C-Section scheduled, feeling nervous (updated, post 74)

[becpee]

I want to slap your doctor. I want to have a long chat with your mother for putting this nonsense in your head. And I want to slap HER doctor.


The whole point of the hormone relaxin (the stuff that's making your joints all wobbly) is so that the joints OPEN. What things look or feel like to your doctor right now (some dude sticking his hands in your stuff...do you THINK you might be a bit, you know, tense?) mean NOTHING.

OH it does mean one thing. It means that that is HIS belief system. He's going to put it onto you. And he's not the one that is going to get to have MAJOR abdominal surgery on the very day you meet your baby.


I have a friend who had a liver transplant. Big huge tremendous surgery. And she felt sorry for those who have children by surgery*, because no one handed her a newborn that she was now 100% in charge of on that same day.




*(I don't give it the cutesy name that's a lie because Julius Caesar's mom was alive long after he was alive, and that simply didn't happen back then when children were born by surgery...I call it surgical birth because that's what it IS)


Back to your doctor...why on earth would he want to SCHEDULE it? Oh yes. Because it's convenient for...yep, him.

First babies often go "long". That means those babies NEED more time.

My son was forced out against my will at 42 weeks 3 days, and *had signs of prematurity*.

Oh! They said "the baby's going to be at least 9 pounds, that's hard". I said "bring it on" because fat squishes.

He was 7 lbs 12 oz. He was nearly 2 feet long, probably folded in thirds when inside. He appeared big. He was NOT. With his length, he was scrawny. But they said "9 lbs".


My husband was born at 44 weeks (rock solid dates...FIL on leave and a train woke them up in the middle of the night...cue the sexy music...) and was UNDER 9 pounds. Of course, he was getting out of his crib by 9 months (and hiding), but there are some tradeoffs with having a fully "cooked" baby sometimes.


At the very least *let the baby choose the day or so of his birth*. Let yourself recover from what you have been indoctrinated with your whole life. I'm SO SORRY that this has gotten into your head and has caused you to doubt your own wonderful body.





YES YES YES and more YES.





So much yes.

The people at ICAN will respond urgently to you, with feelings behind it, because they have been there done that and are scarred in many ways because of it. Their choices are now narrowed. They have been lied to and bullied and they have dealt with the aftermath.

They might overwhelm you with their caring and wanting to help. They don't want to scare you.

They want to HELP you and want you to have a BETTER experience. They want your BABY to have a better experience. They don't know you but they love you and your baby, and want the absolute best for you.

So please don't be overwhelmed. Especially by me. Right now. Here I go...







Yes.

My MIL is 5'1", tiny, and grew up in occupied Korea with all of the nutritional deficiencies that no doubt went along with that. Her first baby....rural tiny town, just the women of the village helping her. Labored for 5 days, birthed her first baby. 10+ lbs.

She chose to not tell me that story. Not telling me that nearly killed me (quite literally). Americans are so insane they think 12 hours is a long labor. American birth practitioners are so crazy they think 6 hours is long.

I'm sure it's hard to be a hand's off, traditional, old-fashioned birth attendant. I don't care.

I tell you this to show you what nonsense people can say and do to you. My labor was FINE. The main pain I had was because of his position, which no one knew about and therefore couldn't change. I'm not saying it was awesome...it was labor. But the labor itself was nothing horrible. What WAS horrible was my hired help. And that's why I tell you the following. (I don't want to scare you about laboring...I want you to be forewarned about the hired help and how wrong they can be)


2 days of what I later realized was prodromal labor (exhausts you but does NOTHING towards getting the baby out...exhausts you even more when your birth attendants are idiots and don't know what prodromal labor is). 2 more days of somewhat more real labor, but with a baby who turned out to be sunny side up with his hands at his face. NO ONE KNEW this because none of the people I hired or was forced to see had a clue what they were doing.

The people I had at home threatened to leave me if I didn't comply with them. (illegal) They assaulted me by breaking my water (nearly 4 days of some sort of labor, intact membranes...can you say *baby isn't ready*?) as I said "no". They lied to me about how ready they were to receive the baby. They lied to me and coerced me and interfered with communication between me and my husband and lied their rears off to my aunt to get me to the hospital. Then they didn't tell the hospital WHY I was there.

The hospital yelled emergency at me for hours upon hours. They did everything they could to STOP labor then blamed it on me. They had faulty equipment and lied to me about a variety of things and it was all blamed on me. They "got me to yes" (paraphrase of an amazing essay written by a medical student about what they are taught).

They kicked me out 42 hours post-op, saying my insurance wouldn't allow me to stay. This isn't true or legal in any way, shape, or form, but adding to the nonsense...they kept saying the wrong insurance company. They knew I had a 3rd floor walk-up apartment, and sent me home 42 hours post-op as I cried and begged to not be sent home. The ONLY thing good about that part is that it took until the 5th day for my milk to come in, and I was a heck of a lot more patient (as was my son who got a tremendous amount of colostrum) than the hospital staff would have been.

And then? The doctor billed me as having CHOSEN it. Oh and he was out of network. Thousands of dollars more....




They were wrong. They were scared (had litigation looming that I didn't know about). Your doctor is TELLING you "I am scared". He wants this to be easier on him (you can tell because of the scheduling). He won't think about you a minute after he's done with the surgery and you'll be left to either recover easily or not.

I was sent home from the hospital with a hemoglobin level that should have triggered a transfusion. I saw the OB 2 weeks later and he said nothing. I didn't know until I read my records for the umpteenth time when my son was 4 years old.


A friend of mine in a situation like yours, with a mother who told her her whole life that the women in their family "can't" have babies normally, chose scheduled surgery. And regretted it. I don't think she's brave enough to not do it again, but she didn't like the surgery or the LONG recovery time.


It's not just those of us who didn't want it who have a hard time recovering. She wished someone had told her the TRUTH about having major abdominal surgery the day you meet your baby. I tried to, but she wanted to think it was because I wasn't expecting it and had sort-of-labored for days.

Your post is relevant to your case, but maybe not to the OP's.

Believe it or not some doctor's aren't just trying to get a quick game of golf in after work, they honestly think based on the evidence that they have that a C-section is the best way to go.

I won't go into details with 2 people in my family that Dr's insisted they birth naturally, but it wasn't their best option (in hindsight).

Nothing like a good scare mongering...

 

[themommy]

36 years ago, I was born by c-section because my mom had a narrow birth canal. Today, my doctor mentioned that my pelvis is narrow, despite by wide hips, and that he doesn't think I can deliver my baby. Big babies run on both sides of our families and they believe my baby is over 9 pounds, based on ultra sounds and him feeling the baby. She definitely seems like a big one.

I'm scheduled for a c-section in a week and am feeling pretty nervous. Any advice? Stories to share? I'm pooh-sized - how much worse will it be for me? I'm so excited and I kinda expected needing a c-section, based on what's happened in my family, but I can't help but be scared.

No need to be scared! I have had 3 babies. The first was "normal" delivery. The second was an emergency C-section. The 3rd they told me I could choose and I chose to have another C-section. Look at it this way...with a planned C-section you totally get to skip labor. There is a lot to be said for skipping labor pains! Good luck to you and really don't worry...it will all be fine!

 

[monorailsilver]

I loved my c/s. I had one 'regular' birth with my first. That was after 3 days of back labor and I didn't get admitted until about 10 hours before I had her. Valium and Percocet did not help me!

So when I had my 2nd child, he went from head down, to breech to transverse so they scheduled me for a c/s. I think I was a bit nervous but I knew my sister and cousin had them as well.

I think part of me was thrilled because I wouldn't have to labor for 3 freakin days with razor sharp pains spitting up my butt...

So we scheduled the c/s. The day before I went in for my weekly u/s & NST. Well 'it' (I don't find out the sex) was head down so my c/s was cancelled. A week or so later, my water broke in bed...at 4 am...

But I wasn't in active labor so I had to wait it out at home. I got admitted that next am since I wasn't progressing fast enough. Then when I was ready for an epidural he was shoulder down so I went in for an emergency c/s.

I cried for a few minutes. I am not sure why. I don't think I was scared it was emotional.

The scariest part was when they did the spinal. When I had the epidural with my oldest my dh was there for me to squeeze his hands. The tighter the better although not for him as he said it hurt but he didn't want to complain! Anyways, with the spinal, it was the nurses hands I had to squeeze. I didn't know this lady, I didn't want to hurt her being a nurse myself. I was having contractions so I had to stay still. It they were good and waiting until I said I was ready.

Post c/s they did some trial drug on me and I had no pain at all. I was up and in the chair later that evening but I was so doped up on morphine. Once that was out I just walked often.

With my 3rd and last child, I was thrilled with the scheduled c/s. No labor, yay! Nope. My water broke at 5am, 3 weeks before my scheduled c/s. I still had 6 hours of labor and they tried to get me to do a vbac but I was a tubal and I knew how easily I recovered from the first c/s.

If they would of let me, I would of left the hospital that next day but I stayed one more day, so 2 nights. My nurse told everyone that I just had a baby late that morning via c/s and I was up and walking around.

Yeah the belly hurt but it was more the stretching of the muscles them pain for me.

Walk as often as you can. It helps. I remember they told me I could drive as soon as I could press a break pedal by lifting my leg up. Yep I drove with in a week. Even in recovery, I forget which c/s but they said I could go to my room as soon as I was able to wiggle my feet. Surprise surprise, I was wiggling them earlier then expected.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I had an unplanned CSection with my first birth - twins.

If I had had another pregnancy, I probably would have wanted to do it that way again.

Not everyone can, should or wants to have a "natural" birth.

It's ok to have a CSection.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I want to slap your doctor.

This is an inappropriate comment.

 

[Gracie09]

Op just remember all that really matters in the end is that you and your baby are healthy. If I insisted on going natural I would likely be dead. Your doctor knows you and your medical history. You trust him or her. I've had abdominal surgery before my csectiin and my section was so much easier to recover from. Just get moving quickly and if you need pain medication take them.

 

[Jedimom]

I would encourage you to get a second opinion, especially as you sound frightened at the possibility. My gut reaction to your post is that it's your doctor who is pushing this for what I see to be very vague reasons. "Narrow pelvis" is not medical speak. If you had the true medical diagnosis for it, he'd have used that terminology?

There are cases when C-Sections are medically necessary, but there are just as many if not more that are not medically necessary. The U.S. has an obscene rate of C-section deliveries vs. similar civilized countries. Are women here built differently? Umm....no. It's more to do with the litigation environment and the healthcare for profit model of care in the U.S.

 

[Gracie09]

Oh and my sister had a baby that was too big for her to have naturally and ended up having a csection at 43 weeks. Her baby had major issues breathing after he was born because he was so late. So saying a baby will come out when ready is wrong and irresponsible. There can be just as many problems with a late term baby as a preterm baby

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What's really frightening is sending a first time mom out running around a week before she's due to give birth to get a "second opinion".

OP, I imagine when you chose a medical team you made the best decision you could based on your own personal preferences. Don't second guess them now, would be my best advice. Use this time to REST.

It's natural to feel worried about any type of surgery, but chances are great you and your baby will both get through it very well, and soon enough it will be a very distant memory. None of us here know why they feel the way they do, but I'm sure they have good reason. You yourself said you expected it and it sounds like you're pretty ok with it, too, just a bit nervous. These are called INSTINCTS and as a Mom, you should always pay attention to them. It's when you go against them that you run into problems.

Best wishes.

 

[DVCJones]

Every woman is different, and the safety of you and your baby is what is most important. But I have to say I am a little surprised your Dr. would be pro c-section from the start if you are not having any medical complications. Women can deliver large babies. My first was almost 11 lbs!!! No one saw that coming either. It was a surprise to everyone. I was skipping the halls of the hospital within an hour after her birth. My second was an emergency c-section 5 weeks early. I can tell you this, I would rather push out a very large baby than go through the recovery of my c-section.

I would ask your Dr. If you could try a regular birth and keep the C-section as an option if things get serious.

Either way.... Good luck. You are about to enter the best part if your life.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

There is nothing like coming here looking for advice about a c section and being slammed for agreeing to have one. OP, if you truly trust your doctor just go with what he says. If you are questioning this than make an appointment with another dr in that group, if there is one, and ask for a second opinion. I wouldn't advice changing to a midwife or whatever. The thought of that would make me even more nervous especially after being told you need a c section. That's bad advice IMO.

I had three c sections. I can remember being so nervous the first and third time. My second one happened so fast that I didn't have time to think about it. My first was breech, my second was an emergency c section because after hours and hours in labor my baby's heart rate dropped and wasn't recovering correctly. My third was scheduled. Looking back c sections are so easy. You show up, you have a baby quickly and the recovery begins. I had pleasant experiences each time with an easy recovery with each one. I do believe that being active right after helps speed the recovery time.

Now I did have some kind of allergic reaction to the pain medication that last time and I itched for days after. It drove me insane! That's the only negative thing that I experienced.

Oddly enough too, my mother had c sections with both of her babies. My sister and I had c sections with each one of ours, and my oldest DD just had one too. All for different reasons and there was just one big baby born out of all of them.

Good luck OP!!

 

[Pooh2]

What's really frightening is sending a first time mom out running around a week before she's due to give birth to get a "second opinion".

OP, I imagine when you chose a medical team you made the best decision you could based on your own personal preferences. Don't second guess them now, would be my best advice. Use this time to REST.

It's natural to feel worried about any type of surgery, but chances are great you and your baby will both get through it very well, and soon enough it will be a very distant memory. None of us here know why they feel the way they do, but I'm sure they have good reason. You yourself said you expected it and it sounds like you're pretty ok with it, too, just a bit nervous. These are called INSTINCTS and as a Mom, you should always pay attention to them. It's when you go against them that you run into problems.

Best wishes.

Agree!!

We are strangers on the internet. You came looking for some comfort, I hope these posts are not making you more anxious!

I had an unplanned section with my first, she was 9 lbs 5 ounces.
My second pregnancy was with transverse twins who were 7 lbs each.

When you get home accept any offers for help with the baby or household chores. Bring a cough pillow to guard your tummy when holding your little munchkin. The cough pillow pressed against your tummy helps when you get up the first few times as well. Walk those halls in the hospital and short walks at home,even just around the house. Nap when the baby naps. Each day of recovery is easier than the day before.
While you are waiting for the scheduled date to get here, get the cute little baby clothes ready, make some meals for the freezer if you feel up to it.
Congratulations to you!! Your new adventure is about to start!

 

[msmama]

I'm a big believer in you know your body best. The doc may think you need a c-section but what do YOU think (judging from your post, you think he's right, but think really hard about it).

My gut feeling was that I would have a c-section and after 36 hours of labor (3 hours of pushing) I had a c-section.

That said, I don't think his "reasons" are valid reasons like other people have said.

Could you talk to your doctor about maybe waiting to go into labor naturally, trying a vag birth and then moving onto a c-section if anyone is in distress? Would you feel comfortable with that (personally, if I ever have another - which is doubtful - I would want to do this).

Scare alert - this is a BAD CASE SCENARIO and yours wouldn't be this bad: I am pooh sized, and I will be honest, had a HORRIBLE recover, BUT I essentially went through labor AND had a c-section. I was so pumped full of fluids that I left the hospital after 5 days at the same weight I went in (and had an 8 lb baby). My joints were so swollen I had to waddle because I couldn't bend. Because I was so swollen, the wound didn't heal correctly and I basically had an open wound with home health care nurses coming to change bandages twice a day for two weeks.

I think going in for surgery is always going to be nerve wracking though so I would never say "don't worry." That's natural. You need to do what you think is best for YOU and YOUR BABY!

Good luck!!

 

[crisi]

OK, I have to say something.

I have a friend with a severely disabled daughter. The doctor recommended a c-section but - for all the reasons listed here - she decided to try natural childbirth. The doctor had a good reason for wanting a c-section - the baby went without oxygen for fifteen minutes and has severe CP.

If the doctor is recommending a c-section - get a c-section. Maybe you'd deliver naturally just fine - but if you don't and there are lifelong problems, the guilt is horrible to just watch - I can't imagine living with it. The people here don't have to live with the outcome.

 

[Goin2Disney2006]

My first daughter was an emergency C-section at 35 weeks. I had no choice about the C-section. The recovery was slow but I had help from my husband and my mother. My second was a planned C-section. It was my choice to have a 2nd C-section. I knew what to expect and it was a fast recovery. The morning after my C-section I was able to get out of bed on my own, take a shower and get my own night gown on. The nurses were amazed how well I was doing. I am glad I did because they estimated her to be 8 1/2 pounds and she was born at 8lb 15oz. They were pretty accurate.

Every one is different and recover differently. My advice is get up and move when the nurses tell you to. Take little walks around the halls just to move. Take the pain meds!! The morning after both deliveries, I felt like I had a stiff neck but believe it or not it was gas pain. They will give you hot compresses to help break up the gas and they will also give you something like Gas-X. If you have the option of letting the baby sleep in your room or nursery, let him go to the nursery. Get your sleep!!

Good luck, you will be fine!!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My advice is to listen to your body, both with regards to the form of delivery and the recovery from whatever method happens. You may try to get a second opinion before next week.

I think it's a crock to say doctors are pushing c-sections. Insurance companies are making it harder and harder to get a c-section because they don't want to pay. I begged my doctor for a c-section 8 months ago because I didn't think my body would handle a natural delivery well. She said no because there was no indication I needed it, insurance wouldn't pay for it without a reason, my body would stretch to fit the baby out, etc. my doctor admitted last week that my delivery was horrible and next time she fully supports a c-section to avoid damaging my body even further. I had a longer recovery from a natural birth than my friends who had c-sections. I'm still in pain 8 months later.

So gather as much information as you can and listen to your body and make your own informed decision. Don't let the anti c-section crew scare you about it if you think it's best for you and the baby. Rest as much as you can after and utilize any help offered.

 

[kathie859]

OP---Either you trust your doctor or you don't

If you want a second opinion to make yourself "feel" better, get one. But seriously, it sounds like you have a family history that makes a C section a reasonable option.

All the best to you--btw, I concur with the posters who mentioned don't be a slug after your delivery (regardless of method). You'll recover quicker and have more strength if you push thru the initial discomfort and be as active as you can.

 

[MandiC]

I'm going to have to agree with the ladies that say don't schedule a c-section based on big baby/small pelvis. Talk to your dr about at least doing a trial of labor, at least that way you give your body a chance and there are hormones that are released to baby when you go into labor that are helpful to them.
If you do need a csection chances are you and baby will be fine, don't overdo it and ask for help when needed. As with any surgery I wouldn't recommend letting pain meds wear off, keep up with them. Make meals and freeze them ahead of time so you have healthy, quick meals to eat.

 

[pigletgirl]

I want to slap your doctor. I want to have a long chat with your mother for putting this nonsense in your head. And I want to slap HER doctor.


The whole point of the hormone relaxin (the stuff that's making your joints all wobbly) is so that the joints OPEN. What things look or feel like to your doctor right now (some dude sticking his hands in your stuff...do you THINK you might be a bit, you know, tense?) mean NOTHING.

OH it does mean one thing. It means that that is HIS belief system. He's going to put it onto you. And he's not the one that is going to get to have MAJOR abdominal surgery on the very day you meet your baby.


I have a friend who had a liver transplant. Big huge tremendous surgery. And she felt sorry for those who have children by surgery*, because no one handed her a newborn that she was now 100% in charge of on that same day.




*(I don't give it the cutesy name that's a lie because Julius Caesar's mom was alive long after he was alive, and that simply didn't happen back then when children were born by surgery...I call it surgical birth because that's what it IS)


Back to your doctor...why on earth would he want to SCHEDULE it? Oh yes. Because it's convenient for...yep, him.

First babies often go "long". That means those babies NEED more time.

My son was forced out against my will at 42 weeks 3 days, and *had signs of prematurity*.

Oh! They said "the baby's going to be at least 9 pounds, that's hard". I said "bring it on" because fat squishes.

He was 7 lbs 12 oz. He was nearly 2 feet long, probably folded in thirds when inside. He appeared big. He was NOT. With his length, he was scrawny. But they said "9 lbs".


My husband was born at 44 weeks (rock solid dates...FIL on leave and a train woke them up in the middle of the night...cue the sexy music...) and was UNDER 9 pounds. Of course, he was getting out of his crib by 9 months (and hiding), but there are some tradeoffs with having a fully "cooked" baby sometimes.


At the very least *let the baby choose the day or so of his birth*. Let yourself recover from what you have been indoctrinated with your whole life. I'm SO SORRY that this has gotten into your head and has caused you to doubt your own wonderful body.





YES YES YES and more YES.





So much yes.

The people at ICAN will respond urgently to you, with feelings behind it, because they have been there done that and are scarred in many ways because of it. Their choices are now narrowed. They have been lied to and bullied and they have dealt with the aftermath.

They might overwhelm you with their caring and wanting to help. They don't want to scare you.

They want to HELP you and want you to have a BETTER experience. They want your BABY to have a better experience. They don't know you but they love you and your baby, and want the absolute best for you.

So please don't be overwhelmed. Especially by me. Right now. Here I go...







Yes.

My MIL is 5'1", tiny, and grew up in occupied Korea with all of the nutritional deficiencies that no doubt went along with that. Her first baby....rural tiny town, just the women of the village helping her. Labored for 5 days, birthed her first baby. 10+ lbs.

She chose to not tell me that story. Not telling me that nearly killed me (quite literally). Americans are so insane they think 12 hours is a long labor. American birth practitioners are so crazy they think 6 hours is long.

I'm sure it's hard to be a hand's off, traditional, old-fashioned birth attendant. I don't care.

I tell you this to show you what nonsense people can say and do to you. My labor was FINE. The main pain I had was because of his position, which no one knew about and therefore couldn't change. I'm not saying it was awesome...it was labor. But the labor itself was nothing horrible. What WAS horrible was my hired help. And that's why I tell you the following. (I don't want to scare you about laboring...I want you to be forewarned about the hired help and how wrong they can be)


2 days of what I later realized was prodromal labor (exhausts you but does NOTHING towards getting the baby out...exhausts you even more when your birth attendants are idiots and don't know what prodromal labor is). 2 more days of somewhat more real labor, but with a baby who turned out to be sunny side up with his hands at his face. NO ONE KNEW this because none of the people I hired or was forced to see had a clue what they were doing.

The people I had at home threatened to leave me if I didn't comply with them. (illegal) They assaulted me by breaking my water (nearly 4 days of some sort of labor, intact membranes...can you say *baby isn't ready*?) as I said "no". They lied to me about how ready they were to receive the baby. They lied to me and coerced me and interfered with communication between me and my husband and lied their rears off to my aunt to get me to the hospital. Then they didn't tell the hospital WHY I was there.

The hospital yelled emergency at me for hours upon hours. They did everything they could to STOP labor then blamed it on me. They had faulty equipment and lied to me about a variety of things and it was all blamed on me. They "got me to yes" (paraphrase of an amazing essay written by a medical student about what they are taught).

They kicked me out 42 hours post-op, saying my insurance wouldn't allow me to stay. This isn't true or legal in any way, shape, or form, but adding to the nonsense...they kept saying the wrong insurance company. They knew I had a 3rd floor walk-up apartment, and sent me home 42 hours post-op as I cried and begged to not be sent home. The ONLY thing good about that part is that it took until the 5th day for my milk to come in, and I was a heck of a lot more patient (as was my son who got a tremendous amount of colostrum) than the hospital staff would have been.

And then? The doctor billed me as having CHOSEN it. Oh and he was out of network. Thousands of dollars more....




They were wrong. They were scared (had litigation looming that I didn't know about). Your doctor is TELLING you "I am scared". He wants this to be easier on him (you can tell because of the scheduling). He won't think about you a minute after he's done with the surgery and you'll be left to either recover easily or not.

I was sent home from the hospital with a hemoglobin level that should have triggered a transfusion. I saw the OB 2 weeks later and he said nothing. I didn't know until I read my records for the umpteenth time when my son was 4 years old.


A friend of mine in a situation like yours, with a mother who told her her whole life that the women in their family "can't" have babies normally, chose scheduled surgery. And regretted it. I don't think she's brave enough to not do it again, but she didn't like the surgery or the LONG recovery time.


It's not just those of us who didn't want it who have a hard time recovering. She wished someone had told her the TRUTH about having major abdominal surgery the day you meet your baby. I tried to, but she wanted to think it was because I wasn't expecting it and had sort-of-labored for days.

Honestly, I'm sure you had good intentions for OP, but it feels like you are shaming her for a choice and SHE and her provider have chosen.

She's looking for support and advice!

OP, I didn't have a c-section, but an incredibly LOONNNNGGGGG labor 36 hours+ after being induced when my water broke following no contractions. I ended up with a pretty intense episiotomy and if DD was any bigger, I would of fallen into the "failure to progress" camp. She was only 6lbs 13oz. If I have an 8lb baby in the future, they definitely won't fit.

Best of luck and enjoy this precious time!

 

[mjkacmom]

OK, I have to say something.

I have a friend with a severely disabled daughter. The doctor recommended a c-section but - for all the reasons listed here - she decided to try natural childbirth. The doctor had a good reason for wanting a c-section - the baby went without oxygen for fifteen minutes and has severe CP.

If the doctor is recommending a c-section - get a c-section. Maybe you'd deliver naturally just fine - but if you don't and there are lifelong problems, the guilt is horrible to just watch - I can't imagine living with it. The people here don't have to live with the outcome.

This is why I had a c/s with my twins (one was breech). A neighbor's dd has severe CP due to lack of oxygen at birth - the doctor should have ordered a c/s, but didn't. One of my OB's would do a breech delivery, one wouldn't.

I have to say, recovery was much harder with the c/s (planned) than my other births. OP, I'd ask if you could do a trial labor, and be prepared for a c/s if things start going downhill.