Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[gingerB]

welcome evan and charlie! two very handsome additions to the ps family!

tao - your nursery is adorable

amber - sorry about your migraine, that must be so miserable to have a HA this far along

drk - you are teeny tiny! very cute bump!



hubby is getting a kick (pun intended

) out of thinking of other husbands across the nation getting kicked by their baking babies also. he acted all indignant initially, but was secretly and then openly delighted. it was a silly way for him to further experience the whole preggo thing along with me

thanks for all the thoughts on the nanny/daycare and pedi situation. our ob gave us a list of pedis to start with, and i''m going to talk to some of my pedi friends to see who they recommend and we''ll prob start from there. we''re hoping to be able to talk to or meet a few, but who knows with how busy our schedules are. worse comes to worse, we can always switch.

gotta read up on this perineal massage thing. i''m almost 100% sure i''m doing the epidural (that''s the one thing i picked up on my OB rotation as a med student -- vast difference b/w the ladies that got them, and those that didn''t!) but idef don''t want to tear! that is what freaks me out the most!

 

[sunkist]

Oh my gosh, way to freak me out Mara! Haha! I just realized that November, Amber and I ARE at the top of the list!!!!

Then Sha is up I feel like I'm a little kid again that climbed the stairs all the way to the tallest water slide or the high dive and now the only way down is to jump. It seemed like a great idea at first, but now I'm freaked out!

Hi Sha!

I'm great. How are you feeling physically besides being wary of the inevitable labor? I forgot about doing perenial massage. I'll ask DH if he'd want to help me out with that. I wonder why PG said it hurt?

Tao what amazing baby pics. It's crazy how all of a sudden you've got a baby in your arms! I love how the look in his eyes is looking to you for protection. Awww, he's so lovely. I love the nursery! Monkeys are perfect for a little boy. I ended up doing elephants . I'm almost done and then I can post pics too!

DRK you look great girly. Way to go!

Well, we just moved about a week and a half ago to a neighboring town. I go to a new location for church now and a couple of the girls just told me they want to throw me a baby shower before bebe arrives! So I'm excited to get to know more people around here before D-day comes. I thought that was awfully nice of them

 

[Bliss]

drk!!! You look BEAUTIFUL! I love the teeny tiny baby bump! OMG, how is that possible that you are so tiny at 22 weeks! I''m already feeling like a cow and I''m barely knocked up. Moooooooooo! Yay! Can''t believe there''s a little bambino in there!

 

[Mara]

sunkist, i think it hurts because (and i read this as well) at first the muscle is really tight, i mean it''s not used to having pressure applied to it. so you have to apply a fair amt of pressure to help it to loosen and stretch out and i am sure that is NOT COMFY on a sensitive area. also it''s inside your body, so it''s an area not used to being touched. she said after the first few times it got easier.

every time i think of perineal massage i think of that Baby Mama scene and then the gal rushing into the delivery room going WHERES THE OLIVE OIL???...hahaha.

one of my preggo friends who is 36 weeks is considering it and she is like i dont know if i want to put EVOO inside anything but my mouth.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 11/4/2009 7:28:38 PM
Author: Mara
sunkist, i think it hurts because (and i read this as well) at first the muscle is really tight, i mean it''s not used to having pressure applied to it. so you have to apply a fair amt of pressure to help it to loosen and stretch out and i am sure that is NOT COMFY on a sensitive area. also it''s inside your body, so it''s an area not used to being touched. she said after the first few times it got easier.

every time i think of perineal massage i think of that Baby Mama scene and then the gal rushing into the delivery room going WHERES THE OLIVE OIL???...hahaha.

one of my preggo friends who is 36 weeks is considering it and she is like i dont know if i want to put EVOO inside anything but my mouth.

Oh Mara, you just put a whole new meaning to EVOO!!!

 

[E B]

Congratulations to tao and viz on your baby boys! Evan and Charlie are both beautiful (ahem, handsome!).

Quick note on the perineal massage- my nurse did it for me before and in between pushes without me even requesting it. I tore, but it wasn't bad and healed quickly. For those who are interested, it might be something your nurse or OB will do for you.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Perineal massage in google images looks frightening!

 

[Mara]

Date: 11/4/2009 9:29:50 PM
Author: MonkeyPie
Perineal massage in google images looks frightening!

lol just don't click on the 'during birth with perineal massage' google image... i was scarred. i was like ...hmmm looking for a diagram...IS THAT A HEAD?

kaleigh, HAHA right??

so earlier the kid delivered what had to be a karate chop directly to my bladder because holy crap... it hurt SO BAD, like a sharp stabbing pain *OW*...it brought tears to my eyes. i hope this is not an indicator of things to come...!! chill out buddy, kick the belly not the bladder.

 

[meresal]

Date: 11/4/2009 5:31:50 PM
Author: Skippy123
HUGE CONGRATS Tao and Viz!!!!!

Adorable babies

Welcome Evan and Charlie

Ditto ladies! Your boys are beautiful!

Drk- You are so small!! Wow!!

Mara- Sorry to hear about the kicking. Yikes!

 

[Blenheim]

Tao and Viz - congrats! Your boys are so adorable.

Perineal massage - I think that the evidence isn''t really clear whether or not it helps. There''s some thought that it can create microtears and lead to more tearing, although others think that it helps. I didn''t bother and had very minimal tearing, but I also pushed according to my body''s urges which is supposed to help with tearing (versus directed pushing). I also delivered him kneeling, which is supposed to help as well.

Oh yeah, and another unusual use for EVOO - if you preemptively rub it on baby''s bottom during diaper changes, it makes it easier to clean off the meconium.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 11/4/2009 9:35:05 PM
Author: Mara

Date: 11/4/2009 9:29:50 PM

Author: MonkeyPie

Perineal massage in google images looks frightening!

lol just don''t click on the ''during birth with perineal massage'' google image... i was scarred. i was like ...hmmm looking for a diagram...IS THAT A HEAD?

Yeah, I totally did it...and then clicked through the rest of her birth. My husband was absolutely horrified. "He''s in the water with her?! OMG GROSS, I would only do it with waders on."

Ah, naive little husband.

He also didn''t know about the possibility of pooping. He will not be looking at me below the waist during labor now lol.

 

[puffy]

tao evan is absolutely beautiful!! just a perfect little guy. Congrats again!!

viz charlie is too precious! congrats!!

 

[qtiekiki]

Tao
Evan is so precious. And the nursery is adorable.

drk
You are teeny tiny.

cello
Hope your dr will be able to help you. I am sorry things had not been going well for you, and that you are in a town that you dislike. Maybe try to think of the positive things in your life.

Amber
Sorry about your migraine. Feel better soon.

vesper
Hope your dad has a speedy recovery.

gingerb
What's the difference between those who have epidural vs those who don't? Just curious. Last time, I was trying to go natural, but I ended up getting an epidural. I got epidural b/c I couldn't take the pain anymore after getting hooked up to the IV and not being able to walk around. I think I'll go in trying to go natural again, and just see how it goes like last time. Tearing and episiotomy scared me more than L&D. I ended up with a episiotomy last time and the recovery wasn't bad, so I am expecting another episiotomy this time.

sunkist
That's nice of your new church friends.

Mara
LOL on your friend and EVOO.
Perineal massage during birth was the one thing that DH kept talking about. He said it was so messy with the nurse massaging and pouring iodine over it; it kind of grossed him out.

MP
I told DH about the possibility of pooping beforehand too. To this day, he wouldn't tell me if I did or not.


So I called my OB and PCP, and they both don't have the H1N1 flu shots (well actually OB don't do flu shots period). Now my only option is to go line up in those crazy line for it. I'm planning go on Friday; DH says he will wait in line with me. Wish me luck that I don't have to wait too long.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Hey, I don''t know if this is any help at all, but I figured I''d post it just in case it can comfort anyone!

I heard all the labour horror stories when I was pregnant, why do people do that?! I was beyond freaked out, I was in a real state about it for 9 months. I had never wanted a child because I was terrified of L&D. So, just in case it''s any help, I wanted to let anyone nervous about L&D know that in the end, this great big coward actually enjoyed it. Really.

Even when things went way off-plan, it was still ok. Better than ok. I really did enjoy the whole experience. Everyone is different, but for me, the ''pain'' wasn''t what I expected at all. It wasn''t like the pain I had when I broke a bone or had appendicitis, it was different, it was for a positive purpose rather than a warning that something was wrong, if that makes sense? Mentally, that made a big difference to me. I ended up having a c-section and that was fine too. Honestly, it was a good experience from start to finish and I''d do that part again in a heartbeat. It was amazing. The hospital staff were wonderful, respectful and professional and very skilled. A lot of them were good fun, too. We laughed a lot that day.

The C-section recovery was fine too. I never had any pain and although I had to be careful, I was able to go home 24 hours later. (I live in Scotland and we had an NHS midwife and LC support us at home, might be a bit longer in hospital without that).

All of my mommy friends IRL have good things to say about their recent L&D experiences too. When I look back on it, it''s a happy memory of an incredible day.

Don''t know if it''s any help at all to know that, but I remember feeling (marginally) better during my pregnancy when people with babies told me they had a good L&D experience, so I thought I''d share.

Jen

 

[cdt1101]

I also had a really positive L&D experience. I was REALLY scared of what labor was going to be like!! But I maybe crazy to say this, but I thought it was kind of easy?? The end of my pregnancy (due to some complications) and the first 6 weeks of baby were WAY harder

For me I decided to not go in w/ any preconceived notions. I had no birth plan. The only thing I was willing to "fight" on was pitocin, but I never needed it. I got lucky (or positive thinking??) and my Dr happened to be at another hospital delivering so they didn''t want me to go too fast..well I progress quickly enough on my own that once she got there I was 8 cm so they let my body just do its thing. I also had a really positive experience w/ epidural...I think they rock

As for perineal massage...we didn''t do it, but my Dr did it between pushing. I had a 2nd degree tear, but honestly I thought recovery was a breeze! I never need to take anything for the pain and I heeled pretty quickly.

Even though I swore my labor would be nothing like my mom''s since we are built sooooooooooooooo differently, my labor ended up being almost EXACTLY the same (went more than 2 weeks early, and quick labor). I really think you can look to your mother to get a feel for what your labor may be like.

Don''t worry ladies! No matter what your labor is like, once you have your baby it''s the BEST feeling in the world..truly something you cannot even imagine until you experience it.

 

[PrettyBlues]

Thanks everyone for the congrats and welcome.

Also, thanks for sharing positive birth experiences. Although CDT now you have me scared - my Mom was in labour with me for 46 hours, I''m doomed

I leave tomorrow on a Caribbean cruise with my family, and I was looking forward to it as a nice relaxing getaway. Now I am all paranoid that I will get H1N1. I mean, enclosed quarters with thousands of people for seven days? I wasn''t able to get the shot beforehand as they only start for pregnant women on the 9th - this is behind the schedule the originally proposed (and what other cities have been doing), so it''s kind of annoying they couldn''t get their act together. But not surprising I guess. So, lots of hand washing and salt gargling for me!

 

[fieryred33143]

Date: 11/5/2009 6:26:47 AM
Author: cdt1101

For me I decided to not go in w/ any preconceived notions. I had no birth plan. The only thing I was willing to ''fight'' on was pitocin, but I never needed it. I got lucky (or positive thinking??) and my Dr happened to be at another hospital delivering so they didn''t want me to go too fast..well I progress quickly enough on my own that once she got there I was 8 cm so they let my body just do its thing. I also had a really positive experience w/ epidural...I think they rock

As for perineal massage...we didn''t do it, but my Dr did it between pushing. I had a 2nd degree tear, but honestly I thought recovery was a breeze! I never need to take anything for the pain and I heeled pretty quickly.

Ditto!

I didn''t have a birth plan either. When I gave birth to Sophia, I wasn''t prepared at all. My hospital bags weren''t complete and were home (FI had to leave me to go get them), my cell was dead as was FI''s and my brother''s (who was there with us). I got the epidural and even though it failed, I was still able to go through the pitocin contractions until they gave me the second epi at which point I slept.

Pushing wasn''t hard either. Nurse did peri massage during pushes and I kept falling asleep during the pushes

(epi is good stuff

).

I was really afraid too but it turned out well. Now the after birth stuff

 

[anchor31]

Tao and vizla - Your sons are so beautiful. Congrats again!

drk - 22 weeks? Seriously?? I look like that at 12 weeks! You look great.

Re: L&D. We already have our birth plan. I''m not really scared of delivery, I guess because I''ve had multiple surgeries I figure it can''t be worse.

 

[jcrow]

congratulations to the new mommies! evan + charlie are so cute!!

 

[Blenheim]

When I was pregnant, people felt that they needed to tell me how horribly awry their labor would have gone if it had been at home. I don''t know what it is with people and trying to scare pregnant women.

My birth experience probably sounds awful on paper (42 hour labor, natural, surprise breech) but it was seriously the most amazing experience. I felt SO POWERFUL afterwards knowing that I was able to do it all by myself, despite thinking at times that I wouldn''t be able to. And I was just high on all of the great hormones, and able to hold my tiny baby in my arms at the end. It was a surprisingly spiritual experience too. DH was by my side the entire time and it really did bring the two of us closer together.

One thing that helped me was reading up beforehand on the progression of birth - I was really able to stay on top of the pain for a long time, and then it got overwhelming and I was trying to crawl out of my skin. But then my midwife checked me and I was 9 cm, and I realized - I''m SUPPOSED to feel like I can''t do it at 9 cm because that''s one of the emotions typically associated with transition, so that must mean that everything''s going fine. It helped me to feel a lot more on top of things. Also, for those of you planning on natural births - water helps a ton. As does moving around, swaying, dancing, walking, rocking. Having supportive partners present. Next time around, I''ll probably want a doula as well - I definitely would have wanted one in a hospital, but figured that I was probably fine as both of my midwives also work as doulas. But I felt contractions in my hips and did best with someone applying counterpressure on my hips through each contraction, which is tiring and I know that my husband would have done better with a backup.

On epi vs natural - I can''t comment on how an epi would have felt, but I can imagine how my natural birth would have looked to someone else - I was vocalizing quite a bit, and I won''t lie, I was screaming expletives as G was "rumping" (like crowning). But the vocalizing wasn''t a hysterical "OMG make it stop" type thing, but a more primal type thing - I felt like a lionness roaring or something. This was one reason I was very glad that we took a birth class focused on natural birth. DH knew that louder, more intense vocalizing was a good thing and meant that things were progressing!

PrettyBlues- long labor can also be caused by malposition. That''s probably what happened in my case. Pandora had a longer labor than mine and I think that Daisy was in a worse position than George was. And I don''t think that positioning is hereditary.

I was dreading a long labor, but in my case it really wasn''t bad - we were grocery shopping and watching Arrested Development and going for walks during a large majority of it.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Thanks for all the positive L&D experiences, ladies. It sure is nice to hear something less traumatic!

 

[gingerB]

QT - the difference was calmer, quieter mom just doing her thing versus screaming sweating occ hysterical mom doing her thing. the difference in the decibels was quite striking. i choose calmer quieter, but that''s me and my perception of the whole birthng process. blenheim sounds like she had a great experience going natural, but i know i''m not a primal kind of gal, so i''ll take the epi thank you

i think it''s all about what''s right for you, there is no right or wrong choice here, purely preference!

i''m not planning to have a birth plan, second thing i learned is that things seldom go as planned

. i figure that''s what the doc is there for. I just have goals: 1) baby is healthy 2) baby is healthy 3) baby is healthy 4) i make it through ok. I''ll let the professionals do what they need to to make sure as best they can that that happens.

ya''ll peaked my curiosity so i looked at the perineal masssage images and clicked through the whole pregnancy. Outside of being WOAH...i was also slightly distracted by...is he wearing leapord skin speedos?!?! gross.

my "mommy/diaper bag"

is on its way

. i''m excited!!!!!

 

[KimberlyH]

Labor: I don't think even about it at this point. It's just a part of the process and it's been done billions of times before, not worth getting worked up about in my mind (my mom told me my whole approach to and thoughts about pregnancy are atypical yesterday, so I guess this just fits in with that). I don't intend to write a birth plan, but I will do some research as I get closer along with taking classes. Because I have low platelet count I may not have the option of an epidural, so I already have it in my head that won't be a possibility.

We're leaving today for our trip. Will be back next Thursday. Looking forward to getting away and have lots of fun stuff planned. Have a good week ladies.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 11/5/2009 10:10:34 AM
Author: gingerB
ya''ll peaked my curiosity so i looked at the perineal masssage images and clicked through the whole pregnancy. Outside of being WOAH...i was also slightly distracted by...is he wearing leapord skin speedos?!?! gross.

Hah, I didn''t even notice that! All I saw was butt and baby head - and then the other child being in the room with mom all naked. Thought that was odd.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 11/3/2009 1:32:01 PM
Author: cellososweet
Sparkly, I''m so sorry (((hug)))

Congrats to all the new mommies and the little bambini! They are all so cute.

I''m sorry that I''ve been so incredibly MIA from this thread. We moved to California. The flight went well considering all the odd factors (pregnant, cats, early morning) and we''ve settled in ok. I''ve been dealing with really strong depression since we''ve moved though, so I''ve been kind of MIA from most aspects of my life. I''ve been depressed since the middle of summer actually, but the move made it much worse. I''ve cried at walls, at cats, while trying to get dressed. Anything, everything. I knew I had a serious problem when my cat came into the bedroom to sit on my lap and I absolutely burst out in hysterical tears. Hyperventilating and sobbing. The poor cat is such a doll. He started licking my face and making woo-woo noises. I think he was terrified that I had gone off the deep end and basically I had. I''m seeing my OB this Friday and this will definitely be a major point of discussion. I''ve been talking to my really close friends and to DH about this and also to our couples therapist that we have phone sessions with. It''s helping but the situation is just miserable and, coupled with my hormones, it''s just pretty unbearable. I''ve tried to stay positive and ''look on the bright side,'' all summer long. I just felt like I completely lost any sense of normalcy and I want my freaking life back. Since May I''ve had massive pneumonia, been hospitalized multiple times, passed out in public a lot, lost my job, lost my friends, lost my hobbies, had to move due to all of this and am feeling like I lost my house, my city, MY life. I basically just want some semblence of normalcy. ANYWAY!

Also on the list of wonderful topics for the OB is this excruciating pelvic pain right at the pubic symphysis. It is really really bad. To the point where it can take me up to 20 minutes to be able to get up from a chair and up to an hour to make it out of bed in the morning. Has anyone experienced this?! I''m 30 weeks along.

So, that was horribly negative! Sorry girls. I just wanted to let you know that I''m still here, still pregnant, and not avoiding you all.

Sweetie, I''m so sorry you are feeling so bad. I had major depression for several months while I was pregnant - mainly caused by the legal battle with my employer - so I know just how lousy it is, especially at a time where most women are super-excited and you just feel blah. I''d been looking forward to silly things like buying cute maternity outfits for work etc, instead I was stuck at home from 13 weeks onwards feeling depressed, worried about finances and legal bills, unable to see anyone because 99% of our friends work in politics and my employer was a political party so I couldn''t discuss what was going on etc etc - honestly PS was what kept me sane!

Please do talk to your OB about it. There are medications that are safe in pregnancy and breast-feeding - my sister was on prozac throughout her last pregnancy and bf''ed her little boy till he was two. Antenatal depression is much more common than people think and it''s really important to seek help as it can otherwise increase your risk of PPD.

Anyway, huge hugs and hang in there - there is light at the end of the tunnel I promise!

 

[Mara]

lol i never made it to the speedo part! i'm thankful, i think.

thanks for the positive notes on labor, ladies... i actually have heard some uplifting stories as well to temper the 'well i had 45 hours of horrible labor' or whatever else you tend to hear. i had one coworker tell me not to get a csection under any circumstances a few days ago...how nightmarish her experience was. i was like gee i'll try to avoid that. i wouldn't opt for it in general over vag, BUT if it happens what are you going to do??

pretty blues, congrats..! enjoy your cruise, and don't worry too much about H1N1. everything i have read about higher risk for preggo noted that it's typically women in their 3rd tri who are most at risk because of dimished lung capacity and i would imagine because your body has been growing a kid for 7 months already, just in general a bit run down on the immune system. i didn't worry too much about it at first, we traveled to spain and sat on 4 crowded airlines and lots of buses in my 2nd tri. just be sanitary, wash your hands, and my dr told me stay away from anyone who is coughing or looks generally ill.

speaking of... what the HECK is up with people who cough and don't cover their mouths?? this is a huge pet peeve for me right now because i am trying to just not be around people exuding germs, and you can be noncholantly standing there and then someone next to you starts hacking out a lung with no mouth covering. i know it doesnt stop ALL the germs but HELLO at least TRY or FAKE like you care. a gal did this in the ikea food court over the wkd while everyone was chowing on their hot dogs. and not just a little ladylike cough but a few hacking heehaws. i was SO tempted to be like 'you really should cover your mouth next time', greg had to drag me to another table before i had a throw down.

and while i am ranting, my little muffin is turning vicious!!! i realized last nite he must have moved position because he was kicking DOWN, perliously close to my bladder all evening. and it's almost sharply painful now because he's BIGGER than a few weeks ago which is the last time he was in this position so the kicks are more powerful and my bladder is really sensitive anyway. i was like please move back into your other position, i am sorry i ever complained you are so stationary. hahah. this morning he seems to be mostly back in position, i am hoping he stays there because seriously last nite i was like can i take 3 more months? i might pee my pants. daily.

greg was like 'just try to move him out of there'. i liked the optimism, even though it was misplaced.

we put together our ikea poang chair last nite for the nursery and it's pretty slick!! i kind of wish i'd gotten the ottoman but we have time to get it later if we want. for anyone curious, it's $149 (we got the chocolate leather so it was $199), super easy to put together, solidly built, with clean nordic lines and the wood is like a medium brown. it is not a rocker but it kind of 'bounces' and you can kind of rock bounce it. i liked it because we can use it in another room when done and it isn't huge. oh and it was cheap.

 

[snlee]

L&D - although I didn''t have an easy labor (natural, 20.5 hours, 4.5 hours of pushing) and it was the most painful thing I''ve ever gone through, it was the most AMAZING experience of my life and I''m actually looking forward to going through it again. It''s really AMAZING what your body can go through. I felt so POWERFUL afterwards knowing that I was able to do it all by myself, even though there was talk about a vacuum and c-section. I was in such a high after L&D. It also bought DH and I a lot closer. It was a very positive experience.

perineal massage - my midwife did this on me in between pushes without me asking. I just let her do it since I could use any help I could get. I ended up getting an episiotomy (because of my son''s big head!). The images may look scary but I didn''t feel a thing when it was being done.

Mara, we have the ikea poang chair. Very comfy but it''s not great for BFing so you may want to have a back up. At least for me it didn''t work. The seat slants too far down backwards so I never BF my son sitting in it. It''s in our nursery and now that he''s older I use it more - we sit there and read books or I hold him when he''s fussy.

 

[curlygirl]

Just to add to the great labor experiences, I had 2 of them! Both of my labors were fairly quick and easy. The epidural was definitely a lifesaver and did not slow down my labor either time. They both progressed quickly, water broke on its own both times, pushing was not that hard (especially the 2nd time) and I had very little damage in my nether regions! The first time I had a 1st degree tear that need a couple stitches and the 2nd time I had no issues. The doctor performed perineal massage in between pushes and used lots of lubricant so I think that helped. Plus, I couldn''t really feel when I was pushing so I actually think I was more controlled than if I could feel everything and wanted to push faster/harder to relieve the pain.

People are much more willing to tell you the horror stories and generally those are the ones that remain in your head but rest assured that every labor does not last 50 billion hours or leave you with gigantic tears and lacerations. You will never be prepared for what to expect when you are actually in labor because it''s so different for everyone so just try to go with it. Your body and your doctor/nurse will guide you through it. I didn''t have a birth plan because I just wasn''t that concerned about HOW the baby came out and was willing to have any interventions necessary to ensure that everyone would be ok. In the end, all you want is a healthy child and a healthy mom so you do what you have to do to make that happen. Go into it with an open mind and you won''t be disappointed!

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Oh Mara,I wish I knew what makes people say stuff like that to preggos! Honestly!

Avoiding c-section was my main priority. My mother had one and 34 years later is still whining about it.

All I can say is that they must be better nowadays. Mine was an emergency, after about 17 hours which sounds bad but was actually fine-- 17 hours of entonox gas, giggling, watching TV and (this part was horrible) studying for my law degree finals.

The c-section itself was really interesting. I''d never been in theatre before. I know that some babies have problems with fluid in lungs after a section, but not always - I got to hold Amelia straight away as she was absolutely fine. They did take her to one side for more checks while I was sewn up, but she was in the same room and I could see her all the time.

No pain, no problem with the wound, stitches out I think 6 days later, no problems or pain from the wound while bfing. That was 17 months ago and the scar is only just visible now.

So, while it would not be something I''d have chosen in the first place, it wasn''t a bad experience at all. It was quick, painless and easy. If I have another baby, I will likely need another section because of the shape of my pelvis, and I''m absolutely fine with that.

 

[AmberWaves]

Thanks for all the GOOD L&D stories!

Today is my 30th birthday, and I just got back from my 37 week appointment. The OB has me scheduled for an ultrasound on the 12th, since "she''s looking pretty big". I''m 1cm dilated (EEEEEEEEEEEK!) and my cervix is effacing. She said it could be "anytime" but I could also go for weeks like this. Hahaha, gotta love the vagueness of pregnancy. So, I''m back at work, depressed because it''s the lamest 30th birthday ever, and my junk hurts from the internal.

Oh yeah, not to mention the fact that I''m freaking out because I''m dilated. I don''t think I signed up for this part!