Tuesday, December 07, 2004
33 week MW appointment
Well, things were much better this time. My midwife just got back from a visit home to Scotland, and you could see that she was re-energized by it.
I've gained 1/4-lb since the last time I was weighed (on Oct 11), but that's because I'd lost a bit from stress and had just gotten around to making that up. I'm hungry all the time now, so I'm sure I'll be gaining more steadily from here on out.
Only 4 weeks until I'm considered full-term by current obstetrics guidelines !!!! Of course, I have up to 9 more weeks of "acceptable" pregnancy (after which I'll be "past-due" ), and even that number is scary!!!
Let's see, what else: no protein/ketones/sugar/etc. spilled, everything right on, blood pressure was 120/78 (typical for me). My FIRST measurement ever this pregnancy of fundal height was 33 -- so spot-on. Baby is still vertex. Oh, and about the blood sugars. I gave her my printout of numbers, which she said looked good, and then she took them over for the OB to review. I overheard him say through the door "very impressive" about them -- ohhhh, it kinda made me want to just ask him for my $50 for the testing supplies!!!! Oh well. I am supposed to do two random draws per week from here on out. I'll try to remember. I refuse to stress about that anymore.
Next time I do GBS testing, iron levels testing (apparently it is now standard to test every 4 weeks or so, to prevent the development of anemia??). Then, she brought up wanting to do an U/S at 38.5 weeks to estimate fetal weight, but even said that it was highly controversial but they needed to do it because of "standard of care". I'm still considering refusing that one, because of the high false positive, and the fact that we discussed what would happen if the baby was estimated to be big, like Parker was last time. She essentially said that they would recommend a c-section, and I could refise. I asked her straight out if I really could refuse, since I wasn't able to on the blood sugar monitoring. She said yes, that at that point they would have to support our decisions. So, knowing that, I don't see the point in us spending $100 for an U/S that isn't going to affect my decision to proceed with labor.
We also talked briefly about labor. I told her I hadn't honestly focused on it this time, because I've been so focused on just getting the chance. I told her how I had planned a completely natural, non-intervention birth last time, but it didn't matter then. I told her that of course I want the same thing this time. She said her goal is for us to stay home as long as possible, to be very far along when we come in (she was thinking 5 or 6 cm). I told her we'd found a doula we have yet to meet with and talk about our "plan", and that I hoped we wouldn't come in until like 8 cm or so. We talked about what to do if I come in too early, and she said she'd try to get us able to be sent home (even if she had to be "creative" in the reporting of how far along I am; such that if I were a 4, she'd say 2 or 3 for the records, as she can't send home a VBAC mom if she's reached 4 because of liability).
Sooo, I go back to see her at 35 weeks, on the 21st. I need to start focusing on labor plans and stuff like that, and try to reduce my stress. Overall, I think it was a good visit. Parker LOVED hearing Sprout's heartbeat, and was telling Jane all about Sprout moving around inside Mama's belly. So, all looks good!!
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