Happy Friday, sweet blog friends! I hope that you've all had a wonderful week. Our lovely blogger friend, Leslie, will not be hosting a confession link-up this week, so we will not be having a regularly scheduled 'fess sesh today. But don't worry - they will return next week!
Despite this, I do have one big confession. About something that's been on my mind recently.
As a soon-to-be momma, who is now in her third trimester, I bet you can guess what it is that's been occupying my thoughts more and more lately...
Yep. The delivery.
And, I confess: I'm pretty scared. I know how this all works, and I know that it isn't going to be easy. Or painless. Or pretty. Along with not lying to you all, I am not planning on lying to myself by going into this with an unrealistic mindset.
I've noticed lately that birth plans are a big 'thing.' To tell you the truth, I don't really get it. If I had a birth plan, it would look something like this:
"Get the baby out safely."
While I think it's great that some moms want to put a lot of thought into how their children will arrive into this world, and hope very much that their births go as planned, I guess I just don't see the point in putting too much effort into something that you have very little control over. My plan is to do whatever needs to be done to ensure both the baby's health as well as my own. I will not be putting together a playlist to be played in the room during delivery. I don't plan on making goodie bags for the nurses (is that terrible?) I don't care whether the lights or dimmed or not. I really just think that I will be too pre-occupied to notice any of this when the time comes to push this baby out.
One thing I have decided? I will be accepting pain medications. I have a lot of respect for mothers who choose to go the natural birth route. I just won't be one of them. If given the option for an epidural, I will be taking it. Gratefully. I know that this is a rather controversial topic, but is one that I feel like each woman must decide for herself. I don't think either way is right or wrong. To each their own. I know my body, and know that I will perform better with pain medication as needed. So, I guess if I had to add anything to a birth plan of sorts, "Give me pain medication" would be on it.
Another controversial topic? The debate between vaginal deliveries and c-sections.
And I confess: I'm finding myself pretty 'on the fence' in regard to this topic. Since finding out that I was pregnant, my goal has always been to have a vaginal delivery. Preferably an uncomplicated vaginal delivery - but don't we all wish for that? However, recently, I've been told by many people that c-sections are the WAY to go. Despite a longer hospital stay and a slighter longer recovery (when compared to an uncomplicated vaginal delivery), recent mama friends of mine have said that having a baby via c-section was the best decision they've ever made. My husband is a big proponent of vaginal delivery. My doctor is willing to support whatever decision I make....
So, that leaves me wondering - if given the option, what should I choose? I need some advice from you guys today. Any thoughts or opinions on vaginal births versus c-sections? Ultimately, I want to do what is best for the baby. Today I just thought I'd put some feelers out there to find out what you guys think, and see what your experiences have been. Help a little preggo out and share your wisdom!
Update: I was wrong! Leslie is hosting a confessional link-up today, so hop on over there if you'd like to participate!
13 comments:
I have a totally irrational fear of c-sections after my mom had serious complications with one when she was pregnant with my siblings. Granted she was having twins at 44 so her experience is not at all representative of the normal population.
I hope that you get good advice and have the birth that works best for you and the baby.
I am definitely a fan of vaginal delivery. I think c-section should only be used in case of emergency. But that is just my personal opinion - I don't judge others based on what they want to do.
I can't help you on this since I have NO idea...BUT I will support you in whatever you choose! :) That's the best I've got for you.
And guess what? Even if you decide on vaginal, baby might make other plans and then you're in C-section land!
Honestly, that was my fear too, being a new momma. You hear so many horror stories. Well, I am scared of needles. So scarred, I don't have any tattoos or piercings, and I almost passed out when I had to get my blood drawn for the first time, which happened to be when I was pregnant. I always wanted to give blood in high school and in college, but was always too scarred. So, I told my doctor right away that I wanted to go vaginally, but I wanted to be drugged up, and to give me that eipdural ASAP! Some moms are against the whole "drugged up" thing, and want to remember the experience, bla bla bla.... well I remember it all, and had NO PAIN whatsoever. They gave me the epidural when I reached 3 cm (I was induced), so I hardly had to go thru any tough contractions. I was ready to push about an hour later. My delivery was super easy, and unnormal my doctor said, so I'm not sure if I'm a good person to give advice, but I'd recommend to go natural and to get that epidural! Why suffer if you don't have to!? You'll do great! Good luck! xoxo
Like you my birth plan was get the baby here safely, no matter what. I do think vaginal delivery is the way to go unless for some reason you can't or there is an emergency. I had planned on delivering vaginaly but after arriving at the hospital there were some minor complications and concerns with my baby so the doctor decided a c-section was best. Everything turned out fine for us, but I wouldn't recommend someone to choose a c-section for their first baby. ...sorry for rambling a little bit ...
i completely agree. no birth plan here. i just want my son to enter the world in the safest way possible for HIM! no matter what that is.
& yes yes yes. definitely want that epidural ;)
I've had both. My first son was born vaginally with an epidural. That feeling is something that nothing in the world can compare to. It is the biggest high ever. I hear that doing it without an epidural is even better. Having said that, the c-section I had with my second son was a lot easier than I expected. But the recovery was ten million times harder for me.
I am supportive of all my mothers and their educated choices, but there are pros and cons to each.
I look forward to hearing what all the mommas have to say, since pregnancy is on my brain. I agree with you on the birth plan- get baby out safely is the way to go. Many mommas get so upset and disappointed at themselves if the birth plan doesn't go as planned. So I think it's important to be flexible and not think you're a failure if you can't have a vaginal birth. The most important thing is a healthy baby. Great post, lady!
I'm not a Mama but I have done a lot of research on pregnancy, labor & delivery. I would caution against a c-section just because it's MAJOR surgery. If you decided to have more kids in the future, most doctors won't allow you to deliver vaginally after a c-section because there's a chance your uterus could rupture at the point of the incision. I don't know about you, but this scares the bejesus out of me much more than the pain of pushing. Granted, I know complications can easily arise and in that case a c-section is necessary, but I wouldn't choose a c-section as my Plan A.
I feel ya on this one! We are having a c-section based on my request at the beginning of my pregnancy and also some medical reasons too. My Dr. also would support any decision I made and when I made the decision for the c/s she smiled and told me she thought I was making the right decision. Oh and my Dr? I love her and trust her completely so that made me feel good! But like other have said, there are pros and cons to each. My fear was that we would go the vaginal route and end up having a c/s anyways, like 1 out of 3 laboring women do. I have also heard from many Momma's who have previously had c/s that it is the way to go. One of my friends who had an emergency one with her 1st child told me that she would have planned on having a c/s all along if she knew it would be that easy. Granted, everyone and everyone's recovery will be different. But yeah-c/s for me! :)
Your game plan sounds perfect!
I definitely think the game plan should be a healthy baby and mama. However that happens shouldn't be something anyone looks down on.
You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that I'm not the only person in the world that has no intention of doing a birth plan. I feel like they're a complete waste of time because no delivery ever goes as planned and no two deliveries are the same so I wouldn't even know where to start.
As for the whole c-section vs. normal delivery, I'm like you. I'm not sure which is best. Up until my last doctor's appointment, I've been faced with the reality that I'd be having a c-section because our daughter was frank breech. However, at our last appointment, we discovered that she had made her way head down and I was now looking at a regular delivery. I have to admit that my heart sunk and I was disappointed. I'd finally come to terms with the reality of a c-section and now I'm looking at something else haha
All in all, I'm like you and just want my baby to get here safely regardless of what that means for me. From what I understand a c-section is worse on you but better for baby and a regular delivery is worse on baby but better for you. If given the choice, I'd rather my baby come out okay. I've heard so many recent horror stories of babies being born with cords around their necks or babies bones being broken when they came through the birthing canal. With that in mind, I definitely want a c-section. But then another part of me hates that with a c-section, you never get to experience labor and delivery. You just walk in, get some meds (which I'll gladly take!), and then you have a baby. Then again, if I get to experience labor, I may wish I'd thought otherwise!
Overall though, I just try to remind myself that God has a plan and whatever His will is, is what's going to happen. I just have to remember to trust Him and he'll see us through it all.
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