Been meaning to post all week. Tired and ouchy.
28 week ultrasound on Monday. My daughter is measuring right on target. The sonongrapher estimated her to be about 2lbs 11oz. YAY! You go, girl! OB said my belly measured perfectly (OB appt before u/s appt), although other women I see this far along seem SO much bigger than me. I still have no idea how much I weigh. I get on the scale backwards and have the nurse tell me how much I’ve gained since my last appt. (I just don’t want to know how much I gained while cycling. It’s all baby weight as far as I’m concerned.) From my first OB appt at 8 weeks until Monday at 28 weeks, I’ve gained 15lbs. My 1 hour glucose test was normal, so I’m fine with this, as is my dr.
What I’m not so fine with: I HAVE THE PREVIA! I have partial placenta previa. After some phone tag, I finally was able to talk to the OB yesterday. She said there was about a 50% chance the placenta would move away from the cervix. I will get another u/s at 32 weeks. Hopefully it will move up by then. If not, we will keep checking, but they do not want me to have ANY contractions if the placenta does not move up. If the previa doesn’t resolve, they will schedule a c-section around week 36 or 37.
I’m a little freaked. Not so much about the c-section itself, but about afterwards. My mother is REALLY PUSHING that if I have a c-section, I HAVE TO stay with her for a couple of weeks. That I will absolutely need someone with me 24 hours a day. Do they make nursing straight jackets? Hey, I’m all for post-partum help. Friends, family, etc., but I want them to leave at the end of the day. Those of you who’ve had c-sections, am I being unrealistic? Hell, I’ve done all of this by myself up to now, will I really be unable to manage at night on my own after a c-section? I mean, I’m planning to co-sleep. (I’ve registered for this.)
In other news, finally got the scoop on the foot surgery. Ridiculous the runaround I’ve been given. What it finally boils down to is that the surgeon works out of an orthopedic hospital (they’re the best, people travel from all over for ortho surgery there), and since they do not have an obstetrics dept or a NICU, it is hospital policy not to perform surgery on preggos. If it were an emergency, they would send the surgeon to do the surgery at a hospital with an obstetrics dept and a NICU. A plantar fascia release is not an emergency. So, after the OB and u/s on Monday, I grabbed a taxi 4 1/2 blocks over to the foot surgeon’s office and he gave me another cortisone shot in one foot. OUCH!!! THAT REALLY HURTS! Still waiting for the relief to kick in. Last time he did it I did get some relief for about 4-6 weeks. (Which I really didn’t get when podiatrists did them.) FYI, for anyone who might need this kind of treatment, I really think having the injection done under u/s guidance and by a skilled surgeon makes a big difference.
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21 comments:
Sounds like it was a good appointment. We'll talk next week...
You are not being unrealistic at all. 4 days after my c-section I was out walking the mall with my little one. If you don't have too much pain or if there is a pain med that you can take without getting loopy, I'd say stay at your place.
{{{Hugs}}}
Fingers are crossed for you! I had partial previa too with Julian - and it indeed moved up just like we had hoped. I hope the same for you!!!
I agree with Kristin. I think you can do it. I didn't have a c-section but I did tear a lot. Sorry for the TMI. And I'm pretty sure I could've done it alone. Plus if your co-sleeping, then everything is right there for you. I'll be sending your placenta lots of vibes to move up, in the mean time. So happy to hear that baby girl is doing her thing in there. Way to go!
*HUGS*
Dude, you totally can walk with a c-section...but it's going to be incredibly slow, and quite frankly, incredibly painful. Don't even think about doing stairs for at least a week. And if you do do them, it's going to take a good 10 minutes both ways. And it's going to be very painful. You may need to sleep mostly upright for the first week or so, and turning over, getting up is going to be, you guessed it, incredibly painful.
You will not be able to drive. You should be prescribed morphine pills, but you don't have to take them if you don't want - I didn't after the hospital.
And you're going to be very hungry. You will need snacks. Personally, I recommend someone staying with you for the first week or two, at least until it's more twingey/achey instead of ()*&T(T^$R.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
Yikes about the placenta. That sucks. I hope it moves. I agree with Kristin that you aren't unrealistic. You will likely spend 3 days in the hospital after a c section. Going home and being on your own for the night time hours should be fine.
I am sorry to hear about the previa but I am glad that you are doing well...except for the foot thing which sounds very painful.
I don't know personally but my sister had a c-section and she did well. I think you can do it.
HUGS!
Glad that the baby girl is doing so good. Placenta Previa? Oh I really hope that by the next ultrasound, the placenta would have moved away from the cervix.
Have they recommended any sleeping / sitting positions to help with the placenta previa? Have you been asked to take rest breaks frequently?
Hope the foot feels better soon. Injections in the foot....gives me the shivers.
Take Care!
Suck that you can only have surgery on your foot if it's an emergency!
Hope you do not have to do a c-section, but if you do I agree that having 24 hour care is unnecessary (my sister who had a c-section came back from hospital to take care of new born girl and a three year old. Yes, there is a husband, but still. Not saying it will be fun, but if having some alone time is important to you, I do believe you can do it.
Sorry I don't have any experience/reference with recovering from a c-section but what if you had a friend on-call for the first night at home? I imagine everyone recovers differently and having a back up plan for the first night might ease your mind (and your mom's) a little. Hopefully a c-section can be avoided and it won't matter but just in case!
And way to go baby girl! Right on track! :)
I had total placenta privia. Once I got over the disappointment of not being able to deliver vaginally, I just focused on the safety of my boys.
You can easily be on your own overnight (if you want) and even during most days. You just need help with the heavy lifting (if there is any).
For the first month, I had someone come in 3 three times a day to take my dogs for a walk ( they are small dogs, but there are three and they pull). She also would take out the garbage when it was full, ditto for the recycling. I had her help me change the bedsheets when necessary.
Otherwise I was totally on my own. At first I was travelling (by bus) between the two hospitals my boys were at. Then when one came home, we daily went up to the hospital. Again, all on my own, pushing a double stroller up a hill. It was fine.
Be ready in advance. I tossed the enviromental side out and got paper plates and bowls for the first couple of weeks. Build a cocoon area with things you need in the living room and the bedroom.
Congrats on the perfect little girl!
If you find that you need more help, ask for it, but you should be good to go.
Of course the placenta can still move which would be great. But I'd still suggest the disposable dishes and cocoon areas for the first few weeks.
Ahhh, man. I hope the placenta moves hun.
I was FINE within days of my c-section. Sure, I took it a bit easy, but I was right back to cleaning my house, waking up stairs, lifting my babies and driving within a week. Not so bad, really.
Fingers crossed that placenta moves,
xx
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Sending you good, good placenta moving thoughts. Yay that your little one looks so healthy! :)
Good luck with the mom situation. It seems that the idea of staying with her is already stressing you out...and that staying with her is maybe more for her than you?
I sent you an email, I'm an "old blog, new digs." Explanation at the new place. :)
Let's hope the previa resolves... Could you have a home health aide lined up, just in case your recovery isn't the easiest? Or a post-partum doula who could come in for the first few nights at home? Just to get you through the first week? Better a kind stranger who's being paid to do what you need than a relative who drives you nuts.
I've heard from gals that recovery can really vary (esp depending on your reaction to pain meds--me, I can't deal with them without turning into an insane zombie).
I have no advice on the c-section front, but I will cross everything that the previa resolves itself! Glad baby girl looks great!!
I had a c-section, and honestly it wasn't that bad. I was up and moving well. I don't think you would need that much help. The only thing is a lifting restriction. they usually don't want you lifting anything bigger than the baby for around 6 weeks. Good luck!
If you can afford it why not hire a night nurse to come in a few times a week just to give you a break to enjoy the baby.You'll have plenty of time to prove you can handle it alone later.
I was really glad to have 24 hour help (DH) for the first 2-3 days following the surgery, but at least 2 of those days could be in the hospital. I think you will be fine. If you even need one.
Oh, really hoping the previa resolves itself and then you won't have to worry about c-section. But if you do, I'm sure you'll be fine but definitely have someone help you out. I can understand not wanting someone there 24/77 but don't turn away help!
So glad your girl is doing well. :)
I was alone after my C-section with the twins. I was in the hospital for 6 days and then I had about 8 to 10 hours of help during the week and then none on the weekends (or very little). I'm not going to say it was easy but doable? yes. It's doable. I made sure I could do everything before I left the hospital (lift the baby, bend and pick up a diaper, walk, etc.) and I could. I started taking short walks the day after I came home. I set myself up so that everything I needed was within reach of the bed.
Do what makes you comfortable and manage help the way YOU need help. You are the boss.
Be prepared for some premie effects at 36 to 37 weeks. (Though maybe less likely with a singleton?) Not major life threatening ones, but just hypersensitivity to stimuli, lots of sleep and need to be swaddled, and maybe not the best latcher/eaters. That was my biggest problem.
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