It's time Sulley's story is told.
The day I hit the 38-week mark - I woke up quite swollen and out of habit, took my blood pressure. It was the highest I've ever seen it. I panicked a little and started to call the midwives, but realized I had an acupuncture appointment in an hour and thought that might help. As a side note, my blood pressure was generally perfect throughout this pregnancy, unlike my pregnancy with Ryland. I owe my blood pressure regulation and comfort during my pregnancy to my acupuncturist Patrice - she was amazing! So I went to the appointment and told Patrice what my reading was. She worked on me for an hour and then took my blood pressure after the appointment, it was in the normal-high range. She advised me it was probably somewhat stress related and I should start my maternity leave asap. I called and cancelled my clients for the day and went home to rest.
I worked from home and rested a lot the next two days - my blood pressure teetering the level at which I needed to go to L&D, then went in for my midwife appointment on April 24th. I had Brent and Ryland come with me for support. The nurse took my bp a few minutes after going in - "you're going to L&D today" she said. At this point, I was still holding tightly to my VBAC plan and I was pretty upset. Although our hospital has the highest VBAC success rate in the state (and the lowest c-section rate as well), they won't induce - labor has to start on its own to have a VBAC. Our wonderful midwife, Lynda (who was with us for Ry's birth) came in and comforted me a little. She sent me upstairs to the birthing center to be monitored and tested. After 2 hours in the birthing center (where Ryland got several popsicles!), they released me. I was to come back in a couple of days to make a plan and everyone encouraged me to GET THAT BABY OUT!
I began my maternity leave and had an amazing shower at a spa that weekend with some of my fabulous colleagues. I did everything in the books to get baby out... but he wasn't going anywhere.
On Tuesday, April 29th - I had an appointment with an OB. He told me the recommendations that he must follow state pregnancies post 39 weeks with high blood pressure should be induced that day - and of course, being that I had made 0 progress toward going into labor on my own, they would not induce me. He scheduled my c-section for May 1st.
"This is the best decision for you and your baby - it's not doing him any good to stay in there at this point and it's not good for you either"
I heard that a few times that day.
Darn Ry's knotted umbilical cord! If he hadn't been a c-section baby I would have gotten an induction instead of a c-section.
I called Brent to come to the hospital and we met with our midwife, Sarah - who we love and she handled most of my prenatal care. I wanted a second opinion. She confirmed everything the OB said, and we moved forward with the surgery date.
I was disappointed, but relieved my tests revealed no pre-eclampsia so they were giving me a couple of days before the surgery. The next two days were some of the most beautiful Seattle has ever seen! I saw my acupuncturist 3 times (I know, it sounds crazy - but they have all kinds of induction methods they use!) Each appointment got nice contractions going, but they always stopped after a couple of hours. I climbed the tower in Volunteer Park hoping that would help things. There are about 200 stairs to get to the top. Needless to say, no labor - but I got an awesome view.
I'm grateful for those 2 days because they gave me time to really think about birth, and this second baby we were about to have. I decided that it wasn't the surgery that I was anxious about, it was simply my own stubbornness about having a VBAC. I'm a goal-setter and achiever, and I felt somewhat like a failure on this one. I had to remind myself that birth is beautiful in every form - and there are some major benefits of a scheduled cesarean as well. So I went to bed on Wednesday ready for surgery and excited to meet our new baby.
Continued (with photos!)....
