29 Week Appointment, Photos Update
Nothing eventful. Just a regular old appointment, there were no changes in measurements or the babies positions. Baby girl is still way head down, ready to be born first and baby boy is still breech.
Baby boy has discovered his hand/fingers don’t have to be permanently attached to his face or in his mouth-haha. I mean, he has learnt he has hands and they can move other places, he’s been quite active lately. Usually I don’t feel anything but his kicks but this last week I feel movements (which have to be hands since he didn’t flip) about an inch above where his head is.
We had our second Lamaze class, and learnt about the second stage of labour and pain options during labour, which would be done at this stage. Analgesics which are systematic and do pass to baby but are not invasive. They are given by a shot in the thigh or via an IV. Then, the lovely epidural which is an invasive procedure, however, doesn’t pass to baby but has a risk of hitting the spinal cord, even if the risk is small.
James is amazing. I don’t think I will ever be able to put into words. He asked for paper during the class and took a zillion notes on what his role is during each phase, the other husbands have yet to take notes, or even the wives. James wants to be sure he’s able to remember and do the right things at the right times. I did note though he didn’t remember to write down to take care of himself.
I don’t honestly think anyone will ever realize what this man does, did and continues to do for me every single day and I don’t just mean thru the pregnancy. He has always been there and most concerned for me and our future. Yeah, maybe its pregnancy hormones, but he truly is an amazing man.
Anyhow, afterwards class I told him some concerns I had. As we were moving thru the labour positions during the class I kept saying, this works, no shoulder blades, you have to let me move, ect. And I just wanted to be sure he wasn’t taking it the wrong way. I wanted him to know that what works at first might not work 10 minutes later or that it could easily become annoying or distracting. And apologize in advance for any ‘annoyed’ looks or tones I might use. I don’t want to do this, but honestly I don’t know how things will go and I just wanted to talk about it before.
He again, being amazing said that he’ll hold nothing against me during that time and he just wants to be the best he can be for me and the babies. He’s really been amazing thru the entire pregnancy. Just last night he put away all the dishes; he filled my foot massager with water and set me all up to use it, since I can’t lift it. Then he took care of putting it all away. Later he propped my swollen feet up under pillows to try to reduce it. He has yet to miss an appointment with the Dr. I think it’s quite uncommon for them to see the spouses there all the time. He hangs up my jacket while I check in and holds my purse while I get weighed. He watches eagerly during every mini ultrasound to catch any glimpse he can of his baby girl and baby boy.
At the class, I think James was quite shocked by the process of the epidural. He said something afterwards about thinking it had been nothing more than a larger needle that goes into your back. He kept turning to me and shaking his head while the nurse went over what will happen and how it’s done. It’s really nice to see him so supportive, not that he wasn’t to begin with though. This was something I think that was harder for him to understand my concerns over, especially when thinking it was a difference of needle size.
I was glad to have one very important question I had be answered. That was, how do they know when to stop (the needle)? So, they don’t hit the spinal cord. The answer is that there are layers they can feel the needle go thru and when they reach the layer the epidural is placed in they will receive some clear fluid back. Additionally, there is another layer that is gone thru before hitting the spinal cord, which is the layer a Spinal block is put in at-this would be used for a c-section.
Afterwards I said to James my feelings were that the woman maybe ended up moving, or the Anesthesiologist t slipped accidentally and that the percentage (which the Anesthesiologist can give us) in which it’s happened is very low, especially considering that 50% of mothers use one. While none of this makes me or us any closer to wanting to say yes to one if given the option (that we don’t have a planned or emergency c-section before labour beings).
James said that he didn’t think we should place too high value on that moment of seeing the babies born, leaning towards trying without and if it ends up needing to be an emergency where they knock me out completely than that’s what it is. At this point, we just don’t know what the right choice is.
We both want the natural process for obvious and not so obvious reasons, but we need to decide what’s best for baby boy-since he’s the one not flipped yet and who could potentially be in danger. So that’s our new struggle.
Unfortunately no one saying they did this or that worked for them, or this is what they’d do really will help with our choice. So eventually I think we’ll just ‘know’ what’s right like everything else.
I honestly have no fears of being able to handle the labour without medication-it’s just that unknown for baby boy. The fear and tension that goes with it is part of what Lamaze teaches you to let go of, and I just don’t have any apprehensions about that part of it. It’s only temporary, right? I feel very in control of my pain and fears so that’ll help a gazillion times over. Sure, I’m open to that I might change my mind as well.
Our family/friends shower is in a few hours, so we cleaned up the house yesterday and did a few last minute things this morning. Yesterday we went out to the local park on the lake and James wanted to take along the camera to get some shots of “mom” and I was confused. He meant of me. He doesn’t remember seeing photos of his mom pregnant with him or his sister and was something he wanted to capture. We need more photos of you. Plus he got some practice with the camera. I’m going to upload some on the photos he took, they are quite reflective and moving actually and the shower photos, probably tomorrow while I’m off work. I have plans to bake cookies and freeze dough balls too, for after the twins are born. So check there Monday sometime.
2 comments April 15th, 2007