"Who else?" post got me thinking...

happylady07 · February 2012

If you are planning on having more children, what are your hopes for the delivery/newborn stage next time?

I personally hope for a delivery where I get to be the first to hold the baby. DS looked pretty grey when he came out after some major heart decels and they didn't do the standard plop him on mom's chest immediately after birth. I'm so glad he's fine but it still makes me sad that I didn't get to hold him until he was almost 3 hours old. I'm also hopeful for an easier recovery, it's supposed to get easier after you're body has already done it and you know what to expect right?! Stick out tongue

kujayhawkgirl · February 2012

Well I don't have much of an option with the delivery -- it's going to be a repeat C/S. But I do hope the recovery went as well as it did this time around! As far as the newborn stage, I hope we don't have to encounter all the medical difficulties that we have with Abby -- it was so emotionally and physically draining and I felt like I didn't get to "enjoy" being a first time mom as soon, because we were in and out of the hospitals and doctors constantly.

shediva1 · February 2012

I ended up getting a C/S after four hours of pushing with out epidural, baby was not descending (they weaned me off the epi since I didn't know how to push). I am planning to get a C/S the second time around (maybe within the next 3 years).

btsrc5 · February 2012

I am praying to make it full term (no NICU). I didn't get to hold DD until the next evening, which was really difficult.

I went natural (not by choice). Next time I think I might actually like to try to go natural again, but I would like the option of an epidural.

The dr had a hard time getting my bleeding to stop- it was more painful than delivery and it was really scary. I would love to not have to go through that again.

My recovery was great, so I would love that experience again. No complaints there.

DD overall has been an amazing baby. She sleeps well for the most part, she is happy, we have been successful at BFing. I want another one of her!

UFCasey · February 2012

I wouldn't change anything about my labor/delivery the second time around. Now the part afterwards where I got sent to the ICU and only saw my baby for a total of 1.5 hours over a 56 hour period and thought I was going to die - that part I would not want to repeat again! But really I have no control over that, which is why I am still on the fence about even trying for another child - what if my recovery is even worse the second time around?

peelester429 · February 2012

C running a slight fever after delivery coupled with the 3rd degree tear I had, I didn't get to hold her for almost 45 minutes and it just about killed me. It took the doctor that long (and hunnnndreds of stitches) to "fix" me.

I hope BFing goes better the next time around. It took 10 weeks for us to get it together (so that I wasn't in tears everytime she ate). We made it and are still BFing, but man was it a battle and made the first couple months difficult to enjoy.

I hope my recovery is easier next time (see previous paragraph about the number of stitches).

I actually really, really enjoyed labor and delivery (ah hem... thank you epidural). And I think being Team Green fed the anticipation and excitement!

rubysue267 · February 2012

Overall, I had a great experience. I had a 3rd degree tear though and THAT I would not like to repeat.

For me, one of the worst parts of labor/delivery was having to stay in the hospital for those two days. I HATED having the nurses in my room constantly and just never felt like I got any privacy. I loved my epidural, but I am strongly considering going the Birth Center route next time, mostly because I can do more than just lay in bed during labor and can go home much sooner.

Post birth, I hope to be able to successfully breastfeed next time. And knowing now what I do about postpartum hormones, I hope that I will be able to pull through the Baby Blues better than last time. Overall, I plan to take it easy and not put too much pressure on myself like I did my first time around.

EarthMommi1 · February 2012

I'm hoping that the next time around, I stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours.

Because I'm a nurse, and because I delivered where my Mother (who is an L&D RN) works, I got the "okay" from my OB/GYN to leave way earlier than what is standard. My mother actually did the 48 hour heel stick at home on our couch lol...

Anyways, Looking back, I wish I would have allowed myself one more day of pampering and waiting on in the hospital. At the time I was just interested in going back home, and was not thinking about the physical aspect of healing.

I am also thinking that next time, I will like to try water therapy for laboring, and possibly the squat bar when it is time to push.

blue_angeleyes06 · February 2012

I'm actually hoping my second goes pretty much the same as my first. It was a pretty easy labor and delivery. I'm just hoping that I have learned enough from DD1 that with our next I won't get as easily flusttered as I sometimes get with Lexi.

Deez10 · February 2012

This is a great post!

Although I sometimes get a little sad I didn't have a vaginal delivery (and thus "missed out" on labor/pushing/delivery/baby on chest/etc) - I honestly hope that the next time around is as wonderful as it was the first. My c-section healed very quickly and I had no complications. Honestly, I was shocked at just how "normal" I felt within days. I'll have to have a repeat c/s next time around (5-6 years) and I'm hoping it goes well for me again.

Now... next time around I will work so much harder to be successful at breastfeeding. I had supply issues with DS (doc thinks due to my PCOS) but I think if I'd just worked a little harder at it and utilized the lactation consultants more, we would have overcome our issues. Didn't help that DS is lactose intolerant and breastmilk totally upset his tummy no matter what I did but still... I beat myself up over this a lot.

Other than that, I'm just relieved that I'll have a better idea of what might come our way with the next baby. First time around is so.... overwhelming. It will be nice to at least have somewhat of an idea what to expect.

lisamonkee11 · February 2012

I'm hoping I will get to have a VBAC, but seeing as my c-section was due to placenta previa & that is the main concern with pregnancies after c-section I don't know if that will be possible. My surgery & hospital stay were great don't get me wrong, everything went very smoothly & there's something to be said for waking up in the morning & knowing you'll be having a baby that day. But I really missed out on the experience of going into labor. That & the fact that I didn't get to hold her for about an hour after she was born really make me hopeful for a VBAC.

happylady07 · February 2012

peelester429:
C running a slight fever after delivery coupled with the 3rd degree tear I had, I didn't get to hold her for almost 45 minutes and it just about killed me. It took the doctor that long (and hunnnndreds of stitches) to "fix" me.

I hope BFing goes better the next time around. It took 10 weeks for us to get it together (so that I wasn't in tears everytime she ate). We made it and are still BFing, but man was it a battle and made the first couple months difficult to enjoy.

I hope my recovery is easier next time (see previous paragraph about the number of stitches).

I actually really, really enjoyed labor and delivery (ah hem... thank you epidural). And I think being Team Green fed the anticipation and excitement!

Ugh! I hope to avoid an episiotomy next time, mine didn't heal well (or overhealed) and I had to have tissue burned off twice PP.

I was so gung-ho about going natural last time, and while I did it, it was hell with pitocin. I think I will try to go without pain meds in the future again though, and I think if I could convince DH to be team green, that would be a great incentive!

blu-eyedwife · February 2012

The only thing I hope for in the future is to go into labor on my own - without being induced. Otherwise I'd love for everything (delivery, recovery, newborn stage) to be exactly the same.

Sammy-Mae · February 2012

I want to have a scheduled c-section. my body isn't a fan of allowing babies to drop properly apparently. I suspect that the recovery will be much easier without them trying to get an 11lbs baby out (DD) or the 56 hours of labour then c-section (DS). My recovery with DS was pretty easy though so I would do that again.

What I would love though is to have a normal sized baby. I don't want to get pregnant again without losing all my extra weight first and I want to have a pregnancy where I am not overweight to begin with.

Elsa1984 · February 2012

I was a week late, induced, pushed 6 times, c-section. The only things I would do different is I would have a nurse take a picture of us as a family in the OR (I forgot with Gator and am sad I don't have one), I would take a shower ASAP after I am unhooked and able to get out of bed (I waited a few days before showering because I was scared of water hitting my incision but felt like a whole knew woman after finally showering), and I would leave my room more often. I was in my room for five days without leaving....it was awful.

colliebabe · February 2012

We don't plan to TTC until DD is about 20 months, but I wouldn't change anything about my L & D. Even though I was induced and DD was 9 days late, I had a great experience.

I think next time around I will hopefully be better at putting LO to sleep. It wasn't until 6 weeks that I really discovered that swaddle + bouncing on the ball put DD to sleep. (Hopefully that will work for the next one too!)

jwls84 · February 2012

EJSSBG:
I'm hoping that the next time around, I stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours.

The standard where I am from is 24 hours then they give you the boot, but because B was Jaundice and I had really low BP I got to stay an extra night and there was talk of us having to stay a third night, I was so sad when they told me I had to go home, I enjoyed having the nurses there if I had any concerns.

Next time around I am hoping for no 3rd degree tear and no episiotomies (I had 2) and I hope breastfeeding goes better, the first 8 weeks were brutal and I absolutely hated having to feed my baby and it got in the way of my bonding with him.

JillD2011 · February 2012

I wouldn't change anything about my labour, except trying to go drug free next time. I only got half a dose of Fentanyl before it was time to push so I felt like I was in a fog but still in pain. I'd rather no drugs at all than to feel as foggy as I was.

The only other thing I'd want to change is something I have no control over. C was only with us in the room for ten minutes before they took her to the NICU, where she spent the next ten days. I didn't get to try nursing her until she was three days old. Thankfully we are still able to EBF, but if I have a NICU baby next time I will be a little more adamant about only breastmilk (they topped up with formula for the first five days...at least they listened to my request for no bottles or pacifiers).

scarlettoctober · February 2012

I talked to my OB/Gyn about a VBAC and he's all for it. Even if I end up with a RCS, as long as I am awake for the delivery next time!

CallMeAl · February 2012

I had a really great labor & delivery, so the only thing I hope will change next time (if we are lucky enough for there to be a next time) is that labor and pushing last less time.

I had incredibly severe mastitis and was hospitalized for several days when DD was 11 days old. That was tough. It took me a long time, probably 6 weeks, and many, many rounds of antibiotics to be well again. It also led to me FFing instead of BFing. So, I'm hoping that the mastitis leaves me alone next time and I can BF successfully.

MrsLoos · February 2012

one baby and no NICU time:) I'll probably have a c/s again and I'm totally fine with that!

FabulousMrs.P · February 2012

I wouldn't change anything about labor & delivery. That said, I would definitely take it easier after the baby is born. I would tell myself that laundry, etc isn't as important those first few weeks when I am both recovering and exhausted from being up with the baby.

morsey2011 · February 2012

I had a c-section after not getting past a 2 (water broke naturally, 21 hours of labor). DH was in the room, had the camera, but didn't take pictures! He stood and watched the whole surgery, and I have one picture of her as she is getting cleaned up. Next time, I would like for the dr. to show me the baby as soon as he gets he or she out, and DH to take more pictures. As far as the recovery goes, I hope my incision heals better next time. I had to keep it covered for about 10 weeks PP due to it oozing. It never became infected thank goodness. DD was a really good newborn, so I'm hoping our next one is just as good. The only thing would be that she didn't (and still doesn't) nap well.

memo9 · February 2012

I'd like the baby-to-chest moment too. DD had to be suctioned first so it was about an hour before I got to hold her.

I'd also like to have a better delivery experience... 3 hours of pushing and two failed vacuum attempts.

sewpinkgal · February 2012

This is a great post! I'd like the l&d experience to be exactly the same, but hope that the next baby isn't so sick at first and isn't so angry at the beginning. Fingers crossed!

[Deleted User] · February 2012

I LOVED my l&d experience. I will absolutely go med-free again, I can't imagine it any other way. I loved the freedom of not having a monitor onor an IV, and of getting to be up and moving however and whenever I wanted. I would love to do a water birth again, too. If I'm still livinghere, I will go the same hospital without a doubt. If I'm living too far, I would probably opt for a birth center, or a home birth, provided the third stage complications I had could be handled by a hb midwife were it to happen again, which I'm not sure about (my placenta did not detachon its own and had to be pulled out, along with a litre of blood, followed by a nice scraping). Next time, I could deal without having my midwife's entireforearm in my uterus. I also regret that I couldn't get up and walk around after the placenta was delivered for many hours. My hemoglobin was at 7 and I felt so weak. I could also deal with labor being shorter than 27 hours.