If you have not packed your hospital bag, now is REALLY the time to do so. After all, you are scheduled to have your cerclage removed only in 2 weeks' time and really, 2 weeks isn't a lot of time! Do bring it along with you when you have your cerclage removed, as you'd never know. But then again, if your home is nearby the hospital, then of course it's not a worry.
Ok, so what do you need in your hospital bag? If you are planning for a C-section, you will probably need to stay in the hospital up to 4 days after your baby is born, if not, perhaps give and take a day or 2. In any case, the essentials are :
For yourself :
1) Maternity pads (the bleeding is usually heavier than normal periods, so an overnight pad with wings and at least 28-34cm in length would be great)
2) About 2-3 pairs of warm socks (perhaps a pair which you wouldn't mind throwing away after labour - yup, use that pair for the messy delivery).
3) Disposable panties (really, you won't want to end up washing panties throughout your hospital stay, or a load of dirty panties to wash once you get home - you have a baby to look after after this, remember?)
4) 2-3 maternity bras (no underwires please, it will be rather painful once the milk comes in within 2-3 days after birth)
5) Toiletries and make up - lotsa vaginal wash, but then again, some hospitals provide 'cleaning services' the first few days. You will have a lot of visitors, and with Facebook pictures flying all over, and if you are a vainpot like me, you will want to look really nice in those pictures. I even brought my contact lenses along :)
6) Snacks - or you can just ask hubby to get them from the hospital
7) Cameras, video cameras (or the very handy smartphone which has everything - complete with a monopod for a selfie with baby) charger - ok you get it, the electronic gadgets
8) If you are like me, you would bring the journal too - I keep a journal each for my 2 boys, and intend to keep one for No.3 too, handwritten, to document the pains and aches and of course JOYS of the entire childbirth process... till they are about 2 to 3 years old. The waiting period during labour is a good time to start writing.
9) Going home clothes (ok you will not magically be back to your pre-pregnancy weight, so bring something sensible... like those clothes you were wearing when you were about 5 months pregnant)
10) Bath towels, slippers, breast pads, (no need for breastpump yet as the hospitals usually provide and you wouldn't be pumping so soon yet anyway) and anything else you think you may need to kill boredom - books? Well, your smartphone has everything!
11) Of course, documents - but get hubby to worry about this.
12) Oh ya, bring a long lots of energy, excitement and patience!
For the baby (ok, not all in the hospital bag, but some in your car):
1) 4 pairs of mittens/booties, rompers, diapers, hats, nappy rash cream - ok you get it.
2) Pacifier, baby bottles (frankly, if you a
re a staunch breast feeding believer like me, you won't need these stuff until a month or 2 after baby is born. Your breast is enough for now, both for pacifying and feeding purposes)
3) Car seat!!! (Some countries, like mine, do not make it compulsory. But please... there ARE reasons why some countries make it compulsory. So please, go get an approved one. This will be your best investment, yes, even a better investment than the expensive crib you installed in your extensively renovated nursery!)
4) Receiving blankets, blankets, anything else you can think of to keep the little one warm. Again, if you live in a hot tropical country like I do, there is really no need to go overboard (we are not facing winter are we? The cold is from your room aircond and car aircond! So before baby breaks into heat rash, please have mercy on the little one)
Ok, that's just the hospital bag. Have you actually prepared your birth plan yet? After the cerclage is removed (usually a transvaginal cerclage - please read Week 34 here) you will usually be allowed to go home after a few hours if you do not go into labour. You may intend to have a natural birth, and usually this is possible if your cervix dilates normally upon removal of stitch. However, it is quite common for women with a TVC to have a condition called cervical dystocia which is usually a side effect of the cerclage, where the cervix is unable to dilate and/or efface. With both my boys, I had to be induced with Pitocin, and even slightly longer labours, I was fully dilated and was able to deliver both babies naturally. With No.3 right now, my doctor did warn me that there are a lot of scar tissues and I may not be able to dilate this time around even with induction, but well... we'll see! A healthy baby is a healthy baby, natural or C-section!
So what other interventions may there be other than a possible induction? They always tell you that God will not give you more pain than you can handle, but then again Pitocin isn't exactly what God gave you right? From experience, I can tell you that no matter how high your pain threshold is, with induction, the pain may be more than you can handle. If that is the case, please do not hesitate to call for an epidural. If you are in too much distress from the pain, it is not good for the baby, and may cause fetal distress, or your blood pressure may shoot up, so yes be prepared to do that. Also, the possibility of forceps or vacuum - keep all that in mind. Both my babies were vacuumed. And of course don't forget the possible episiotomy too.
Whatever it is, take it as it comes - after all, we have been through so much up till now!
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