pregnant and wondering about hormones after birth

[lucindamae1]

hi everyone. i am new to the site, but have been reading all of these forums trying to get some answers. little hx...i am 27 wks pregnant and scared to death. i have two questions that stick out in my mind now, though i know i will have a million more. i started with ic symptoms in 2002 and went for a cystoscopy in office. that was the worse pain i had ever felt. doc felt he needed to go back and do this under anesthesia and pretty much told me if i was in a lot of pain when i woke that i had ic. decided i would pass and it calmed down after a few bad mths. have lived with it ever since with no meds and was able to tolerate. i must say it really has been as good as it possibly could for me. i am now married and as i said we are expecting our first and last baby(can't go through this again). my ob/gyn said that he felt that it would cause more damage to my bladder if i tried to push a baby out and that he would gladly perform a c-section. i felt that was great until reading all these comments and now i am scared. don't know what to do anymore.

my first question is have any of you talked to your doc about or had a planned c-section that was higher than the normal incision. i go to the doc on Monday and wondered if they cut higher and not right over my bladder if that would make a difference...that is if he will even do that.

second question and this is the most important to me...i have read a lot of your comments and the majority say that after you stop breastfeeding or within a few mths of delivery that your bladder comes back full force. I REALLY want to know if that means a lot worse than u have ever had it or back to the way you had it before you were pregnant? also if it is worse, how long does it stay that bad? i just want to know if i will go back to the way i was or if i have possibly damaged myself for good.

sorry but thought of one more question. does anyone think that it would help since i am not going to breastfeed to go straight on Elmiron as soon as i have the baby to try to head any bad flares off. i just want to be ok after all of this and be able to enjoy the new bundle.

[mom_in_ma]

First off, congratulations! You're getting close to the goal of bringing that baby home.

IC, unfortunately, is very unpredicatable. That's the crappy part of this disease. Some have gone into remission with pregnancy and stayed that way. Others have flared when they weaned. I was pregnant last fall and I've been flaring since the holidays. Looking back, the flare started around the time my milk dried up. BUT, I was also under incredible stress at the time (terminally ill MIL) and it could have been either one of them or most likely a combination of both that set me off. This flare has been wearing on me more than the others, but I'm determined to get control of it sooner rather than later.

I wish I had the answers for you. For me, elmiron didn't work. But, there are a lot of treatments that do work and you're doing the right thing by talking to your doctor and being prepared.

Good luck!

[stac7_8]

First CONGRATS on ur new baby. Your almost done!!

On the C-Section.....a few tips...I have had 3, 1 unplanned and 2 planned. I have been cut 3 different ways also. Take extra pilliows, this will help u hold the baby. Ask about a girdle (sp), some docs put it on right after they sew u up. It is WONDERFUL to have. Now I feel this is the most important one.....when u are able to stand up for the first time.....STAND UP AS STRAIGHT AS YOU CAN. Take ur time.

I won't lie to u yes it does hurt, but for me I had my new baby and that distracted me from the pain. I truly had more pain when I had my ovary and a tumor removed and also when I had my Hysterectomy. I swear it is because I did not have a distraction.

I have been cut from my belly bottun down, that was my first. I had 28 staples.

My second, I was cut on my stuff...right on the top no joke. I could not close my legs for about 2 weeks I was so swallon.

My third was with the tumor and ovary I got the "normal cut". My doc went threw that same one with my third child and my hysterectomy.

On the breastfeeding....I was not able to with either of my children. I tried but NEVER came in with my first. My second I gave up after a month of just the clear stuff. My third I actually produced Milk but not enough....I couldn't get it going.

The best advice I could give you is take what people tell you with a grain of salt...even docs when it comes to ur child. Listen to your gut....if u think something isn't right with ur child but a doc says other wise....go with ur GUT!!!

Put ur feet up and get ur rest...u will need it. Congrats again and enjoy this whole new world.

[GriffsMommy]

Congrats on the baby!
I am so happy that Stacy had such good C-section experiences but I must say that I was in a lot of pain after mine. I was so excited to see my little boy but I was still in a lot of pain. Stacy is right, stand up as straight as you can afterwards, wow does it hurt though.
I can't say about the hormones because if I had IC when I was pregnant I didn't know about it and I didn't nurse. I do know now that I have IC that my period will put me in a horrible flare so I have no idea what he crazy hormones after giving birth would do.
Good luck with everything!

[lucindamae1]

if i do flare after the birth, will i ever get back to the way i was before pregnancy? i just want to know that the flare isn't with me forever? i have been having a little bit of trouble the last wk and am ready to get this over with and get through the flare and go on with my life.

[ICNJess]

I wish I could tell you either yes, you'll feel better or no, you won't, but as someone else stated--IC is VERY unpredictable.

My pregnancy was full of ups and downs with my IC.

Can I ask why you are having a C-Section? My baby was breech...lol trouble from the get-go! J/K lol

Anyway, after my c-section my bladder seemed to be in fantastic shape...and then as time passed, it wasn't. BUT I am convinced, that for me at least, it was due to birth control. I do not do well on birth control and never have. I have the Mirena IUD and it, for me anyway, has been a nightmare. I'm hoping to have it removed today.

So basically, it's a wait and see game. As for your Uro, is he really going to only diagnose you on whether or not you are in pain after a cysto/hydro under anesthesia? If so, find a new one!! I imagine if you stretch anyone's bladder out they are going to be at the very least sore.

[KristiV]

I am trying to conceive right now and have alot of the same questions as you do. As of right now, I am going to ask my gyno when I become pregnant if I can have a C-section. I have had so many problems down in the lower region that I do not even want to mess with it. I think you should for sure talk with your urologist about which way he believes is the best. As soon as we are able to get pregnant, that will be the first question I ask him. I plan on immediately going on Elmiron as soon as I give birth and get done nursing. I am not going to take any chances. I am currently on Elmiron right now but have to quit tomorrow because of trying to conceive. You really need to discuss all your questions with your doctor. I normally write a list of my questions down, most of the time they are a full page long and make them answer them for you. Congrats on the baby!

[lucindamae1]

i stopped going to that uro after that last visit with the cystoscopy. was not happy with him at all. of course that was 3-4 yrs ago. i have managed without anything. then during the pregnancy around 18 wks i thought i may have had a uti so i went to the gyno and they said i didnt, but that i needed to fu with a urologist. made an appt the next wk and the new doc seems great. i told him that while i was at the visit with the gyno she gave me Elmiron to start and he said "NO, stop that right now until you have this baby" so i did. he seemed very confident that he could help once i have my little girl which is good to know. i am just hoping that i can head this stuff off before it gets out of control.

question...do you guys ever get your symptoms mixed up with having a yeast inf...burning, irritation, etc. when i went to that visit with the gyno she swabbed and said i did have a yeast inf. i took the med and my problems calmed right down. i seem to have more discomfort and pain in that area than acutally up in my bladder.

[July]

Be very cautious about asking and choosing to get a C-section. A c-section can present a lot of problems. Cutting through all that muscle tissue for a C-section can really bring on problems as well. I think nowadays it is so common that people forget is is a major surgery.

A vaginal delivery should be the first choice, as the body is designed for that, and many women with IC/vulvodynia are just as successful with vaginal deliveries as women without IC/vulvodynia. Most doctors advise a c-section only when the baby or mom is in danger because it is a major surgery.

[SandyRN]

I agree with July...but if you have to have a c-section, it is MUCH easier to heal with a horizontal incision that is lower on the belly than one that is higher, or a vertical incision from the belly button down.

It IS major surgery and should only be considered when a vaginal birth puts the baby in danger , or there are other circumstances with a mom's anatomy.

Sandy

[July]

And since it is a major surgery, you should get more than one doctor's opinion, as you would do with any other major surgery.

Also, you may want to get the opinion of a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor issues. They can provide you with exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor and prepare you for the vaginal labor and delivery.

[Emma's Mommy]

i agree with july....i'm 35 weeks pregnant and planning a vbac.....i was actually advised NOT to have a c-section again b/c anytime they have to go in and touch the bladder (which they do with a c) it really irritates the heck out of it! many obs will look for any reason to do a section b/c it fits into their schdule better!!

as far as breastfeeding give it a try at least....it could extend your pain free time and it really is best!