Med-Free Check-In 1/5/17 - For graduates too - med free or not!

slartybartfast · January 2017

I'm hoping this is the last one for everyone!

1) How far along?

2) How has pregnancy/post partum treated you this week?

3) Did you/do you plan to extend med-free into post-partum as well (where possible)? What does this mean for you/baby? What about things like ibuprofen (you) or gas relief (baby)? Pain pills for afterbirth? Why/why not?

BTDT - Anything you would change about your birth plan/wishes if you do this again (or hypothetically if you know you wont?)

tinattt23 · January 2017

1) How far along?
10 days old

2) How has pregnancy/post partum treated you this week?
Just healing. Took our first walk around the neighborhood today. Feeling pretty decent. Stitches bug me sometimes but not too bad.

3) Did you/do you plan to extend med-free into post-partum as well (where possible)? What does this mean for you/baby? What about things like ibuprofen (you) or gas relief (baby)? Pain pills for afterbirth? Why/why not?
I declined the ibuprofen for maybe the first 12 or so hours after birth. Then I was just done having cramps so I accepted it. I figured if nothing else it'd help with swelling which would help my stitches heal better. I continued taking them for 2-3 days at home. I was forgetting to take it more often than not so I just decided I must not really need them.
For baby, we've not run into the need for anything yet. We'll see if/when we get there. But if we'd tried all other options with no luck then I wouldn't be opposed.

BTDT - Anything you would change about your birth plan/wishes if you do this again (or hypothetically if you know you wont?)
My birth plan really didn't even get used. Not in a bad way. Just wasn't really enough time in the hospital to need it. If we do it again, I'd try more of the techniques (shower, rebozo, birth ball) that I didn't use this time.
The only things I felt got a little out of my control were the pushing and post delivery clean up. I pushed on my back and the doc was doing a lot of stuff down there. I would have liked a little to move around more and be more hands off, but at the time I didn't care. I just wanted him out. And after the birth I was bleeding more than expected so they had to give me a pitocin in my IV and a cytotec suppository. It was more of a "we're giving this" to you than informed consent. But I'm not sure how much of an "emergency" situation it was or that there were really any other options anyways. Plus I was so busy soaking in baby I wasn't paying much attention to what they were doing anymore.

PensiveCrayon · January 2017

Thanks @slartybartfast...me too!!

1) How far along? 41 weeks tomorrow.

2) How has pregnancy/post partum treated you this week? Other than my head cold, I'm doing better. It's been annoying having the in-laws here just waiting, but they're starting to back off and do their own thing, and I've been a lot more positive. I tell people I've gone through the five phases of grief and have reached acceptance that I'm just never going to give birth. Somehow, it works

3) Did you/do you plan to extend med-free into post-partum as well (where possible)? What does this mean for you/baby? What about things like ibuprofen (you) or gas relief (baby)? Pain pills for afterbirth? Why/why not? I could sing the praises of my old buddy Ibuprofen for days. So...no.

BTDT - Anything you would change about your birth plan/wishes if you do this again (or hypothetically if you know you wont?)

Sharkey · January 2017

1) How far along?
5 weeks.

2) How has pregnancy/post partum treated you this week?
Amazingly. I think I'm done bleeding and am just spotting here and there. I'm just waiting for the hair loss to start any day now.

3) Did you/do you plan to extend med-free into post-partum as well (where possible)? What does this mean for you/baby? What about things like ibuprofen (you) or gas relief (baby)? Pain pills for afterbirth? Why/why not?
Probably. I generally choose the med free route unless it's an absolute medical necessity. I wasn't offered anything after delivery but would've declined anyways. I have given LO gas drops a handful of times, though, and will probably stop. Massage and bicycle legs work far better for this little one.

BTDT - Anything you would change about your birth plan/wishes if you do this again (or hypothetically if you know you wont?) Nope. My birth was everything I could've wished for. All natural, med free, quick, and no damage to my lady parts. I delivered my first on my back and my second on all fours. If I ever have a 3rd, it will be on all fours again. So much better.

zubenescamali · January 2017

1) How far along? LO is 12 days old

2) How has pregnancy/post partum treated you this week? I'm easily annoyed and having a hard time coexisting In the same house as MIL. Now that I'm getting some strength back I just want to organize everything but it's still slow going.

3) Did you/do you plan to extend med-free into post-partum as well (where possible)? Once baby was out they pumped me full of drugs to stop the bleeding. They didn't ask but did tell me what they were doing. After the first few uterine massages and clot extractions I gladly took the low dose of pain med they offered. I've been taking ibuprofen post partum which I still need but keep forgetting.

BTDT - Anything you would change about your birth plan/wishes if you do this again (or hypothetically if you know you wont?)
if I could go back I probably would have asked for a mirror to help me push. Not that it took long at all, just a few pushes but I had a hard time feeling it properly at first while lying down. At that point I'm not sure I could have gotten into another position to push either.

ajstevenson · January 2017

1) How far along? 4 days pp

2) How has pregnancy/post partum treated you this week? Pretty good! Milk is in, I'm bm'ing on the regular, stitches and undercarriage pain comes and goes

3) Did you/do you plan to extend med-free into post-partum as well (where possible)? What does this mean for you/baby? What about things like ibuprofen (you) or gas relief (baby)? Pain pills for afterbirth? Why/why not? Initially I tried not to. But with Tessa's power nursing sessions giving me serious cramping and tell back spasms that I am getting I caved. When I've kept up with the every 8 hours, it's makes a huge difference with my back.

BTDT - Anything you would change about your birth plan/wishes if you do this again (or hypothetically if you know you wont?) Nope!

mysteryship · January 2017

1. 17 days PP

2. My undercarriage started feeling a lot better a few days ago, and my bleeding has almost completely died down. Such a relief, it was hard to take care of myself when every bathroom visit took so long...

3. I'm ok with reasonable doses of meds for me and LO. He hasn't needed anything yet but ibuprofen helped me a lot in the first week. My delivery nurse reminded me that caring for him (especially feeding) would be a lot easier if I wasn't in pain.

4. I would seriously consider a home birth next time. I was grateful for the awesome nurses and all the help in the hospital this time around, but transitioning into the hospital environment was stressful and I think I could have labored more peacefully at home.

maamawaabangi · January 2017

1) How far along? 2 days old!!!

2) How has pregnancy/post partum treated you this week?
Pregnancy was rough this week... but I became unpregnant!!! Postpartum is both challenging but also sweet. Just feel
like I was hit by a truck. I'm being well cared for by my guy and my parents and taking it easy is a gift I'm thankful for!

3) Did you/do you plan to extend med-free into post-partum as well (where possible)? What does this mean for you/baby? What about things like ibuprofen (you) or gas relief (baby)? Pain pills for afterbirth? Why/why not?
No... because there is a reason for meds postpartum (in my case)... while I don't view there was such during delivery. If that makes sense. I'm taking Tylenol or IB for my massive afterbirth pains and also a tincture by Wishgarden called Afterease... it's helping. I also asked for a preventive shot of pitocin upon baby's arrival to anticipate stopping unneeded blood loss... very good to try and keep that blood in me!

BTDT - Anything you would change about your birth plan/wishes if you do this again (or hypothetically if you know you wont?)
No... but if I ever had another I agree I'd push hands and knees... it was more effective and I managed to avoid damage that way, which the joy of not having to be stitched up is still so good!!!

slartybartfast · January 2017

1) How far along?
Baby was 2 weeks old yesterday

2) How has pregnancy/post partum treated you this week?
I think bleeding is wrapping up. I have a split in my abs which freaks me out. I don't want to make it bigger... We had a stomach bug pass through the house. It has DS's digestive system balance all out of whack so he's on probiotics now. His digestive system is so delicate. It passed through DH and I quickly thank goodness. Pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme

3) Did you/do you plan to extend med-free into post-partum as well (where possible)? What does this mean for you/baby? What about things like ibuprofen (you) or gas relief (baby)? Pain pills for afterbirth? Why/why not?
I took ibuprofen for afterbirth pains and swelling. Ibuprofen works so well for me. They offered me norco - my postpartum contractions where horrific and there was a few hours there where I felt like I was going to pass out they were so bad. I asked about milk transfer and they said no biggie. I looked it up while they were getting it for me and felt like it was actually a really big deal. I passed on the narcotics and a heating pad helped a ton. I gave feedback that I felt like the heating pad should be offered before narcotics and that the milk transfer thing is something they should have actual info on because "no biggie" to that nurse was a biggie for me and DH.
I had a pitocin dose after baby came out to help the uterus contract and avoid excess bleeding. I want to chat with the midwife about why I had that. Is it because delivery occurred so quickly? I don't know. I don't think I needed it and my uterus contracted down so fast that everyone kept looking for it about 6 inches too high at first and then acted shocked at how far down it was. I know this is part of why the post partum pains where so unreal. But on the other hand... bleeding a ton is a big downside so if there was real risk of that then I'm fine with it. I just don't sense there was.

When DS was a newborn, we worked with the gas. We worked with the frustration at the inability to comfort nurse with my super flowing milk. With DD and a toddler to balance, I'm finding myself already using a pacifier at times. I've tried gripe water and gas drops for MOTN discomforts. She's definitely a different baby - doesnt want to be swaddled, wants to comfort nurse a ton. Wants to be held all the time - all different from DS... but I also feel we have more priorities to balance and are looking for some easier ways to manage some things. I'm trying to find balance with this. As for medications through mom's transfer with milk - it's something I'm very not into if it can be avoided.

BTDT - Anything you would change about your birth plan/wishes if you do this again (or hypothetically if you know you wont?)
I thought I had wished I had gone with a new birthing center right near the hospital but missed the boat by the time I'd found out about it. However, they like to send families home around 12 hours after birth. I'm sooooooo into the 48 hour recovery room time in the hospital. It's wonderful to have all the meals delivered and the bathroom right their, supplies and help at the push of a button. It makes the transition so much easier I think because when recovery is hardest, I have all these resources and comforts. I knew I was looking forward to that aspect but reflecting on it, I feel it was actually a really big deal for postpartum care seeing as how we don't have someone come stay with us and help like a mom or MIL.

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Med-Free Check-In 1/5/17 - For graduates too - med free or not!

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