Since I have become pregnant I have been constantly questioned on why we had chosen to have a homebirth instead of a hospital birth. After having an appointment with both a Midwife and an OB it has proven to me over again why I made the decision.
At my second appointment with our midwife she gave me a wonderful folder of information. As I browsed through it I made me feel as though I was making the perfect decision in bringing my new little gift of life into this world. She was a very warm person that made me feel completely comfortable with her helping with my new little one. I was with her for over an hour and not once was look down for my thoughts or beliefs. She was able to answer all my questions and not make feel like I was making the wrong decisions.
A few of the handouts from the midwife included:
*Healthy eating suggestions
*The proper way to prepare GREAT LAKES fish. (Cleaning, filleting, & cooking)
*Safe herbs and herbs to avoid
*A 3 day food dairy
* A congratulations letter personally from the midwife
*A note for the expectant dad
*A list of things to have ready for the birth day
Per the midwifes request I obtained a back-up OB. So that the basic blood work done (CBC, Hep B, & Thyroid) and then if I wanted an ultrasound done. At my first OB appointment the rushed me into the bathroom to pee in a cup and then to take my vitals. Afterwards the nurse told me it was time for my “dating” ultrasound. When I politely declined I was immediately given a dirty look and questioned why. After that I was left in hall alone. Not really sure what or where I was suppose to go. Another nurse took me to a back room and began with a long list of questions. This took over 45 minutes long. When I didn’t want certain tests done she began to suggest that I was killing my baby. When it came to part of questioning where I was asked what I take a normal basis I received another weird look from her. Here is what I take on a daily basis:
*Nature’s Sunshine Prenatal
*Nature’s Sunshine Ionic Minerals
*Barlean’s Essential Woman (good fats)
I didn’t mention the fact that a generally take herbal infusions also to keep my minerals up. So told me I was too young and didn’t need the minerals or good fats. This made me chuckle to myself. After the long list of questions I finally was able to meet the OB. Who had a firm grip to his hand shake. He not once looked me in the eyes. He was friendly but immediately told me I was harming my unborn child by having him/her at home. I was with the OB for a short period of time, maybe 10 minutes and then I was told to make an appointment for an ultrasound. At the last minute the nurse came in said she needed to listen to fetal heart tones (FHT). She kept referring to the baby as a “he” and then asked if my midwife was capable of using a Doppler to listen to FHT or used a fetoscope. She depended on the Doppler to tell her how fast the heart was beating. At this time I was given a folder of paperwork and given the orders for the blood work.
Once home I was able to look the handouts. Not once while looking at all the handouts did I feel all of warm fuzzy feelings should have while pregnancy. If I didn’t have the knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth that I do it would have scared the crap out of me. Everything in the packet was stuff that could go wrong. The only positive piece of paper that was in there was on breastfeeding.
People are constantly questioning and out intrigue that I have decided on a homebirth and midwife with this pregnancy. Now after visiting with an OB I know that I have made the PERFECT decision for myself and my unborn child.
Any comments form the OB on Xavier? Just wondering since they (as an office) seemed to pass judgment on every other aspect?
ReplyDeleteUgh, I wish I would have gotten a Midwife. I did have a Doula. I did notice how crazy doctors and nurses were when they didn't like me getting all the tests or even when they found out that I was refusing vaccines during my pregnancy. It was crazy. I was constantly talked down to. They treat people, not all but most, as though they have a 2nd grade education.
ReplyDeleteThe only blood tests I had were for gest. diabetes and a CBC at the beginning. I had low iron at one point in the pregnancy and I turned down a blood test. I went home, ate tons of egg yolks and seaweed, then returned for a finger prick test a week later and my iron was perfect. Taking a blood test for something simple like iron can be avoided and save a lot of money for the mother.
I am happy you get to be prego again and I am sure that it is a lot of fun. It is also cool that you can stand up for yourself at those doctor meetings.
I hope you share with us all the experiences!
Oh! You know what I was just thinking about...there is a book that I read before I got prego about the importance of good fats. It was by Nina Planck or something like that. I gave the book to somebody in my breastfeeding group.
ReplyDeleteShe said that we should eat tons of good fats during pregnancy because no matter what we do after baby is born, our body will not store them the same way and the fats are really good for the baby and for mom. She has some scientific research in it.
I think the book was called "real food for mom and baby" or something similar.
I don't agree with everything she had said in the book, especially about vegetarians and what not, but she has good points.
So I just realized you had a blog! You know, I'm busy.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it sucks that the OB was a meanie. I do have to agree that my first appointment left me in a state of shock as well. Maybe because the pregnancy was a surprise, but if I had not had the education that I did, I can't imagine what it would have been like to walk out of the office, since I already was in shock knowing as much as I did.
I think that is part of the problem with medicine is that docs see so many people daily that it is just an assembly line, nothing personal to it. It really is a shame.
But it seems to that you didn't have the best doc. You should have been told to eat Omega 3's while you were pregnant, it is good for you and baby's brain. That was a mistake on their part, prenatal vitamins have folic acid and iron. Though women our age should be on folic acid every day, pregnant or not, because by the time you know you are preggo, taking a folic acid pill is too late. If there was to be a problem that folic acid can prevent (neural tube defects), it would occur in the first 6weeks, and most don't know they are expecting until at least then.
Keep up the good work! I miss hanging out with you. It is nice to see how things are going though!