multiple questions...

[mrsfatty]

(sorry for lowercase and typos--on bedrest...typing sideways, laying down w/1 hand is tricky...)

i have pih...possibly pre-e...but the s-ob says i haven't gotten that far--that i'm still just pih (high blood pressure)...i want/need to have a natural labor/delivery...how does pih and being on weeks of bedrest affect this? i have a birthing plan--that was approved before the pih and bedrest by one of the s-ob-s...and everything on my plan for my hospital birth still seems reasonable to me (initial monitoring externally...one initial internal check...then, intermittent external monitoring, internals when i say---which basically will be when i'm feeling the need to push--they'll look and see a head...laboring/birthing positions of my choice--not on my back...no episiotomy...no separation after birth...breastfeeding right away...no assistance w/ placenta delivery...etc.) but niw i'm questioning how realistic it is--with all the recent problems and complications--and i want to feel empowered again......any encouragement, thoughts, concerns......???

also, i've read the thread about tearing up---the s-ob tried to scare me--and my husband--about that...in the pushing stage--can you, or does it help, if you change positions (and what positions) to help not tear? can you change positions at any point during labor? i ask, because--i think you can--i just want to know for sure--if i'm told otherwise....

since i've been on bedrest since may 11th, are they going to try and confine me to a bed for labor/delivery?

iwant to stay at home for as long as possible--is that safe with pih?

just any thoughts for a first-timer for birthing a full-term baby would be wonderful...especially with my circumstances in mind (i was good and felt empowered before all these complications--now i'm worried and need support)--thanks!!

[fiddledebi]

I had pregnancy induced hypertension with dd, though didn't end up on bedrest until a week before her due date, and she was born a few days later. I never ended up with preeclampsia, if that helps you feel any better.

Here's where the issues come in: if your blood pressure gets so high that you and your support team decides that induction is necessary, the cascade of interventions can start to affect your birth plan. For example, I had pitocin after about 11 hours of early labor, due to high bp. After 6 hours on pitocin, baby's heart rate decelerated drastically, and I ended up forced into bed on my left side to get more blood flow to the baby. I couldn't cope with contractions in that position and lasted about 2.5 more hours before begging for (and getting) an epidural. The epidural slowed my labor, and though it had mostly worn off for pushing, I still could not feel that "urge" to push, so I had to be coached. Then, when dd was finally born, she had lots of meconium and had to be taken away to be suctioned...

So, from your list, due to the "cascade," I missed out on:

laboring/birthing positions of my choice--not on my back...no separation after birth...breastfeeding right away...no assistance w/ placenta delivery...etc.)

The rest was possible and doable. I think when they took away the first thing (being able to stay upright for labor), I lost everything else. I don't know, looking back, how much of this was anyone's fault, just the result of medical need. However, I think if you can focus on more than one way to get through contractions beyond physical, you'll have a better chance at getting through without an epidural like I did.

I don't mean to be alarmist, but I wanted to be honest. Good luck to you! While you're resting in bed, chug that water and try to relax, do deep breathing, concentrate on slowing your pulse, listen to the sound of waves, etc. I'll be thinking of you!

[Belle]

Sorry you have to be on bedrest.
Wow, lots of questions.

i want/need to have a natural labor/delivery...how does pih and being on weeks of bedrest affect this?

It shouldn't affect anything unless they try to induce you. I take that back after re-reading your post. They may want to monitor you more. More EFM and blood pressure checks.

can you, or does it help, if you change positions (and what positions) to help not tear? can you change positions at any point during labor?

Yes, you can change positions at any time you want. Some good positions for pushing are: squatting, on hands and knees, and kneeling on one knee. Oh, I pushed for awhile on my birth ball too. (I know there's more, I just can't think of them at the moment)

since i've been on bedrest since may 11th, are they going to try and confine me to a bed for labor/delivery?

I can't see why it would be helpful to confine you to bed while you are in labor. The baby's already on his/her way out at this point.

iwant to stay at home for as long as possible--is that safe with pih?

Sorry, I don't know about that. Hope everything goes well for you. Happy birthing.

[mrsfatty]

thanks

[Artisan]

You've gotten some good advice from the others, but I wanted to add this: if you do end up with an induction/epi/etc, you can always ask to change position during the birth. Even rolling onto your side with your partner holding your top leg is preferable to semi-reclining or laying down. There is NO reason medically to not allow you to do this. In fact, laying on your left side is better from a medical standpoint than being on your back.

So sorry you're on bedrest!