Cesarean Birth Plan

Since Noah's entrance into the world was due to an emergency c-section, I wanted a little more control over my RCS (repeat c-section) than last time. We are scheduled to deliver in 8 weeks and we are so EXCITED!! I was so happy to see other women on many pregnancy forums talking about their RCS birth plans! So here is mine:

Cesarean Birth Plan

This birth plan is intended to express the preferences and desires we have for the birth of our baby during our planned cesarean. It is not intended to be a script. We fully realize that situations may arise such that our plan cannot and should not be followed. However, we hope that barring any extenuating circumstances, you will be able to keep us informed and aware of our options. Thank you.

Support
I would like my husband William “Bo” Wolf to be with me throughout the entire procedure.


Anesthesia
· I would like to remain awake during the procedure.


Surgery
· I would prefer for my arms not to be strapped down/restrained so I can touch my baby.
· We would appreciate being kept informed during the surgery.
· I would like to have the curtain lowered and the baby held for us to see at the moment of birth
· If possible, please show us our baby briefly before taking him to be cleaned.
· My husband William “Bo” Wolf would like to cut the cord.
· I would like to have skin to skin contact as soon as the possible and for my husband William “Bo” Wolf to hold our baby as soon as possible.
· My husband William “Bo” Wolf would like to take photographs and film when possible.
· If our baby is healthy, please allow My husband William “Bo” Wolf and our baby to stay with me while the operation is finished.
· Any pain medications should be compatible with breastfeeding please.
· I would like to be able to return to my room as quickly as possible after the operation.
· I would like to be able to breastfeed as soon as possible.
· My partner present at all times during the operation

Post Partum and Baby Care
· I would like for my husband William “Bo” Wolf to stay with the baby at all times if I can’t be there.
· Footprint- If possible I would appreciate a footprint of my baby be placed in my baby book
· I would like Duramorph for postpartum pain
· Breast feeding only – I would like to start as soon as I am able to and would appreciate any assistance/advice.
· Please do not feed our baby by other means without discussing this with either William “Bo” Wolf or myself.
· We would like 24-hour rooming-in with our baby
· We would like for sibling, Noah, to be able to visit with adult supervision as much as we would like within proper visiting hours
· Please do not offer a pacifier.
· Non-urgent procedures (such as first bath) – I request these to be delayed until after my return to the room.
· I would like to eat after the surgery if I am hungry – I have spoken to Dr. Bruce Cross about this.
· No visitors to be allowed to visit before my return from recovery.
· My husband William “Bo” Wolf and I would want son circumcised at the hospital
· I would like it if oral medication is used, I prefer orders to be written for me to be woken up for timely doses (not waiting for my request)

24 Week Appointment

On November 29 we went in for our routine 24 week appointment and u/s. It was so wonderful to see our growing baby boy. At 24 wks and 4 days baby Wolf #2 was measuring on time and weighed approximately 1 lb 8 oz. The docs are thinking this baby if carried full term will be a big baby :/ My blood pressure has been perfect. During this time, while I was pregnant with Noah my BP was already starting to get out of control which eventually lead to pre-eclampsia. So far everything has been pretty normal with this pregnancy. I thank the good Lord everyday how He continually blesses this pregnancy. My Braxton Hicks have been VERY active recently and we are starting to get things ready for baby Wolf #2 to make his appearance! =)

It's A Boy!!!

So we went in for my 20 week appointment on 10/31/11 for a routine u/s and appointment. Both Bo and I were convinced that we were having a girl. The sonographer quickly proved us both wrong! As soon as she placed the wand on my belly there he was...ALL BOY!! We are very excited and blessed to be adding another little wolf to our clan ;)

CODE BLUE!!!

What a CRAZY day! I went in for my last OB appt since today was a training day they were working a skeleton crew. I had 3 Majors doing my PAP, breast exam and U/S appt b/c all their techs were unavailable, needless to say they had to help coach the other on how to set up the u/s machine,it was quite funny!!

Then they sent me to lab, I tell the little man where and what arm so he decides to do the other arm, nothing! Then he tries the arm I told him to and blows my vein so they had to call someone else in.
That person got the vein first stick!! YAY!! All was going well until I started to feel not so well so I put my head down , another guy came in saw that, thought I had passed out and pushed the code blue button, I just needed a minute. LOL!! So I kept telling them that I was fine and the guy that pushed the button repeated over and over again "I think she's in shock, she doesn't know she passed out." THATS BECAUSE I DIDN'T!!

All in all the best part was hearing that swoosh swoosh sound of our baby’s heartbeat and a little wave of the hand saying “I’m ok” =)

*we got a blurry pic of our little one, but our scanner is on a boat to the states, will post pics later*

BIG MONTH!!

So we're pregnant =)




How the Lord surprises you when you least expect it. We were on three months of fertility drugs which was really stressful considering that both with the second pregnancy and Noah we got pregnant with the fertility drugs on the very first month of trying. So we sought out medical advice from my doctor and sister in Christ and was told that we might have to see an infertility specialist once we arrived in New Mexico. It was heart breaking news. This was told to us on a Thursday. The following Thursday, we were at home looking at the calendar at all out impending appointments that would happen between then July 14 and the following month since we are PCSing on Sept 1. I noticed that I was a few days late, not that uncommon with PCOS but because of the fertility drugs my cycle had been running every 30 days and so I just for the fun of it took a pregnancy test I had bought the previous month. I called Bo into the bathroom screaming! Two PINK lines!! Bo could just not believe it! He kept saying over and over again there is no way, the lines must have been there before you took it! LOL!! We just could not believe the fact that I was pregnant. We had taken NO fertility drugs that "fourth month" of trying and here we are pregnant all by ourselves with the help of God of course ;) So I am 10 week pregnant and saw a heartbeat at 6 weeks and 7 weeks. I go back to the doctor here in Italy next week for my final appointments since it will take so long for me to get into the doctors in NM. The Lord has chosen to show us favor once more which is more than we could ever deserve!

So this is our LAST full week in Italia (well the week coming up). Lots to do, finish last minute packing, clean the house, FMO furniture, etc. We move into TLF (hotel on base) on Thursday which is going to be so much nicer since we'll have a maid service and that maid will not be me ;)
Recently we have said goodbye to some very good friends. This part of the lifestyle will never get easier. We are so blessed to have made the friends that the Lord has brought into our lives. Tonight's going away party for Bo's flight was very special for me to see how much people respect and care for my husband. Oh I almost forgot! Bo made Staff Sergeant! Bo has been in for 3 years and 7 months and made it technically on his first time...the first time he tested was because he made BTZ (below the zone) and so he sewed on SrA 6mths early. They then told him that he could test for Staff after he got back from the desert last summer, well nine days before he leaves they say, "oh I'm sorry you will have to test in a week." He missed it by .6 of a point. So this time testing would have been the first time had he not made BTZ. Which he PASSED! So we heard the heartbeat of our baby on a Wednesday and found out the next day that he had made Staff!

The Lord has blessed us so much in the past three years. Words cannot even express how thankful we are for all the many blessings He has given us! We're excited to be coming back to the states and ready for this new chapter in our life to begin!

We're going to be "home-stuff-less" soon!

So after our TMO briefing yesterday and the email today the movers are coming to get our HHG's (house hold goods) on July 26-27. The FMO loaner furniture will be dropped off on July 28 and our UB (unaccompanied baggage) will be picked up on July 29.

So basically all the big stuff will go on the 26-27th, HARD UNCOMFORTABLE but greatly appreciated military loaner furniture will be delivered on the 28th, and the need "real soon" stuff will go on the 29th.

I am still waiting on a list from Bo about the UB stuff that needs to go because we have to separate that from the HHG. All I know for now is that it can be our bikes, Noah's crib, all of our linens, towels, dishware, pots and pans etc.

So now that we have all our dates in order I am MORE than ready to get this show on the road. My poor husband is stressed to the max! He has all this PCS stuff, regular work, school and the music ministry. We are basically rushing for the week after next to hurry and get here so that the hard part is over! Please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this crazy but very exciting new journey!

Edelwiess Germany for 4th of July

Our little man was jammed pack in the back seat. Needless to say we had to reorganize.

Oh how American are we?? We spent the 4th of July weekend in Germany on a military resort. LOL!







We had an amazing weekend with some amazing friends. You would think that it being 4th of July weekend that we would be hot and getting eaten by bugs. Just the contrary, we were FREEZING and chittering all night long. We had to lay Noah between Bo and I so that our baby would stay warm. There was "no rooms in the inn" lol the resort hotel was completely booked and we had driven 5 hrs to get there, set up our camp and we were not about to turn back.

We decided that this trip was strictly for camping even though there are some very exciting places we would like to go back and visit. Watching fireworks and eating Pizza Hut pizza was made our 4th of July weekend feel almost as if we were back in the states. The German community was so warm and welcoming it was a very different contrast to our Italian neighbors down south.

Since we left Italy on Saturday morning, Bo did a devotional service Sunday morning while we all sat around the camp fire. His devotional reminded us why we are here and what are we doing or not doing for Christ. It defiantly motivated me to hear my husband reading God's word, so passionately about winning people to Christ. It was defiantly one of the highlights of our weekend. I feel immensely blessed to have such a Godly husband.

We have a great deal happening in the next two weeks, considering we are PCSing in 7 more weeks. WOW!! It's going to be here before we know it!