Harrumph

We actually got out and about last night when some friends invited us to a pre-season Texans game. Who'd have thought we'd actually win? We witnessed lots of fashion crimes in the name of team spirit, and others in the name of looking good. Someone actually wore thigh high boots with a mini-dress. In August. In Houston. I suppose everyone has to earn their living somehow, right?

Anyway, I digress. The female half of this couple is finishing (or beginning?) her third and final year of a neonatology fellowship, and I turn to her for lots of baby and pregnancy-related advice and nerve-calming. I told her that I am beginning a childbirth class next week, and I am hoping it will help me make a more informed decision about how I want the labor part of this pregnancy to proceed. I half-heartedly joked that I was tempted to sign in blood for a scheduled C-section now.

This is where she stopped me and said, "Don't do it." She went on to say that she didn't think that my doctor (whom she referred me to) would do a scheduled C in the first place since it is bad for the babies. She said that babies of scheduled C-sections often have complications with lung maturity due to the lack of transition period from not laboring (I think this is called transient tachypnea of the newborn, IIRC). She said that often they are fine, but they must rule out infection. Ruling out infection can mean a two day stay in the NICU, and often/always means a spinal tap and blood draws. I hate the thought of anyone poking and prodding my little Junior unnecessarily. I also hate the thought my baby being stuck in the NICU, myself being laid up recovering from surgery and not being able to breastfeed and bond with our newborn. It is a different story altogether if there is a trial of labor, things don't progress and a section needs to occur. Apparently, studies are currently being done on the neonatal complications that arise from scheduled C-sections. She said that she sees about 8-10 babies a week in the NICU for this reason.

And let's say that our one remaining embryo survives the thaw, we leap the hurdle of FET and we are miraculously blessed with a second child. If I go into labor after having had a previous C-section, there is the risk of uterine rupture, which is very very very very very very very bad.

So, harrumph. At the beginning of this pregnancy, I never had any pre-disposed ideas of how Junior should make his way into the world, beyond the idea that I wanted to breastfeed immediately and have some bonding time just the three of us before overbearing grandparents elbowed their way into our room to rip our sweetheart out of my arms to cuddle him. I always thought I'd be pretty zen about the whole thing, but after talking to a couple of women who had horribly complicated deliveries (V and C), I had begun to lean toward C-section. I will admit to fearing the urinary and fecal incontinence that can occur with the vaginal delivery. But it doesn't always happen, and it isn't always long-term when it does. Since the magic wand option does not yet exist, I suppose I am just going to have to put aside my fears and do what is best for the baby. I am going to make an effort to be zen about it all, and trust my doc (whom I really do trust) to help me make the best decision about how to proceed.

But there will absolutely be an epidural.

And if you think I have uttered the words urinary and fecal incontinence in the presence of my husband, you are out of your mind. He is not a medical person at all. I am curious to see how he handles all of this. I would not be surprised to see him pass out in the delivery room.

This article is geared toward physicians whose patients are requesting scheduled C-sections. It discusses risks, benefits, how to handle these requests in an ethical manner etc.

Have I mentioned lately how out of control my boobs are? I am a {gulp} 40G. Yes, you read that correctly. G for Gigantic. Gargantuan. Ginormous.

We have settled on a name for our little one. Sebastian Bartholomew.







Just kidding! No offense to anyone who might be using that name. It is, uh, just not right for us.



It is Benjam.in Edward. B is my husband's middle name; E is my father's first name. I think it is perfect.