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Hellooooo all <3 I hit 30 weeks pregnant this upcoming Saturday, and have had 5 issues factoring into me being high risk this pregnancy. I do see a fetal specialist on top of my OB, and baby is totally healthy. My health is just the only concern here at the moment. In the beginning of my pregnancy, it looked like I would be entirely able to vaginally deliver at full term/close to being full term. Unfortunately due to all the issues that have hit me, they are getting worse the further I get along, and that has made it very difficult to even sit up-right in bed without my heart rate spiking to the 170s and me passing out. Which, simultaneously, my blood pressure drops tremendously while this happens. Its all incredibly weird, and I just want it to be over with. - Today, I brought up a C-section delivery vs a Vaginal delivery with my condition, and it looks like a C-section would be the safer option. We are still aiming for 39 weeks, but we highly doubt it will stay that way. Were almost 100% positive my specialist will ask to induce me at 37 weeks instead. That will amount up to November 11th, up to a few days after that time period. - I would love comfort/experience with high risk pregnancies, and vaginal deliveries vs C-sections for those who are comfortable sharing their experiences. This whole journey has convinced me to sway away from more children, at least for 5-10 years after this delivery. This is my first. :) PMs are welcome, or you can simply post here. Most of the issues are in fact caused by MALS, which I have had far before I got pregnant. I have an overactive thyroid, but its sub clinical, so it wont respond to treatment. Because there is no exact cause currently causing the over activity. Anemia is pretty bad, and I am probably going to move to iron infusions since supplements dont seem to be doing much at all. There is an underlying heart issue going on, that I am currently getting diagnosed. Its a whole rats nest in here currently. 😅 No preeclampsia, baby is totally healthy and measuring over a week ahead, and she looks to be entirely safe currently. :) - Any postpartum comments are incredibly appreciated as well, as I know it can be a totally different ball game with a C-section, lol. Edited at September 19, 2023 01:01 PM by Foggy Forest Stables
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My plan from the beginning was to deliver vaginally with no epidural. I was evaluated by a maternal fetal specialist just prior to my due date to make sure my son wasn't too big to deliver naturally. I waited four hours for that appointment and was rushed. They cleared me. I went back to my OBGYN with the news and they scheduled me for induction via pitocin (drug they give you to induce labor) the day after my due date in case I didn't deliver naturally on or before my due date. I was due September 12, 2018. Went into labor/delivery ward morning of September 13 and they started the induction process. Breakdown of that experience: 1. Never, ever again. 2. It didn't work for me; even on pitocin, I wasn't dilating quickly enough but I was having contractions - for 36 hours - and my son's heart rate dropped twice, resulting in me having to be on oxygen while we restabilized. This was in addition to an overnight cervical softening suppository. And no, I never got the epidural. I ended up going in for an emergency c-section (spinal block) after my son had another episode in reaction to the pitocin, just about 36 hours after I'd started the induction. From what I've been told by other moms, it's also normal for pitocin to increase your pain levels during contractions and delivery. But I'm not an MD. This is just my experience. My son was huge. Over nine pounds with a huge head. He's a big boy and I should not have been cleared for natural delivery. This entire debacle could have been avoided if I'd scheduled an elective c-section. I was so determined to do things "right" and be a supermom. These days, I am 100% on the side of whatever option is SAFEST for the baby for delivery, not just what society and toxic femininity pressure you to do. Don't even get me started on breastfeeding. Another topic entirely. Anyway, recovery from the c-section was easy for me. It's not fun to manage the incision and hustle to get your core strength back, but it's really not the end of the world. I am now incredibly grateful that my lower anatomy came out unscathed. If you ride, though, your recovery time will be a little longer. I'd wait a couple months to be extra safe. I think experts recommend six weeks before you get back on your horse. Also, in most cases, you're going to be having more c-sections if you have more kids. You have to be evaluated and cleared for VBAC if you pursue that option (vaginal birth after c-section). I'm not having any more kids (reasons completely unrelated to all this) but if I did, I would feel SO much better knowing I had a quick scheduled surgery and it'd all be over with. I wish you nothing short of the safest, healthiest, most peaceful experience possible, and my inbox is wide open if you have any questions, or even just want to talk about motherhood. Everyone is going to have their opinion on everything, but it comes down to what's best for mama and baby. <3 Edited at September 19, 2023 01:37 PM by Stormsong Manor
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Stormsong Manor said: My plan from the beginning was to deliver vaginally with no epidural. I was evaluated by a maternal fetal specialist just prior to my due date to make sure my son wasn't too big to deliver naturally. I waited four hours for that appointment and was rushed. They cleared me. I went back to my OBGYN with the news and they scheduled me for induction via pitocin (drug they give you to induce labor) the day after my due date in case I didn't deliver naturally on or before my due date. I was due September 12, 2018. Went into labor/delivery ward morning of September 13 and they started the induction process. Breakdown of that experience: 1. Never, ever again. 2. It didn't work for me; even on pitocin, I wasn't dilating quickly enough but I was having contractions - for 36 hours - and my son's heart rate dropped twice, resulting in me having to be on oxygen while we restabilized. This was in addition to an overnight cervical softening suppository. And no, I never got the epidural. I ended up going in for an emergency c-section (spinal block) after my son had another episode in reaction to the pitocin, just about 36 hours after I'd started the induction. From what I've been told by other moms, it's also normal for pitocin to increase your pain levels during contractions and delivery. But I'm not an MD. This is just my experience. My son was huge. Over nine pounds with a huge head. He's a big boy and I should not have been cleared for natural delivery. This entire debacle could have been avoided if I'd scheduled an elective c-section. I was so determined to do things "right" and be a supermom. These days, I am 100% on the side of whatever option is SAFEST for the baby for delivery, not just what society and toxic femininity pressure you to do. Don't even get me started on breastfeeding. Another topic entirely. Anyway, recovery from the c-section was easy for me. It's not fun to manage the incision and hustle to get your core strength back, but it's really not the end of the world. I am now incredibly grateful that my lower anatomy came out unscathed. If you ride, though, your recovery time will be a little longer. I'd wait a couple months to be extra safe. I think experts recommend six weeks before you get back on your horse. Also, in most cases, you're going to be having more c-sections if you have more kids. You have to be evaluated and cleared for VBAC if you pursue that option (vaginal birth after c-section). I'm not having any more kids (reasons completely unrelated to all this) but if I did, I would feel SO much better knowing I had a quick scheduled surgery and it'd all be over with. I wish you nothing short of the safest, healthiest, most peaceful experience possible, and my inbox is wide open if you have any questions, or even just want to talk about motherhood. Everyone is going to have their opinion on everything, but it comes down to what's best for mama and baby. <3
This made me breathe a breath of fresh air for a minute there honestly, so I seriously appreciate your input Ven. She seems to be on the larger side currently, and that was another issue I was worried about. Natural delivery does make me a tad uncomfortable, but of course, I was going to aim for it anyways because its simply seen as the better option until my health just took a tumble. C section is what I am leaning towards currently just due to it being the safer option, and I would really like all the chances in the world for this to go smoothly, and less mentally traumatizing in a way. If that makes any sense. Ive always been a person who can handle surgical pain incredibly well, and I recover insanely fast, so im genuinely not really worried too much about the aftermath. I do ride, but I plan on slowly working my way back in, as I know I wont be used to the core adjustment yet. Itll take me a while before I feel confident with my physical condition, enough to ride. - Again, I genuinely appreciate your input Ven. ❤️❤️
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On the bright side, a Nov 11 bday would mean no school on your baby's birthday ever, since that's veteran's day! (I think you're American, ignore me if you're not) Stay healthy. I have zero experience, so no advice, but I'm here for you and hope it all goes well <3
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FirstLightFarms said: On the bright side, a Nov 11 bday would mean no school on your baby's birthday ever, since that's veteran's day! (I think you're American, ignore me if you're not) Stay healthy. I have zero experience, so no advice, but I'm here for you and hope it all goes well <3
That made me giggle a bit, so thank you! ❤️ Yes! I am American, so no school for her potentially, LOLL. I didnt even think of that today with it being so hectic. 😂
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