husband being shipped out with marines

[Becky89*]

 

[Becky89*]

Quote:
Most of those are still really far away! I am in norwestern Pennsylvania in Mckean county.

Last time I talked to Josh about the idea of using yahoo messanger and he said it was a good idea cause that way he can get my attention on the cell phone to get me to go online.

 

[cmb19]

Ok 2 things...1, everything will turn out ok with Josh and the baby

, my man is in the National Guard and his unit is being shipped out, lucky for me he isn't because he's a cadet and isn't allowed, however I'm friends with a good number of the boys who are being shipped out and I'm worried about all of them. 2, I'm in Mckean County and never thought I'd find someone else who was so I felt I just HAD to reply to your thread...........Hubber pride

 

[BettyR]

You have been given some really good advice by a bunch of really nice people.

But if it makes you feel any better in my family I have 2 nephews, 2 son-in-laws and 1 son…all marines and all have been in Iraq… 1 was also in Afghanistan…most of them have been overseas twice. They have all come home safe and sound; I’m sure your husband will too. You need to focus on keeping you and your baby safe and health here.

 

[Becky89*]

Quote:
You're in smethport wow !!!!!!!!! WOLVES ROCK!! GO FIGHT WIN!!!WE ARE THE WOLF PACK, WOLF PACK MIGHTY MIGHTY WOLF PACK!!!!

!!!

 

[Becky89*]

I still hope someone gives me advice about the shunt I don't know what to do about that.

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Becky, I am just catching up on your posts about hubby and baby.

If you are not comfortable with your doctor then figure out a way to change. Ask other moms, ask the nurses, ask anyone that looks like they might know about OBGYNs. In my HMO we were assigned a nice doctor, but then my mom and I both noticed another doctor, tall as could be, on crutches from a skiing accident and since both of us were impressed by him I asked to have my son reassigned to that Doctor. I never regretted the change to Dr. Fonseca, turns out that most of his patients were the children of the nurses and staff that worked around him.

You are allowed to choose your Dr, you want to have someone that you feel comfortable with. The Doctor that delivered my first son looked like he was 19 years old and told me that it did not hurt when he stitched me up after delivery! If I had had the strength, I would have kicked a leg free and used my foot to smack him, then I could have told him it did not hurt me! LOL

As for the shunt, it is time to start asking about that, there have been plenty of people with shunts in your situation. There must be information out there for you. Good friends of mine had a son who was one of the first children to be given a shunt, there was no info then, but shunts have been in use for a long time now, so somewhere there must be information. I will ask a friend who might know and post if I find something out.

Take care! I will be thinking about you - positive thoughts and prayers with you Becky.

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Ok, this is worth reading. It is done by a mom who has a shunt due to hydro.... the part about shortening the pushing process because of pressure in the brain makes sense. Take a look .

A quote from another source says:
As more women with cerebrospinal fluid shunts reach child-bearing age, neurosurgeons, obstetricians and other health care providers will increasingly be called upon to care for them once they become pregnant. A review of the literature reveals that these patients may develop symptoms of shunt malfunction as uterine size increases. In most cases, symptoms can be managed conservatively during pregnancy and usually resolve following delivery. The presence of a CSF shunt per se, is not a contraindication to pregnancy and eventual fetal and maternal outcome has been excellent in the majority of cases. Labor and delivery should be allowed to progress naturally and interventions limited to those indicated for obstetrical reasons alone. Peripartum prophylactic antibiotics may be indicated and special care ought to be exercised if epidural analgesia or cesarian section is deemed necessary. http://content.karger.com/ProdukteD...e=235184&ProduktNr=224273&filename=120558.pdf

So after a quick Google search, with key words being - mother shunt delivery, it looks like there are some issues with a mother having a shunt and possible complications. One source implied that added oxygen and monitoring were needed.

Again, best wishes for you and yours.

 

[Becky89*]

does that mean that a C- section would be the best idea?

 

[arlee453]

Quote:
*****BECKY....the below assumes that the shunt you have is a cerebral/spinal fluid shunt. I don't even know for sure what kind of shunt you have and for what purpose - if you don't want to post it publically, please PM me the details and I can do research for you on exactly the situation you are in. If your shunt is not to relieve crainal/spinal fluid pressure then the issues below may or may not apply to you at all******

Special care means the mom is at increased risk for comlications with a c-section or epidural. It probably means that if you need a c-section, it would most likely be done with GENERAL anesthesia (ie, knocking you completely out), which carries MUCH higher risks to you and especially the baby than doing a section under spinal or epidural anesthesia.

I'd ask a LOT of questions NOW about what would be safest for you. I'm betting with the shunt, that an UNMEDICATED birth (ie, no epidural) would be safest, just because epidurals and spinals are delivered either just outside or inside the spinal fluid, and if you have a shunt for spinal fluid already they wouldn't want to give you anesthesia in that area. They are probably talking scheduled c-sec because so many women choose epidurals, and if you aren't a good candidate for that, then they are figuring a scheduled c-sec under general is your only option as far as managing pain of labor.

IF that is the case - I mean that they are concerned about side effects of pain drugs/epidurals conflicting with your shunt (and I highly suggest you find out NOW NOW NOW exactly WHY and WHAT they are talking about...!!!!) then another good option is a NATURAL, unmedicated birth.

If you are interested in natural birth as an option, I'd highly recommend the Bradley method. (www.bradleybirth.com to find a teacher) or some other natural birth method. Hospital classes are 'lowest common denominator' classes - they cover the basics, but don't really teach women how to deal with labor naturally. You probably won't learn enough in a hospital class alone to deal effectively with labor.

Natural labor is a wonderful thing for those moms who understand the process, have prepared well for it, and have a good support person(s) to act as their coach. I've had all my babies without any pain medicine at all, and wouldn't trade feeling one contraction, and the sense of power and accomplishment I feel from having my babies MY way, for any amount of numbing pain meds.

Again, though.... you need to understand exactly WHY they are talking C-section, and how your shunt may effect labor, your pain relief options and the risks involved with all the above, and then decide what is best for YOU and your baby.

And if you don't like what you are hearing, or feel you are getting patronized, etc, then find yourself another OB today who will take the time to explain things to you so you do FULLY understand your options. Don't wait!