United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I haven't posted on here too much. My daughter Ava is now a little over 2 years and has had such great recovery on her own! I am so proud of her! Anyway I am now 9 months pregnant and am starting to get very paranoid! Of course I have switched Dr.'s and am very proactive in this pregnancy. We are doing an ultrasound next week to get a better idea on the size of the baby and probably going to induce 2 weeks early. I do have a birth plan written, there will not be any forceps or vacuum and also I will not have an epi. If the baby doesn't descend properly they will take me in for a c-section. All these feelings are coming up again and I am really concerned that I am going to panic when I go into labor and not be able to do it! Thanks for listening, I guess I just needed to get this out.

Tara (mom to Ava ROBPI)
blades01@arvig.net

Tara,

I'm sure this is in your birth plan - but also no pushing on your back!!! (this was a HUGE factor in my daughter's injury!)

It's perfectly normal for you to be terrified about giving birth again! Everyone here can understand!

Just remember that knowledge is power - and you are well educated about SD and OBPIs!!! I truly hope you have a wonderful birth experience, and that your little one is born waving both fists in the air!

Keep us posted, and congratulations!

mica

I dont have any advice but want to wish you the best with your new baby's arrival!!! I hope all goes great and you are able to welcome a beautiful baby into the world!!!
Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

I second the advice of not pushing while on your back and want to go a bit further and say...stay off your back altogether! Don't labor on your back at all. Move around. Get out of that bed! Ask for the telemetry monitor if you NEED to be monitored (which you don't have to be monitored all the time and the nurse can safely dopple your baby's heartbeat as needed during labor) this way you can move around. Hands and knees, side-lying if you need to get off your feet, sitting on a ball, squatting (even though you might not be pushing, this allows the baby to descend), walking, etc. are all great positions.

Keep in mind, induction of labor does not allow your baby to descend in a natural pattern, so it is even more important for you to try to assist this baby to descend by being upright as much as possible. Discuss this with your provider AND the nurses and make sure it is in your birthplan with the doctor's signature right next to that part of the birthplan!

Bring your relaxation tools with you like music, rice pack (like you'd use warmed up in a microwave for sore muscles), tennis ball and a sock to roll over your back if you have back labor, lotions, etc. to help you through labor. Remember that you are a strong woman who can do this. It's been done before. It's okay to make noise and anyone who tells you it's not is full of you know what. I'm a L&D nurse and I let my patients make whatever noise they want (except when pushing because when pushing noise means they are letting extra energy release and they really need to instead focus that energy elsewhere and we just refocus at that point).

Good luck to you, your family, and your baby.

Tanya in NY
Amber's Mom, ROBPI, 4 years old

Tanya

I wish you were there when I delivered my children.
It is so nice to know things have changed since then and woman don't have to be strapped to a table.

Tara - You can do it and remember you are in charge it is your baby and your body.
Good Luck and happy delivery.

Kath robpi/adult