I always assume that doctors (or midwives) see me coming and think, “ugh! MORE questions?!?!” For instance, the OB who did the external version when I was pregnant with O and I got into a bit of an argument when she wanted to induce me (because of my PUPPS) with cytotec. I refused because of the elevated risk of amniotic fluid embolism. I guess because I was speaking in medical jargon, she assumed I was a nurse or something and asked what I do. Joke’s on her! I teach history and READ and RESEARCH stuff that’s important to my health!
Wait until they get a load of this: Me in full on crunch mode.
As I mentioned in my last post, I have a pretty primal need to see my babies come out of me. I guess I’m a person who has to see it to believe it. I also really need them to feel loved and secure in their first moments of life.
To deal with this, I’ve started working on a “c-section birth plan.” I got the idea from here, which two friends sent to me independently. How they knew it would be the one thing to keep me sane about the whole idea, I don’t know. As the blogger above admits, it’s hard to imagine having a c-section because it goes against your self-affirmations, but when you’re faced with the very real possibility, it’s probably good to start thinking about it.
Below is a pretty good description of my mindset for O’s birth (probably not smart since for much of my pregnancy, including some scary hours the day he was born, it looked like a c-section was likely)
But I confess to you all now, right here in virtual public, that I skipped right over everything that had to to with cesareans. I covered my ears and sang “Mary had a little lamb . . . (at home in her birth pooooool)”.
So I’ve decided this picture of a woman helping to deliver her baby to her chest via c-section is basically my ideal, and I’ll see how willing people are to work on it with me.
At the least, I would like them to drop the drape when they’re delivered and have the babies skin to skin on my chest in the OR, even if that means my Mom and Husband (or nurse, or whoever) has to hold them there for me.
I also want to avoid any kind of sedation because I want to be alert and awake when they’re born and in recovery.
If they HAVE to be taken to the nursery for something before I get them in recovery, I want them to be messed with as little as possible. (Obviously this all changes if they’re early and whisked away for medical reason. I’m ok with that and will just send my husband and Mom with them.) No bath. No eye goop. No major medical stuff until I can get them skin to skin in recovery and try to nurse.
We missed the alert window of opportunity with O because I couldn’t nurse laying down while they did some complicated stitching. He got lethargic and stayed that way for a week, making his jaundice and polycythemia (too many red blood cells) worse, and resulting in a NICU stay. A lot of my requests come from a desire to have these babies nursing early and often to avoid those medical problems (which they are at an even higher risk for than O was.)
There are some other things I want to ask for, but I think those are the big ones.
In the meantime, a few belly shots from 32w0d.
And one uncovered from the front because I think it’s getting impressively big. So far I think those are all old stretchmarks.
People are starting to say things like “oh, you must be due any day now!” I like watching their reactions when I say “nope, not until March!” I don’t have any problem with how I look at the moment. I’ll save that panic for a few months post partum. Now being able to move a little easier will be a welcome thing (I’m sure B is getting tired of hearing me grunt, groan, and pant every time I roll over in bed), but for now I’m just glad these babies are inside growing.
I really don’t think you look that big!!! Also, I really really didn’t want a c/s with Lukas, but it couldn’t be helped. I really did have a good experience at Littleton even though it wasn’t my ideal. π
Maybe the way I waddle makes me look bigger in person π
My dad took pictures of both boys coming out of my stomach, so I had proof. π
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You look great Cathy and I don’t think you look huge at all!
I know how important how you have your babies is to you…I REALLY hope they are able to work with you on everything you want/need.