It’s been awhile since my last update. I’m still pregnant. I fear I am going to be pregnant forever. We had a scan on the 25th of May (35 weeks exactly) that showed that the “Little” Dude isn’t actually so little. In fact, he weighed approximately 8 pounds and 6 ounces. This would explain the intense round ligament pain that sears across my hips whenever I change positions. It also explains the “arthritis like” inflammation in my fingers, and as of last night my feet, knees, and elbows. “If arthritis runs in your family now you have an idea of what you could face.” Um, thanks.
Fast forward to last Thursday (a day shy of 36 weeks). My OB and I discuss the scan results and he decides that since “Little” Dude’s legs are measuring 41 weeks and his belly is measuring 40 weeks 6 days, not to mention he isn’t even out of me yet but he has already outgrown all of his newborn sized clothes, and I still have one to four weeks of pregnancy left that I can try to delivery naturally, but not to get my heart set on it. The scenario he is suggesting is to let me go into labor naturally, so we know “Little” Dude is actually ready to make his appearance, and then do a C-Section. I guess it is sort of the best of both worlds. “Little” Dude will get to decide his lungs are ready and I, well, huh, I’ll have major abdominal surgery.
Part of me wishes we had set an induction date so that there is a light at the end of this damn tunnel. Especially since my body is showing absolutely no signs of going into labor anytime soon. However, I’ve been anti-induction from the beginning – it’s just hard to remember when I haven’t been able to knit in close to two months. Or when I have a leg, with its knee locked, stuck in my ribs. Or when I try to get in or out of bed, but I get the wind knocked out of me from the round ligament pain. Or when I’m starving and something tastes really fabulous, but I can’t only eat a few bites before I’m stuffed to the gills.
At some point I’ll have my son to hold and everyone tells me that makes up for all of it. I don’t know that I believe them, but I’m trying to have faith. Trying.
June 4th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Aww, I’m sorry you’re feeling so uncomfortable, and I hope Little Dude makes an appearance soon! I do have to say that you’re an adorable pregnant lady.
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June 4th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
From someone who’s been through two c-sections, I will promise you that the end really does justify the means. I was never so damned uncomfortable as I was when I was pregnant - both times! - but I’d do both pregnancies over again, twice as long, to get my sweetie babies.
And if you do end up going the c-section route, I will wholeheartedly pass along the best piece of advice I got (before I had Anna): accept every offer of help. Take it super easy. Pushing yourself too soon post-op is a surefire way to slow your recovery. Get the activity they tell you to get - it’s important, too - but let people do the daily grind for you to whatever extent possible. From my own experience, at least, this results in a much happier post-op mama.
Good luck! I can’t wait to hear how it all - ahem - comes out. XOXO
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June 4th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Oh, Shell, I’ve been there too. The swollen feet. The times when I’d have to sit down halfway through my 5m makeup routine. I stopped wearing socks around the beginning of February because it was easier to have cold feet than to try to put the damn things on.
And I had c-sections too - not at all planned with Lauren but VERY planned with Jamie. It is major surgery and I second Liz’s comment to take it easy. Avoid stairs. Don’t lift anything heavier than your baby! My parents were here for 2 weeks after each of my kids was born and I didn’t have to cook once. Hell, my mother was changing sheets on the beds before she left last year.
I am so excited for you and David - it’s one hell of a trip! :)
And btw, they told me Lauren was going to be MegaBaby too - at 37ish weeks they told me she was already 8+ pounds. Born at 41 1/2 weeks, she was 8lb1oz.
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June 5th, 2007 at 1:52 am
Oh lovie! If it’s even a wee consolation, you look awesome in that picture. I mean, you have an enormous belly-of-little-dude but you look awesome!
I hope little dude shows up soon, and I’m thinking of you and all your uncomfortable places in the meantime xxxxxxx
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June 5th, 2007 at 8:04 am
You look beauty-full!!!!
I echo what the other amazing ladies said. A c-section really isn’t that bad. Having that epidural kick in is a little weird, what — with the not feeling your lungs breathing and all. But really, it was a relief to not feel a head stabbing my ribs and feet kicking my cervix. The recovery was not at all bad.
My word of advice: walk around as soon as they remove the catheter — like within minutes. Yes, you will feel like your stitches are ripping, but they won’t be. Roll onto your side, hoist onto your elbow, then use your arm to push yourself up to a sitting position. Get a small travel kooshi pillow to hold over your tummy whenever you move (sneeze, cough) for at least the first week. Oh, and before the surgery, ask your doctor if he can do internal sutures with that sealing glue and steri-strips over the incision. Much better than staples in my opinion. Trust me, after three abdominal surgeries in that same incision site I really like the “invisible” seal.
Hugs to you! Well, a half hug or side hug…
Rach
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June 5th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Hang in there, honey. Was just telling a coworker friend of mine about you (she had a baby early April, 8lbs. 13oz. — so she has good thoughts toward your way right now!). I can’t even imagine!
I do have to agree with Cath though: you look absolutely beautiful in that photo! I can’t wait to “meet” the little guy! :-)
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