My 24 week appointment at the maternal fetal medicine clinic happened today because J couldn't make it Thursday. I'm just glad he could come to one appointment even though it took a bit of rearranging and shifting.
Bennett is measuring perfectly at 23 weeks 4 days which the midwife said is highly unusual. I guess a day or two in either direction is seen more often. He weighs 1 lb 5 oz already which explains why his kicks and rolls are so strong now. As usual Bennett showed off his heart, but refused to move his head from its favorite position: buried into my cervix. The ultrasound tech asked me if I was feeling tons of pressure and when I said yes she said she wasn't surprised with how committed baby boy is to jamming his head in my cervix. So once again I had to be inverted for part of the scan, which I hate. The tech tries so hard to get good measurements without tipping me backwards, but Bennett never cooperates. We'll see if he stays head down like his sister did.
I had a thyroid panel done at Dr. B's office on the 10th, but never received a phone call with results. The clinic had a copy of the results and they were not good. I could throw Dr. B through a window for failing to call me when my thyroid levels are so low. Something needs to change quickly so I don't end up swinging too far the other way and needing treatment for hypothyroid. I'm frustrated and upset, but hoping the issue can be resolved quickly. I think I will drop the herbals for now and stick with the medication because I did well on the medication with my first pregnancy. I am going to call Dr. B's office tomorrow, give them a piece of my mind and see if we can come up with a solution.
After the ultrasound and the appointment with the midwife we went over to Labor and Delivery for a private tour which they were kind enough to grant us since we live out of town. The nurse who gave us the tour was confused as to why we were delivering an hour away from home when we have a large hospital here so I had to explain what happened with Charlotte and why we chose to deliver with the specialists down South. I did not tell her we are not delivering here because I don't trust the hospital here/haven't heard very many positive stories about their birth/mama baby care program.
The hospital is ... a hospital. The lobby is quite fancy, nicest hospital lobby I've ever seen. It looks more like an inn or lodge, it's quite strange. The labor/delivery ward seems nice enough, but I nearly rolled my eyes when the nurse firmly patted the bed and said, "You will deliver the baby here." Okay, I get it, I won't rebel and try to deliver the baby where I would be most comfortable. Seriously though, what would they do if you refused to get on the bed? Don't worry, I'm not combative enough to try, I just don't have that component in my personality, but I do wonder.
We had a big day. I'm tired. Next appointment is at 26 weeks for a glucose test (which I loathe, think is useless, don't believe is very accurate) mid-way blood draw including a thyroid panel and OB appointment. No ultrasound for me at 26 weeks, but I will have one at 28 weeks.
Happy that baby is growing, but still wondering if it will all come crashing down again.
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7 comments:
You're doing so well, and so too is Bennett! And such an overachiever measuring right on schedule ;)
Can I ask where you are delivering?? I went through labor in McMinnville and it seriously wasn't bad - I mean, besides the regular torture that labor is :) I had an amazing doula and they pretty much run the show and the nurses only pop in to make sure you aren't dying in there, wanting something. WIth your doula, you'll be FINE! They have birthing stools, will let you deliver pretty much however you want except in the water. So glad to hear that Bennett is growing well!! Praying for you!
So glad everything is well.
I am making mental notes about how lucky I am in my choice of hospital. All the high tech stuff is there if necessary, but if all is well I can do what I want - they even let you deliver in water... if you fit the protocol for water birth and there is a midwife available to be with you constantly, of course....
I hope everything stays well and Bennett continues to thrive xx
Glad everything is going well.
Seriously, what would they do if you decided to birth on the floor/standing/squatting/however you were comfortable?
I know how weird it feels to be planning a hospital birth after making the choices you have before, but surely the new hospital would be open to some flexibility about the birth?
Having E in hospital was so against all I was used to, but my wonderful mw, did everything within her power to make sure the birth was as close as possible to how I usually birth.
I was kneeling up, over the back of the bed...maybe you could consider that. :0)
(hoping this doesn't sound too bossy, it just seems to me that you and I would make similar choices under regular circumstances.)
Joellen: I am delivering at Sacred Heart in Eugene. I have heard that McMinnville has a good program, but they don't have high risk doctors or a NICU - two requirements for this birth. And as that's the hospital where Charlotte died, I'm not really comfortable there.
B: You are so lucky to have the option of a water birth in hospital if you fit the criteria!
Jeanette: You read my mind. I told J I would squat on the bed if I wanted to if I was absolutely required to birth on the bed :)
I was planning a homebirth, but had "complications" starting at 35 weeks and ended up delivering in the hospital. I cried during the hospital tour and told my husband I was close to losing it. But you know what? It wasn't that bad in the end. You are so focused inward during labor that I hardly noticed my surroundings. If I can offer one piece of advice, it's stay home as long as possible. (if that is possible in your case) I know the hospital is far, but stay home as long as you can!
I was planning a homebirth, but had "complications" starting at 35 weeks and ended up delivering in the hospital. I cried during the hospital tour and told my husband I was close to losing it. But you know what? It wasn't that bad in the end. You are so focused inward during labor that I hardly noticed my surroundings. If I can offer one piece of advice, it's stay home as long as possible. (if that is possible in your case) I know the hospital is far, but stay home as long as you can!
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