Why I am choosing to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After C-section)...

First, I want to say, Kennedy’s surgical birth was not traumatic. C-sections are a blessing and I’m very grateful that my baby and I had a safe delivery.  You can read Kennedy’s birth story here http://www.imarriedatexan.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html

Now, I am choosing a VBAC for many reasons. 

I wasn’t sure how to write all my feelings, so I decided to write them in a stream of consciousness.

I choose a VBAC because…

I want to feel my baby come from my vagina. I want to know what it feels like to actually push my own child out. I would love for my husband or I to catch our baby.  I want to see my husband’s face the moment our baby takes its first breath.  I want the baby to be put right on my chest as soon as it is born.  I want to smell my baby before they take her away to be cleaned. I want my baby to know she is safe right away and that mommy is here. I want to see my baby’s little face clearly without being drugged up. I want to be able to walk to my baby’s bassinet in the hospital when it cries. I want to sleep next to my husband and snuggle with our new baby instead of sleeping in a chair when we first get home from the hospital. I want to be able to take a shower without anyone’s help. I don’t want to be cut open and my baby ripped out of me. I want my baby to come into the world peacefully… And the list goes on.

Emotionally and physically, I knew why I wanted a VBAC, but my next question was is a VBAC safe? If so, then what are my chances of having a successful VBAC? After doing a lot of research (internet, support groups and talking with obstetricians). I learned the chance of having a successful VBAC was very good and the chance of Uterine Rupture was less then 1%.  After weighing the risks and benefits my husband and I decided to go for a VBAC.

Please understand these are my thoughts based on my experiences. I know that some people love their C-sections and I know some people would never take the risk of a VBAC and I respect all of your wishes, so please respect mine and be kind with your comments.

Some sites I found helpful while doing my VBAC research.

http://vbacfacts.com/13-myths-about-vbac/

 http://www.ican-online.org

http://birthwithoutfearblog.com

I'm back to blogging with a new design and a new surprise!!!

Hi everyone!

I'm back with a new design and a new pregnancy!!! We are thrilled!!! I had a very hard first trimester but now I'm 21 weeks and finally feeling good.  Please join me on my journey to a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After C-section).

So I failed! I have not blogged once since Kennedy started Mothers Day Out. Instead I have have been dealing with a sick baby, we are on our 4th ear infection.  Kennedy has also been going through a sleep regression do you know why...  Because she has been working on this little number.

Yeap! I have a walker. She started walking a couple of weeks ago. My husband, our neighbors and I made bets if she would walk for her first birthday.  That night she walked! But Kennedy walking early came with a price, she went through and awful sleep regression.  We didn’t sleep well for almost two months. 

Kennedy at Nursery School/ Mother's Day Out

During the Christmas holiday when Kennedy just turned 7 months she started crawling a lot.  It only took her one day to get really fast!  Two days later she stood up and started “cruising” (walking using the furniture for balance).  Ever since, my world has not been the same!  I thought I was busy before, HA!  I can’t even blink my eyes now without this little girl getting into something.  MT and I decided that it’s time for Kennedy to go to a nursery school.  As a teacher, I know that children learn best from their peers.  It was time for her to start socializing without mama. Kennedy and I are already very active in “Mommy and Me” programs but it was time for my little 8 month old to spread her wings. 

We were lucky to find an opening mid year at a Mother’s Day Out program at a local church where we can take Kennedy two days a week.  Last week was Kennedy’s first week and it was so tough on me.  When I dropped her off I felt like I was giving her up for adoption.  I felt so bad because I thought maybe she doesn’t get it and she thought I was leaving her forever.  It took all of me not to cry, but I knew that if I cried, then Kennedy would get scared.  I left her for 2 hours!  The longest 2 hours of my life.  The second day, I left her the whole time and when I came to pick her both times she was playing and happy.

I’m glad I found this program because we both need it.  Now I can finally go to my doctor appointments on time, hairdresser, run errands, and of course get back to blogging. I have missed you guys.  Below is picture of baby Kennedy at nursery school. 

Kenned's First Christmas

I really wanted to make Kennedy’s first Christmas very special.  As an adult, I haven’t celebrated Christmas, so I had no idea that I needed to start planning and collecting Christmas items before December.  I started to understand I was a bit behind in my Christmas planning in November when I couldn’t find a photographer to take our Christmas pictures. Just about every photographer was booked. I had to beg one to come to Houston from a neighboring suburb on a weekday and take the pictures outside my husband’s office. That was the start of a frantic holiday season full of excitement, late nights and a dash of anxiety!  In the end it all magically came together.  My mother flew in from Florida and we hosted a family Christmas Eve dinner for my in-laws.  After Christmas Eve dinner we went to Midnight Mass.  Christmas morning we opened presents and later that day we had dinner at my inlaws. It was a fantastic... Some of our Christmas photos are below.  

Making Ornaments

Ornaments 

Christmas Cards

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! 

Breakfast/Kitchen Nook!

Look what came over the holiday weekend.

I love it! 

Thanks for all your help!

*I think this will be my last post on decorating because my camera is not doing a good job at picking up the colors. My house does not have such a yellow tint. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

From our  family to yours...

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S DAY!