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Birth countdown: T-8 (+/-) weeks

I’m 32 weeks pregnant which means I have roughly 2 months to go. I can’t believe Baby #2 will be here so soon. As many of you know, we had to have a c-section with Ezra due to heart rate continuing to decelerate during contractions (birth story here) and since taking Bradley classes when pregnant with Ezra, I’ve really, really wanted an unmedicated vaginal birth. So we’re hoping for a VBAC this time around.

We had wanted to have our second son at a birth center, but sadly the only freestanding birth center in San Diego cannot see VBACs at their center. That left a home birth or a hospital birth. Given that Ezra’s c-section was medically necessary, I think we’re a bit shy of a home birth at this point. We are with Kaiser and thankfully they do have midwives as part of their OB-GYN practice, so we do get a *bit* less of the medical model with that. When we toured the hospital they seemed like they likely do things “by the book”, including regularly inducing patients and suggesting epidurals. However, they do have rocking chairs and birth balls available as well as a squat bar for pushing. They do seem that they want to help you have the birth you want but don’t particularly advocate “natural birth” for everyone.

To ensure the greatest possible chances of having a successful VBAC, we’ve hired a doula to help us manage the labor at home as long as possible. That way they won’t want to rush me off to the OR at the hint of decels (which are normal). I’ll keep you all updated on my VBAC journey as it gets closer!

Checklist:
1. Hire doula
2. Tour hospital
3. Work on birth plan for next visit with midwife
4. Practice hypno-birthing exercises
5. Do pelvic rocks
6. Take Birthing from Within classes with doula (starts in a few weeks!).
7. Other items: buy/make small cloth diapers and get out and wash newborn clothes!

This entry was posted by Ashley on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 at 9:23 pm. This entry was tagged with , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

4 Responses to “Birth countdown: T-8 (+/-) weeks”

  1. Bryce Says:
    February 4th, 2009 at 11:01 pm

    Ummmm…I think I need a beer.

  2. Ginette Says:
    February 5th, 2009 at 8:29 am

    I had a doula and she was a LIFE SAVER! (daniel agrees!) I am so glad that you have hired one…totally worth it. I am excited for you! If there is anything I have learned from God since being a mom, it is that you can’t “plan” anything….but I will hope and pray for the best for you. :)

  3. Dad/Tor Says:
    February 5th, 2009 at 10:12 am

    Bryce, pour me one too!

  4. Ashley Says:
    February 5th, 2009 at 10:35 am

    Thanks Ginette. Given Ezra’s birth circumstances, and wanting a natural birth, we definitely knew we couldn’t have planned it; we did however feel prepared for whatever happened. Hopefully that will be the case this time and hopefully we can do a VBAC.