KatieV
11-24-2002, 11:11 PM
I've read you posts about not being able to have a home birth after cesarean. I have to tell you, though, that on the homebirth part coupled with the diabetes part that being in a hospital doesn't have to be a bad thing.
But having a cesarean shouldn't be required.
I'm also a diabetic, so I know how difficult the whole in the hospital for birth thing can be. The biggest reason, though, for you to have baby in a hospital isn't because of risks to you. Honestly, the risks to baby are far greater if you birth at home. Especially unatteded because then dh would need to know everything that could go wrong in labor AND with a newborn. I say this because my first was born at 39w1d but was in respiratory distress that required a 6 day stay in the NICU. Not that this would happen with every child (and indeed, my second was born and had NO problems at 37w5d). But definitely consider the possibilities....
On the other hand, consider that many states, like Colorado, where I am, midwives are not allowed to attend a homebirth for any diabetic. That means that even if I wanted to attempt a homebirth at all, I would have to do it unassisted. Because I had a baby with problems before, I won't even consider it. If dd were my only child and I had just her birth to consider then I'd have no problem with the unassisted homebirth.
The only other suggestion I have is to keep a good relationship with your OB and request frequent monitoring with ultrasoud for estimates of baby's weight. 5 hours before dd was born the U/s indicated she would weigh between 6.5 and 6.75 pounds.....and she was 6lbs. 3oz. A knowledgable doctor who had this kind of estimated fetal weight should not insist on an automatic C/S. And at the same time, if you stick to your guns you can influence the outcome.....I had an OB (one of the other docs in the practice) ask me why I wouldn't consider an elective C/S simply because my son was 9lb12oz (vaginal, 4th degree tear, shoulder dystocia, etc. etc. etc.). I laughed at him and said I was working too hard for good control to even consider that an option!
At any rate, consider your options carefully. We all think we want the "perfect" birth experience, but in reality what we really want is a perfect baby.
But having a cesarean shouldn't be required.
I'm also a diabetic, so I know how difficult the whole in the hospital for birth thing can be. The biggest reason, though, for you to have baby in a hospital isn't because of risks to you. Honestly, the risks to baby are far greater if you birth at home. Especially unatteded because then dh would need to know everything that could go wrong in labor AND with a newborn. I say this because my first was born at 39w1d but was in respiratory distress that required a 6 day stay in the NICU. Not that this would happen with every child (and indeed, my second was born and had NO problems at 37w5d). But definitely consider the possibilities....
On the other hand, consider that many states, like Colorado, where I am, midwives are not allowed to attend a homebirth for any diabetic. That means that even if I wanted to attempt a homebirth at all, I would have to do it unassisted. Because I had a baby with problems before, I won't even consider it. If dd were my only child and I had just her birth to consider then I'd have no problem with the unassisted homebirth.
The only other suggestion I have is to keep a good relationship with your OB and request frequent monitoring with ultrasoud for estimates of baby's weight. 5 hours before dd was born the U/s indicated she would weigh between 6.5 and 6.75 pounds.....and she was 6lbs. 3oz. A knowledgable doctor who had this kind of estimated fetal weight should not insist on an automatic C/S. And at the same time, if you stick to your guns you can influence the outcome.....I had an OB (one of the other docs in the practice) ask me why I wouldn't consider an elective C/S simply because my son was 9lb12oz (vaginal, 4th degree tear, shoulder dystocia, etc. etc. etc.). I laughed at him and said I was working too hard for good control to even consider that an option!
At any rate, consider your options carefully. We all think we want the "perfect" birth experience, but in reality what we really want is a perfect baby.