yes yes YES!

[mellybrelly]

I swear the midwives were bending over backwards to be nicer to me today. They had the perfect ultrasound in front of them, they all knew about my exorcist moment of spewing red fruit punch all over the office, my blood pressure was 110/80, and the nurse even took it a second time just to make sure it was an accurate reading. (That's what it usually is when I take it at home, last month it was around 115/70)

Then the midwife apologized that I have to do the GD classes and follow the diet, this late in the pregnancy and thanked me for "going along with it".

I added Shelli to my birth plan, as my doula, plus asked for an order for a liquid diet. She said they always give their patients a liquid diet, but the nursing staff at the birthing inn said "water and ice chips only, without an order", so I figured it was wise to bring it up.. especially since water and ice makes me sick.

At the end of the appointment, the midwife said "Well, looks like we will go ahead all good, depending on how your blood pressure reads", and then I think she was a bit taken back that it was fine. She has only seen me once before and I was ANGRY Melanie. ;)


Feels like a victory, and it was nice to drive home, trying not to cry from relief, rather than from fear and frustration.

Comments

[said-by-me.livejournal.com]

That is awesome!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

It's a good step forward and I hope it continues!!

[spicycurvydiva.livejournal.com]

Yippee skippy!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Made me feel way better about things!

[subarashiine.livejournal.com]

Melanie, I'm so glad everything worked out today!!! I've been living vicariously through all your frustration-- I can only imagine how terrible that must of felt. You've been sticking to your guns though, and I think that's really awesome :D

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Do you think you want kids one day? I know you aren't in that place right now, it'll be interesting to watch your journey through these kinds of things one day!

[subarashiine.livejournal.com]

Most definitely! I'm really looking forward to having children. It's one of those things that I just know is going to happen, and want it to very badly. Until then, for another 8+ years I'll be happily doing my own thing ; )

I will definitely continue to keep a journal and make sure to record my future pregnancy like you have :D

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Awesome and I hope I will one day read it! You have a ton of time till then!!

[pyxiwulf.livejournal.com]

YES YES YES!!!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

no kidding!

I was sitting in the back room waiting, reading this natural childbirth book, and it made me laugh because it said "If you are not comfortable with your midwife at all, get rid of them as soon as possible" and it was a good little boost to keep me focused, that if anything felt off, or wrong, or threatening, I was out of there. Thank goodness it didn't.

[pyxiwulf.livejournal.com]

Talk about a sign!

[alena-griffiths.livejournal.com]

YAY! Good for you!

Good idea on the liquid diet.. Apple juice is very helpful to give energy. I had a big breakfast (and ended up throwing it up) but it was good for the energy!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

That's what they say, that even if you end up throwing up the food, it was better to get some in you for energy. I can't imagine going through 10 hours or more at the hospital (or even less!) without nutrients!

I'm packing my juice and water that I drink, plus candies, plus some extras like pudding and probably some of my own broth. I have a bunch of candy for the nurses, and other things, plus treats for Tim and the doula if she wants some. I also bought my honey sticks cause they are apparently a great way to get through labour, quick easy sugar.

[geordielass.livejournal.com]

Yay! So happy to hear everything went well today. :)

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Me too, now just to wait for this kid to figure the way out!

[popchex.livejournal.com]

that's fantastic! :D

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I know you know how good it is to hear positive news during pregnancy!!

[msmcfeeley.livejournal.com]

It's about time there's some GOOD outcome from a midwife appointment! :D

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

no kidding, the midwife visits have been the most stressful part of the pregnancy, and that's not the way it's supposed to be.

[queen-elvis.livejournal.com]

This is great and I am glad for you. I am particularly glad that you're feeling optimistic about your birth and positive about having a doula. You deserve it.

But if the midwife felt it was appropriate to apologize, why can't she call off the GD class order? (Not sarcasm, honest question.) Is it not up to her?

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

It absolutely isn't up to her, which is the shameful thing, it was the OB (who has never even spoken or seen me) who said I had to follow those instructions or leave.

These are some of the things I'm learning about the USA system. If you decide to go with a midwife, although it's waaaaay different in California from what I hear, than East coast, it's better to go with ones who have their own freestanding birthing center and don't report to an OB.

I was used to the fact that back home midwives don't report to anyone but the other midwives in their practice. You get the same midwife for all your care and delivery. They tend to give you more natural remedies, look at your health more holistically, etc.

My situation it was worse to have a midwife than an OB, because my midwifes couldn't answer what I thought were fairly simple questions, without meeting with their OB.

[queen-elvis.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I'm sorry. Reading about this is teaching me to do some careful research when it's my turn to do this.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Definitely think about what things you value.

Like my doula said to me, not everyone is as "crunchy" as me, some are more okay with induction or medical intervention.

I think I've just spent so many years wanting this, and I grew up on books written on The Farm (http://www.thefarm.org/), so to me, birth is something that should be natural and that the body should be listened to.. but we live in such a medically forced culture. I'm happy for intervention when it is needed, 100%, but not for no good reason.

What you want for your birth might be very different than what I want, but it's amazing how when you do get pregnant, your though processes really change or else become solidified!

[sister-savage.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! Hope the positivity continues! x

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Me too, or I'm outa there ;)

[must-coordinate.livejournal.com]

After reading that other comment in Lila's journal, I've been wondering about you since. I'm so glad to read that things seem to be going a bit better at the midwives' for you.

Keep up the good work!

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad things are going better, it sucked to have to bend to their demands that I didn't like, but at least I showed that my gut feelings about my body were right.

Just 4 or so more weeks!!