Jellybean Watch – Week 5

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Today is my first doctor’s appointment for me and the jellybean. I imagine that the blood tests will come back and say I’m iron deficient (again!) and I should be taking the super-strong iron supplements. Last time I was on them and they were about 20x more than the general recommended intake. And I took them twice a day. It wrecks havoc with your system, but it was the only way to get my iron levels up to a normal level.

As I’m in complete, unadulterated planning mode, I also called the hospital yesterday. Not my closest hospital. Because my closest hospital has about a 2% VBAC success rate (vaginal birth after cesarean). Not encouraging. And their rate of c-section generally is about 55%. Which is ridiculous. And I’m no longer surprised that I had a c-section. I’m surprised when anyone birthing there, doesn’t have a c-section. My area is a bit of a black hole for VBAC options but I’ve discovered that there is a program at another relatively close hospital (about an hour away).

I called them yesterday and mostly they were very helpful. But in general, I don’t think it’s a good idea for people answering the phone at the delivery unit to blather on about how they never make appointments before 14-20 weeks because you are high risk for miscarriage. Everyone knows that. You don’t need to be beaten over the head with it. There are so many better ways of saying it.

I’ll be actively looking for other ways to aid me in my VBAC attempt. So if anyone has any tips or good books to read – I’m all ears.

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Tagged as: c-section, cesarean, jellybean watch, pregnancy

http://www.ahthepossibilities.com Seraphim

All the best for todays app. And can I just add that you need to make sure your supplement contains iodine. It’s really important too! PS Advice now over for the next 9 months I swear!

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

Thanks for the tip. I checked my supplement (I’m taking Elevit) and it doesn’t contain iodine. I’m hoping that iodised salt counts?!

http://www.ahthepossibilities.com Seraphim

Nope. You need it in the supplement.It’s crucial you have enough and usually diet isn’t enough. Just wrote a piece on it. Was horrified. I’ll email you links to research findings if you like.

bronstar

What about getting in touch with an independant midwife? For homebirths, when I was reading up on them, a large percentage of women were having VBACs via a homebirth.

This forum has sooo many links and suggestions and contact details for midwives: http://www.joyousbirth.info/forum

Not suggesting that a homebirth is what you should do! A midwife can go to hospital with you for the birth and know what your plans are beforehand so that when you are in labour, she can advocate on your behalf with doctors and nurses.

Not sure of the cost for hiring one though, I know for a homebirth the average price was $3500-4000, that was for everything – pre and antenatal care, on call for two weeks around EDD, supplies, etc.

Geez, listen to me! I haven’t even had a baby, so maybe someone else can give some ideas?!

x

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

Thanks Bron. I’m not considering a home birth – I just wouldn’t be comfortable with it. But the cost of an independent midwife is about the same $3,000 – $5,000 for a hospital birth or I could get a birthing assistant (doula) to help for about $1,500.

I think the results speak for themselves with an independent midwife there is an 80% reduction in the need for c-sections and it’s about 40% with a doula. It’s just a matter of it’s within our budget. Stupid money!

http://www.google.com/s2/profiles/104031464078848991939 Sherri

Could those nurses BE any less supportive??? Do pregnant moms really NEED to hear that they are at risk? That bugs me…

I love that you are referring to it as the jellybean! Too cute.

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I was surprised and thought it was pretty insensitive especially given it’s not as though they’re giving me new information!

I’ll be sticking with the jellybean – glad you like it! Husband does not want to know the sex beforehand – so it’ll be a mystery until the jellybean makes an appearance.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/12932508388869573748 Megan

Hope it all went well today! xx
http://www.picklebums.com katepickle

Some people are clueless when it comes to keeping their mouths shut… had a medicare woman question the number of scans I had while pregnant with the girls… “You know we only cover extra scans if they are medically necessary… no one has this many scans unless their baby is dyeing or something”… um yeah thanks… already knew my babies were in trouble, didn’t need you to remind me.

Anyway on the iron… have you tried a liquid iron supplement. I went with spatone this last time and it is MUCH gentler on the system and got my iron levels up fast.

Good luck with your VBAC…. I just had my second and can’t tell you how wonderful it is to birth your baby the way you want to!
Cm

Hi, I visited a site called birthrites when I was planning my vbac a cpl of years ago, the ladies there were so helpfull and supportive, really made all the difference for me!
http://ceaselesspraises.blogspot.com Carrie

I hope you can have success with the VBAC – the two hospitals within a half hour of where we live will not do VBAC’s, but a friend of mine was determined to have one, so she had to drive an hour and 20 minutes up to Buffalo, and her VBAC went fine – but really, do the hospitals around here think it’s safe to have a woman who’s in labor driving an hour and a half to have a VBAC, or to just get to the nearest hospital???

Sorry about the insensitive comment – it’s not like she needed to tell you that!!!
http://www.goodgoog.com/?fcsite=15264543862287796030&fcprofile=13027185617605341381 Cat

Hoping it all went fabulously Zoey. My iron levels were the same. Looking forward to hearing how you go with your VBAC journey. xxxxx
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http://www.shesuggests.com/ Yuliya

hi there, saw you this morning on Scary Mommy and HoboMama, some books I would recommend are “Birthing from Within” and “Hypnobirthing” the latter I found useful even for a c-section. As for resources I would start with ICAN. Good luck with Jellybean!