Testimonial: At 34 weeks, holding on despite disaster scenarios

A baby is considered full-term from the age of 36^E week of pregnancy, but starting from the 34^E, the lungs are sufficiently developed so that the injection of corticoids to the mother is no longer necessary in case of imminent delivery. Another step forward!

I really feel like I've accomplished a feat getting this far in my pregnancy. The ultrasound technologist tells us that Dr. Panique will be the one we will see later. In the meantime, I warn darling that we will hear several disaster scenarios in the next few minutes, I suggest that she take some and leave some. For my part, it is with increased confidence in myself and in my means that I have my ultrasound with Dr. Panique.

This woman is amazing! I believe that our interview with her lasted a maximum of 15 minutes in total and, in this period of time, she will have found a way to say the terms “fetal death” “fetal distress” “emergency c-section with general anesthesia” and other terms that are just as troubling for a future mother who still has several months of anxiety behind her. She presented us with the millions of possibilities (meaning risks here) if I tried a natural birth, without talking too much about the benefits or even assuming that it could go well. In addition, she informs me that baby #1 (the one below and who will come out first) is not yet engaged, that my cervix is still long and closed, and that my pelvis doesn't really seem to have widened in the last few weeks. In short, it's clear that she would like us to plan a c-section, for her it would be so much easier that way!

In my head, it is already decided, if we can try a natural birth, I opt for this solution. But I understand the risks very well and I accept that it could end in a c-section.

Since everything is still going very well in pregnancy, no date is planned to provoke me. However, we are tightening up the follow-ups, I will have echoes every Thursday and monitoring every Monday. If these tests show any sign of fetal distress, I will be induced to give birth.

There is still something positive at the end of this meeting with Dr. Panique, I understand that a natural birth is in preparation. I then schedule appointments with the massage therapist, who also does reflexology, appointments with the acupuncture therapist, to try to trigger labor naturally, and I include raspberry leaf tea on my menu. There is no question of remaining passive while waiting: I don't want to be pregnant for the rest of my life, I have to let these babies come out!

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