In the past week, we have had lots of appointments to ask questions and do our best to make a decision about how Madelyn will be born.
Because of my medical history with my back and the surgeries I have had in the past 4-5 years, we felt like it would be a good idea to go see Dr. Idiculla. She was the head doctor in charge of my rehabilitation and I go to see her on a yearly basis. Tyler and I both had many questions about how labor and delivery would affect my back and the rods and screws that are in place. We also have many concerns about how an epidural would work too because my spine is fused in the place that most epidurals are done.
Of course, I got online to start finding information and I found only scary things that had no good news. Tyler threatened to block Google if I didn't stop reading online until we knew more from talking to my doctors.
On Monday, I went to see Dr. Idiculla at Heartland in St. Joe. Tyler wasn't able to go with me, but my mom went along to ask questions and to help me remember everything that was said. Surprisingly, the doctor wasn't concerned at all with my back. She was more concerned with the nerve damage that had occured before and how a large baby or prolonged labor could damage all of the progress I had made. A very long story short, she recommended that I have the baby via C-section and more likely than not with general anesthesia, rather than an epidural.
We had a regular scheduled OB appointment on Thursday. Tyler and I were both there and went over all of our concerns about my history and shared the information that Dr. Idiculla gave to us. Dr. Driskell, our OB doctor, gave us her opinion and told us the risks of both options. I left that appointment feeling very overwhelmed and stressed because there is so much unknown and we have lots of decisions to make. I was at a place that I didn't feel we even had a good option to choose. Tyler, on the other hand, left the appointment feeling very good and he had a strong feeling that a C-section will be the best option for both Me and Madelyn.
We still have a consultation appointment with the Anestheisa department at St. Lukes on the 28th. At that appointment, we will be able to go over my medical history and learn what our options are for pain management. There are a couple of possibilites for using an epidural or spinal block. I'm just not sure where the doctors stand on their willingness to even try it or how the scar tissue that I have in my back will affect the effectiveness of the procedure. If an epidural isn't an option or does not take, and I have an C-section, the only option is General Anesthesia - where I will be put completely out and Tyler won't be allowed in the room. It's not ideal and hopefully it isn't the option that we will have to take, but we have to make sure we make the best decision for both mom and baby.
We won't have to make a decision until the first week of January, so we're doing our best to get all of the information in the mean time and we will talk with the doctors again to make a decision. Either way, we don't have much time until Madelyn is here and we won't have to worry about all of this anymore.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Checking Off The To Do List
This weekend we made a list of all of the things around the house that we need to be done before Madelyn arrives.
My (Bre) family came down to help us with our list and after a long day yesterday, I really feel like we are ready. The car seat bases are in the car, the stroller is put together, the nursery is ready and clothes are put away. Bottles are washed and have a place in the kitchen cabinets. The pack and play is set up in the basement with diaper changing supplies ready to go. The garage is completely organized and cleaned out so that we have plenty of space for getting in and out of the car.
The only other thing that still needs to be done is to pack the hopsital bags, but we have it started and plan to get it finished this week.
We still have 48 days until our due date, but having all of those major things done just makes me feel so much better. If Madelyn decided to come early, everything is ready and we would be prepared to bring her home with everything in it's perfect place.
That also means that after Christmas, we will have plenty of time to do all of the nesting things. I have a linen closet that I'd love to re-organize and all kinds of cabinets that could use some sprucing up! It also means that if I'm just too tired, that the major things are done and I can take time to relax and enjoy what time we have left before our daughter arrives.
My (Bre) family came down to help us with our list and after a long day yesterday, I really feel like we are ready. The car seat bases are in the car, the stroller is put together, the nursery is ready and clothes are put away. Bottles are washed and have a place in the kitchen cabinets. The pack and play is set up in the basement with diaper changing supplies ready to go. The garage is completely organized and cleaned out so that we have plenty of space for getting in and out of the car.
The only other thing that still needs to be done is to pack the hopsital bags, but we have it started and plan to get it finished this week.
We still have 48 days until our due date, but having all of those major things done just makes me feel so much better. If Madelyn decided to come early, everything is ready and we would be prepared to bring her home with everything in it's perfect place.
That also means that after Christmas, we will have plenty of time to do all of the nesting things. I have a linen closet that I'd love to re-organize and all kinds of cabinets that could use some sprucing up! It also means that if I'm just too tired, that the major things are done and I can take time to relax and enjoy what time we have left before our daughter arrives.
Baby Showers
We have been so lucky to have friends and family that have offered to host a Baby Shower for us. We recently had one with Bre's friends and family and another with Tyler's friends and family. Let's just say that Madelyn is a LUCKY girl. She has already gotten so many wonderful gifts has a closet FULL of cute clothes!
It was so much fun to spend time with our friends and family at each shower. Here's are a few pictures of one of the showers. I will add others as I get them.
It was so much fun to spend time with our friends and family at each shower. Here's are a few pictures of one of the showers. I will add others as I get them.
Mom & Dad on Baby Shower Day
And She Has a NAME!!!
(This post was supposed to be published about a month ago, but I'm still not an efficient blogger and it's just now getting posted...)
After months and months of thinking, we finally decided that our baby girl's name will be Madelyn Elise Sidwell. It took us a very long time to finally know that that was the perfect name for her, but we love it and it's going to fit her perfectly.
We both really liked Madelyn when we were brainstorming girl names and it's the one name that has stuck with us the entire time. Her middle name, Elise, is my (Bre's) sister's middle name. It was important to both us of to have part of her name with a family meaning.
The one hesitation that we had was the fact that a nickname of "Maddy" could happen. When I picture my daughter in my head, I don't see a Maddy. I see a Madelyn. If someday she decideds that she wants to be called Maddy, then so be it. But until that day happens, her name is Madelyn and we love it!
We have agreed on a boy's name a few years ago and we wanted our girl's name to fit with it if our next child is a boy. Madelyn Elise fit that perfectly and we're happy to finally know that our daughter has a name and we don't have to call her "the baby" any more.
After months and months of thinking, we finally decided that our baby girl's name will be Madelyn Elise Sidwell. It took us a very long time to finally know that that was the perfect name for her, but we love it and it's going to fit her perfectly.
We both really liked Madelyn when we were brainstorming girl names and it's the one name that has stuck with us the entire time. Her middle name, Elise, is my (Bre's) sister's middle name. It was important to both us of to have part of her name with a family meaning.
The one hesitation that we had was the fact that a nickname of "Maddy" could happen. When I picture my daughter in my head, I don't see a Maddy. I see a Madelyn. If someday she decideds that she wants to be called Maddy, then so be it. But until that day happens, her name is Madelyn and we love it!
We have agreed on a boy's name a few years ago and we wanted our girl's name to fit with it if our next child is a boy. Madelyn Elise fit that perfectly and we're happy to finally know that our daughter has a name and we don't have to call her "the baby" any more.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)