Worries and Birth Plan

I had an appointment on Tuesday the 6th. It went well. In group we talked about things we worry about. Some of the things I worry about are... The pushing stage. I was able to push Gage and Jack out pretty quick but that was with an episiotomy so I worry what is going to happen without one, and will I tear. I worry that as soon as I feel that ring of fire I will want to suck her back inside me just from the fear of the pain. Although they say after going through all the labor pains it feels good to push and the ring of fire doesn't last long at all so I shouldn't worry but I do. I worry about going home 4 hours after delivery. Will I be ready? Will Dave be ready to care for me so I can care for the baby? Will my house be clean for visitors (stupid I know). Will Dave be OK during delivery? He worries so I worry. He is going to my next appointment so hopefully that will take care of that worry after he knows more about what will be expected of him. I also worry about going places with 3 kids by myself. It will be near impossible till Jackson starts listening. I am hoping I can find or make a baby sling that both MaryJane and I like cause that would make things a little easier. I worry about who is going to be in the room. Should I have my friends there or should I just have family. I worry about her being in the correct position to ensure I have the easiest vaginal delivery possible and I definitely don't want a C section. I worry about things going wrong with nursing. I didn't talk about all of my worries in group but it feels good to write them down so I can see what kind of things I need to work on before the big day. But even though I worry I still feel ready and I am super excited! :0)
After doing group I met with a midwife named Honey. We went over my birth plan, she said it was well written and thought it was great for if I get transferred to hospital but they already do most everything at the birthing center that I had down. I gained 3 lbs which is pretty good and she said I am measuring perfect at 31 weeks and babies heart rate was same as always. I haven't gotten any new stretch marks yet and I am not swelling so that's good. MaryJane has been getting the hiccups a lot. I didn't really know what they were till I asked. It feels almost like she is practice breathing. They are very fast hiccups nothing I have felt before.
I was able to put down what room I prefer to deliver in. I just hope no one goes into labor the same day I do cause I really want that big tub. If not my second choice will do I don't want to set myself up for disappointment you never know what will happen. All the rooms are done real cute and will do just fine.

Here's my birth plan...

Birth Preferences - Emmie Lue Hathcock
Due Date: 03/06/2009
Patient of Becky McInnis
Scheduled to deliver at Birth And Family Place

*Allergic to latex*

If the baby or I are transferred to a hospital please send us to the Intermountain Medical Center and consult me or my husband before making any changes to the following.

Sincerely,
Emmie Hathcock

ANESTHESIA/PAIN MEDICATION
-Do not offer pain medication

LABOR
-I want to be free to move, walk, and change positions at will throughout labor.
-I will have food and drinks if desired.
-I will be bringing my own music to play during labor.
-I would like the environment to be kept as quiet as possible.
-I would like the lights in the room to be kept low during my labor.
-I do not want an IV drip.

MONITORING
-I do not want constant electronic fetal monitoring. Intermittent monitoring only.

LABOR AUGMENTATION/INDUCTION
-I do not want any augmentation or an induction unless absolutely necessary.
-I do not want my membranes artificially ruptured.
-I do not consent to use of forceps or a vacuum.
-I do not want any kind of medication to speed up labor.

EPISIOTOMY
-I do not want an episiotomy.
-If absolutely necessary I want a pressure episiotomy. Do not administer any anesthetic.
-I am hoping to protect the perineum. I am practicing ahead of time by squatting, doing Kegel exercises, and perineal massage.
-I would appreciate guidance in when to push and when to stop pushing so the perineum can stretch.
-I would like a local anesthetic to repair a tear or an episiotomy.

DELIVERY
-I want to be free to move and change positions.
-I do not want stirrups to be used.
-I would like the chance to touch the baby's head when it crowns.
-I would like to deliver in the water.
-I must hold the baby immediately after delivery.
-I or my husband would like to pull the baby out of the water and bring her to my chest.
-My support people are my husband, mom, dad and sister and I would like them to be present during delivery.
-If the baby is in a breech position I would like to know my options for a vaginal delivery before reverting to a caesarean.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DELIVERY
-My husband will cut the cord after it stops pulsing.
-If the baby must be taken from me to receive medical treatment, my husband or some other person I designate will accompany the baby at all times.
-I would prefer to hold the baby rather than have her placed under heat lamps.
-I would like all visitors/coaches to leave the room after the birth for at least 45 minutes so I can spend time with the baby and my husband.
-I do not want an injection of pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta.
-Do not pull the placenta out.
-I would like to birth the placenta before being moved to the bed.
-After the birth, I would prefer to wash off, urinate and dress before nursing, while I do so my husband will hold the baby.
-I would like to delay the vitamin K shot, and the evaluation for the baby until a couple hours after birth and done so in my presence.
-Do not put gel in the baby’s eyes, there is no risk for infection.
-The hepatitis B vaccine will be administered at a later date.

POSTPARTUM
-Unless required for health reasons, I do not want to be separated from my baby.

BREASTFEEDING
-I plan to breastfeed the baby and would like to begin nursing very shortly after birth.
-Do not give any bottles to the baby (including glucose water or plain water)

PHOTO/VIDEO
-I will be taking still photographs during labor and the birth.
-I will be taking a video recording of labor and the birth.

OTHER
-No students, interns, residents or non-essential personnel are to be present during my labor or the birth.
-I would like my other children to be able to visit me and the baby after delivery.

CESAREAN
-Unless absolutely necessary, I want to avoid a Cesarean.
-My husband is to be present at all times if the baby requires a Cesarean delivery even if I am unconscious.
-I wish to have a spinal for anesthesia.
-So I can view the birth, I would like the screen lowered just before delivery of the baby.
-If the baby is not in distress, the baby should be given to my husband immediately after birth.
-I want a low transverse incision.

Fetal Foto

We went to Fetal Foto today to get some 3/4D ultrasound pictures. MaryJane likes to tuck herself into my placenta and put her hands in her face so we were not able to get very good 3D shots so we are going to go back on the 8th (The day before daddy's birthday). I have to try and drink some juice before going in next time and see if that will help her be more active. My placenta is on the front of my stomach and the 3D ultrasound doesn't go through it so they have to work around it which makes it that much harder to get a good angle. She was looking right at us in 2D but when you go to 3D it does her profile. If we were able to get a profile shot of her in 2D then we could get her looking at us in 3D. I'm not exaclty sure how that works but that's what the tech said. But we got some good ones of her in 2D. She's head down, so that's good. I have been hoping she would be before my appointment Tuesday. We brought Gage along, he was very quiet but I think he enjoyed it.

30 weeks 4 days

Positions

I had an appointment with Becky today. I am measuring at 31 weeks. She said it was ok but it still seems kinda weird to me. I gained another 7 lbs this last month. So I am up 33 lbs. I have just over 10 weeks left so if I can try to keep it to 1 lb a week I will be happy. Becky thinks she is in a transverse position with her feet to my right. She used to be head up so she has turned a bit but we are hoping she will turn all the way down by 32 weeks. I never really worried about what position my babys have been in till now. I guess it's because if she's not head down I wont be able to deliver at the birthing center and there's a pretty good chance I will have a C-section. There is still time and I think I am feeling her kicks a bit higher even at this moment so maybe she has turned already? I was in some pain just a couple hours ago. I am not sure what was going on but my stomach and insides felt like they were being squished and torn apart. My ribs have been really sore for the past few days. I think she is pushing out on them with her feet. I sleep on my back probably too much so I am going to try to pay more attention to that and maybe it will help her move into position easier. My appointments have gone to every other week now. Crazy to think about how much time I actually have till we get to see her gorgeous face. Christmas is in 2 more days. I plan to spend any money we have from gifts on a 3D/4D ultrasound at Fetal Foto. I had them done with the boys at about 27/28 weeks I believe so I'm hoping MaryJane isn't going to be too big to get some good pictures. Lets all pray that she is in the right position! And that goes for pictures and birth :0) Merry Christmas! I will write again next year :0)

25 Weeks 4 Days

Today was my first group appointment and I had to do my glucose test. The 2 girls in group with me are both mothers already. One of them is a first timer with natural birth like me and the other is doing it for her second time. I get to talk with 2 midwifes and a Douala/labor instructor so I can get a lot of questions answered. Today was the 4th session for the group so I have missed some but I am excited to go again. I made a birth plan, I will post it when it's to the final draft. I forgot to take it to have Becky go over it. My brain has not been working well lately. It has been a rough few days. Gage (my 3 yr old) fractured his femur on the 22nd so he is in a body cast. I have probably been doing too much and haven't gotten too much sleep. So this appointment was an emotional one, I mentioned it to Becky and she started crying so I started crying then she wanted me to share it with the others in the group. It's been really hard but we are getting through it. Baby is doing fine. She is measuring at 28 weeks which is weird cause by ultrasound it shows her to be small, or at least it did... Her heart is strong and her kicks are hard. Dave can feel her move all the time now. I just need to make sure I don't try and lift Gage unless I have to because my lower stomach is already starting to ache a bit. Gage get's the cast off in Januray sometime.

Getting Big and Strong

I saw my belly move from a kick for the first time today. I felt her move with my arm and hand before but Dave has not been able to feel her very well yet. She is getting so big and strong. Her kicks are becoming more frequent and a lot harder. I actually felt her under my ribs the other day. I think she is sitting pretty low though. I feel like I am going to pee my pants every time I sneeze or cough. I will be 23 weeks pregnant tomorrow. I am going to do my glucose test at my next appointment at the end of the month and I am going to also start my group appointments.

Ultrasound Results

I talked to the nurse at my Dr's office today. She said the only thing the ultrasound showed was that my right kidney was a little inflamed. I am thinkin maybe what I thought was my left Ureter was actually my right. I looked at some pictures on the internet to see what a normal kidney on an ultrasound should look like and I still don't think my left one looked like it should so not sure what to think of that. The Dr said if I wanted to put a tube in so that it will drain properly I could. But he didn't want to do it unless I was in a lot of pain. I was in a TON of pain on Sunday I finally took a couple percocet and went to bed early. When I woke up the pain had almost all gone. So I am going to take the Keflex 2xs a day and hopefully it is the infection that is causing it and it will go away. But the problem still stands why do I get these infections so much? I am just glad it is not serious enough to not be able to wait till after the baby gets here! :0) I don't want anything to interfere with the health of my baby and getting the birth I want.