(no subject)
Well, I guess I had false hopes before i went to my OB appt. I got there and instead of doing the NST right away (like I had thought they would) they told me I had an appt in Labor and Delivery at noon (this office is in the hosp, right next to L&D). This sucked cause it meant that Rusty wasn't able to make it there in time for my actual conversation with the OB. He showed up right when I was leaving her office.
I got in there, they took the BP and weight and then told me to undress from the waist down. I informed them, again, that I am refusing pelvic exams at this time. The doc was minorly upset by this (keep in mind this is a dif. OB than last week, there are four women in this practice). She then goes on to ask me how the ultrasound went, since she was still waiting for the fax. I told her the baby was measuring just fine, except the stomach, and at that point she interupted me saying 'Oh thats VERY bad.'
Me: "Well, what do you mean?"
OB: "If her stomach is big, that means it's because of your GD and your baby's shoulders are going to be too big to fit through the birth canal"
Me: ...
OB: "You will probably end up having to have an emergency c-section if she gets any larger, or else she will have shoulder displacia, and nerve damage trying to fit through, do you know anything that I am talking about?"
Me: "Well, I'm pretty confident with my bodies ability to birth large babies, they run in my family and there has never been a problem before"
OB: "How big were you?"
Me: "9'14oz and a week early"
OB: "Well, there's a possibility she's macrosomic because of genetics, but you are going to have to let us do a pelvic exam next week, and you will probably need to be induced so she doesn't grow too much. I'm pretty sure that if you cared about your baby you would agree to an induction rather than having a c-section"
Me: *wide eyes* "I'm aware that you want to induce, but I want-"
OB: "If you care about the health of the baby you would agree to an induction"
At this point, I stopped trying to say what *I* wanted. I let her talk to her hearts content. She looked over my birthplan and said "Oh, now I see why you were going to a midwife" in a very snooty tone (like it's a bad thing?!). She said I *have* to have a heparin/saline lock (which I agreed to on the birthplan anyway). She said there is no way she will *allow* me to eat food because I might need a csection and I could die from chemical pneumonia. The part where I said I want Rusty to assist with the delivery, she said that most of them will NOT allow that so I shouldn't bother putting it into the birthplan. Oh, and then she says that it is their policy to give the baby a pacifier when sleeping because of the new study put out by the AAP (which I have read and considered). I said I do not want my baby to have a pacifier while she is in the hosp, and I have read about it, so no thanks. Her reply: "Well, you will have to sign a waiver then."
So pretty much this OB was a total bitch who treated me like absolute crap. She ignored EVERYTHING I said, insisting that if I really cared I would listen to her. Apparently the docs are having a meeting today about my case, and she said she will show them the birthplan and let me know what kind of changes I will have to make. I don't think she got the idea. I AM NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES. This is MY baby, MY body, MY experience.
I really feel for all of the women who have to deal with OBs like this one regularly. She belittled me, made me feel like I was stupid, and made me feel like I didn't love my baby enough for her. I am so glad that I know my rights and that I am informed, but it is still so hard to stand up to someone (even though I have researched all of this) when they are making you feel like that. I really wish that I had been more firm, but I told the office that I do not want to see this OB anymore, and I really want to get their on-call schedule to find out when she is working so I can avoid her if possible. I was so upset after this, but had to hold it all in since i still had the NST to go to. Rusty was VERY upset and wanted to go back and meet this doc and let her know that she did not behave appropriately, but I wouldn't let him. The doc I'm seeing next week is supposed to be really great.
After the appointment, I felt so powerless and doubted so many of my decisions so I stopped by the midwives office to see if I could talk to one of them. Of course I went in crying and they saw me right away. Constance was so nurturing and comforting. She reminded me that this is MY decision, no matter how they word anything. She said that she believes my body is built for big babies and that I can birth naturally, so if that's what I want, don't let them run over me. She also said that this is the worst OB out of the whole group, which was good to know. I asked her about natural induction methods since the artificial ones can cause major problems and would mean increased risk for csection. She told me a few tricks, so I may try those beginning next week.
I really hope I get Dr. Sorenson or Dr. Sears for the delivery of this baby. I haven't met Sorenson (I will next Monday), but have heard WONDERFUL things about her, and Dr. Sears was atleast very polite and listened to what I had to say at my appt with her. Thanks Brooke, for going out to lunch with me afterward. It felt so good to talk about all this and just cry. I feel strong again (atleast stronger).
Me: "Well, what do you mean?"
OB: "If her stomach is big, that means it's because of your GD and your baby's shoulders are going to be too big to fit through the birth canal"
Me: ...
OB: "You will probably end up having to have an emergency c-section if she gets any larger, or else she will have shoulder displacia, and nerve damage trying to fit through, do you know anything that I am talking about?"
Me: "Well, I'm pretty confident with my bodies ability to birth large babies, they run in my family and there has never been a problem before"
OB: "How big were you?"
Me: "9'14oz and a week early"
OB: "Well, there's a possibility she's macrosomic because of genetics, but you are going to have to let us do a pelvic exam next week, and you will probably need to be induced so she doesn't grow too much. I'm pretty sure that if you cared about your baby you would agree to an induction rather than having a c-section"
Me: *wide eyes* "I'm aware that you want to induce, but I want-"
OB: "If you care about the health of the baby you would agree to an induction"
At this point, I stopped trying to say what *I* wanted. I let her talk to her hearts content. She looked over my birthplan and said "Oh, now I see why you were going to a midwife" in a very snooty tone (like it's a bad thing?!). She said I *have* to have a heparin/saline lock (which I agreed to on the birthplan anyway). She said there is no way she will *allow* me to eat food because I might need a csection and I could die from chemical pneumonia. The part where I said I want Rusty to assist with the delivery, she said that most of them will NOT allow that so I shouldn't bother putting it into the birthplan. Oh, and then she says that it is their policy to give the baby a pacifier when sleeping because of the new study put out by the AAP (which I have read and considered). I said I do not want my baby to have a pacifier while she is in the hosp, and I have read about it, so no thanks. Her reply: "Well, you will have to sign a waiver then."
So pretty much this OB was a total bitch who treated me like absolute crap. She ignored EVERYTHING I said, insisting that if I really cared I would listen to her. Apparently the docs are having a meeting today about my case, and she said she will show them the birthplan and let me know what kind of changes I will have to make. I don't think she got the idea. I AM NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES. This is MY baby, MY body, MY experience.
I really feel for all of the women who have to deal with OBs like this one regularly. She belittled me, made me feel like I was stupid, and made me feel like I didn't love my baby enough for her. I am so glad that I know my rights and that I am informed, but it is still so hard to stand up to someone (even though I have researched all of this) when they are making you feel like that. I really wish that I had been more firm, but I told the office that I do not want to see this OB anymore, and I really want to get their on-call schedule to find out when she is working so I can avoid her if possible. I was so upset after this, but had to hold it all in since i still had the NST to go to. Rusty was VERY upset and wanted to go back and meet this doc and let her know that she did not behave appropriately, but I wouldn't let him. The doc I'm seeing next week is supposed to be really great.
After the appointment, I felt so powerless and doubted so many of my decisions so I stopped by the midwives office to see if I could talk to one of them. Of course I went in crying and they saw me right away. Constance was so nurturing and comforting. She reminded me that this is MY decision, no matter how they word anything. She said that she believes my body is built for big babies and that I can birth naturally, so if that's what I want, don't let them run over me. She also said that this is the worst OB out of the whole group, which was good to know. I asked her about natural induction methods since the artificial ones can cause major problems and would mean increased risk for csection. She told me a few tricks, so I may try those beginning next week.
I really hope I get Dr. Sorenson or Dr. Sears for the delivery of this baby. I haven't met Sorenson (I will next Monday), but have heard WONDERFUL things about her, and Dr. Sears was atleast very polite and listened to what I had to say at my appt with her. Thanks Brooke, for going out to lunch with me afterward. It felt so good to talk about all this and just cry. I feel strong again (atleast stronger).