My Visit With Dr. Graham....

I met with Dr. Graham today.

I really liked her. I told her my history and came away with alot of answers I have never had.

When J was born he had MANY birth injuries…broken sholder, bleeding eyes, broken blood vessels all over..etc..

She said that “impacted sholders” are a Dr’s wort fear in a vaginal birth. What happens is the head comes out and the sholders get stuck..the pressure trys to pull the baby back in where the baby will suffocate bacuse the placenta has already detached. She said that she has had to break sholders, arms, and even intibate a baby in utero when it was sucked back in. She said when this happens you have no choice..you must get the baby out. No one ever explained it to me like this.

She said because it has happened once it is very likley to happen again and with another preg they will either induce early(if the baby is ready) or do a planned c-section.

She also explained why they made me give Justin formula before we could leave and she said it was not due to weight but reather his billi levels(from all of the birth injuries). She said jaundice will continue to get worse if they are not intaking enough fat to get it out of their system. She also explained that jaundice can cause siezures and brain damage the worse it gets so it was very important that he was intaking alot of fat, quickly. This was also something no one explained to us.

On to my fertility. She said that it looks like I have a Lunal Phase Defect. She said that because I am overwieght and estrogen is made/stored in your fat..I have more than I should and it is counter acting what little progesterone I do have.

So.. She is going to draw blood and do a sono on CD3. Then she is going to do another sono on CD13 or with my positive OPK..whichever is first. Then starting on that day she will give me a prgesterone cream to use every night..that should give me enough hormone to hold off my period.

I am so glad I met her!! Thank you so much for recomending her ladies!

I am so happy you got answers. That is awesome and I know a new beginning for you!

Glad you liked her. She has a very low c/s rate and is willing to help you have a v-bac. She is a wonderful support and "coach" during natural childbirth. I posted both my birth stories(using her) if you want to read them.

TY Amy I will!

I was just researching on the internet and found...


Impacted shoulders have a morbidity ranging from 16% to 48%. The most common fetal complications include asphyxia, seizures, brachial plexus palsy, and fractures of the humors and clavicle


I have never felt so lucky that he only had a broken sholder!

It sounds like you got some really good information!

My doctor explains things like to me...I love it! It makes me feel better about the situation and have a better understanding of things than just being told this is it and that is that.

Hopefully you will get your luteal phase under control and maybe a BFP!

Just wanted to give you hope. Lexi also got her shoulders stuck on the way out. We were lucky with her though because the dr got her out without any injuries. I was induced 1 week early with Ally because of that and she came out without any problems. Lexi was also 9 lbs 8 ozs and Ally was only 7 lbs 11 ozs. With Lexi I had 4th degree tears and with Ally I only had 2nd degree.

Just thought that I would share my experience with the shoulders getting with you and give you hope that the next one will be just fine!

TY! I had a 4th degree epesi with Justin too. I really hope taking the baby early will work...I can tell you I would feel all kinds of guilt if they had to break their shoulder too, though.

TY! I had a 4th degree epesi with Justin too. I really hope taking the baby early will work...I can tell you I would feel all kinds of guilt if they had to break their shoulder too, though.
Dr Graham rarely does epis. Episiotomy often leads to tears.
http://www.born-sd.org/labor_birth/episiotomy.htm

I'm so happy you found a doctor who is giving you answers and information. Best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy and L&D!

She's so good about explaining things to you! I LOVE her!!

I was searching for a VBAC friendly Dr last year, right about this time, and switched to Dr Graham at 15 weeks (I think). I loved her! she never gave me false hopes of achieving the birth I wanted.

I had a successful VBAC at the end of July. Dr Graham did not deliver my son Dr Lawson did and she's so awesome. I did not have an episiotomy either, though I had a 1st degree tear with a "big" baby, It was not bad recovering either. I had a great experience and all around fantastic birth with my son. I still can't believe we did it. My CS baby was smaller than my VBAC baby by just about half a pound.

GL on your journey! There are natural things you can do to "help" your body "ripen" and become favorable for a low drip pitocin induction. She suggested low drip pitocin at my 40th week appt. I never needed it, my water broke that evening.....

Dr Graham rarely does epis. Episiotomy often leads to tears.
http://www.born-sd.org/labor_birth/episiotomy.htm

Dr Constintine in Mesquite does but I would never in a million refer someone to him. I was never asked about the epsiotomy..he just did it. Once before his head came out and then the big one "down & up" when he got stuck. I was always told that it is better to be cut because it is easier to stitch.

I was always told that it is better to be cut because it is easier to stitch.

Yep, easier to stitch, but harder to heal (and they often extend, as Amy mentioned). So, you have to decide what's more important, easier on doc, or easier on mom.

Glad you got some good answers- I hope the cream is the key to your success!

I was always told that it is better to be cut because it is easier to stitch.

What Cori said!!!! :)

I have to say I was cut with amy and it couldn't sit for like two weeks with out PAIN! I thought man childbirth is really painful even afterwords. WELL, I had my second and wasn't cut (two little tears) doc didn't have time to get there, and I was bouncing lol in the bed, showing my husband how it didn't hurt!!! Same with my son, no pain afterwords, a little soreness but NOTHING like it was when I was cut! OUCH

I am glad you got some answers!!!!