mellybrelly: (Default)
mellybrelly ([personal profile] mellybrelly) wrote2010-06-24 05:06 pm
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yes yes YES!

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.

[identity profile] queen-elvis.livejournal.com 2010-06-25 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
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?

[identity profile] mellybrelly.livejournal.com 2010-06-25 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] queen-elvis.livejournal.com 2010-06-25 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Ugh, I'm sorry. Reading about this is teaching me to do some careful research when it's my turn to do this.

[identity profile] mellybrelly.livejournal.com 2010-06-25 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
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!