Wow, I am terrible at this blogging thing. A lot has happened since my last post. Here is the short version. I ended up transferring my OB care to a midwife group at Iowa City. I went into labor naturally and was allowed to VBAC. I went through 19 hours of labor with no pain medication, but in the end had to have another c-section. Unfortunately I have an android shaped pelvis on top of the hip dysplasia. My type of pelvis is the hardest for babies to pass through. My daughter, Margaret Irene, was face up, her head and neck where tilted up instead of down, and she was 8 lbs 13 oz. None of those factors help when you have an android pelvis. My son presented in the exact same way, so my body for some reason puts babies in the absolute worst position.
Labor wasn't so bad, I had a doula and I was able to sit in the whirlpool tub for several hours, everything progressed very well, until it was time to push. I tried squatting and every other position available, but Maggie never budged from the zero station. After almost 4 hours of pushing, I knew that I wouldn't be giving birth naturally. She was so stuck against my pelvic bone that the OB sounded like she was giving birth with all the grunting she did trying to get Maggie out.
The thing I remember the most was that toward the end my left hip hurt more than the labor pains. It felt like I need to stretch it out and not put anymore weight on it. My left hip is still super weak and the pregnancy did not help. If anyone is contemplating pregnancy after the PAO I would recommend waiting a little longer before pregnancy. The hip did great during the pregnancy I don't remember having a lot of pain, no locking up, no feeling like I couldn't walk.
Emotionally this has been very hard for me, another surgery, the third in 4 years. I am grateful for my beautiful daughter but my husband and I worked so hard to have a natural birth. I really believed that I would be able to do it, and when it didn't happen I was devastated.
The second c-section was more difficult, my wound had to be re-opened because of all the scar tissue I had from the last one. Once again my wonderful husband had to take care of me. He had to pack my wound twice a day for about 4 weeks, and put up with my emotional break downs.
Today Maggie is 12 weeks old, I just went back to work last week and life is starting to get back to normal. I am concerned that I will have to have another PAO. I hope not, but righty has been stiff in the mornings and it takes me awhile to get going. I haven't had any follow up in a year since my pregnancy prevented x-rays from being taken. I plan to make an appointment for the fall, hopefully I will get good news and righty will behave.
6 years ago
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