Sometimes I wish they did mandatory C-sections at 37 weeks gestation. Not just because anything past that point in a pregnancy is uncomfortable and tiresome, but for the peace of mind of the mother and the safety of the baby.
I am aware that nature knows best and of course it wise to let the body do its thing and not have science intervene unless absolutely necessary, but sometimes it would be nice to at least have the illusion of control in the situation.
I am at the point now where I start to entertain fears about something going wrong in these final weeks and part of me wants to go to the hospital and say, “The baby is good and healthy right now, her movements are steady and strong, so let’s take her out today before something goes wrong with the placenta or the umbilical cord or something else unforeseen and horrible!”
Last week I had a busy morning and when the lunch hour rolled around I realized that I hadn’t felt the baby move all day. So I drank a cold glass of water, sprawled on the sofa, and waited to feel some prods and kicks. Nothing. I pushed on my belly, tried to get things moving, but still nothing. So, I called my doctor’s office and they told me to head into the hospital to have things checked out. I was about to make arrangements for that trip when, of course, the baby started doing the Riverdance in my belly and was extra active all afternoon. Crisis averted. I’m glad I called and that I was willing to look a little silly.
I think it’s always worth it to be safe rather than sorry.
Good call. What alerted me to Jacquelyn’s distress was that she hadn’t moved all day and I had just read an article in reader’s digest about the lack of movement being a concern. I too, felt like I was being silly when I called the doctor’s office at 5:00 on Friday afternoon of a long weekend, but when they said to meet me in emergency in 20 minutes, when we lived 30 minutes away, I was glad I called. She indeed was in distress and they scheduled an emergency C section. Due to a calamity of errors, she wasn’t delivered until after midnight, but she was OK. Even when they said they wanted to do a C section, I really still wasn’t worried because I had also read about all the unnecessary C sections that are performed on Friday afternoons for the doctors convenience, but I didn’t care, I was going to meet my baby in half an hour, without the pain of labour! I didn’t understand until the next day how close we came to losing her, and it was a good thing, because I was totally calm during the whole process, no anxiety at all. Thinking back on it, I was very naive, but I think it was God’s way of keeping me calm.
Like I said, I enjoy Amanda’s writing. That was not to make her feel good so I could have a go at her. I am not having a go at her. there is a responsibility that comes with having such a public voice, and being aware of the facts and making light of such a serious option when it comes to birthing your baby stood out and asked to be spoken about. There was no judgement in what I said, and I still stand behind it.
The same thing happened to me with regards to baby movement…I all of a sudden realized I hadn’t felt her move all day. So we went in to the hospital and almost as soon as I lay down on the bed to be assessed there she was, movin’ and shakin’. But that is not the end of our story…there were some other things that I fessed up about when we got there: major swelling, high BP, a headache that I got that day and when they tested protein in my urine and brisk reflexes. With all this information they realized that I had developed preeclampsia. At 37 weeks they started my induction immediately. Two days later I delivered a healthy baby girl…thank God I went in for lack of movement…because I would have just lived through the pain and not really done anything about it for who how long. In my case I was really safe rather than sorry because I went in to L&D for something I thought was no biggie.
I believe “thy will be done” was from the same dude who said “do not judge…” is it not? I found that comment quite patronizing, a compliment paired with a criticism thinly veiled as a “reminder”.
I am sorry, but there is nothing safe about having a c-section for no reason. Surely you are aware of the risks of this operation not only on mother but also for baby? There are many many risks, and side affects short and long term. C-sections certainly have their place, but not as stated in your first line.
I understand the worry at the end of a pregnancy, if you trust in your body and also the powers that be, you can be in peace in knowing that “thy will be done”
You write beautifully, and I appreciate where you are coming from, just reminding you of the responsibility of such a public statement.
I agree, I too can’t wait to see you with your newest little girl very, very soon. Watching you with the baby in the nursery on Sunday and seeing Karenna coo over him too made me extra excited to see you all with your new one!
TOTALLY AGREE. Also, that’s one of those go-to-the-doctor-and-instantly-feel-better things.
I hate all the worrying that goes along with pregnancy. I’m looking forward to seeing your adorable! healthy! newborn baby girl VERY soon!
Better safe than sorry indeed. I put off checking out some cramping during pregnancy until it was so strong I couldn’t get off the couch. I waddeled to the emergency room at 19 weeks pregnant and found out my appendix had exploded and poisons were leaking everywhere. I had emergency appendectomy and should have gone in a lot sooner. I praise God that my baby boy (now 2) and I are both well and fully recovered.