Current mood:

nervous

talking to mom/family pregnancy history
[Shannon]

My mom had some pretty serious problems with pregnancy. Before having me she had twins who died in utero that she had to abort. In the process they scrapped her uterus leaving scar tissue that caused complications with further pregnancies.

I'd known that with me she'd had bed rest from six months on. Today on the phone she explained that she'd actually started threatening to go into labor around three months, dialated and everything! She'd had a couple of weeks of bed rest then, and then when she started getting contractions again around 6 months they just put her on bed rest. I also learned today that she only gained 9lbs during her pregnancy with me! When she was on bed rest my dad would leave her a meal in the morning, and that's all she would eat all day. I have no idea why they didn't have him leave her more food... ;)

I was full term and healthy though. She had a boy after me who died a day or two after birth. I didn't ask her the details about that pregnancy as it was obviously very painful for her.

And also, I don't think the same circumstances that affected her will affect me. Hopefully. I suspect that the still-borns were a result of living with a chain smoker, although she said that having twins makes it more likely. I also learned today that my grandmother had taken DES during the pregnancies with my mother and my aunt. Both my aunt and my mother had problems with going into labor early. My Aunt lost two different babies at around 5 months along. My other aunt who my grandmother did not have DES with did fine in her pregnancy.

The most disturbing thing I learned was my grandmother's history. She didn't have any major health problems or externalities that I'm aware of. I'd known my mom had problems and good reasons for them, but apparently my grandmother also had problems with premature births, and also lost two or three babies, one at 5 months along, one at 6, and my mom wasn't sure about a third. My mom and one aunt were premature as well.

So yeah. I'm in a good age range, healthy, good nutrition, got pregnant easily, and have stayed away from tobacco and other drugs. Still a bit scary, but what can you do. ;)

Much to Patri's relief, I've decided on going with a hospital birth. I think home births sound great and would probably opt for one if not for the family complications. In addition to the problems already listed, my mom almost died after my birth, because her uterus did not contract and she was bleeding to death. Thankfully my grandmother was in the room with her when she passed out and got help in time. And since I know she had that problem, hopefully people will keep an eye on me ;) As she says, its probably because of the scar tissue from the aborted twins, or maybe having been subjected to DES, but still probably not good to take risks with that history in my family.

I'll be going to a hospital close by that has "birthing suites," and where I can have a midwife do the delivery. I've also heard good things about water births, and am likely to try that: I've heard that you can have the tubs at the hospital.