26 week OB appointment

My blood pressure is apparently creeping up. Crap. However, there are circumstances that raised it. I took Sudafed this morning to help me breath through my sinuses and also used my inhaler to be able to breath period, both of which raise blood pressure. It was 140/72. I've been instructed to avoid Sudafed from this point on and talk to my primary doctor about something possibly stronger/inhaled for my allergies.

Weight, baby measurements, heartbeat all good. Doctor doesn't care about the position right now because it's still early and I'm having a scheduled c-section. We went over what happens if I go into labor on my own (at the right time, of course, not at 26 weeks) and how my labor and pushing went with Jack. I would love to be able to have a VBAC, but there are circumstances which make me an unlikely candidate. I believe when I first posted about my scheduled c-section I talked about how many abdominal surgeries I've had. It's important to also remember that my pelvis didn't expand like it should have which is probably why Jack got stuck in the first place. Considering he was 3 1/2 weeks early and a 7lb baby, the doctor doesn't think I should risk hitting that fetal distress emergency point again. It is stressful for both me and baby, and there's the whole labor to pushing to emergency c-section may equal hard recovery.

Honestly, I didn't have a hard recovery with my first c-section. I had an easy labor, considering I was induced and labored for more than 24 hours, about 16 hours unmedicated, progressed slowly until my water broke on its own and then I went from 6-9cm in less than an hour and the grandmas just barely made it back in time for the pushing to begin. I pushed for close to an hour with Jack until he started showing signs of fetal distress during contractions because his forehead was stuck on my uncooperative pelvic bone. Poor guy. My c-section was ideal, as far as emergency surgeries go, with no complications and my recovery was awesome. I was off narcotic pain medication within 2 days of leaving the hospital and that includes coming home from the hospital, making a Target run for some essentials and medications, going to the grocery store, doing a load or two of laundry, and then going out to dinner. It was a busy day, and I had a lot of help. I will have help after Nina comes, too, so I anticipate my recovery will be fairly uncomplicated. I am also preparing for an (hopefully) unlikely early delivery. I'll be damned if I have a house full of dirty clothes to come home from the hospital to this time.

I recover very well from surgery. The only time I remember having any issues was after my jaw surgery. I was 15, had never had surgery and because my jaw was wired shut, really couldn't get enough calories to keep me upright. Even with midnight nausea, I had limited pain and recovered well. My ectopic and gallbladder surgeries were "major" surgery but were done laproscopically, so the recovery was easy. Even with a 1/nearly 2 year old bouncing around like a crazy monster on my belly both times. The most problematic symptom of the gallbladder surgery was the right shoulder pain/tightness from the gas used to expand the belly during the procedure. That sucked, but was gone after 2 days and only affected the ability to sleep in my bed. I compromised and slept in a recliner. It worked out!

The point of this long winded nonsense is that I'm comfortable with my decision to schedule my c-section. I think it's the right thing for me. I've done research on VBAC, I know the risks and benefits of both options, I understand that vaginal is the natural route for babies to come, but my pelvis is hostile towards babies and I don't want to risk another emergency c-section if my suspicions are correct and Nina also gets stuck. But, naysayers to scheduled c-sections say, what about bonding with your baby? Babies should be with mom from the second they're born! It's natural! It's hormonal! Well, I'm sorry, but it's gross. I don't mean to be all icky and blech about something so natural and wonderful (because birth is amazing, regardless of how baby comes out!), but I still get slightly queasy when I see my blood drawn. Granted, I'm much better after weekly blood draws from the PIH and don't need to lay down, but I still cannot see my own blood leaving my body. I did get a look at Jack before the nurses cleaned him off after the c-section and it was the only time during my surgery that I felt sick. Please, clean my baby off, or you will have a passed out mama.

My hospital doesn't keep babies in the nursery unless mom specifically asks begs the nurses to take baby because he won't stop crying even after being fed, changed, and loved and it's been an exhausting two days and mom could really use some sleep. Go ahead, give him the tiny amount of pumped breastmilk and a formula bottle. Just let me sleep so I don't throw him out the hospital window :) Todd and I got about 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep and Jack came back the next morning to some boob and a bink. He was perfect, and our bond wasn't broken. Yes, they took him to the nursery immediately after he was born, but remember, he was in fetal distress and was stuck against my pelvic bone so they had to make sure he didn't suffer any problems. He had high apgar scores and they brought Jack to me as soon as I was in the recovery room (I think Todd said we were only separated for about 20 minutes). I still loved my baby, he still seemed to know me via scent, and we bonded more than I could ever imagine being emotionally drawn to another person in my life.

Next week I get to go in for my glucose tolerance test. Oooooh! Exciting, nasty fake soda drink. I will definitely have to treat myself to a new book for the 2 hour test. I also have my 3D ultrasound on Monday. It's a busy week.

My child is napping. I should probably take advantage of the downtime and nap as well. Gotta get that sleep while I still can, right?