*Baby Corner*

[caybee 21]

@Eveline: Thank you. I got some sleep, which helped my attitude, and your post was encouraging to wake up to. I can't imagine he's that big either. I mean, yeah, I'm to that bowling-ball-between-the-legs unpleasantness, and I'm grumbling a lot when I walk or turn over in bed, but I'm not outright miserable, and I've known women with 7- or 8-pound babies who could barely function at this point. I get what I assume are BH contractions pretty frequently, usually upper abs and sometimes lower, but I don't think they're the real deal because they don't hurt.

I'll see a different doctor tomorrow than the one I saw on Friday, and I'll tell her the main concern I have about the c-section is the breastfeeding issue and wanting him with me as much and as soon as possible afterward. And I'll talk with my family about advocating for me if I'm too zonked to do much. When my dad was in with heart trouble, I found out how assertive my mom can be under the circumstances and the sister who lives here is the same way. So if I'm clear with them about what I want and don't want, they'll have my back.

Last night was rough emotionally, but in general, I have been and still am very optimistic about how everything will turn out, regardless of whether we have a c/s or not. I'll do some more reading, ask a lot of questions tomorrow, and then just try to make the best decision I can under the circumstances. I'll also hope to go into labor on my own. My husband has promised to take me out for Indian food the night before I'm scheduled to go in -- yeah, that one's probably an old wives' tale, but it's a good enough excuse for me to have, one, a last date night for a while with my husband, and two, Indian food

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! I have baby clothes to dry and fold now, and I'm going to daydream about that wittle face he's been too shy to show us. Take care, everyone.

ETA: Thanks Ana and chnst also -- you both posted after I started writing And I appreciate your encouragement as well. I'll do as you say and go with my gut feeling, whatever that is at the time. My attitude is MUCH better today.

Edited August 2, 2009 by caybee

[Eveline 9]

Caybe, can you ask the doctor to get your membranes stripped maybe? It might bring on labor when baby is ready. If not, it just stays the same. I don't know if you are GBS pos or neg so that might play a role. I didn't want mine stripped with Adam since I was positive and I had read some horror stories online but with Allie I had it done. Indian food is a good idea. Maybe it works.

Like Steffi said. Go with what you feel comfortable with.

[Eveline 9]

Caybe, can you ask the doctor to get your membranes stripped maybe? It might bring on labor when baby is ready. If not, it just stays the same. I don't know if you are GBS pos or neg so that might play a role. I didn't want mine stripped with Adam since I was positive and I had read some horror stories online but with Allie I had it done. Indian food is a good idea. Maybe it works.

Like Steffi said. Go with what you feel comfortable with.

[Eveline 9]

Here's just something I HAVE to share. She might not look happy, because she wasn't but I got the picture anyway .

Look mommy...no hands

We're getting there I guess

[sara535 15]

Caybee,

I know several people who have done breastfeeding and C/S - dont let that unnecessarily frighten you. Plenty of vaginal births have trouble with BF too, so I am not at all convinced that there is much of a link between type of birth and success with BF. Also, my experience has been that most hospitals and nurses are really pushing BF so personally I dont beleive you are going to have any arguments there. Medical professionals know its best for the baby and if anything I felt like they were really pushing it at me.

I believe I have said this before but I will say it again - I've had two babies now, one vaginal and one C/S. One was breastfed and one was formula all the way. I dont feel like I have been less of a mother to either one, or done a 'better job' or 'tried harder' with either of them. My vaginal birth experience was a nightmare and in some ways was harder to recover from than the C/S - I was in labor for 55 hours because my son really was too big and no one did an US. By the third day I was crying and BEGGING for a c-section but they wouldnt do it because they didnt want to do any unnecessary ones. In the end he was pulled out by forceps and I had a mile of stitches. Not trying to scare you, just reiterate a point I've made before, which is that birth is unpredictable at best and there just isnt a pretty way to get a baby, be it 6 pounds or 10, from point A to point B. Best preparation is to be prepared for anything and remember its the healthy baby who is the ultimate goal. Whatever happens and however he gets here, its not a test of what kind of woman or mother you are

Eveline that pic is too priceless. so so cute.

Edited August 2, 2009 by sara535

[HLM 1]

Rowan Xavier

Congratulations Kelly, He is so cute! Those cheeks are adorable! I became an aunt too this morning for the 3rd time a baby boy but I ave no details yet

[Nizzy 1]

Eveline: Allie made me laugh...she is so cute...

[chnst 6]

My friend was told her baby suffered from intrauterine growth retardation and was only in the 4th percentile for growth and she needed to be induces ASAP. Well, she said "no thanks" and went home. Two weeks later, on her due date she delivered a 6lbs 14oz babygirl...totally healthy, now chunky as can be.

The US is known to be wrong a lot of times. I'm glad it was never performed with Allie..who knows what it would have measured.

ANywho..good luck.

I can't believe it's Allie's birthday month. Even though we've went down the 1st birthday route before I feel a little sentimental about it. Allie is my little baby, we'll probably not have more and I just want to hold onto the baby stage. They grow up so fast and soon enough they'll be talking back and sneak out the window to meet boys

LOL. NOOOO, it's really true, they grow up way too fast. I can't ever imagine Ben dating a girl I will acutally approve of, hahaha. she must be excactly like his mommy or I am not going to be happy. just kidding.... haha.

[Chrissy25 0]

caybee, i had an emergency c-section with my son who is now 2 and a scheduled c-section with Molly....above and beyond the recovery was 100 times better with the scheduled. it was more relaxed, i wasnt doped to the eyeballs and was very aware of myself and didnt feel out of it. i saw Molly while i was in recovery, maybe 10 minutes after i had her, they brought her in to me. i saw family and friends and felt good, my pain levels to be honest were not too bad while recovering but everyone is different, if you have your mom there as i did for a couple of weeks it helps alot. best of luck

[sandinista! 1,816]

Caybee,

I know several people who have done breastfeeding and C/S - dont let that unnecessarily frighten you. Plenty of vaginal births have trouble with BF too, so I am not at all convinced that there is much of a link between type of birth and success with BF. Also, my experience has been that most hospitals and nurses are really pushing BF so personally I dont beleive you are going to have any arguments there. Medical professionals know its best for the baby and if anything I felt like they were really pushing it at me.

I believe I have said this before but I will say it again - I've had two babies now, one vaginal and one C/S. One was breastfed and one was formula all the way. I dont feel like I have been less of a mother to either one, or done a 'better job' or 'tried harder' with either of them. My vaginal birth experience was a nightmare and in some ways was harder to recover from than the C/S - I was in labor for 55 hours because my son really was too big and no one did an US. By the third day I was crying and BEGGING for a c-section but they wouldnt do it because they didnt want to do any unnecessary ones. In the end he was pulled out by forceps and I had a mile of stitches. Not trying to scare you, just reiterate a point I've made before, which is that birth is unpredictable at best and there just isnt a pretty way to get a baby, be it 6 pounds or 10, from point A to point B. Best preparation is to be prepared for anything and remember its the healthy baby who is the ultimate goal. Whatever happens and however he gets here, its not a test of what kind of woman or mother you are

Eveline that pic is too priceless. so so cute.

i second this! you made some really great and helpful points. (and so did all the other posters). there's so many widely varying experiences out there. i was holding and nursing my daughter 5 minutes after we arrived back in our room from the OR (about 40 minutes after she was actually born), while another poster had to wait 4 hours. i was up the morning after my c-section, sitting on the couch studying for finals. we got off to a great start with nursing, and are still at it 14 months later. i'm convinced that a lot of it was just good luck.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Good morning mommies

I'm starting to work reduced hours this week, yay! I will work 32 hours and try to make it to 38 weeks before I start my leave. They were so nice at my work to give me this option. I was really pushing it with finishing the school semester (which I finished last Friday with all As...yay!) and working full time...so now it's no school and work part time until the baby arrives... and strict instructions to nap when I get home from work

@Caybee: Good luck with whatever you decide. Be an active participant in the decision, ask questions and have the doctor explain to you in detail the pros and cons of your options. I believe that vaginal birth is beneficial to both mother and baby, but understand that there are circumstances in which csections are necessary, and if this is your case, then I pray that you and your baby stay safe and healthy I would try to make it to 39 weeks if possible, as there are studies that link csections before 39 weeks with respiratory problems in the long term, so maybe that is something that you can discuss with your doctor as well.

@ZaidsMommy: Rowan is adorable!

@Eveline: aaww too cute!...loving those baby chunky legs

Saludos,

Caro

[tnh9479 1]

Caybee: Best wishes to you! I had to have a c-section because of the presentation of both babies. It was not horrible to recover from and I could have held the babies as soon as I was back in the room with them. I know lots of people who have breastfed well and not after giving birth (either way). So...just be adamant about it. I know my friends have told me the first month is the hardest. I wish you a happy, healthy birth!

[chri'stina 190]

Hi all!

kavi turned a year and a half on August 1st!! Not too much longer until 2, yikes!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Went to see baby Rowan today!! Im in LOVE!! LOL Makes me have baby fever REAL bad. He is just so precious. Its great being an auntie for the 4th time. Anyone who has me on facebook I posted some pics.

[caybee 21]

@ EVERYONE, Thank you so much for all the input! So helpful to hear all the points of view and experiences.

Today's office visit was good. I saw one of the other doctors that I also like. I had my questions ready and was very comfortable with the answers. She said if I had a c-section, it would take about 45 minutes, including stitching up afterward, and then an hour in recovery, and that the baby might be brought to me in the recovery room if his glucose levels and everything else were good, or ASAP in my room afterward for nursing. She said if his glucose level was low, they'd actually try to get him nursing even sooner. She said he would room in with me unless he needed extra care. I asked her about climbing one flight of stairs once to our apartment if I have the c/s, and she told me there would be no restrictions on stair climbing, that they encourage as much walking as possible, so that's another relief since I'd rather stay in my own home than with my parents.

I want to give the breastfeeding the best possible shot, but I do understand that sometimes things simply don't work out, and if that's the case for us, that's fine. It's just my strong preference, but the most important thing is for him to be healthy, whatever that takes.

I am a solid 3 cm dilated today (the other doctor told me I was at 3 cm on Friday also, but she ended up pressing pretty hard and put it at 1 cm at first). I'm almost certain I lost the plug (or at least part of it) last night. The doctor today told me since I'm not starting from zero, she thinks I have a decent chance at induction, that she could make a strong case for either one, and that she would choose induction if she were in my shoes. She was pretty realistic about the U/S also and said it could be a little inaccurate, although she believes he isn't much less than 9 pounds. She told me the biggest concern with a vaginal birth of a large baby and a mother with GD is the possibility of shoulder dystocia, but from what I've read, that's pretty rare and doesn't necessarily have a strong link to GD and a big baby.

So I told her to go ahead and schedule the induction. She'll probably do it herself, and it will probably be this Wednesday or Friday. They are supposed to call me tomorrow morning to let me know. I'm going to go in with a positive mindset about either procedure so that if they do have to switch to a C/S at some point, it won't take me completely by surprise, and I won't panic. When I told my family, I got the feeling my mom was a little dubious about choosing induction over c-section, which surprised me. I guess her biggest concern is my blood pressure, which has been elevated for the last couple of visits (today was 153/94 but I'd been running errands out in the heat and rushed to get to my appointment on time). That's the highest it's been, and there's no protein in my urine, but maybe because my mom had toxemia with me, she's really worried that I'll have it, so maybe she wants things over with with as little stress as possible. But I told her there will be stress either way, either before or after the birth. In any case, I have to make the best decision I can, and that's what I'm doing.

Best wishes to everyone.