(no subject)
I had my first appointment with my obstetrician today. i had met with her NP, but this was my first time meeting her, and I can see why she was recommended to me. She was telling me that the doctors in her practice tend to attract certain patient "types" - like one of the guys has a lot of doctors for patients who tend to be very high-maintenance. She says she attracts "nice" patients, and the other doctor said that they're all schoolteachers married to firefighters. i guess I'm close enough to that! And I think I'm pretty low-maintenance. I figured this out last night while reading "Your Complete Organic Pregnancy". The more I read, the more I was like, WTF, are you kidding me? Maybe I'm not being cautious enough, but the book says not to pump your own gas while you're pregnant because gas contains benzene. It also recommends driving around with your windows open for "ventilation". In 15 degree weather? Forget it! It goes on to scare moms-to-be away from things like shampoo and deodorant because they contain potential carcinogens! Please. Then I read a couple of "vignettes" by unbelievably Type-A mothers about how you should only eat local food. I concluded that I'm going to be a terrible mother because really, I can't be bothered worrying about whether the plastic water bottle I'm drinking out of is going to interrupt my estrogen. These people would have a heart attack if they saw where I work - a place with no windows and constant exposure to - gasp! - germs! I'm sure they'd recommend I quit my job. Would that I had that luxury (and even if I did, I do like being a nurse at least sometimes, although I think I could stand to do a little less of it!). I don't think I'll be reading that book again.
I'd actually met a midwife at my church who works at a birthing center in Cambridge, and I'd considered going there to have the baby instead. My understanding is that epidurals are the standard of care at the hospital I'm going to, which means a catheter and and IV, which I'd rather not have. Midwives tend to be less interventional, and I think if I'd met her sooner, I'd probably have gone there, but I've already picked a great hospital (which happens to be attached to Children's Hospital) and I really like my doctor. Of course, there's no guarantee that she'll do the actual delivery, but there are A LOT of appointments before then. Besides, I'm already scheduled for my ultrasound 4 weeks from today. This whole process is a lot more stressful than I thought it would be.
I'd actually met a midwife at my church who works at a birthing center in Cambridge, and I'd considered going there to have the baby instead. My understanding is that epidurals are the standard of care at the hospital I'm going to, which means a catheter and and IV, which I'd rather not have. Midwives tend to be less interventional, and I think if I'd met her sooner, I'd probably have gone there, but I've already picked a great hospital (which happens to be attached to Children's Hospital) and I really like my doctor. Of course, there's no guarantee that she'll do the actual delivery, but there are A LOT of appointments before then. Besides, I'm already scheduled for my ultrasound 4 weeks from today. This whole process is a lot more stressful than I thought it would be.