Oh the joys of pregnancy!

I am just about to the uncomfortable stage of this pregnancy. And I'm only half way done! When I was pregnant with Levi, it was at this point that I started breaking out in hives while I sleep. It is really weird. I was hoping that I wouldn't have this same problem but it has started again. I remember when this first happened I woke up thinking I was being attacked by bed bugs b/c the welts on my legs and arms were so huge. I went to a dermatologist and pretty much the only thing I can do is take an allergy pill before I go to sleep. The hives really are uncomfortable and they itch like crazy. Why does your body have to do such weird things when you are pregnant?

A Tough Decision Ahead

In the coming months Matt and I will finally be able to see our precious new baby. We can't wait to have a new child, even though it will be tough. But in light of this excitement, we have a decision to make. We have to decide if I will have another c-section or try to deliver this baby vaginally. My doctor has surprisingly left it up to us to decide what to do. She has recommended we do the c-section but we do still have the other option.

When I was pregnant with Levi everything was normal and pretty much perfect! I could not have asked for an easier pregnancy. The problems began once I went into labor with Levi. Levi was not in any hurry to really come out of me. He was born on his predicted due date when I finally went into labor. But we did have an induction scheduled for the very next day since we thought he wasn't going anywhere.

When I arrived at the hospital I was dilated at a 5. That is pretty much where I stayed. Things all happened so fast and I was very scared. Especially since this was my first and I had no idea what to expect. Levi was not really centered in the birth canal. You could feel his head over to my left side. I was given pitocin to speed things along and every time I would contract Levi's heart rate would drop. When the doctor broke my water, meconium, (Levi's poo) came out. All of this together did not leave us with much option but to have a c-section. As expected, when the doctor pulled Levi out the cord was wrapped around his neck. It was a good thing that I did not try to push him out since this could have caused damage.

My doctor gave us a statistic about if I deliver vaginally what the chances are of my uterus rupturing or running into other problems. I know doctors always want to be safe and I would never do anything to harm myself or our baby. But at the same time, I feel like I was jipped with Levi's birth. Giving birth is not glorious or fun by any means but I guess I had pictured it to go one way and it didn't. For me the recovery from my c-section was very difficult. I swore that I would never go through that again. I just don't know what the right thing to do is.

I seek out the advice of those who have experienced this situation. How did you decide what to do? Thank you for your input.