36 week appt/Belly Pic/Decision to Make!
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| Fri, 01-18-2008 - 8:02pm |
This morning was our 36(ish) week appt and growth u/s - Will currently weighs 6lbs 3oz!! The tech said that's she usually pretty accurate, but that she could be off up to half a lb either way (let's hope if she was off she was high instead of low, LOL). All his measurements were good, and the fluid level is fine. I had my first real contraction last night, and since my OB was doing the strep test (yuck), he went ahead and checked me - I am a fingertip dilated, 0% effaced right now. So all is well!
Here's the decision we have to make: my OB will be out of town from the 14th through the 19th of December, which is looking like prime delivery time now. He said that our first option was to schedule a section the morning of the 14th. The second option is to be induced on the 13th. He said he'd only want to induce if I progressed to about 3cm dilated. I don't know what to do! Opting for surgery seems like it might not be the best decision to make, but several people I know have ended up with sections after being in labor for 12+ hours, too, which Definitely doesn't sound like a good option. He also mentioned that due to Will's current size, it's likely that I'll have to have a 2nd or 3rd degree episiotomy. Ouch.
So, I really like having a date set and knowing that the end is in sight, I just don't know which date to pick!
Finally, here's a belly pic from last night:



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You look adorable, Megan! Thanks so much for sharing the belly pic! ((HUGS))
I'm assuming you mean February on the date, right? So your doctor doesn't want you to go to your due date because he might be out of town if you go a week early? Or is it because of Will's size?
Jane
Thanks, Jane! To explain about the due date - my official due date on my chart has always been the 20th (the 25th was what I calculated based on my chart). And, yes, based on Will's size and what my belly's been measuring is why he thinks it's likely that he'll come during the skiing vacation.
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I would say IF you have not went on your own by the 13th to go ahead and be induced then.
Hello Megan,
Wow, Will is a big boy already. I'm glad your U/S went well.
You look so great in your belly picture.
Here is my opinion about the induction or c-section: Since Will is on the big side I would definitely not want to wait until your due date or after to be in labor. I would choose being induced and try to have a vaginal delivery. If you do end up with a c-section after the induction, at least you know you tried your hardest to have a vaginal delivery. I think that if you went straight for the scheduled c-section you might regret not having the experience of regular
Hey there Megan - First of all, your belly pic looks great!!!
You look adorable!
All good points! I think we're going to take this week to think about it and talk to my OB again next Friday.
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This is such a personal choice. But please know there are very real risks that go along with an unnecessary induction and a non-medically necessary c-section. Please educate yourself about those risks before making your choice. I know the "wait and see" method may be nerve-wracking, but to be honest its the way nature meant for it to go, and its the safest. There are risks for baby and for you with both an unnecessary section or induction.
And, as a side note, I was delivered by an OB I'd never met. In all honesty the OB is only there for the very end of the delivery, and at that point you couldn't care less if it was Santa Claus delivering the baby.
If you choose the c-section also realize it affects your plans for future babies (if you hwant any more). They recomend not getting pg again after a section for 12-18 months, and even then many hospitals docs won't let you go naturally if you had a section before. Some will do a VBAC but its risky and not guaranteed. Something to keep in mind. There's also the recovery, which is a little more in depth than a vaginal recovery, even with a tear or epesiotomy, which there' sno guarantee you'll have or need.
Good luck!! KUP!!
Amanda
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