scared to death

[Catherineanne]

I guess more than anything I just need prayers to help calm my worrying heart. I am truly scared to death.

Does anyone have any information that may help me worry less?

First of all, congratulations on your lovely son, and on your forthcoming daughter; may the Lord protect them both, and may he hold you all safely in the palm of his hand.

Secondly, you were seriously traumatised at the time of your son's birth, and this means that the upcoming delivery is going to be particularly challenging for you; it will bring back all of those difficult memories. I advise you to talk to your doctor about this now, and explain what is happening. He will understand if you explain exactly what happened, and how frightened you were at the time.

I think you will need counselling to help you to get through this; it is not just a matter of not worrying, it is far deeper than that, perhaps as far as post traumatic stress; speak to your doctor.

 

[8462]

ok. . . so I spoke with the Dr. on Thursday. Looks like we are getting my sugar levels under control just by changing my diet. That's great news. She spoke with me a little on my fears and calmed me down just a bit as far as my upcoming c-section goes. She informed me to write a "birthing plan" out so that she can better serve me.

 

[8462]

This is what I have been working on for the past couple of days.
If you guys have any suggestions after reading what I already have then please feel free to post it. I do not want to forget anything.

Birthing Plan:

NAME: AMANDA JO VENENGA

ATTENDANTS
I'd like the following people to be present during the birth:
~ Husband: David Raymond Venenga
~ I am extremely firm in my decision to only have my husband and no other friends or family members in the operating room or recovery room while the nurses and Doctors are working with me and my new baby. They can come in to the recovery room after the nurses have gotten us settled.

I'd like the following people to be (if they choose ) waiting after birth
in the waiting area to see the baby once we have returned to the
recovery room and have been situated. (They can come in to visit but only
at the approval of my husband. If he thinks that it will be too much for me then
he has final say.) (I will also want to see my son right away as we return to the
recovery room. I know that I will be extremely unsettled if he is not there.)
~Bobbie Jo Martin
~Amy Wyckoff
~Lynn Hale
~Geraldine Duncan
~David Alexander Venenga (My son)
~Sharon Winterod
~J.W. Winterod
~Patricia McDonald
~Amanda McDonald
~Ashley McDonald
~Nicole L. Whiddon
~Mary L. Myers
~Robert Myers
~(any other visitors will have to be approved upon arrival and through
either me or my husband.)


HOSPITAL ADMISSION & PROCEDURES
Once I'm admitted, I'd like:
~my husband to be allowed to stay with me at all times through surgery and returning to the recovery room.
~In the event that he has to leave for work I would like for only Ms. Geraldine Duncan to be allowed to stay in the recovery room overnight with me. (unless I or my husband give different instructions once we are in the hospital.)

PAIN RELIEF
~I would like to be offered pain medications
~For pain during surgery I would like to have a spinal block instead
of an epidural.
~I tend to have a very low pain tolerance. I do not deal well with pain either.

C-SECTION
I'd like:
~my husband present at all times during the operation.
~my husband to be allowed to cut the cord
~the baby to be given to my husband as soon as she's dried, if appropriate.
~I would like for my husband to be the one to show me the baby instead of a nurse.
~to breastfeed my baby in the recovery room
~something to help with Nausea during the surgery. (I became very nauseous last time.)
~something to help keep me from breaking out with blisters on my face as well. ( I ended up with blisters all over my bottom lip and chin after my surgery last time.)
~to watch the amount of blood loss during surgery. (this is a main concern for me.)


POSTPARTUM
After delivery, I'd like:
~all newborn procedures to take place in my presence
~my husband to stay with the baby at all times if I can't be there
~to stay in a private room if possible
~to have a cot provided for my husband or Ms. Duncan in the event that they stay the night in the room with me. (one of them should be with me at all times.)
~24-hour rooming-in with my baby. (I do not want her going to the nursery for any reason.)
~my son brought in to see me and meet the new baby as soon as
possible after the birth. (This will help calm my nerves and worries tremendously)
~my husband to be allowed to video tape once we are in the recovery room.
~No one is to be allowed in the recovery room until David, Alex, and I have had our "time" with the new baby.
~The doctor to come to my recovery room and check on me and let me know how surgery went. I would like to be kept well informed.
~to be able to get up and walk when I decide to and when I can.
~to only walk when my husband is present.
~for my husband to help me with going to the restroom and showering. (in the event that he cannot help I would like for a nurse to help as much as possible. Ms. Duncan is way too old to be trying to help me up and down out of bed and to the bathroom.)
~to wear my own clothes in the recovery room after all procedures have been finished.
~to have an extra pillow and blanket so that I can be comfortable and not cold.

FEEDING ISSUES
I plan to:
~breastfeed exclusively (Under any circumstances where I change my mind
I will have her bottle fed.)
~pump breast milk and have it on hand under the circumstances that I am unable or too tired to breastfeed.
~not have nurses help me with breastfeeding. (it made it more difficult for me last time and only made me upset with them.)

DISCHARGE
I'd like to:
~Make sure that all postpartum bleeding issues have been dealt with before leaving the hospital. This is a major concern for me due to the excessive amount of blood loss during my previous c-section with my son. I cannot stress enough at how worried I am that I will lose a large amount of blood during this surgery. With my son I lost 8 units of blood in the operating room and 2 more units of blood once I was returned to the recovery room. I also had blood in my urine after surgery. If we can keep an eye on this it will help calm my nerves greatly.

~make sure that I have spoken face to face with Dr. Dabney before leaving the hospital.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

That sounds like a good plan,I'm sure the doctors are going to keep an extra eye on your babies sugar levels,for 24 or more hours,don't worry to much,thats what there supposed to do,since u have gestational diabetes.Make sure u talk to them about that,that might put a dent in your plan.

 

[8462]

Thank you. I will be sure to add something about it in my plans.

 

[8462]

Ok so this has me worried. I went to the doctors office yesterday and she seemed really worried. They are going to bring me back in Next Wed for a stress test and an ultrasound. Apparently my baby is bigger than what she is supposed to be. They are also worried that there is not enough blood flowing through the placenta. I am extremely worried about this.

Has this happened to anyone else and if so what did your OB/GYN do for you?

 

[blackribbon]

Stay calm. One of the things that goes with gestational diabetes is "big" babies. It doesn't mean that anything is wrong with them and if I remember correctly, they often lose a bunch of weight after being born. That said, I did NOT have gestational diabetes and I gave birth to a 10 lb 3 oz boy...both of us just fine...however, there were a number of nurses talking about the "kindergartener in the newborn nursery".

And there are a lot of situations in pregnancy that they worry about but often don't end up meaning anything (and I honestly don't know anything about this). Relax. God is in control no matter how this comes out. But your doctors are "on" this and paying attention. That is good. I think that this might just be leaning toward them taking the baby as early as they can safely. This is not a major danger because they are paying attention and are expect the unexpected at this point.

Try to find a way to let go as much of the worry as you can...it is more healthy for both you and your sweet baby. If you run around worrying all the time, you are also giving her a high dose of the panic hormones too. Try to get your husband to give you a "baby the baby's mommy" day...and get some good cuddle time with your son while he doesn't have to compete with his new sister.

((hugs)) and prayers.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Ok so this has me worried. I went to the doctors office yesterday and she seemed really worried. They are going to bring me back in Next Wed for a stress test and an ultrasound. Apparently my baby is bigger than what she is supposed to be.
Has this happened to anyone else and if so what did your OB/GYN do for you?

The big baby,is common with gestational diabetes,they will monitor the sugar,once she's born.They'll deliver sooner,if she seems to big.

They are also worried that there is not enough blood flowing through the placenta. I am extremely worried about this.

This would have me,even more concerned,I would see,if they would deliver sooner.Aren't u in your ninth month?

 

[1Prophetess]

I had the same experience. My son ended up being quite large, his head was an inch larger than normal, so I ended up with a section. I wouldn't worry about it.

They like to watch this progress on these babies in case they need to induce early was what I was told.

Please stop worrying. Your baby is going to be fine. The book of Job talks about the devil watching and giving people what they worry about. So stop worrying. Give it to the Lord. He wants you to have a wonderful, healthy baby.

 

[united4Peace]

Ok so this has me worried. I went to the doctors office yesterday and she seemed really worried. They are going to bring me back in Next Wed for a stress test and an ultrasound. Apparently my baby is bigger than what she is supposed to be. They are also worried that there is not enough blood flowing through the placenta. I am extremely worried about this.

Has this happened to anyone else and if so what did your OB/GYN do for you?

I had to go for numerous stress tests. Gestational Diabetes does result in bigger babies however not all big babies are a result of GD. Our babe was 9lbs 7oz...within a week he gained another 12oz...our second babe was big as well 9lbs 9oz, however he lost over a pound and took along time catching up.
I never had GD, our babes never developed Diabetes, and now they are 5'9 1/2 and 5'10 (our younger ds is the taller of the two) however they still have alot of growing to do considering they are 13 and 14
Don't stress yourself...
Oh just to reassure you...when I was 3 mnths with our 2nd, I started bleeding. The doctor told me to go home and let nature take its course (that I was having a misscarriage). Six months later I delivered a healthy babe .

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

They are also worried that there is not enough blood flowing through the placenta. I am extremely worried about this.
Has this happened to anyone else and if so what did your OB/GYN do for you?

If they say there's no blood flow,tell them to take out.U might be getting a blood flow,most people are.I knew someone that wasn't getting any blood flow,in the placenta,they didn't deliver,until the steroids were given to her and her placenta ruptured,the babies survived,but it was scary.

 

[8462]

They aren't saying that it's 100% that bloodflow is not going there they are just saying that they are worried that there is not enough going there. . . We are doing our stress testing and ultra sound on Wednesday morning. . . I am a little worried about it but I am praying that all goes well. . .

 

[1Prophetess]

Job 3:25 What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.


Please, please talk to the Lord about your fear. Fear is not from God.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I would suggest you start walking. Walking is absolutely the best exercise. It helps circulation a lot, and it helps you have better muscles for the baby's strength.

But please stop fearing. Please.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

They aren't saying that it's 100% that bloodflow is not going there they are just saying that they are worried that there is not enough going there. . . We are doing our stress testing and ultra sound on Wednesday morning. . . I am a little worried about it but I am praying that all goes well. . .

I think there just being extra cautious.

 

[1Prophetess]

I think there just being extra cautious.

Yes, I do too. But that's what they always do with any pregnancy so as not to find problems at the end. Medical people are always extra cautious---lawsuits happen.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Yes, I do too. But that's what they always do with any pregnancy so as not to find problems at the end. Medical people are always extra cautious---lawsuits happen.

The lady I mention,I don't think there were cautious enought,The baby had ver little flow for months,then no flow for a few days.

 

[ex-pat]

Have you considered doing a pre-op autologous blood donation? Will they do that at this stage of a pregnancy?

 

[1Prophetess]

The lady I mention,I don't think there were cautious enought,The baby had ver little flow for months,then no flow for a few days.

...thus--lawsuits!

 

[8462]

never considered it. We will see later this morning. I have been up all night worried about the testing later this morning. . . I am hoping that all goes well. . . And I do think they are being extra cautious too. . . Hopefully that is all that is the matter. . . I will let you know what they say though.

 

[who93]

8462, I see it has been a week since your last post. How are you feeling and how are things going now?

I have prayed for you and your baby. God bless!