Thread: ~*~*~*Julianas Mom's (Lexi) Lodge*~*~*~

Congrads Lexi!!!! I'm so jealous... i can't wait to read your lodge! I'm very very very happy for you!

Here's my intro...

DH and I met on match.com. Not to be corny, but it was pretty much love at first sight for both of us. Within 6 months we moved in together and then 4 months later he got offered a job half way across the country. He asked me to move with him and I did!! We got married a year later. And then the month after that we conceived dd. I know, it was a whirlwind, but we are both 35, so I think it worked out well for us. He's my soul mate and my best friend.

My pg with dd was great, up until 33wks. I woke up in the middle of the night on 10/16/06 with a horrible pain in my back. It was so bad, I actually thought dh had kicked me or something in his sleep. It was really painful all the next day and it wasn't getting any better. I went to the dr., they admitted me to the hosp, did a bunch of tests and decided it was my kidney causing the pain.

I went to a urologist who said my kidney was 3x the size it should be. Either I had a stone, or the baby was putting pressure on my ureter to cause a blockage. The ureter is the tube that brings the urine down from the kidney to the bladder. My left ureter was all kinked up and no urine was draining into my bladder on that side. The pain was horrible.

At 34 wks, I had a tube put in my back to drain my kidney. I had to keep it in until dd was born. They don't give you anesthesia for this procedure, it was done under a local and pain meds. It was the worst pain of my life. Labor and contractions do not even compare to that pain. I still have nightmares about it. I had to have a pee bag outside my body attached to the tube to collect the urine. For the next 6 wks until dd was born, I was taking pain meds a lot and was pretty much on bed rest.

I learned about natural childbirth pretty much by accident. Before all this kidney stuff had started, I was reading the LLL breastfeeding book. It had a chapter about how epidural's can effect bfeeding. I had no clue prior to this that natural birth is much better and healthier for mom and baby. I also didn't know that interventions could affect bfeeding. It was like a light was switched on in my head. I knew then that I wanted to try and have a NCB.

Long story short. Unfortunately, I think due to my kidney issues and being a FTM, I just wasn't really prepared for a natural birth. I panicked when labor started and I got way too stressed out and couldn't progress. Contractions were 7-10 mins and they lasted like that for over 12 hrs, with no progression. I stayed at 3 cm forever it seemed like. Labor with dd ended up being over 30hrs long. I ended up getting an epi, and pit, but was able to birth her vaginally after 2 1/2 hrs of pushing. It was a long hard road, but luckily I avoided a csection. Even though I found out recently that the dr that delivered dd has the highest section rate in my area.
I am okay with the fact I had an epi and a few interventions. I had done my research, I knew what my options were. I just don't think I was prepared to handle it at that time. However, I did have 2 really bad blood pressure drops due to the epi and also developed a fever. So I know that I don't react well to an epi and I'm really lucky that dd handled it better than I did. Otherwise I'm sure I would have gotten a c/s.

Fast forward to now. I am still crossing my fingers, but I am now 3 wks past the point where my kidney started to hurt with my last pg.
I've been so scared that my kidney will start hurting and I'd have to go through that hell again. But as each day passes, I get more optimistic that it won't happen again.

DH and I did lots more research, watched BOBB, and we hired a doula. She is fantastic. One of my friends used her for both of her births and said she was amazing. Our doula has 5 kids and had her last 2 naturally. I am so excited to have her at my birth. She's been doing this for almost 10 yrs and I feel very comfortable with her.

I really think that the combo of having a doula and me knowing what to expect this time will really help me have the natural birth that I desire. I know it's going to be hard and painful, but I keep telling myself that it's pain with a purpose. That's key for me. To remember that my body is made to do this and it won't last forever. And in the end I get to see my son, that's the best part.

Thanks for reading my story! I am so excited to be here!

Welcome to your lodge!! I love your intro and your pics are beautiful!

Welcome to your lodge!

Hi Lexi! Great intro! Looking forward to reading your lodge.

I can't believe November mamas are already getting lodges here. WOW!!

amy

You look wonderful! I think we need some recent belly pics though, your so tiny in those pics What a beautiful fam you have, a little boy is going to be so much fun! Have you been reading much this time around? If you have what's been your favorite read? Is your DD excited to see her little brother?

I was really nervous about this appt, because we were going to show the dr our birth plan. It went really well though!! She read it over and only made one small adjustment. She asked to make a copy of it, signed it, and said she would put in my records, so it will be sent up to the hosp for delivery. She agreed to intermittent monitoring, Hep lock, maintain mobility, labor in own clothes, choice of position for pushing, etc. All good stuff since I'll be in a hosp setting.

Other than that, bp good, baby's heart rate was great, and no other problems.
I start going every week now. I got the GBS test today and will have my results at my next appt. I also declined the cervical check and she was fine with that too.

I have to call our doula today to schedule our next prenatal appt. She's going to go over all the comfort measures and different techniques to help me during labor. She's also going to teach dh a bunch of stuff too to help me with the contractions.

What a great Dr.! Good luck on the GBS results.
Just out of curiosity - What was the adjustment to your birth plan?

First, welcome to your lodge!
Second, great intro, sorry about the hell you went through with dd
third, yay for a great appointment! negative GBS vibes coming your way!

Welcome to your lodge!!