May 20: Success and fail
Hi friends! Long time, no update over here. There really hasnโt been too much to report, besides the usual things and trying to hide the fact that all I want is eggs and toast on the blog, but today I had my first prenatal appointment.
It was both a success and a fail.
I had high hopes for this appointment, maybe too high, because a close friend is pregnant and weโre about the same amount along and she had an ultrasound yesterday. When she texted me the picture, my heart melted- I just wanted to see our little lentil so badly!
When I got to my appointment (with the madre, who came with me since the Pilot is still gone), I was 100% ready for my ultrasoundโฆ which never happened. Theyโre waiting two more weeks to give me mine since Iโm still early (7 weeks) and they donโt see any reason why it should be pushed up. I was beyond bummed.
While I do feel the hints of being pregnant, this was going to be the thing to make it more real. I feel like I need proof like this is really happening, but instead Iโm going to have to rely on faith that everything is ok in there, and be thankful that the Pilot will be here for the first ultrasound appointment. I told the midwife that โI just want it to be realโ and she said, โhoney, blood tests donโt lie.โ
The good news is that I ADORE the midwife I met today. Iโm seeing a group of midwives, who deliver the babies in a birthing center at a local hospital, and their C-section rate is 8%, compared to Tucsonโs 25% average. I had a feeling that it would be a good experience, but I really had no idea it would be so wonderful.
The midwife I met with today -there are 8 and you meet with all of them, because only one midwife is on call for births per 24 hour shift- knew about ALL of the herbal supplements my homeopath has me on, and sat in the room as if she had all day to answer questions. Seriously, we could have had lunch together in there. She was so thorough, kind and patient- unlike my experiences with traditional doctors, I didnโt feel rushed in the least. Iโm very, very fortunate to have been referred to this group, and hope that the rest of this whole shebang is just as pleasant ๐
Even though I was so happy that the midwife was incredible, I still cried when I picked up my La Parrilla and discovered in the car that they had put cheese sauce on my to-go order. I had to compose myself before going back inside to switch it out for another one.
Raging hormones are a biotch haha.
At our last duty station, the hospital/tricare? would only allow two ultrasounds one to determine/confirm the due date and one around 20 weeks. Here in Germany I had one every single visitโฆ every 3 weeks, every other day from 40-41 weeks and every single day 41+ weeks. I was 41 + 5 days! It got real old real quick :p Hopefully you get more than two but less than 100 ๐
My friend is newly pregnant, maybe 15 weeks-ish? And when she told me, she said it was sooo hard to wait for her first appoint at 8 weeks. As soon as you know, Iโm sure you are in โaction modeโ and want to start checking things off your list, like appointments! Iโm sure it takes plenty of patience to just trust the docs and nurses and go with the flow. Congrats again!
ooo will you post more about midwives? Iโm like 98% sure Iโm going to go with a midwife when it is our time.
yes for sure!
yay!
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Iโve been reading your blog for about a year now, not really commenting, but enjoying all your recipes and workout tips, and I was so happy to read your news yesterday! Iโm a huge proponent of natural childbirth, so I think itโs amazing that youโre using a midwife. ๐
Iโm so not a baby person, but Iโm enjoying your family posts so far.
Have you seen โThe Business of Being Born?โ Itโs a very good documentary about home births with midwives versus hospital births.
i have seen it and read the book. fantastic and so informational
Hi Gina Girl,
How did you select the hospital and doctor? What criterias did u keep in mind? U have me bawling and laughing at the same timeโฆyour response to getting cheese on your to go order cracked me upโฆbut i understand about those insane hormonesโฆeven on regular days they are a biotch.
i asked the base nurse what she had heard. i told her i wanted a midwife and knew sheโd have the inside info and gave me the incredible recommendation
Your post brought back a lot of memories. I, too, was excited to have a midwife deliver my first baby at a local birthing center back in 2004. They told me the same thing โ their c-section rates were much lower than the average. Unfortunately, as soon as blood tests confirmed I had gestational diabetes, they dropped me like a hot potato. They didnโt โdoโ high-risk pregnancies. So there I was, devastated, 24+ weeks pregnant, high-risk(!), and no health care provider. I had to scramble to find a obstetrician. Now I realize that a good part of the low c-section rate is due to the fact that they drop the patients most likely to have c-sections โ the high-risk group. Iโm keeping my fingers crossed that you get the birth experience you want with your midwife.
oh good to know! i hope so, too
I have a midwife center with a birthing inn too (although Iโll probably opt for the hospital just cause itโs my firstborn and I have no idea what to expect, hence I want to have all options open), and the midwives are absolutely FANTASTIC! I adore each and every one of them, theyโre so nice and friendly and really make you feel taken care of.
However, our ultrasound tech is the most grumpy lady Iโve met there! She never seems into her job or friendly at all, so that puts a little bummer on these exciting moments. ๐ But all in all, midwifery all the way! I hear so many horror stories about women choosing a regular OB and never feeling taken care of at all.
So happy you found a great experience finding a mid wife! Great to know the birthing center is in a hospitalโฆthatโs so important! Traditional doctors do rush you so thatโs amazing you had all that time with them!
I firmly support a womanโs choice to whatever birthing practice she deems right for her, but I do feel so heartened to see more women choosing alternatives to intervention-based birthing! We are working on a baby project right now (i.e having one!), but I have been reading so much about birthing intervention in my recreational and academic reading. The politics and business of childbirth (See Ricki Lakeโs film โThe Business of Being Bornโ if you havenโt already) are messy, and ultimately (like so often) it is women who get slighted. Ultimately, I believe that no one possesses more skill and intuition in birthing than the Mama, herself. Congratulations and enjoy every moment!
iโve read it (and seen the documentary) and couldnโt agree more ๐
Midwife YAY!!! I loved my midwife, I seriously never want to see a real dr. ever again!! I felt important and informed and she helped me all throughout the pregnancy and childbirth. She was massaging my back during back laborโฆ I hope you donโt have to experience that ๐
Congratulations on your pregnancy! That is amazing news! I love that you are going the midwife route- I delivered my son with a group of midwives in Tucson last year (Iโm in Phoenix but it was worth the drive even while in labor). ๐ Let me know if you want me to share any of my experiences with you- it all seems like it was just yesterdayโฆ. Again, huge congrats to you and the Pilot!