This weeks appointment's updates

[Murph12334]

Ok ladies, post your appointment updates here for this week!

[Murph12334]

Had my appointment today! All good news

I had gained 20lbs total, but scale read only 18 lb gain this time. And I was worried with all the ice cream and junk i've been eating!

Also I saw the new lady! And she's a midwife that can deliver babies!!!!!! I'm so excited! So now they have two midwifes in the practice that can deliver! Makes me very happy!

I found out the one OB no longer is doing deliveries, but she didn;t say why. Unfortunatly, that was the one I liked too.

This midwife felt my tummy for a while, agreed that it was a very hard butt, but it was a butt. She did an internal and confirmed that he's head down since she felt the head sutures! Soo WOOHOO!!!

And I'm a good 3 cent now too!

[michanders4]

Sounds like things are going well and your baby will be here soon! I have an appointment tomorrow and will definitley come here to update!!

[wobblykate]

Good idea, murph. I have one on Friday (the day after my edd, so we'll see...I wouldn't be heartbroken to miss it ).

[heatherweh]

Just had my 37 week appointment. Baby is head-down. I lost a pound this week (don't worry I'll quickly make up for that anomaly). Measurements are right on. I turned down her offer to check my cervix since last time she couldn't even reach it (my cervix is apparently located near my tonsils when I'm not actively birthing).

DS was born at 37 weeks, so I'm trying not to be impatient this time around but I feel HUGE!

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by heatherweh

(my cervix is apparently located near my tonsils when I'm not actively birthing).

[perl]

That's basically what the MW told me today! She said something like "when I have to stick my hand up into your throat like that it means..."

[laurilj]

had my appointment yesterday... I'm dilated to 2cm! I saw the backup midwife since mine is still recovering from oral surgery. She said my cervix is soft and that maybe it could be stretched if we're interested in that. I talked to my midwife about a membrane sweep and she said it may be helpful, but it could also just make me have contractions that go nowhere and make me anxious. she asked me to have acupuncture to lower my blood pressure and relax, but not specifically to start labor.

I know she needs time to recover, but I want the baby now! I'm at 38 weeks 4 days, I think that's plenty of time to be pregnant.

[Sasharna]

Good idea.

I had mine yesterday... and to my great surprise they told me I'm GBS colonized. I feel like I've been worried about everything else in the world, but for whatever reason I really thought I'd be negative just like last time. Needless to say, I'm disappointed to know that my labor will have to involve an IV. I'm doing Hypnobabies and I'm a little concerned that the presence of the needle is going to keep me from relaxing. I think I'll get over it... I'm just bummed out at present.

No internal exam this week. Last week I was 50% effaced, 1.5 cm dilated. A few weeks ago I was having some powerful contractions but that tapered off when I started iron therapy. I barely even get BH anymore. It's almost like my body was going to kick the baby out because I was getting too sick... but now that I'm feeling better, he's allowed to stay.

Baby has been head down for a couple weeks, at least. He's still too quiet for my comfort... but at least he kicks a little more often than he used to.

[Murph12334]

sash - that reminds me they still don;t have my gbs results. I'm doing hypnobabies too and needles bug me a lot. I do have a fear of needles script. Not that I'm fearful of them, just that I thought it might be better. Of course I haven't gotten around to dh reading it yet... I don;t know if that would help you as well?

[heatherweh]

Originally Posted by Murph12334

sash - that reminds me they still don;t have my gbs results.

Forgot to ask about my results too- will have to call them...

[emmaegbert]

Our HB MW and her assistant did their home visit yesterday. My son was super excited that they were at our house. It made it all feel more real. We really like them a lot and I feel so good about this decision.

I canceled my CNM "shadow care" appt for today, just didn't want to go. I have an ultrasound friday and appt with the diabetes specialist doc (I have been extremely successful with diet-control for GD and haven't ever even seen a Dr about it yet). I am annoyed to have the US b/c I didn't do one at 20 weeks and now I am having one anyway just to sort of make them happy (its a "size check"-- I personally don't care if my baby is big and I feel confident I can birth a big baby. my mom and my MIL both had natural births with 2 kids close to 10lbs.). Actually, I am annoyed at the whole situation but will try not to rant here, just that this is the guy who could give or deny me permission to be in the birth center. Luckily, I am not planning to be in the hospital at all, birth center or not, so I feel less pressure to please him. I am going to tell him that I am not going to do the NSTs and that I am not going to schedule a 40-week induction. I hope I don't just have to go through a morning of being berated by a physician, but I've heard he is a good guy.

[Lindsay1234]

Had my first appt with the family practitioner that I had to switch to. Well it was a resident but she was very nice!! She even said "Im so sorry you lost your homebirth" I was pleasantly surprised!!

Did the GBS swab today. No biggie. DD1 got to find her sisters heartbeat with the doppler, she was very excited. Measured fine, MY stats are fine.

They want to do fetal/mama heart monitoring 2 times a week for an hour in addition to my weekly appt every week til the baby is born. AND they want to do an ultrasound every week to check amnio fluid levels. When I asked why, she said that they do it to everyone. Um no thank you.

Otherwise, everything went well!!

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

AND they want to do an ultrasound every week to check amnio fluid levels.

Seriously? That's insane!! I know with you guys they're concerned about the (possible) heart issue...but for everyone? You'd think the ins co. would throw a fit!

ugh, speaking of ins...dh got a bill today for $226 for his thyroid test...hope they don't do it again at his 6 week check-up:

[Lindsay1234]

Originally Posted by wobblykate

Seriously? That's insane!! I know with you guys they're concerned about the (possible) heart issue...but for everyone? You'd think the ins co. would throw a fit!

ugh, speaking of ins...dh got a bill today for $226 for his thyroid test...hope they don't do it again at his 6 week check-up:

Isnt it funny?! A bunch of labs and clinics in the state just got busted scamming the state ins so I wonder...

[emmaegbert]

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

They want to do fetal/mama heart monitoring 2 times a week for an hour in addition to my weekly appt every week til the baby is born. AND they want to do an ultrasound every week to check amnio fluid levels. When I asked why, she said that they do it to everyone. Um no thank you.

So, what happened when you said "no"? I am planning to decline on Friday. (doing one US to make nice but thats it unless I go past 42/3 weeks). Some nurse called me today annoyed that I hadn't already started at 36 weeks.

[Lindsay1234]

Originally Posted by emmaegbert

So, what happened when you said "no"? I am planning to decline on Friday. (doing one US to make nice but thats it unless I go past 42/3 weeks). Some nurse called me today annoyed that I hadn't already started at 36 weeks.

I was SCARED to say no but when I did she said (keeping in mind, this practice is pretty hb friendly) "Ok, well I have to recommend it to everyone, if you change your mind, let me know" I really think its about showing them you are informed. I said "No thanks, I havent had any problems with this preg and even the cardio doc sees no reason for these interventions because this doesnt affect labor or delivery" Show them you know WHY you are saying no.

FYI, dd1 is a non-vaxd kid so Ive had my fair share of standing up to doctors!

[quasar]

Had my check up today (38w5d). Still at 1cm like last week. I was 70% effaced last time, not sure where I stand this time since she didn't say. But everything looks good. BP was great, baby's head down, gained a little less than a pound. I've been eating more lately and at home my scale has been reading insane numbers, so I was surprised that I hadn't gained as much as I thought I had.

Now it's just a waiting game. He can stay cooking in there for another week or so if he wants. I don't feel the need to rush him. My family has a ton of days that I 'can't' have him on after my due date though (April 10th). I guess I'm kinda hoping I go sometime right before the due date to avoid them.

I am having increased BH in the evenings, and he's pretty active much of the day and at night. Sometimes I think he's going to just pop out of my belly button.

[emmaegbert]

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234

I was SCARED to say no but when I did she said (keeping in mind, this practice is pretty hb friendly) "Ok, well I have to recommend it to everyone, if you change your mind, let me know" I really think its about showing them you are informed. [...] Show them you know WHY you are saying no.

Thanks, that is what I need to be ready for so I am not flustered. I have been dealing with this all along- my desire to "please" people vs my strong convictions about what is right for me and my family. For once all those years of schooling come in handy I guess... I'm no doctor but I can talk to them in language they understand??

The practice I am seeing is officially blind to the HB plans of patients. They won't (can't) knowingly provide co-care. I don't think the MWs I've seen for prenatal appts there are going to be too surprised when I let them know I had the baby at home... and I know they know the HB MWs and support HB. This is all b/c of their malpractice insurance and the regulations of the physicians who oversee them.

[ShineliketheSon]

I have mine Friday and I seriously want to know how this baby is positioned now as it feels like she's been doing flips the last 2 days. I'm hoping she's just getting into postion for birth as she has been head down and anterior I believe the last few weeks or so...