Pregnancy & Baby Update! Plus Story Of My First Delivery
There is my little Danika in her going home outfit 19 months ago. My how time flies by and babies grow up! I can’t believe she is 19 months old and we are having baby #2 next month already! It boggles my mind. She seems older and more mature every day. Soon she will be a big sister!
I am now 35 weeks pregnant and doing great. I had my OB appointment this week and after much debate and discussions with my doctor we have decided it is best for me to have a c-section. I really have been debating this for my entire pregnancy and have finally come to terms with the fact that it is the best route for both me and baby.
My first delivery was a difficult one. I labored for a very long time and once they ruptured my bag of water I quickly dilated to complete. I then pushed for 3 1/2 hours. They wanted to do a c-section because they didn’t think Danika would fit. Being the stubborn OB nurse that I was I insisted they at least try to use the vacuum to get her out. In my mind I hadn’t pushed for 3 1/2 hours and been in labor for that long just to have a c-section.
Well, my stubbornness got me the vaginal delivery I was hoping for although I didn’t know how hard my recovery ahead would be. I had been insistent that I didn’t want a c-section because I knew that a vaginal delivery had a much shorter recovery time. In my case I would have been better with a c-section. I ended up tearing very badly. They sewed me up for over 45 minutes.
A week later my stitches ripped open and I had to be re-stitched up again. Ouch!!! I can’t even tell you how bad that was! Then after six weeks I had to have surgery to fix it because it didn’t heal correctly and I had granulation tissue (basically the tissue should be inside and covered with skin, but is exposed). I wasn’t able to sit for months and had to take a pillow to sit on everywhere I went. I was stuck in bed and my hubby had to bring me everything I needed for a really long time. It was months and months of recovering and I am still not completely normal.
With all of this in mind I had to decide if I wanted to attempt another vaginal delivery or have a c-section. For the majority of my pregnancy I thought I would try a vaginal delivery if my baby was smaller than Danika was. Recently I have realized that even if he was able to fit I would probably have a similar outcome to the first delivery. With a toddler to take care of as well as a newborn this just isn’t an option this time around. Although a c-section recovery is longer than a typical vaginal delivery recovery, in my case I think it will be shorter.
I wish I was able to have another vaginal delivery, but the unknown of the potential outcome is too big of a gamble for me. So after debating for basically 9 months I went ahead and scheduled my c-section. I’m still not very excited about it, but I think it is what is best.
The baby is healthy and that is the most important thing! I can’t wait to meet him. It seems so odd that we will have a baby in the house in just one month (or less!). I guess the point of my sharing my story with you is to encourage you to be flexible with your birth plan and to go with the flow. Everything will not go as planned and there will definitely be some unexpected events. As long as baby is healthy in the end that is all that matters. It doesn’t matter how you deliver, you are that baby’s mama and there is nothing to feel bad about!
Do you have a birth story or advice to share with all of us pregnant mamas? Please leave a comment-we would love to hear!
I thought my C-Section was awesome, kinda weird to read I know, but it was. My pregnancy was so painful that the idea of them cutting me open without drugs even had its appeal. I was walking around 4 hours later, took a shower at the hospital that night. I went off all the pain medications immediately and I was fine. They even sent me home a day early. Don't worry, it's really not that bad, especially when you have a beautiful baby looking up at you. The pain subsided after a week and then my scar was just itchy for awhile. Sooooo worth it.
Kindra-
Wow it sounds like you had a great experience! I hope mine goes as well. My last pregnancy was very painful-I had gallbladder attacks the whole time-so I can understand what you are saying. I hope I have as good of a recovery as you. A week would be great!
-Sarah
Sarah-
I didn't expect anything. I didn't plan, I didn't really read too much about it either. I was just focused on meeting my daughter and that really helped. You'll be surprised. I realized afterward all the crazy horror stories and weird stigmas attached to C-sections but they simply were not true. I'm just glad I heard about them after and not before. I know your C-section will be amazing because you sound like an amazing person and that's just how the world works.
Sarah, I wish you all of the best on your upcoming delivery. I had a c-section(son was breach) 9 wks ago and I had major complications that landed me in the hospital for 14 days. My wound got infected. What made it so bad was joint commission was in the room,I was prepped twice and given 2 rounds of anibiotics and still got sick. I think that is unusual and not the norm. I am not at all one of these women that try to hand out horror stories, believe me. I had a vaginal the first time & had a tough time, too. I know most people that I talked with said it was a piece of cake for their c-section. I had an altogether different experience, but unusual one too. I pray for you a speedy recovery and I know you will do just fine. Just please be careful and take it very easy. I enjoy your blog very much and I hope and pray this message does not come out all wrong. I wish you the very best. I posted this for some people that want a c-section, unlike you who had complications which led you and your doctor to this decision, but for women who think there is nothing to it, bcz I got very sick. Again my story is not the norm and I feel from your post you have no choice but to get a section. Best of luck for a happy healthy Mom and sweet baby!!!
Sarah I think you made the right decision to schedule a c-section! sounds like you went through hell! I had 4 hours of pushing and ended up with the vacuum and tearing, too. My recovery wasn't as bad as yours, but it was very slow and painful, definitely worse than labor! I, too, was sitting on pillows for weeks and very sore. Recently a friend of mine had a c-section and she was getting around way better 6 days later than I was at like 3 weeks! so, I think you will have a much better recovery this time, hopefully! good luck! 🙂
My baby is 18 now (years!). I don't know how I got hooked on MMMH but maybe it's because I miss those days, now that my baby's in college. I remember wanting to hear every war story I could so I'd be prepared for anything and everything. The advice to be flexible is the best advice ever. You can't have your dream labor and delivery, you have to take what comes and have a plan B, and C, and D…. My labor was long, extra painful due to back labor and a nine pounder. Big episiotomy and vacuum assist. It worked. I recovered, with a small setback after a couple of weeks, but pulled through. Take care of yourself after delivery; you deserve pampering. Ask for, no, DEMAND help; don't be the one who waits on others like a hostess with the mostest. Fake being weaker than you feel if you have to, to get some rest and keep relatives at bay. Two c-section stories I heard: 1) Roomie in hospital had a mal presentation but was not informed and forced to delivery vaginally. Very painful for her, ICU for baby. 2) Friend determined to delivery at home with midwife and no drugs. Admirable. However, also a mal presentation. She ended up begging to be driven 90 minutes to the hospital in excruciating pain for a c-section. Reluctant midwife waited an hour and finally relented due to high BP. If you can manage a vaginal, go for it. It's the better way. But be willing to accept a CS for your sake and your baby's if the situation warrants it. Remember also that you won't be thinking calmly and rationally when the decision needs to be made. I also don't recall anyone hanging a medal around my neck after my vaginal delivery. Take advantage of whatever medicine has to offer. Actually, I remember discussing the vacuum extraction with my gyn and thinking, I don't care if you put a chain around it and pull it out with a tractor, JUST GET IT OUT OF ME. Twenty hours of back labor will do that to ya. God bless all of you about to give birth to our next generation.
I had a c-section 10 months ago, and it went fine. My complications were worse than the c-section itself. I had preeclampsia and HELLP syndrom (BAD STUFF!), so my c-section was like a 'real' surgery. I was completely out and my poor husband was in the next room. That's the only part i was upset about. I was in bed for a long time too, so my recovery was longer than usual. Get up ASAP is the best advice I can give.
I do remember that the boppy pillow hurt me for about a week because of the incision.
GOOD LUCK!!!! I can't wait to see pictures of you newest addition!