I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I was 28 weeks along, and from that point on, we went for bi-weekly checkups at the hospital, because babies whose moms have gestational diabetes tend to be large (typically the 9 or 10 pounders) and they have larger chests and shoulders, which tends to lead to them getting stuck in the canal often, leading to emergency c-sections. We were part of a study that was trying to reduce the amount of emergency diabetic c-sections, so it was really cool!

We had ultrasounds every 2 weeks, and got to really moniter the progress of our little guy in-utero. As we got closer, they took measurements constantly….any sign that he was going to be over 10 lbs, and they were not going to let me do labor for fear he would be stuck.

My due date came on the 17th, and I had an ultrasound the day before. He was measuring at 9 lbs, 12 oz. OH BOY! Just under the 10lb mark, so we were cleared to try vaginal delivery!

But then I never went into labor. I had braxton hicks, I had a false labor episode, I had contractions every hour for days on end. But no labor. No sign of labor. NADA!

On a Friday 4 days after my due date, the doc started getting concerned. After all, the little guy was still growing, and we didn’t want him to get too big. Plus, I had tons of other health complications the entire pregnancy. Group B strep, Kidney infections, I had an allergic reaction to some meds and that started pre-term labor back in October that we managed to get to stop (ironic, no?) my blood pressure was going up, and I was just plain tired of it all.

He told us that we couldn’t go much longer past the due date, not with all the complications. it wasn’t safe for me, or the baby. So we decided to do an elective c-section on Wednesday, if he didn’t make an apperance by then.

Tuesday night, I was soooo hoping something would happen. But nope. 6 am Wednesday morning, off we left for the hospital, and I got the c-section.

Once he was born, I was so grateful that I did. He was actually wedged into my pelvic bone, and never would have been able to come out on his own. He also had pooped in-utero, so there was some meconium in his mouth that they had to suction out. AND as icing on the cake, he was also born with dangerously low blood sugar, and had to be taken to the NICU for a day to stabilize him.

I was grateful for my ob in giving me choices, because it felt like I was empowered to do what I wanted to do, to make a decision for my baby. I know I made the right choice, so despite a rough pregnancy, and a rough start to his life, my son is alive, and well and driving me to the brink of insanity with his 2 year old antics!!!!!

Joanna – as you know, I loved reading your stories!

Becca – What great advice! A lot of times I read about how people feel badly for having a c-section so it’s nice to hear your comments!

So…if you should happen to need a CSection, do not worry. In both cases I was the fist one up and walking among women that had given birth the same day as me. Take the pain medication while in the hospital as it will get you up and walking around but try to stick to the OTC medications once you go home and limit the prescription stuff to the time of day when baby is most likely to sleep longest to keep it out of your breast milk more. And it will be better for you to stay the full 3 days in the hospital…don’t be a hero!.

If my tubes weren’t tied (we have five…including the three stepsons) I would definately elect for another CSection. So if you should happen to have to go that route….know that it really isn’t that bad!

Our Girl
http://thebouldins.blogspot.com/2006/12/shes-here.html

Our Boy
http://thebouldins.blogspot.com/2008/03/daxs-day.html

Thought I’d give you a link to my birth story: http://www.theleen.com/2008/01/everything-i-thought-i-didnt-want-and-everything-i-didnt-know-i-needed/ The entry itself is really long, so I won’t post it here.

I’m excited to peruse your site more!

Kathleen

My first was due on Christmas Day. In early November I was put on bed rest due to high blood pressure–laying on my left side all day was no fun. Two times a week I went in for non-stress tests and ultrasounds. My ob went and had her baby on December 23rd, so obviously, she wouldn’t be delivering my baby. On New Year’s Eve, my mom went with me and my husband to see the doctor. The ultrasound showed that my fluid was reducing, so he decided he would induce me. I was to go to the hospital the next day at noon to get a gel put on my cervix. I would go back at 6 pm for another dose, and then return at 6am on January 2nd to start the actual induction.

Well, I arrived at the hospital, and my nurse was my lamaze teacher–and awesome. She gave me the dose of gel at 12:30ish and told me that I had to lay down for an hour. At 1:30, she checked, noticed I was having some contractions and told me to go home. She also warned that when I returned at 6pm, I should be prepared to stay, since many women who get two doses go into labor. So, I went home and called my mom (who was on her way to the airport to get my sister). But, once at home the contractions were too much to bear, so I went back to the hospital. I got there around 3:30 and got hooked up to the monitors–my water had broken. After my first round of drugs, I begged for the epidural that I had told everyone I didn’t want (I’m deathly afraid of needles). Once the epidural was in place, I was ready to party–talked and joked with my sister and mom. At 8:00 pm I was starting to push–my son was sunny side up and the nurse warned me of a possibility of 2-3 hours of pushing–it was my first child. My son, Zachary, was born at 8:56 pm–8 1/2 hours after my first and only dose of gel. He weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces.

My second had her own complications. I was borderline placenta previa, and as such, my doctor wanted to induce to make sure she could monitor my labor every step of the way, with an OR ready just in case. With her, my doctor thought labor would go fast, but it actually stalled out at one point. While my doctor thought she would be born before lunch, Zoe waited until 3:57 pm–and we needed a vacuum to get her out–or else we would have been headed for an emergency c-section due to the placenta problems. She was 9 pounds, 12 ounces. I had an epidural with her, first because they wanted it there in case of the c-section, and then because my dad wanted to talk through my contractions and it was very difficult to concentrate.

My last one, less than 2 1/2 years ago, was probably my best delivery. Again, I was induced, but this time was two days after my due date. I checked into the hospital the night before, and my husband stayed home to take the kids to school the next morning (my son at this point was 9 1/2 and my daughter was 3 weeks away from turning 5). I woke up at 6:30 am feeling contractions and told my hubby to get there as soon as possible. He showed up at 8, just as my doctor came to break my water. I told her I was having contractions and she measured me at 6-7 cm and said we would have a baby by lunchtime–gee, that’s what I was told last time. I had a friend who was also pregnant and had a doctor appointment that morning and who had planned on coming by. I called and told her that a visit at 11:30 probably wouldn’t be good because I would probably be delivering a baby (actually I left her a message). When my hubby dropped my daughter off at preschool, the teachers rushed him out as soon as they found out I was in labor.

Things went well, and at 9am I was measuring a full 7 cm. No drugs yet and things were going well. They had me roll on my side because her feet were under my ribs. At 9:15, the pain had become worse and I decided to ask for the epidural. My nurse (also extremely awesome) went to find the anesthesiologist and came back at 9;25 saying that he was a few doors down helping another woman and would be there in 10-15 minutes. She then decided to check me, and immediately called to have the doctor come back to the hospital, and oh yeah, no drugs for me, I was 10 cm! The doctor showed up at 9:40, got on her gown and booties, and 3 pushes later at 9:46 am my daugher, Zienna was born. She weighed in at 8 pounds 10 ounces. I called my friend who was at her doctor’s appointment–she said she had received my message and I told her to feel free to come by–the baby was already here! My daughter’s preschool teachers thought my dad was going to pick up Zoe, but Scott came by to get her. They were mad at him for leaving me, until they found out that he had pictures of the baby!

Honestly, after having done birth with and without the epidural, I would opt for without if there were a next time. It was so nice to be able to get up and take a shower right away, and walk around. My recovery was sooo much faster without the epidural.

Thanks for letting me share!