@chewie5990 I’m sorry you’re having a negative experience with Kaiser so far. I’ve only had good experiences with them, but I also see my OB for every appointment (aside from the major ultrasounds). Honestly, my guess is that anytime you switch providers it’s going to be a different experience than what you were getting before, whether with Kaiser or under your old (or any other) insurance.
@jkr2019 I'm so glad that your AS went well! I've been having some issues with getting light-headed and my Dr said if it continues (and I up my water intake, which I have had a consistently hard time doing) I would need an echo too, so let us know what that's like.
@chewie5990 I'm sorry for the insurance worries. My insurance company keeps wanting me to have phone appointments with their nurses, which I don't understand because I've never met them in person and I *have* a doctor. I wish our healthcare system made more sense.
Just went for my 24 week appointment. We listened to the heart which was all good, and then discussed my glucose test 😬 they gave the the stuff to drink. It’s orange. Now hanging out in my fridge until Feb. 4th.
Went for my appt today and saw a different doc since mine was out. Baby heartbeat good and blood pressure ok - they aren’t going to do anything else right now on that. Unfortunately I forgot my FMLA paperwork and now need to somehow track down someone to get it filled out.
We talked for a while about VBAC or not and it was helpful. I’m so grateful that it’s my call at this point (barring any serious blood pressure issues). I honestly am leaning toward scheduled c-section at 40 or 41 weeks if I don’t go into labor naturally before then. I know recovery is better with VBAC generally, but I had a pretty smooth recovery with my c-section and the labor experience I had was tough, so I think I might prefer a planned c-section. It feels weird to admit that since there seems like a lot of VBAC pressure in the world generally and I would be better able to deal with a toddler but meh.
Had my 24 week appointment today all went well. Now that baby is big enough, we can hear the heartbeat through the Doppler (up until now it’s been a quick ultrasound because of anterior placenta). Kinda bummer I didn’t get to see him but his heartbeat was strong. My Dr. mentioned doing another ultrasound at 30 weeks to make sure he’s still measuring on track— so something else to look forward to 😊
On the drive home, I realized that my next appointment will be at the start of the 3rd trimester 🤯 I guess this pregnancy really is moving along
@adventuresawait2 My second was a planned c-section and the recovery was a breeze. I still had to take it easy, but I was in much less pain and was back on my feet quicker than I was after labor + c-section with the first. I'm one of the few in my original birth month group who has been excited for a RCS with subsequent children, but it's a relief knowing what to expect and when to expect it, rather than having to have contingency plans for the kid(s) and feeling out of control as the days drag on and wondering when labor is going to start.
@thepretzelchick that’s awesome to hear you had such a good experience with your RCS. And great point about being able to plan better for older kid care.
Had an appointment with the specialist yesterday. Apparently they like to do the equivalent of an anatomy scan every time so that was interesting. I didn’t expect that. Baby looks good though and even though I’m frustrated with the bottom number of my bp starting to creep up (yesterday it was 89), I’m appointment free until my glucose test in February. I need a dr appointment break (I’ve had three in 2020 already) so hopefully I’ll get a chance now to breathe and try to enjoy this pregnancy before everything gets tense in the end like it always does.
@adventuresawait2 sorry you're feeling pressure about vbac. I'm having a RCS since my hospital doesn't allow vbac, I'd have to travel about 2 hours to the nearest one that did them and I'm fine skipping it. We already have the basic outline of where DS will be during, we just have to nail down the actual day. It's nice not to worry about when you might possibly go into labor.
If RCS is your informed decision ladies, there is nothing wrong with that. You need to do what is right for you.
As a VBAC advocate locally-I live in an area where many women are denied or lied to to prevent a wanted VBAC- I want to be sure that you know there are risks with both options. If you are planning more children after this, know that the chances of scar tissue causing problems for future babies/pregnancies increases steeply as you have more sections. Rupture risks are very real as well and can be dangerous, but are under 1%, and even then most ruptures are not life threatening. Most. I do know people who have ruptured and had it be life threatening, and others who ruptured and it was a concern but not at all a life threatening issue.
Many things to weigh here ladies, but there is no wrong choice. I hope no one faces shame for their choice or fights with case providers to help you with your delivery choice.
If anyone wants safety statistics on sections vs VBAC I have some I can find and post. Knowledge leads to better choices!
_______________________________________________
Me: 33 DH: 32 Married 7/18/15 1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16 Team green turned BLUE! 2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18 Team green turned PINK! Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
@adventuresawait2 my big push for a vbac this time is that I wouldn't be able to pick up DD she'll be just barely 2 when this baby is born and I can't imagine not being able to pick her up and snuggle her. Last time I had to lift our elderly dog in and out of the house to go to the bathroom and definitely popped some stitches and opened the cut just listing his rear up and down 3 steps. I can't imagine lifting my daughter with an incision.
I had a 19 week appointment with my actual MWs last week and we went over vbac info. They said that they would allow a vbac up until my due date, but if I needed to be induced they wouldn't allow it something about a lack of in house 24 hour anesthesiologist. Not sure why that means I can't be induced but they did give me the opt out to be able to go to Dartmouth if I needed an induction. With DD being breech and having a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks I don't know if I would go into labor by my due date or not and that's a big worry for me.
I have another appointment with them on 1/27 and I'm excited about that one because it's with my favorite MW and I feel like I can ask her more questions and not be judged by my weight as much as the last one does. She has always said things like well because of your weight you're more likely to have x, y or z. Where this other one is over weight herself and just smiles all the time.
@jhysmath That's exactly why I had a VBAC last time - DS was only 18 months and there was no way I would going to try to explain to him that I couldn't pick him up if he needed me. I went to 40+5 and my VBAC went smoothly. I wouldn't say it was fun or anything, but until we can teleport babies out, I don't think any form of labor is enjoyable.
I have to agree with everyone, I don’t think my vaginal delivery was easier than my CS. But I’m opting for a VBAC because I have two other kids at home and it will be so close to summer break. I was able to send DS1 to my mom for a week after my CS to help with recovery, but I don’t have that option this time.
Great to hear the range of opinions on VBAC and RCS @rox7777@jhysmath@ruby696@pourmeanothermocktail@splashmountain Clearly pros and cons on both sides and a lot has to do with individual circumstances and preference. I think it’s awesome when women have a free choice and the medical support to go with what is right for them.
In my case, a pretty traumatic first labor after an induction prior to c-section and a big baby with this one also trending big makes me think that I don’t want another induction (although I am fortunate that my doctors would allow it if I got to 41 weeks and still wanted to VBAC). So perhaps if I go into labor naturally before 41 weeks, I will give it a go, but otherwise RCS. Will see.
Fetal echo went well. It’s basically an ultrasound where they only took pictures of the babies hearts. A cardiologist watches the images from another room the whole time. It took one hour for them to do 3 babies so probably much faster for singletons or twins. Then the cardiologist comes in to give results. Monochorionic pregnancies are recommended to get it since placenta sharing problems can cause changes to heart structures but our babies hearts were perfect
I had my fetal echo today too, @jkr2019! I had to have one because IVF twins are more likely to have heart problems. But babies hearts looked great. It did take about an hour. The only thing that was hard for me is the pressure from the ultrasound wand. I hate pressure on my stomach at this point. If makes the longer scans kind of difficult to tolerate.
I've had two c-sections after failed inductions so I have nothing to compare them with, but I have to say that at least in my case the recovery was pretty very easy compared to what I was expecting. I have to go with a planned repeat-C this time, and I've heard those are easier than the emergency type so I'll report back on the differences. I feel like I'll always be a little sad and disappointed that I couldn't try the going into labor naturally and having a baby the usual way experience. I very much would like to, particularly because I have two more to care for while I'm going to be recovering from surgery, but it's apparently not going to be in my cards. I'm glad there's a safe way for me to have the family I want in spite of that inability.
I had the echocardiogram today. Apparently Baby B was lying behind Baby A and the techs had the worst time trying to get all the information they needed. It took almost 2 hours, as laypeople it was super hard to tell what we were looking at and I think my husband actually fell asleep for a while 😂
They didn't see anything problematic as far as I know, but I'm very glad we are done with the hospital based ultrasounds.
I had my breastfeeding class last night and it was amazing. I struggled to produce enough to feed my baby last time, so I was a little nervous about feeding this baby, but I feel like I'm at least armed with some good information and techniques and the instructor was super encouraging and helpful and gave us her contact information for after baby's born to help us tackle any struggles that come up. I even dreamed about hand expressing milk last night lol
I'm doing my 2 hour glucose test today. I'm lucky that there's a lab in my office so I can do it while I'm working. I better not get any grumpy patient calls, my patience may be a little thin with my hangryness.
And tomorrow is my OB appointment. Busy week for me!
Baby is healthy, everything looks like it's growing as expected, we avoided checking sex. Baby is nestled in to the exact same position of older siblings- frank breech, sitting with both hands and feet in face, looking straight outward from just under my ribs. Neither of my others moved from that position until at least 36 weeks (my first was born breech just before 36 weeks!). But my midwife is OK with vaginal breech if it gets to that. So I'm at peace.
*disclaimer* for most people position now in second trimester has absolutely no relation to position at birth. Most babies are still doing constant flips and spins until closer to 36 weeks. I'm a strange case-there is obviously something about my very short torso, tilted uterus, and overall internal shape that tends to support breech position. Again, I'M WEIRD, not at all the norm here.
_______________________________________________
Me: 33 DH: 32 Married 7/18/15 1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16 Team green turned BLUE! 2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18 Team green turned PINK! Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
@splashmountain I had my breastfeeding class last night too. I’m glad that you enjoyed it! Mine was super informative but as a FTM, it mostly reminded me that there’s sooo much to consider with a newborn. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep well thinking. Still super glad I went because I know the information will be extremely helpful.
I hope your glucose test goes well!
This may be a silly question, but for our parents was breastfeeding not encouraged or not the norm? My mom and my uncle both asked if I planned on breastfeeding. I don’t have a history that would suggest breastfeeding will be difficult, so the question caught me by surprise.
@drkoyya I think it depends. My mom breastfed my brother and I, but when formula came out, a lot of doctors really pushed it. Women were told it was better than breastmilk. So I think for that generation, formula became the norm and BF'ing was looked down on.
@drkoyya I think now we live in a time where anything goes. Additionally there are ways for women to work and breast feed, whereas before I suspect if a woman returned to work the baby got formula. Opinions change over time. My mom was shocked when I talked about the length of time it's recommended that the baby share your bedroom (not bed, just room). So I think as different studies come out doctors promote different things. There was a conversation at a baby shower in the past year that the father of the baby brought up that he thought women didn't breast feed anymore, like why would we go through that effort and put our bodies through that when we don't have to and we can just formula feed, like we have this "advance" science and technology that allows us to feed our babies by other means and breastfeeding seems primitive like a thing of the past. It was interesting to hear that perspective. I've heard this in terms of pain management during labor and delivery as well, modern medicine allows us to deliver in a relatively pain free manner (lots of different options and combos of options here) so why wouldn't you do that? Why would you elect a "natural" birth or elect to be uncomfortable and in pain and unmedicated? I'm not saying which choices are right or wrong, it's just very different ways of looking at things. On the flip side you can say women have been giving birth without medication etc. and breastfeeding for 1000s of years, so why do anything different, clearly we're equipped to handle it, etc. The fact is that infant and mother mortality rates however are way lower than they used to be, so there is something to be said for new techniques as well.
Had my OB appointment this morning and he said everything looked good from the growth scan last week. Additionally I mentioned to him the pain I have when walking and he wasn't concerned. He explained that it sounds like tendon (I think?)pain from supporting the growing uterus. I've had RLP, but this is very different. He said often when people describe this pain especially if worse with movement it's because of this and feels very tender which is an appropriate description for what I'm feeling so that's reassuring. He also wasn't too concerned about the dizzy spell on Friday but said if it happens again we can check a few things like electrolytes and blood sugar levels. And then they sent me home with a drink of my choice to drink before my appt in 4 weeks for the glucose screening. I couldn't remember which flavor I had with DD1 but remember it wasn't bad. I opted for orange this time which I think may be what I had last time. Hoping for the best!
Re: January Appointments
@chewie5990 I'm sorry for the insurance worries. My insurance company keeps wanting me to have phone appointments with their nurses, which I don't understand because I've never met them in person and I *have* a doctor. I wish our healthcare system made more sense.
On the drive home, I realized that my next appointment will be at the start of the 3rd trimester 🤯 I guess this pregnancy really is moving along
FTM
BFP 08/25/19, EDD 05/04/20
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019As a VBAC advocate locally-I live in an area where many women are denied or lied to to prevent a wanted VBAC- I want to be sure that you know there are risks with both options. If you are planning more children after this, know that the chances of scar tissue causing problems for future babies/pregnancies increases steeply as you have more sections. Rupture risks are very real as well and can be dangerous, but are under 1%, and even then most ruptures are not life threatening. Most. I do know people who have ruptured and had it be life threatening, and others who ruptured and it was a concern but not at all a life threatening issue.
Many things to weigh here ladies, but there is no wrong choice. I hope no one faces shame for their choice or fights with case providers to help you with your delivery choice.
If anyone wants safety statistics on sections vs VBAC I have some I can find and post. Knowledge leads to better choices!
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
I had a 19 week appointment with my actual MWs last week and we went over vbac info. They said that they would allow a vbac up until my due date, but if I needed to be induced they wouldn't allow it something about a lack of in house 24 hour anesthesiologist. Not sure why that means I can't be induced but they did give me the opt out to be able to go to Dartmouth if I needed an induction. With DD being breech and having a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks I don't know if I would go into labor by my due date or not and that's a big worry for me.
I have another appointment with them on 1/27 and I'm excited about that one because it's with my favorite MW and I feel like I can ask her more questions and not be judged by my weight as much as the last one does. She has always said things like well because of your weight you're more likely to have x, y or z. Where this other one is over weight herself and just smiles all the time.
In my case, a pretty traumatic first labor after an induction prior to c-section and a big baby with this one also trending big makes me think that I don’t want another induction (although I am fortunate that my doctors would allow it if I got to 41 weeks and still wanted to VBAC). So perhaps if I go into labor naturally before 41 weeks, I will give it a go, but otherwise RCS. Will see.
They didn't see anything problematic as far as I know, but I'm very glad we are done with the hospital based ultrasounds.
I'm doing my 2 hour glucose test today. I'm lucky that there's a lab in my office so I can do it while I'm working. I better not get any grumpy patient calls, my patience may be a little thin with my hangryness.
And tomorrow is my OB appointment. Busy week for me!
Baby is healthy, everything looks like it's growing as expected, we avoided checking sex. Baby is nestled in to the exact same position of older siblings- frank breech, sitting with both hands and feet in face, looking straight outward from just under my ribs. Neither of my others moved from that position until at least 36 weeks (my first was born breech just before 36 weeks!). But my midwife is OK with vaginal breech if it gets to that. So I'm at peace.
*disclaimer* for most people position now in second trimester has absolutely no relation to position at birth. Most babies are still doing constant flips and spins until closer to 36 weeks. I'm a strange case-there is obviously something about my very short torso, tilted uterus, and overall internal shape that tends to support breech position. Again, I'M WEIRD, not at all the norm here.
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
FTM
BFP 08/25/19, EDD 05/04/20