I posted this to momys today and thought I would share with everyone else too.
I will share my story in hopes it encourages your friend.
I had and emergency c section with 9th, all went well without problems. my dr. told me that I could have 3 or so more and be fine. this was feb. 06
I got pregnant again and had a repeat c section in oct. 07. when my dr. was stitching me up my uterus was pulling away from the stitches due to thinning. my dr. was able to get me stitched up but not without a lot of problems doing it. I almost had to have a hysterectomy. when he came into my recovery room he looked at me and said "Nikki, you have 10 wonderful children. please think about having any more or not. it would not be good if you do, there was a lot of thinning and I am not sure you can carry another baby. I know this is hard for you, but I suggest you do not get pregnant again. IF you do we will deal with it BUT I just highly suggest against it for your health." I was floored. there was a nurse that has been with me for most of my deliveries, she goes to our church. she said she knew we were trusting God, but God gives us knowledge to make informed decisions.
we spent about 8 months praying about what to. we trust my doctor, so his opinion weighed in greatly on our decision. we have always said that if he said no more, then no more. I have never had problems and so felt that when the time to stop came, he would give the dr the knowledge. my dh scheduled a vasectomy. we both felt peace with this, we *knew* we had God's peace cause it went against everything I have ever really felt and I was okay with this decision.
well, 2 days before dh was to go in guess what? I found out we were pregnant again. God was inventive in His way of letting us know it was HIM that was in charge of this. I was on my monthly when I got pregnant! I was on my last day, so spotting. we spent time together and I spotted a little heavier for 24 hours and that was actually the only time before my next monthly visitor and I was pregnant, no doubt of who was in charge!!
my doctor went over all the stuff that "could happen". one of those things was that liability on him because of the situation because by all "medical" perspectives there would be major complications with my uterus. one big thing was the bigger I got the thinner my wall would become and more chance of rupture. well, I told him right then and there that I appreciated his concern and would understand if he did not want to deliver the baby (he had delivered 9 of my 10 at this point). I also told him that I was at peace because there was no doubt in my mind that God wanted this baby for us. he said he would deliver, but would like me to consider having my tubes tied. he asked me at each appointment and I responded with "my dh and I are still praying". he said okay and that was end of convo about it.
a week before my due date I was hit by a car, I was walking. she backed up into me hitting my belly (she wasn't going very fast). I called my dr and he asked me to go immediately for a sono, so I did. at that time we found out our princess was really a prince lol...or a turtle boy as the lady called him (his nickname is turtle boy and he gets everything we find that has to do with turtles lol). she said everything looked fine but he was a big boy.
a week later I went in for my c section. we prayed and prayed about it because as the time got closer I got nervous. the nurse I had that was there for most of my deliveries (who went to my church) was there again at my request. before going in my dr asked me if he could tie my tubes. I asked if he could wait til we were in there and he saw the condition of my uterus. he said no because of having to sign prior to having it. so we politely said no.
just so you know my prayer had been that God show me what to do. that if I was to have more children he heal my uterus and if I was to stop that I need a hysterectomy.
my husband, best friend and oldest dd was in the room with me (dd's boyfriend and best friend were in the waiting room). the dr was very quiet so I asked how things were going and he said things look good, we'll talk in recovery. after a few minutes he asked what I had been praying and I told him.
in recovery, I first saw my friend the nurse. she came in and asked what I had prayed and said "Nikki, he ANSWERED your prayers! your uterus looked like a first c section. it is perfect, no thinning, nothing. dr was even able to clean it up a bit!"
my dr. came in and shaking his head said "your uterus was perfect, I didn't expect that since he was so big. your prayer were answered."
he was just under 10lbs, my biggest baby yet.
at my postpartum, my dr asked me about birth control or dh "getting it taken care of" and I told him that God has already showed me how big He was and we will pray and go from there. he said "guess I'll see you next year, sometimes you make me wish I had just given you the hysterectomy the first time" I said "maybe and thank you for respecting my wishes cause you knew I wouldn't want that". He told me that everything looked perfect yet again. I left knowing he would prefer we stop having children, and him knowing we would allow God to have His way.
will I have more? I really don't know. are we in charge? no way! we are praying. there are days I don't want anymore, then there are days I can't imagine not having more. if I go off MY emotions we are in trouble, so I pray and give it to God. I love having someone to give it to that I know can and will handle it. It takes one more thing off my shoulders to have to do :-)
well that was way longer than I expected it to be. I hope my testimony helps someone else.
