I cried today. Over something silly. But to me, it was a big deal. And now I'm going to blog about it.
I had my 37 week appointment today and was hoping to have everything perfectly how I wanted it to be. Let me paint a picture of my ideal labor and delivery:
I feel those first pains and within a couple hours, they become more intense and I know I'm in labor. After a couple more hours of those intense pains, I know I need to go to the hospital. We show up, they check me, I'm at a 7 or 8, we get changed and set up, and within the hour (after 2 or 3 pushes) the baby is born. Then, all goes swimmingly over the next 24 hours, at which point we get discharged and get to come home. Of all that, the two important things to me are 1) only being in the hospital to deliver, not to labor and 2) going home after 24 hours and no more.
But I've been very concerned about getting to the hospital in time, seeing that we live 30-40 minutes away, not to mention to time to get our girls where they need to be, etc. And if each labor typically gets shorter, timing the whole thing gets tricky. I don't want to get there a minute too soon or a minute too late. We've prayed a lot about it, praying to know when to go, and today we got our answer.
Last week I was tested for Group B Strep...and it came back positive. I realize that a TON of women have GBS and its no big deal to them. But I was so disappointed to hear the consequences of having GBS. First, I have to be given an antibiotic during labor...in the hospital...for at least 4 hours. So, instead of showing up to deliver, I have to labor in the hospital. Second, if the baby comes BEFORE 4 hours of antibiotics, the hospital will monitor her for 48 hours, meaning either I go home without her at 24 hours, or we both stay...in the hospital...for 48 hours. Silly to cry about it, but I did.
At the same time, my baby's health and safety is far more important than my ideal plans. Afterall, the consequences of her contracting GBS would be worse. For example, "Babies infected with Group B Strep or GBS may go on to develop pneumonia or even meningitis. Others may have long term problems such as hearing or vision loss during their lifetime." Sweet. Yeah, not going to risk that one.
Also at the same time, I recognize this as the Lord's hand, stepping in to remove the worry of when to get to the hospital and ensuring that we will be there in plenty of time. Perhaps nothing out of the ordinary will happen, but maybe she'll come so fast that we wouldn't have gotten to the hospital in time had we done it our usual way. Or maybe we need the extra monitoring this time. Or maybe nothing. Who knows.
But one thing is for sure, this will be a different labor and delivery than we've experienced or planned for.
6 comments:
I tested positive for GBS for Tyler and so I've had to be treated for each delivery - no questions asked. Yeah, it's a pain to have to be hooked up and there early, but we haven't had any other problems (knock on wood). I consider it a minor issue now and grateful that they can treat it. From what I've heard though - there is also a shot they can give the baby after it's been born if it wasn't treated prior to delivery. I was also told I only had to be there 2 hours prior to delivery.
Good luck, my friend. I'm sure thinking of you and praying for you that everything goes well!
This is sweet...I love and admire your faith and perspective even in hard times. I can't wait to look BACK after we have our babies and say, "See, it always works out"...but until then, we can cry all we want.
Good luck. Many times things like these are blessings in disguise - like my gestational diabetes while I was pregnant with Laney.
I understand! I had way more concerns this time about labor as well. Maybe it is the whole 3rd baby thing. Everything always works out for the best. My answer came when my doctor allowed me to be induced 2 days early. I felt good about the decision even though I did want to do most of my laboring at home. I had a lot of back labor this time and being in the hospital to labor was the way to go. I will pray for you and your delivery.
Cheri, everything is going to work out well.
Anything having to do with a hospital is stressful for me. I'm sorry to hear that things won't be able to be "ideal", but I am so happy that you seem to be handling it so well. What could be more ideal than having a healthy baby girl! I'm so excited to see her!
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