Week 24, Day 1

Hello Blogosphere! I am still here trekking along with Lil’ Butterbean in tow. I am officially 6 months pregnant today and can’t believe how the time has flown. It seems like I lost track from week 19 to now!

As of now I am still researching Vaginal Birth After Abdominal Myomectomy (VBAAM...I am going to copyright/trademark this term, seems I might be the first to use it!) and fighting my OB clinic to allow me to attempt a trial of labor or at least go into labor before they try to cut my baby out of me. I have an appointment on Thursday and will be firing off tons of questions. I hope they are ready.

There is definitely NOT enough information on the website regarding VBAAM and I consider myself to be one of the most thorough researchers I know. LOL!!! There have been two sites that have helped me a bit more. The most informative one spoke specifically to incisions into the uterus at varying heights and styles. One at the same fundal height as my own. The other is a Q&A site I stumbled upon by chance. I was able to email the expert and got a quick response from her regarding my concerns. I have also spoken to a very knowledgeable doula in my area who referred me to a couple of doctors and supports my desire to keep my baby inside until she is ready to come out (up to 42 weeks) and to allow me to attempt the trial of labor or at least go into labor naturally without having a planned c-section. Mid-May I am going to a seminar at a mid-wife clinic in my area. I have also faxed a few doctors for their opinions. All in all I feel I am doing the best possible thing for me and my little one.

I am not saying that I want to do a trial of labor come hell or high water regardless of the threat to my and my baby’s life. I am saying I want to do what’s best for all of us. I want to go into labor naturally and not plan a date to have her evicted. I want to be monitored and make informed decisions regarding the best path. In the end I may need the c-section but let it not be a decision made now. I am in the thick of it all and the risks began the moment I conceived. God’s will shall be done and He will give me the answers.

In regards to other things, Lil’ Butterbean decided to pop and show and there is no hiding the fact that I am pregnant. I am still small and I think she will be a small baby but as long as she is healthy I am happy. She is active and I have learned her daily patterns. She has learned her daddy’s voice and gets excited when she hears him speaking. The other morning I put his hand on my tummy so he could feel her kicking around. She gave him some very strong kicks and he was amazed at how hard they were. It was so cute. I told him ‘she is saying, get up and eat!’

I noticed I am beginning to retain water and the salt in my diet is not helping. My nose has taken a turn for the worse and begin to spread a bit and my breasts are DEFINITELY going through some changes. I am at the point that I need to buy a bigger bra, I made it all the way to 6 months before needing this! My skin was also acting up, but the high grease diet can also be blamed for that.

I am now getting a grip on myself. It has been so nice having an appetite after not wanting to eat and barely being able to eat. I can eat now, but still in small portions and I’ve indulged enough. I have not drank enough water. Now its time for walking and toning to get me ready for labor along with some healthier eating so I don’t have to break bad habits immediately after I deliver. I have only gained 7 pounds but since I was overweight to begin with, I am not worried about that. I think it’d be fantastic to drop 15-20 pounds and come out of the pregnancy at a lower weight than I went in. Then again we’ve got 16 weeks to go and anything can happen. LOL!! Overall, I am totally enjoying this pregnancy thing.