@JBos82 I have never had anyone insert a catheter prior to the epidural. You are not crazy at all for requesting that. No one in their right mind would want that.
@emeraldcity1214 Yeah, I thought it was weird, but I couldn’t remember how the first time went so I just went along with it. Then when we were in the OR it was like the nurse assisting the anesthesiologist was getting annoyed with me because I wasn’t positioning myself the way she wanted me but I couldn’t do it without pain. I ended up being numb higher, too, like up my chest, and that freaked me out too because I was only numb belly-down with my first. The catheter is my biggest fear this time. 😂
@JBos82 that seems totally reasonable! In fact, the first thing that comes up when one does a Google search for "bladder catheter labor" is this: "The bladder catheter would ideally not be placed until after the epidural is working well."
Be demanding! All of us! We have to be our own advocates here. From what I've heard from women who have been through labor before, including my mom, my sister, and many close friends, when you're in a hospital the nurses and doctors have many demands on their attention and may have had different levels of training and caring. *You* and your comfort and well-being may not be first on their mind, as much as they mean well.
LOL at my pregnancy brain. I typed this out when this post was created and just realized I never posted it!
Do you know where you will be giving birth? My doctor moved about an hour away so I’ll be delivering at a new hospital this time.
Are you doing anything to prepare for birth? This will be my 4th C/S. So there’s not much to do other than pick a date and pack a bag.
Are you nervous about any aspect of birth? Excited? Definitely excited. Also nervous due about another surgery.
What are your main plans/goals/wishes for birth? My last C/S was my best experience. They put her on my chest and let me “hold her” while they stitched me up. And I went straight to my hospital room and bypassed recovery which was nice.
Main plans/goals/wishes for birth: I would like to avoid an induction this time. That sucked. Also, I plan to be more open to pain meds and an epidural much earlier. Although, I think I would have them push the pain meds first and give that more time to work. When I finally relented to pain meds (because I had too many people in my ear telling me natural was better) by time I asked for the pain meds I basically also asked for the epidural. Turns out I probably just needed the pain meds to help me relax because I went from 4 dilated to having her within an hour and that includes the time it took to push the pain meds and get the epidural in me.
Maybe to prepare for this one I will do more yoga and breathing practices. And kegels. But the kegels are mostly so I can stop peeing myself all the time.
Also, my playlist started pissing me off last time. Definitely collecting better music this time around.
@purplefan1 What kind of music were you listening to that pissed you off? LOL Was it not upbeat enough or was it too loud/annoying? Curious for when I put together my list.
This may be a UO but I don't like music while I'm in labor. This is one reason hypnobirthing didn't work for me. I just couldn't get into the "zone." Plus me and DH are usually talking and goofing off between contractions.
Its kind of like running with me. When I get pissed, everything pisses me off. So at some point I was just mad at life and my music took the brunt of it.
Do you know where you will be giving birth? yes, the same hospital as my first but different OB.
Are you doing anything to prepare for birth? hmmm, not especially. Just needing to get back into yoga now that my nausea has passed.
Are you nervous about any aspect of birth? Excited? I’m both. Not excited for the pain and hoping the labor and birth is similar to my second and not my first. I had horrible back labor and a giant episiotomy so recovery was really sucky. But my second was fairly “easy”. Will definitely be getting an epidural, especially since I tend to not go into labor on my own and have to be induced. Oh and I’m terrified of having a c-section! The nurse mentioned when I was in labor with my second that since I wasn’t progressing well enough (I was a 6 after 15 hours) I may need one. I guess that’s all I needed to hear because 20 minutes later I was pushing!
What are your main plans/goals/wishes for birth? I guess I answered it above lol
Do you know where you will be giving birth? Yes - an excellent Chicago-baswd hospital which has a beautiful new building in the suburbs about 30 minutes from our house.
Are you doing anything to prepare for birth? I've done some research and reading, of course. I'm also about to sign us up for some labor and delivery and newborn classes for the third trimester, along with the hospital tour. I've also been talking to my doctors and specialists about my options. (I have a complicated health history along with this being an IVF pregnancy.)
Are you nervous about any aspect of birth? Excited? Excited to finally hold my own baby! Nervous because I do not want an epidural, but some of my doctors are already pushing for one (i.e. my OB and my hematologist). I'm terrified of the possible complications and I feel like my body was designed to give birth and survive it, so I want to give it a very good try. My husband is really pushing for an epidural too, but that's because he doesn't deal well with seeing me in pain. I think that's another of my fears - that he will see me in pain and shut down because he doesn't cope well. This is part of the reason I'm considering a doula - someone to help guide both of us through the process and give him some direction. I'm also afraid that I'll have to do a c-section (even though all my doctors want to avoid it because of the shock and stress and blood loss - especially with my cardiac and platelet issues) because I have a tiny frame (I am only 5 feet tall).
What are your main plans/goals/wishes for birth? I think I covered a lot of this above! My main goal is a natural birth with no epidural. I hope for an uncomplicated birth and a happy, healthy mommy/baby!
@alwayseloquent I would totally consider a doula if they’re pushing you for something you don’t necessarily want, it’s your birth, not theirs! Ina Garten has a great book of unmedicated birth stories that I enjoyed reading last pregnancy. It’s totally earthy crunchy, but it was inspiring! https://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156
Re: Birth: Plans, Goals and Questions
Be demanding! All of us! We have to be our own advocates here. From what I've heard from women who have been through labor before, including my mom, my sister, and many close friends, when you're in a hospital the nurses and doctors have many demands on their attention and may have had different levels of training and caring. *You* and your comfort and well-being may not be first on their mind, as much as they mean well.
Do you know where you will be giving birth?
My doctor moved about an hour away so I’ll be delivering at a new hospital this time.
Are you doing anything to prepare for birth?
This will be my 4th C/S. So there’s not much to do other than pick a date and pack a bag.
Are you nervous about any aspect of birth? Excited?
Definitely excited. Also nervous due about another surgery.
What are your main plans/goals/wishes for birth?
My last C/S was my best experience. They put her on my chest and let me “hold her” while they stitched me up. And I went straight to my hospital room and bypassed recovery which was nice.
Maybe to prepare for this one I will do more yoga and breathing practices. And kegels. But the kegels are mostly so I can stop peeing myself all the time.
Also, my playlist started pissing me off last time. Definitely collecting better music this time around.
yes, the same hospital as my first but different OB.
Are you doing anything to prepare for birth?
hmmm, not especially. Just needing to get back into yoga now that my nausea has passed.
Are you nervous about any aspect of birth? Excited?
I’m both. Not excited for the pain and hoping the labor and birth is similar to my second and not my first. I had horrible back labor and a giant episiotomy so recovery was really sucky. But my second was fairly “easy”. Will definitely be getting an epidural, especially since I tend to not go into labor on my own and have to be induced.
Oh and I’m terrified of having a c-section! The nurse mentioned when I was in labor with my second that since I wasn’t progressing well enough (I was a 6 after 15 hours) I may need one. I guess that’s all I needed to hear because 20 minutes later I was pushing!
What are your main plans/goals/wishes for birth?
I guess I answered it above lol
Yes - an excellent Chicago-baswd hospital which has a beautiful new building in the suburbs about 30 minutes from our house.
Are you doing anything to prepare for birth?
I've done some research and reading, of course. I'm also about to sign us up for some labor and delivery and newborn classes for the third trimester, along with the hospital tour. I've also been talking to my doctors and specialists about my options. (I have a complicated health history along with this being an IVF pregnancy.)
Are you nervous about any aspect of birth? Excited?
Excited to finally hold my own baby! Nervous because I do not want an epidural, but some of my doctors are already pushing for one (i.e. my OB and my hematologist). I'm terrified of the possible complications and I feel like my body was designed to give birth and survive it, so I want to give it a very good try. My husband is really pushing for an epidural too, but that's because he doesn't deal well with seeing me in pain. I think that's another of my fears - that he will see me in pain and shut down because he doesn't cope well. This is part of the reason I'm considering a doula - someone to help guide both of us through the process and give him some direction. I'm also afraid that I'll have to do a c-section (even though all my doctors want to avoid it because of the shock and stress and blood loss - especially with my cardiac and platelet issues) because I have a tiny frame (I am only 5 feet tall).
What are your main plans/goals/wishes for birth?
I think I covered a lot of this above! My main goal is a natural birth with no epidural. I hope for an uncomplicated birth and a happy, healthy mommy/baby!