I only work one day a week, but I've been noticing it really starting to wear me out the last couple of weeks. So many women work up until the last few weeks of their pregnancy- that won't be me! I actually have a few extra morning shifts over the next few weeks, while one of the other ladies is away, so it will be interesting to see how I handle that.
Last Thursday was eight years since my accident. I am one of those strange people who celebrates the anniversary of my accident. Not so much because I like being a paraplegic, although it does have it's perks, but more because I should have died several times over that day. So I celebrate the fact I'm still here, the fact that still have the use of my hands, the fact that I'm actually a much nice, more patient, considerate and compassionate person for it.
In a strange coincidence, I was booked in for the spinal review clinic on the Thursday! Having not been to one before I really didn't know what to expect. As it turned out, you see a continence nurse, the doctor, a physio and an occupational therapist (OT). The continence nurse didn't have much to tell me, except that I'm eligible for an annual medicare payment to assist with continence product, so that was good to know! She was a bit surprised when I told her I was pregnant, much to my amusement, since I certainly look it now! This is so much more than 'para-pot'! (For those of you who aren't in the know, para-pot is the name given to that bulge in the stomach we get when we lose control of our abs post SCI and everything just collapses with gravity).
The review with the doctor was really good. Dr N is from the Austin hospital in Melbourne and was actually my spinal consultant while I was a patient there. Apart from just being nice to catch up with him, it was really good to talk to him about the pregnancy. While he is not an obstetrician and has limited experience in the area, he does have a lot of experience with SCI. So far as he is concerned, I should be treated like any other first time mum, albeit with closer monitoring. As long as baby and I are healthy going into the birth, there is no reason he can see that I shouldn't be able to try for a natural delivery. There is a change things won't go to plan and I may need a caesarean, but there is that chance with all mums. So I'm happy with that. So far as pain medication was concerned, he didn't think a epidural was a given. What he actually said was 'well you've essentially already had one, haven't you?' He also mentioned there are other types of medication, such as gas, which we can use. No arguments from me on that!
The review with the phyiso and OT was ok, basically establishing tht for the most part I'm fine with both areas. They offered me an appointment with the physio department, so Tim can learn how to help assist me with transfers. I figured that was a good idea, so we will be doing that in the next few weeks. Mum covered all that in rehab, but I've never had the need to teach Tim until now, so I figure it won't hurt to do it with a physios help. They also offered to send an OT to our house to have a look at what we have and to discuss any equipment we may find useful. I don't expect a great deal to come of it, I think I'll get more from talking to other wheelie mums, but you never know what they will have come across. I'm probably a little jaded in my experiences of OT's in the past. I've found myself with expensive 'must have' aids that I've barely used, if at all.
This week I took a drive up the coast with a friend of mine who is also expecting. We went up to Stork Talk in Devonport and had a look around there. This is the shop I originally had a play around with prams, so this time I had a go at getting the capsule in and out of the car. The one I'm looking at, the Steelcraft Infant Carrier, was pretty awkward to get in and out, especially the first few times. The lady got me another one to try, that most people find easier. Most not including me. This one has the release up higher, so I actually can't pull on it and lift the capsule at the same time. While the Steelcraft is more fiddly, I can rest on the seat while I release it with one hand and lift with the other. The only weight she had to put in it was 9kg, so I know I can't lift it with 9kg in it. On the other hand, the baby won't weight 9kg to start with, so I will have time to adjust to the heavier weight. My thoughts at this stage is, yes, it's awkward, but I would get better at it with practice.
The other interesting thing is where in the car it goes. I had thought I would put it behind my seat. The sales lady looked a little horrified at that suggestion- 'but that's on the road side! You'd be getting the baby out into traffic!' I did explain to her that I actually need that extra room on my side to get my chair out (she didn't seem to care that I was getting my chair out into the traffic), so I won't always have room on both sides of the car. As it turned out, the seat in front of the capsule needs to sit forward and I wouldn't be able to get my chair between the steering wheel and me with the capsule behind me, so she doesn't need to worry about the baby playing in traffic. I will just be (even more) restricted as to where I can park!
On our road trip, we also visited Mary's Lingerie in Burnie. I'd been told by a few people they had a great range of maternity wear. Well they didn't have heaps, but what they had was good. I got myself a new bra and BATHERS!! This may be a very trivial thing to most of you, but I have been searching for weeks, actually I think months now (I wish I was exaggerating) for something to wear swimming. I have now, finally, found something that fits! You have no idea how much this excites me! I'm super keen to get back into the water! And I love how they look on me- there is no doubt whatsoever that this is a mum to be!
The other stop we made (apart from several delicious food stops) was to spotlight, where I picked out some fabric to make a quilt for bub. I used to be ok at sewing back in school, but I'm somewhat out of practice now. I did get a new sewing machine for Christmas though, so I'm excited to give this project a try. I unfortunately have to clean off my craft table first, so it might be a week or two before I get to it! We've also picked out some decals (I think that's right, the stick on pictures you put on the wall) for the nursery, so I'm keen to start cleaning that out and making it look more like a nursery and less like the junk room.
On the whole I'm feeling pretty good. My wrists have been irritating me occasionally, but with a bit of ice and my wrist brace on overnight they feel pretty good. I'm seeing my massage therapist every few weeks to help with the shoulder soreness. I'm getting indigestion/heartburn occasionally, again pretty standard pregnancy stuff. My weight distribution and centre of gravity is slowly changing, so my transfers are certainly not as pretty and easy-looking as they once were. I'm probably going to have to change my footwear again soon. The heels on my boots don't hold my feet up straight and the leather soles have my feet slipping all over the place.
For those of you who don't get to physically see my progress, a baby bump update:
Thank you to those of you who shared names after my last post. I have been tracking them down, getting their stories. It's been an interesting mix, with roughly half the women I spoke to having a vaginal birth, and half having a caesarean. The reasons for those having caesareans have varied, between personal choice, those who felt a caesarean was safer for them than a vaginal birth and some who would have needed a caesarean regardless of their SCI. A few of the ladies who've delivered vaginally have stressed to me the importance of making sure my wishes are heard, not to just let the doctors book me in for a caesarean because it's easier for them. No danger of that! But it is nice to know other women have fought and won these same battles. Again, if you think of anyone I can talk to, please let me know!
Until next time!
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