Pregnancy issues

Warning: this post is long and probably very boring to everyone. I wanted to document some of the things I have been thinking/ worrying about so sorry... bear with me or or just skip this one. :)


It has been a long time since I posted. I need to download some pictures for a post but I haven't done it yet.

This pregnancy has been going fairly fast and I have been very laid back about it. It seems like if I don't put too much thought into it, it goes by faster. However, I have entered the 3rd trimester and I am starting to think more about birth and delivery....and I started freaking out a bit. There are a few things I don't feel prepared for....mostly the delivery. Kallie's delivery wasn't bad but there are things that I don't want to happen again such as the 2 excruciating hours of pain after having my water broken and waiting for the anesthesiologist to come out of a c-section. I don't want to be that unprepared again.

So, I have been thinking about what I can do so that I can avoid feeling like everything was a little out of control. Take a chill pill?


One would be not letting the doctor (per hospital policy) break my water as soon as I was admitted in order for the baby to be internally monitored. I don't want that. How necessary is it? I'm not sure. I just know that VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) are required to have internal monitoring- AF Hospital policy. So I have that issue to discuss with my health care provider. From what I read and heard, it shouldn't be that big of safety issue and I don't know why the hospital has a policy on it. You can still be monitored externally. For me, however, it was a huge issue because that was when the contractions immediately became very painful at only 3 cm dilation. You can refuse to be internally monitored but I would like to know the risks, pros and cons.

The other issue I have is pain management. I felt like my body was fighting dilation. I'm sure it was when I was trying to survive each contraction instead of working with my body. As soon as I received the epidural, I was completely dilated within an hour or two. I would like to be prepared with some pain management techniques so that I don't feel like I am merely surviving but that I am having a good experience. I took a hypnobirthing class when I was pregnant with Brigg but I never used what I learned because I had a c-section. I didn't bother refreshing my knowledge or practicing relaxation techniques with Kallie.


Now that I am getting closer to the end of pregnancy I'm thinking maybe I should do something instead of nothing. Like now since most classes are 6 weeks long and start soon. I have heard really good things about Hypnobabies which is similar to hypno birthing but a little more structured and in depth. A big part of me fights it though because it is too much time, money, may not even work, Koby doesn't want to take the time to go.... blah blah. I don't know why I fight it.

I started looking for Hypnobabies classes in this area and found out the only one here starts in 1 1/2 weeks. It costs $300 and is 3 hours every Tuesday for 6 weeks. Not something that sounds "fun" to me when I would have to find a babysitter, convince Koby to come, or go by myself. Anyhow, I found a "support group" meeting for women who want a natural, non-medicated birth. The class was at a woman's house and there were 9 women there (and a bunch of kids) and it was a pretty laid back, friendly group. The woman who started the group up is a doula and also teaches hypnobabies classes. The topic was on finding a care provider and birthing facility but you could ask any question you had on pregnancy and it was open discussion. I sat next to someone I recognized and we realized we knew each other from working at Los Hermanos Restaurant 8 years ago! (Liz, you might remember Autumn?) Anyhow, she was pregnant with her 2nd and planning a home birth with a midwife. The shocking thing was that out of 9 women (including me), 7 were having or had a home birth and 6 of those 7 had unassisted home births. As in no one there with any type of birthing certification, usually just you and your husband and maybe friends/ family. Some of those women had an unassisted birth with their first child. All I could think of was they are very brave. I have read several accounts of unassisted home births and I even visit taught a lady who had her baby unassisted while I was her visiting teacher, but I had never met so many women who have done so all at one time. It was fascinating but was not a bit attractive to me. I think I would be a huge feat just to have a home birth with a midwife. I worry too much.

So long story shorter, it got me thinking about what I really want for this birth. I don't really know exactly what I want, but I am trying to figure it out without caring about what others think I should do, what that medical community thinks is right, etc. I'm certain I don't want to be induced if at all possible. I think my doctors are under pressure to induce if I go over my due date 10 days... luckily I went into labor and delivered Kallie on the 10th day. I also don't want a c-section. Those are definite things for me but I would be flexible if there was a real reason to do any of those things like the baby or I being in real danger.

I came home from that meeting and couldn't sleep well and had dreams of needing a midwife desperatly. This morning I called and changed my appointment with Dr. Saunders to instead be with a midwife that works at the same practice. I love Dr. Parker but there is no guarantee I will get him as my delivery doctor and I don't love the other doctors in the practice. So, I think I will change over to the midwives. I don't want to regret anything and I don't want to worry about getting the other doctors at my delivery.



As for pain management.... I think I have decided I'm not going to worry about hypnobabies classes but try and refresh my hypnobirthing techniques. Hopefully it will help. And then I will think about other things like a doula....I'm not sure. If need be, I will get an epidural, but I want to be prepared with other things in case I have to wait for one or it doesn't work, etc. I'd love to do an unmedicated birth but who knows..... it just seems like I will fail at it and by just saying that I'm more likely to fail. So I'm thinking about it for now....

There is my long winded epistle of things that have been going round and round in my head. Both Koby and I hate it when I go through this every pregnancy. There are so many unknowns with pregnancy and it is hard trying to figure out what is best because each pregnancy is different. My opinions and thoughts change with each pregnancy too. I know what seems to be the right thing to do but I get wimpy and don't want to make any decision or worry about it. But if I do that, I may end up with another c-section because that is what a lot of doctors like to do. In and out and you are done. Why can't pregnancy be easy? Let's not even start talking about baby names.