thought I'd start a post where those of us with cf that have had a baby could share our advice. let's keep it to labor, delivery and the first few weeks...
I'll probably have to post again but here I'll start.
Oh and let's be honest here. If you don't want to hear it, would prefer a surprise, don't read on.
-Have Depends in the house. Your bladder control may not be back for weeks. Or as some mom's have said - never.
-Expect bleeding/passing clots - mine was for a few weeks when I thought it would only be a few days.
-Have prenatals for after birth. You keep taking them during nursing.
-Have thought about HepB vaccine and whether you want to decline it. Have discussed it with spouse.
-If you are going to breastfeed realize it will be every 2-3 hours around the clock and that includes feed times.
-Don't expect to get much of anything done other than feeding, sleeping, hydrating and eating for a while. I know everyone says this...I somehow thought I'd be different. Sometimes you'll have to drag your ass out of bed to eat...maybe when you aren't even hungry...fun.
-Bring a clear beverage to the hospital with you. By clear I mean transparent. Even if the hospital has a 'no drink' policy they will likely let these liquids such as gatorade, juice that's filtered, etc. Also fruit snacks are good. You want to keep hydrated to keep you lung secretions thin.
-Don't expect them to know cf. educate as necessary.
-Work out as long as you can in pregnancy. Would a marathon runner quit training a few weeks before the big race? Why is labor and delivery any different?
-Bring more beverages...those 2 days in the hospital get real old if all you have is the options from them. I brought Apple & Eve Natural Cranberry (my fav juice) and added it to the water to make it more palletable. bring snacks too. some for hubby too.
-Use the line..."We'll need a moment to think about it." when a doc or nurse comes in to do a "precedure" during labor. Stall, stall, stall them as much as possible if you are trying to have as natural a childbirth as possible. Remember it's your right to consider the pros/risks/other options/intuition in most all situations in labor.
-If your water breaks and you report to the hospital you will have to stay there.
- Get in the habit of drinking a pint glass of non caf. beverage everytime you nurse. Between the liquid lost in discharged breastmilk and your need for moisture in your lungs - - you must actively stay ahead of dehydration.
-Bring all your cf med's and equip with you. Let them know that you will be doing this. They should be relieved. If not, get your cf doc to authorize. Trust me you don't want these nimwhits dealing with respiratory equipment.
-By having your equipment there and you being 'in charge' of when it is done. You can conveniently "have to do a treatment" just as they are wanting to do this or that procedure.
-Bring clorox wipes and have your loved ones wipe down the room. leave them out to further express to the medical people how germ control is of utmost importance to you. Be strict about hand washing or purell (actually more effective).
-Have a name of a lac. consultant htat will come to your home. If you are trying to go with someone that is covered by your insurance it might take some leg work that you won't want to be doing when you are fresh home from the hospital. Somewhere between 1-4 weeks you'll likely have some sort of difficulty and might not have the energy to go elsewhere for help. Plus having her watch you nurse in your usual environment is much more beneficial IMO.
-I read someone said they were going to get fast food on teh way to the hospital. Think again if you are considering McD's hamburger as it takes 9 hours to digest a nurse told me. Whether your having natural childbirth, epidural or c-section...vomitting is a normally occuring part of labor. The less in your stomach the better. Better to get something that is easily digested. think hardboiled eggs.
I'll probably have to post again but here I'll start.
Oh and let's be honest here. If you don't want to hear it, would prefer a surprise, don't read on.
-Have Depends in the house. Your bladder control may not be back for weeks. Or as some mom's have said - never.
-Expect bleeding/passing clots - mine was for a few weeks when I thought it would only be a few days.
-Have prenatals for after birth. You keep taking them during nursing.
-Have thought about HepB vaccine and whether you want to decline it. Have discussed it with spouse.
-If you are going to breastfeed realize it will be every 2-3 hours around the clock and that includes feed times.
-Don't expect to get much of anything done other than feeding, sleeping, hydrating and eating for a while. I know everyone says this...I somehow thought I'd be different. Sometimes you'll have to drag your ass out of bed to eat...maybe when you aren't even hungry...fun.
-Bring a clear beverage to the hospital with you. By clear I mean transparent. Even if the hospital has a 'no drink' policy they will likely let these liquids such as gatorade, juice that's filtered, etc. Also fruit snacks are good. You want to keep hydrated to keep you lung secretions thin.
-Don't expect them to know cf. educate as necessary.
-Work out as long as you can in pregnancy. Would a marathon runner quit training a few weeks before the big race? Why is labor and delivery any different?
-Bring more beverages...those 2 days in the hospital get real old if all you have is the options from them. I brought Apple & Eve Natural Cranberry (my fav juice) and added it to the water to make it more palletable. bring snacks too. some for hubby too.
-Use the line..."We'll need a moment to think about it." when a doc or nurse comes in to do a "precedure" during labor. Stall, stall, stall them as much as possible if you are trying to have as natural a childbirth as possible. Remember it's your right to consider the pros/risks/other options/intuition in most all situations in labor.
-If your water breaks and you report to the hospital you will have to stay there.
- Get in the habit of drinking a pint glass of non caf. beverage everytime you nurse. Between the liquid lost in discharged breastmilk and your need for moisture in your lungs - - you must actively stay ahead of dehydration.
-Bring all your cf med's and equip with you. Let them know that you will be doing this. They should be relieved. If not, get your cf doc to authorize. Trust me you don't want these nimwhits dealing with respiratory equipment.
-By having your equipment there and you being 'in charge' of when it is done. You can conveniently "have to do a treatment" just as they are wanting to do this or that procedure.
-Bring clorox wipes and have your loved ones wipe down the room. leave them out to further express to the medical people how germ control is of utmost importance to you. Be strict about hand washing or purell (actually more effective).
-Have a name of a lac. consultant htat will come to your home. If you are trying to go with someone that is covered by your insurance it might take some leg work that you won't want to be doing when you are fresh home from the hospital. Somewhere between 1-4 weeks you'll likely have some sort of difficulty and might not have the energy to go elsewhere for help. Plus having her watch you nurse in your usual environment is much more beneficial IMO.
-I read someone said they were going to get fast food on teh way to the hospital. Think again if you are considering McD's hamburger as it takes 9 hours to digest a nurse told me. Whether your having natural childbirth, epidural or c-section...vomitting is a normally occuring part of labor. The less in your stomach the better. Better to get something that is easily digested. think hardboiled eggs.