wannabeL&D73

OMGosh, I also immediately thought of Frida Kahlo! I too found it powerful.

http://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/obgyn/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=184601 Thought this might be of interest to you.

Here is a forum that may be helpful! http://bbs.babycenter.com/board/pregnancy/pregcomplications/1252536 The good news is that you made it to term with your prior pgs., but it would still make sense to take some precautions. I would ask the dr. to get a baseline cervical length measurement (do you know how long your cervix is?), and then another one again at around 18 weeks. Don't be afraid to call your dr. if you have any concerns. Good luck! Shannon

What a tragic, tragic story. How absolutely heartbreaking, I can't imagine living with the knowledge that I didn't get help for my baby. Anyway, sorry to take this thread on a tangent, I am the one who made the VBAC comment. I have comforted a friend through a full-term loss due to a rupture and so it became very personal for me. But I think the shared information is valuable and hopefully will help another nurse in a similar situation one day.

It was painful, but also the most amazing wonderful experience and I have never felt closer to my husband. It was not horrible for me at all.

I realize there are lots of people reading this forum looking for advice, but I personally am not a casual uninformed reader...I am a nursing student and a mother of 2 and I have discussed this issue at length with my OB and MFM. And I really believe that anyone looking for information on this forum is intelligent enough to make the decision based on facts compiled from many different sources.

Yes, I totally agree.

Thank you for your concern. I did make the intial decision based on statistical risk given my own particular history. The anecdotes merely served to reinforce my prior informed decision.

Although I strongly believe that women should have the right to make an informed choice for VBAC, this thread has firmly reinforced my decision to do a scheduled repeat c/s in a future pg. Very scary stuff.

OK, well I know this is OT...but I just can't let this go...please remove it if you need to...but, it is *not* illegal to have an abortion after 20 weeks. Every day all over the country babies with Down syndrome are aborted up until 24 weeks. And I know someone IRL who was offered an abortion at 36 weeks (yes I said 36 weeks) when her baby was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

OMG, I saw the same episode. Why on earth is she having a baby? I understand sometimes the best thing for a woman is to go back to work--but when the baby is TWO!!!!!! weeks old? I just feel very, very sorry for that baby. That lady is in for a rude awakening when she finds out that kids don't usually fit into a convenient schedule for their parents! Sorry, but I just found that couple completely selfish.

My understanding if it was "typical" T 18, that the risk of recurrence is 1 in 100 for all trisomies. But yes, I am sure the OB would suggest a genetic consult prior to a future pg. Shannon

That is awesome that you have been able to provide breastmilk to your child for so long! Exclusively pumping is a huge committment--I did it for 4 months before my 33-weeker with Down syndrome got the hang of nursing. I was never so happy as the day I put that pump away! I just wanted to give some encouragement to moms considering pumping when breastfeeding doesn't work out. My baby had several drs. appts/therapy appts. a day for those 4 months while I was pumping--on top of transporting my older daughter to from school etc. So we did leave the house frequently and I spent a lot of time pumping in the car. Was it easy? NO! I hated it! But I also knew the benefits of breastmilk were huge. And because I kept up my milk supply, when he was ready to breastfeed, we could. For me personally, it was incredibly rewarding to be able to nurse him. And even if he would never have been able to, it comforted me to know that I was doing something that would be beneficial to him. Now, my limit would have absolutely been 6 months...it is exhausting and draining and a gigantic pain and I know I wouldn't have kept it up beyond that. But I do have a friend who exclusively pumped for her baby with a cleft palate for a year while she was working, so it can be done. Also, I just rented the hospital grade pump--we definately couldn't have afforded to spend $700! Oh, and I also didn't pump as frequently...that would have worn me out, although it would clearly have increased my supply. I just pumped after every time I fed the baby. So exclusively pumping is a challenge...but it is doable, even for those working etc. Shannon

How terribly heartbreaking.

I.E: The smell and the texture? Thank you!