well no VBAC this time
Monday at 1:30pm I am going in to an elective repeat c-section. The baby will be 38 weeks (same gestational age Ian was). The reasons for this decision are complex but here is a summary.
I started having some severe edema (swelling) starting around 35 weeks. They have been testing me regularly for Pre-Eclampsia which keeps coming back negative. I have also been tested for HELLP and Gestational Diabetes and all are negative. The Edema is getting worse and is now something like +3 pitting. That just means if you poke me with your finger the dent lasts a REALLY long time. The swelling has expanded from my feet, up my legs to where it is almost impossible to bend past 90-degrees, to my hips and the underside of my belly. I am essentially carrying a football filled with water attached to the undeside of my already HUGE pregnant belly so my belly hits the chair when I sit down. Even some of my girly bits are swelling. My face and hands are a little puffy.....the list goes on.
I had a talk with my midwives who are very PRO-VBAC. They agreed that they think changing to a c-section 2 weeks early is a good idea since we can't pin down the cause. Apparently you can go from just fine to dangerous quickly so if this is the start of Pre-E I am screwed.
Yesterday they sent me for Biophysical Profile of the baby. He is estimated to be almost 10 lbs (just like Ian) or bigger. He is so squished in there that they couldn't get great measurements. Sometimes ultrasounds can be way off on weight checks but since he is running about par for what Ian was, we are pretty sure they are right. He is practicing breathing well and everything seems to be functioning so he should be just fine when he comes out on Monday. Also, and this is just a sign for me, he is in the same exact position Ian was in (Left Occiput Transverse) which to me says that even if he cooks until labor starts I am not sure I can get a 12lb turkey to rotate around and come out with all the swelling going on.
Now when it comes to gut feelings, I am not as concerned about his health at the moment as I am about mine. He seems to be doing ok. I am not sure that I am so I really think this is best for all of us.
If you are local and would like to come and visit us in the hospital next week then that is fine. I don't know if I will be in there 3 or 5 days. We can also take visitors at home of course. I will be having him at Anne Arundel Medical Center just like with Ian. Give either me or John a call on our Cells so we can tell you if it is ok timing and what room number we are in. If you don't have those numbers then email me and I will give them to you.
I am happy about almost being unpregnant, sad because of no VBAC, scared of another major abdominal surgery and unsure as to whether I am really prepared to be the mom of 2 kids. Oh well, too late now!
I started having some severe edema (swelling) starting around 35 weeks. They have been testing me regularly for Pre-Eclampsia which keeps coming back negative. I have also been tested for HELLP and Gestational Diabetes and all are negative. The Edema is getting worse and is now something like +3 pitting. That just means if you poke me with your finger the dent lasts a REALLY long time. The swelling has expanded from my feet, up my legs to where it is almost impossible to bend past 90-degrees, to my hips and the underside of my belly. I am essentially carrying a football filled with water attached to the undeside of my already HUGE pregnant belly so my belly hits the chair when I sit down. Even some of my girly bits are swelling. My face and hands are a little puffy.....the list goes on.
I had a talk with my midwives who are very PRO-VBAC. They agreed that they think changing to a c-section 2 weeks early is a good idea since we can't pin down the cause. Apparently you can go from just fine to dangerous quickly so if this is the start of Pre-E I am screwed.
Yesterday they sent me for Biophysical Profile of the baby. He is estimated to be almost 10 lbs (just like Ian) or bigger. He is so squished in there that they couldn't get great measurements. Sometimes ultrasounds can be way off on weight checks but since he is running about par for what Ian was, we are pretty sure they are right. He is practicing breathing well and everything seems to be functioning so he should be just fine when he comes out on Monday. Also, and this is just a sign for me, he is in the same exact position Ian was in (Left Occiput Transverse) which to me says that even if he cooks until labor starts I am not sure I can get a 12lb turkey to rotate around and come out with all the swelling going on.
Now when it comes to gut feelings, I am not as concerned about his health at the moment as I am about mine. He seems to be doing ok. I am not sure that I am so I really think this is best for all of us.
If you are local and would like to come and visit us in the hospital next week then that is fine. I don't know if I will be in there 3 or 5 days. We can also take visitors at home of course. I will be having him at Anne Arundel Medical Center just like with Ian. Give either me or John a call on our Cells so we can tell you if it is ok timing and what room number we are in. If you don't have those numbers then email me and I will give them to you.
I am happy about almost being unpregnant, sad because of no VBAC, scared of another major abdominal surgery and unsure as to whether I am really prepared to be the mom of 2 kids. Oh well, too late now!