I had my final ultrasound to check for placenta location and although it was nice to see our baby and his/her chubby little cheeks, I was devastated to find out that my placenta had not moved. At all. It is still at 1.7 cm from my cervix. I tried really hard not to cry, but I just couldn't hold it together. My doctor came in and basically told me that I was going to have to have a c-section. He tired to make me feel better about the whole thing, he answered all of my questions and gave me as much information as he could, but he was not hopeful that things would change in the 9 days leading up to my induction date. He did tell me that he would call Duke and get a second opinion but neither of us had very high hopes of getting a different outcome.
I went home in tears. Dan took the rest of the day off and I basically spent the next few hours holed up in my bed crying. Here's the deal with me......I know that there are valid medical reasons to have a c-section rather than a vaginal birth. I totally get that in emergency situations drastic measures need to be taken and I think it's good that we have the ability to save the lives of mamas and babies through surgical birth. But I think that the medical community has gone a little crazy with c-sections. They are being done more and more out of convenience and to protect doctors and hospitals from being held liable for anything and everything that could happen. And once you have a c-section you are put into a category where all future babies need to be delivered by c-section.....you know, because of the liability of possible complications. I understand that low lying placenta is a valid medical issue and could be a problem during delivery, if I had placenta previa (where the placenta is completely covering the cervix) there would be no question that I would need a c-section, but I don't have that and although there could be complications, there also could be no complications. Where do you draw the line? If c-sections are supposed to be done in an emergency situation then I don't qualify because I am not in an emergency situation.
I got a call yesterday evening from my doctor. He said that he had contacted a perinatologist at Duke like he told me he was going to. I really didn't think that anything would come from it because the medical community usually agrees with each other on things like this. But.....he told me that the specialist said there has been a lot of debate going on in regards to low lying placenta and how many centimeters really are necessary between the cervix and the placenta for a vaginal delivery. For a long time it has been standard that 2 cm was needed but recently the number has changed to 1 cm as long as there hasn't been bleeding during the pregnancy. I have had zero bleeding this pregnancy and at 1.7 cm I am closer to 2 cm than to 1 cm! My doctor told me that after speaking with the specialist he feels comfortable letting me try for a vaginal delivery!!!! I will be induced because they want me in a controlled environment to monitor me for hemorrhaging and I will have very little lee-way when it comes to bleeding......pretty much any abnormal bleeding and they are going to do a c-section. But I'm totally ok with that! If there is a necessary medical reason to do a c-section, do it! If there's not, then put your scalpel away!
So, I went from getting really bad, heartbreaking news to getting awesome, sigh of relief news.....all within a few hours. Roller coaster day! I know I may seem overly dramatic to some in regards to my feelings about c-sections, but it's really not about me wanting my "perfect" birthing situation or even an ultra natural hippy dippy no intervention, no drugs birth. I look at it from the standpoint that a c-section is major abdominal surgery.....there are lot's of medical complications that can arise from the surgery alone not to mention the recovery time being much longer and the complications that can come from the healing of the incision. The bonding/breastfeeding relationship is delayed and can be affected. And there are often respiratory problems for a baby that has not been squeezed through the birth canal. And one of the biggest issues for me is that I'm not necessarily done having kids and a c-section with this pregnancy could change our family planning. I don't take it lightly thus my big reaction yesterday. If I NEED a c-section, by golly I'll have one, and it will be fine and we'll heal and move on, but I am so grateful that I get the chance to deliver naturally. October 7th is the big day, mark your calendars!!!
For your viewing pleasure......
Baby Schultz
He/she is measuring @ 7.5 pounds.....WAY smaller than my last 2
We'll see! :o)
Baby Schultz
He/she is measuring @ 7.5 pounds.....WAY smaller than my last 2
We'll see! :o)
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