Marauder Junior, Thane of Fife
Remember last entry, when I said "The reality that I actually have to push out this kid in another few weeks is setting in"? Well, now it appears I'm not going to be pushing Marauder Junior out at all, because s/he is still in a breech position at 36 weeks and unless s/he manages to flip, it looks like I'm having a C-section. This is going to be my first major surgery ever, so I'm a little freaked out by the idea.
Disadvantages of C-section:
- they have to actually cut me open!
- I can't drive for two weeks afterwards
- I can't lift stuff over ten pounds for six weeks afterwards (this will be an issue if Marauder Junior grows really fast)
- can't eat before surgery and it's scheduled for late morning, which means I'll probably be hungry
- scar on abdomen
- will have to figure out "second C-section vs. VBAC" issues with Marauder Junior Two someday
- what if it gets infected?
- what if if gets infected and I have to have a hysterectomy?
- OMG WHAT IF I DIE
Advantages of C-section:
- possibility of Marauder Junior being born on September 11 is now off the table
- don't have to push (I've had Braxton-Hicks contractions twice and both times were painful)
- extended hospital stay means all early visitors will show up when I'm still in the hospital, and I don't feel obligated to clean the house ahead of time
- whole thing should be over with in three to four hours start to finish
- Marauder Junior can skip the cone-shaped head phase
- will be around lactation consultants once milk comes in
- didn't really have the whole "birth plan" worked out yet anyway, so it's not like I'm one of those people who was all set on a natural birth in water (or whatever) and this ruined it
- it's kind of a relief to have a lot of the uncertainty taken out of the whole thing
I'm trying not to spend too much time dwelling on it, which isn't hard to do because there's still so much stuff to get done around here before Marauder Junior shows up.
Disadvantages of C-section:
- they have to actually cut me open!
- I can't drive for two weeks afterwards
- I can't lift stuff over ten pounds for six weeks afterwards (this will be an issue if Marauder Junior grows really fast)
- can't eat before surgery and it's scheduled for late morning, which means I'll probably be hungry
- scar on abdomen
- will have to figure out "second C-section vs. VBAC" issues with Marauder Junior Two someday
- what if it gets infected?
- what if if gets infected and I have to have a hysterectomy?
- OMG WHAT IF I DIE
Advantages of C-section:
- possibility of Marauder Junior being born on September 11 is now off the table
- don't have to push (I've had Braxton-Hicks contractions twice and both times were painful)
- extended hospital stay means all early visitors will show up when I'm still in the hospital, and I don't feel obligated to clean the house ahead of time
- whole thing should be over with in three to four hours start to finish
- Marauder Junior can skip the cone-shaped head phase
- will be around lactation consultants once milk comes in
- didn't really have the whole "birth plan" worked out yet anyway, so it's not like I'm one of those people who was all set on a natural birth in water (or whatever) and this ruined it
- it's kind of a relief to have a lot of the uncertainty taken out of the whole thing
I'm trying not to spend too much time dwelling on it, which isn't hard to do because there's still so much stuff to get done around here before Marauder Junior shows up.