VBAC Here I Come!

Genevieve helping to check my blood pressure

For those that don't know the lingo, VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean.  J and I have decided to have a VBAC at home with our amazing certified nurse midwife, Connie with Canyon Midwifery.  We couldn't be more excited for this experience and to meet our new little girl!

On Saturday, Connie came to the house for our 36 week home visit.  It's a regular check up as well as an opportunity for Connie to learn where things are, so when the big day comes, she won't have to ask too many questions or hunt around for things.  We also have a list of things that we will need to prep ahead of time (like starting now) to make things run more smoothly during labor and birth.  Connie delivered our birth kit, which includes disposable items needed during birth, the vitamin K shot Cecilia will receive, and a sweet hat for her that Connie made.  All of these things were brought in a handy diaper bag.

The home visit also helped us visualize where the "action" might take place, and it got me really excited for "d-day". We have rented a birth tub with a built in heater; we will get it at 38 weeks, so it will be available when labor starts (Susan, no bringing up anything about Cecilia coming early.)  J is going to replace our shower head to one that can be handheld; this will probably be very handy.  Connie will be packing her car with all needed supplies, so she'll be prepared when she gets the call that Cecilia is ready to make her debut.

Connie getting ready to measure my belly while G investigates the stethoscope.

Now, for the stats.  My belly has caught up!  I am now measuring 36 weeks.  My blood pressure was 98/60, and I am one pound under what I gained my entire pregnancy with Genevieve.  I'm pretty sure the ice cream I ate every day for several weeks early on in this pregnancy wasn't helpful.  It sure was good though! I got my lab results, and my platelets have slightly raised.  This means we are on for the home birth!  Platelets help with blood clotting, and they were a little low at my 28 week appointment.  If they go too low, I can bleed too much, which isn't safe for a home birth.  They are still on the low side, but I am praising God for their slight increase.  We wonder if I had low platelets last pregnancy because of how much I bled following my c-section.  Also, I am group B strep (GBS) negative, which means I won't need IV antibiotics during labor.  Yay!

Cecilia is nice and low in my pelvis.  In fact, she has "dropped".  My belly is visibly lower, and there is so much pressure in the "low down".  She is right occiput anterior, which is a pretty good position for her to be in.  Left occiput anterior is the optimal position from what I've read, but she can turn herself this way during labor.  Being on the left just makes it easier for babies to rotate and fit through the birth canal.  I'm just glad she's not breech, oblique, transverse, or posterior!  Her little behind has been up by my right ribs, which explains the rib pain I've been feeling there.  Since she's dropped, my rib pain is much less, but there is a new pain on my lower right abdomen.  My hands and feet only get mildly swollen by the end of the night, and the swelling is nowhere near what I experienced with Genevieve.  I'm sure it's because I'm not on my feet all day.

Anyway, we can't quite wrap our minds around the fact that Genevieve's little sister will be joining us very, very soon.  Genevieve talks about playing with Cecilia and wanting to hold her and feed her.  It will be fun to see how she reacts to having this little person invade her space.  I know she will be loving and caring, but I also know it will be a big adjustment for her (and for J and I!).  We are looking forward to having our family come help and visit.  As much as I don't want my parents to miss being there for the birth, Connie said, "Wouldn't it be great though if they missed it by half an hour?"  Translation: My labor and delivery would only be about 3 hours long.  I highly doubt that will happen though, so no worries Mom and Dad.

Okay, Cecilia, you can come anytime after Wednesday 8/20, but I sure would like you to bake a little bit longer.  I'm hoping for a September baby for educational purposes.  Fellow teachers will understand what I mean.