could go on for hours. I feel so much more educated on these issues now, mostly because I'm trying to avoid another c-section so I've read up on what tends to cause them in the first place, and also because I have friends who are attempting VBAC's as well. After meeting with the Doula, I feel so much better about what awaits us. I feel like I can do this, with little to possibly no medication. I know it's going to be insanely difficult, but I'm so adamant about not having another c-section, and we know that certain interventions (ie: certain meds and techniques to get labor moving) can lead to labor actually slowing down, and not progressing, which can domino into a c-section. The Doula will help advocate for our needs, and help me get through the labor.
I get funny looks and comments when people ask me if I'm going to have an epidural, because it's become such a common occurrence in our country. I'm actually not against having an epidural, I just want to progress as far as I can without one, and if I feel like I need one, then I'll do it. I want to be in charge, and I don't want pressure from outside forces that push me in a direction that I don't want to go. Of course, the baby's well-being is number one, but I know that I will have people I trust surrounding me, giving me good advice. Our Dr. is known for having a very high success rate for VBACS, so I'm confident that she will come through! Now if only I can get a guarantee that she will actually be there for our birth! She's a part of a big practice and who knows when I'll go into labor, and if she'll be on call!
So far, this pregnancy has been a complete 180 from my first pregnancy. I look different, feel different and I'm confident that birthing this baby boy is going to be different. The one thing that is the same is the intense anticipation for the arrival of our new little one! And I know the minute we see him, we will have the same indescribable love that we felt for Addison the first time we saw her. :)
2 comments:
We had Tanner naturally. There were two things that helped me alot. One was sitting on a stool in a warm shower while laboring at home. Then at the birthing center I spent 99% of my time in a warm bath. When you think about how good a warm bath feels when you have aches and pains, it makes some sense why it can feel better during labor.
I am so excited to hear your birth story when it is all said and done. You are almost there!!!! I was able to make it naturally with my last two but no matter how you do it, drugs or not- it will be wonderful to finally have your little boy in your arms!!!
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