So we got up in time to make it to the Bainbridge Island Ferry to get on the 9:40AM, but there was a LOOOOOOOOOONG line and we didn't make it on that ferry and had to wait for the 10:25AM... so I was almost 30 minutes late for my 11AM appointment.... but it was ok, because they were running behind.
So I got all checked in and started to fill out the MASSIVE amount of paperwork they gave me. Then they called me back for an "ultracom" which is an ultrasound of my aorta and then a really painful procedure where they practically impale me through the neck with something that looks like a transvaginal ultrasound wand so they can measure my hearts blood output... all of this to determine WHY my blood pressure is high so they can put me on the proper blood pressure medications. Turns out my blood pressure is high because my heart pumps too much blood, not because of anything to do with my arteries. So they put me on a med called Atenolol (don't really care about spelling right now). Then they sent me back out to the waiting room to continue on the paperwork. Meanwhile my 2 1/2 year old DS is in full on meltdown because he doesn't like watching me be manhandled by medical personnel... and DH REFUSED to take him out of the room.
A few minutes later they came back to get me and put me in a room with a 4th year med student who took the MOST detailed medical history I have ever been subjected to... I don't think there is anything about me that these people didn't find out... she was VERY thorough. Then she left.
We sat in there for about 20 minutes, long enough for me to get done with the paperwork, DS to drag every magazine off the shelf, play with the computer, draw on the computer with a crayon.... etc... et al... and then the Perinatologist came in.
BREATHE....
So he walks in with his PA and the 4th year med student and an ultrasound machine... yeah, small room... got really stuffy... Anyway, he proceeds to inform me that the food and blood sugar diary I have kept at their request over the last 3 days indicates that I need to go on Insulin, yeah, we knew that... he starts talking about "how this pregnancy will go..." informing me that we must come to the UW EVERY WEEK for the entire duration of my pregnancy... at this point DH stopped him and said something about him having a bad back and not being able to travel that far that frequently and asked if there was any way we could do any of the prenatal care on our side of the water... the doc interrupted him and told him basically that this pregnancy doesn't involve him, his back is no concern of his, and that because they are putting me on Insulin I HAVE TO come every week.... he said that if we lived on his side of the water we would be in every other day! DH got upset and started arguing with him, at which point the doc asked him to leave, he refused, citing social anxiety disorder, and so then the doc started simply ignoring him and talking over him to me... which just ticked DH off more...
Then he said that at 37 weeks they will schedule a cesarean because "we can't have you going into labor"... at which point *I* stopped him and demanded to know why they changed their tune, reminded him that when I transferred care they said AFTER hearing my medical history that a VBAC was possible... at which point he just said that it was impossible... at which point DH said "We are STILL going to try for it, you are lucky she is even here, she wants to do an unassisted birth at home!" I could have strangled him. The doc got ALL red in the face and started in about how dangerous it is to be pregnant with Diabetes, not to mention I have hypertension and that he WILL NOT deliver me vaginally, and said "I've been doing this since before you were born!".... DH got all up in his face and finally I asked him to leave the room... at which point he refused stating that "it's a free country, I am the father, I WILL be part of my baby's care, and you can't keep me out of it! I have rights!"
So I walked out, the doc followed me and we went to another room... all the while DH is screaming after me that "you didn't want me part of it anyway!" And of course DS is screaming...
So Doc and I get to a little conference room and start to discuss things calmly, rationally, and like adults... I immediately felt better, and could tell he did too. So I started by quoting some medical research that I had tucked away for just such an occasion... things like how the ACOG, CDC, AMA, and WHO all say that repeat cesareans shouldn't be preformed prophylacticly... That the risk of uterine rupture is less than 1%... and all the research I found on the risks of major abdominal surgery... He looked surprised! He started in about the risks of a macrocosmic baby, which I refuted because if I keep tight control of my sugars I shouldn't have a baby that is too big for ME... he agreed... then he said something about Diabetes causing premature aging of the blood vessels, which can lead to hemoraging... which I refuted because they had JUST done the ultracom and commented on how perfect my arteries were... anyway, he kept bringing up risks and I kept refuting them till we were just left with two options.... he either follows the medical evidence and allows me to VBAC or ignores the medical evidence and keeps me from trying for a VBAC...
I WON! Provisionally.
He will "allow" me to have a trial of labor IF the baby doesn't measure bigger than 8lbs. 13oz., I must submit to BIWEEKLY NST's for baby from 30 weeks on, and I must go into labor spontaneously BEFORE 39 weeks. There can be NO meconium, I must allow fetal monitoring during labor, I have to have NO epidural. I got him to agree that if it did come to a cesarean, that I would not consent to one before 40 weeks. Preferably I would go into labor on my own, come to the hospital and have the cesarean... he grudgingly agreed.
So, after that small victory, we shook hands and he left.
Then I stayed in that room and waited for the Nutritionist. I didn't want to face DH just yet, I figured I would give him time to calm down. The nutritionist/dietician basically gave me the entire Diabetes Education class again, it took nearly an hour... It was very good. I learned a lot. I talked to her specifically about how to very strictly control my diet to avoid causing a macrocosmic baby... she had lots of great ideas... mostly, I have to get myself into a routine where I get to bed no later than 10pm, get up by 8am, eat 3 meals, and 2 snacks during the day, get at least 30 minutes of walking in daily, AVOID at all costs corn syrup, and artificial sugars... try to avoid regular sugars such as white sugar, agave nectar, honey, etc... avoid processed anything... eat lots of veggies, check my blood 9 times DAILY... oh man... so much! But it is worth it if it helps me to VBAC....
Then I went back to the room where DH was waiting... he was much improved in his mood, apologized for his behavior and THANKED me for leaving... DS was calm and coloring in a book that the nurse gave him, and munching on crackers, peanut butter, and apple juice. DH proceeded to tell me about the conversation he had with the PA while I was gone. She explained things to him at his understanding level and helped him to calm down. So it was all good. He told me that he just is worried that I will be forced into another machine... I am scared too!
Finally, the PA and med student came back to do the ultrasound... baby is doing good, strong heartbeat, my uterus is tilted to the right, but that's ok. Baby attached in a good spot, nowhere near my scar, so that helps matters with the VBAC issue. I am exactly 7 weeks 5 days along. So my new due date is March 20th. Got a pic, will upload it soon...
Then after that, the Diabetes Nurse came in to show me how to inject myself with Insulin, told me I was to take 25 units in the AM and 15 at bedtime. My sugars should be BELOW 90 before meals and BELOW 140 1 hour after meals. If I don't meet those marks, I have to up my insulin at both times by 2 units till I meet my goals. She also said as an aside, not that it is official, since doc told her specific instructions to give me, that to really have TIGHT control if I want a VBAC that I should shave 10 points off those estimates for my blood sugar goals... she rocks! So she made me inject saline into my thigh and when she was satisfied that I knew what I was doing, she left.
Then we sat there for a bit longer and waited for the discharge instructions, they sent me to the lab to get 7 vials of blood drawn... yeah... SEVEN! Then we waited for my scripts to be filled and left.
Altogether it took 6 HOURS... Then because I was STARVING and so were DH and my Grandma, who graciously offered to drive us over today, and next Tuesday... we stopped at Taco Bell on Ranier Street and ate... DS was asleep before we got out of the parking garage at the UW... Then we drove around home rather than wait for the blasted ferry...
I am EXHAUSTED! Emotionally and physically drained. And we have to repeat the nightmare next Tuesday! It will be better though as I don't have to meet with EVERYONE and their brother and their brother's dog... and DH will be more relaxed...
So I got all checked in and started to fill out the MASSIVE amount of paperwork they gave me. Then they called me back for an "ultracom" which is an ultrasound of my aorta and then a really painful procedure where they practically impale me through the neck with something that looks like a transvaginal ultrasound wand so they can measure my hearts blood output... all of this to determine WHY my blood pressure is high so they can put me on the proper blood pressure medications. Turns out my blood pressure is high because my heart pumps too much blood, not because of anything to do with my arteries. So they put me on a med called Atenolol (don't really care about spelling right now). Then they sent me back out to the waiting room to continue on the paperwork. Meanwhile my 2 1/2 year old DS is in full on meltdown because he doesn't like watching me be manhandled by medical personnel... and DH REFUSED to take him out of the room.
A few minutes later they came back to get me and put me in a room with a 4th year med student who took the MOST detailed medical history I have ever been subjected to... I don't think there is anything about me that these people didn't find out... she was VERY thorough. Then she left.
We sat in there for about 20 minutes, long enough for me to get done with the paperwork, DS to drag every magazine off the shelf, play with the computer, draw on the computer with a crayon.... etc... et al... and then the Perinatologist came in.
BREATHE....
So he walks in with his PA and the 4th year med student and an ultrasound machine... yeah, small room... got really stuffy... Anyway, he proceeds to inform me that the food and blood sugar diary I have kept at their request over the last 3 days indicates that I need to go on Insulin, yeah, we knew that... he starts talking about "how this pregnancy will go..." informing me that we must come to the UW EVERY WEEK for the entire duration of my pregnancy... at this point DH stopped him and said something about him having a bad back and not being able to travel that far that frequently and asked if there was any way we could do any of the prenatal care on our side of the water... the doc interrupted him and told him basically that this pregnancy doesn't involve him, his back is no concern of his, and that because they are putting me on Insulin I HAVE TO come every week.... he said that if we lived on his side of the water we would be in every other day! DH got upset and started arguing with him, at which point the doc asked him to leave, he refused, citing social anxiety disorder, and so then the doc started simply ignoring him and talking over him to me... which just ticked DH off more...
Then he said that at 37 weeks they will schedule a cesarean because "we can't have you going into labor"... at which point *I* stopped him and demanded to know why they changed their tune, reminded him that when I transferred care they said AFTER hearing my medical history that a VBAC was possible... at which point he just said that it was impossible... at which point DH said "We are STILL going to try for it, you are lucky she is even here, she wants to do an unassisted birth at home!" I could have strangled him. The doc got ALL red in the face and started in about how dangerous it is to be pregnant with Diabetes, not to mention I have hypertension and that he WILL NOT deliver me vaginally, and said "I've been doing this since before you were born!".... DH got all up in his face and finally I asked him to leave the room... at which point he refused stating that "it's a free country, I am the father, I WILL be part of my baby's care, and you can't keep me out of it! I have rights!"
So I walked out, the doc followed me and we went to another room... all the while DH is screaming after me that "you didn't want me part of it anyway!" And of course DS is screaming...
So Doc and I get to a little conference room and start to discuss things calmly, rationally, and like adults... I immediately felt better, and could tell he did too. So I started by quoting some medical research that I had tucked away for just such an occasion... things like how the ACOG, CDC, AMA, and WHO all say that repeat cesareans shouldn't be preformed prophylacticly... That the risk of uterine rupture is less than 1%... and all the research I found on the risks of major abdominal surgery... He looked surprised! He started in about the risks of a macrocosmic baby, which I refuted because if I keep tight control of my sugars I shouldn't have a baby that is too big for ME... he agreed... then he said something about Diabetes causing premature aging of the blood vessels, which can lead to hemoraging... which I refuted because they had JUST done the ultracom and commented on how perfect my arteries were... anyway, he kept bringing up risks and I kept refuting them till we were just left with two options.... he either follows the medical evidence and allows me to VBAC or ignores the medical evidence and keeps me from trying for a VBAC...
I WON! Provisionally.
He will "allow" me to have a trial of labor IF the baby doesn't measure bigger than 8lbs. 13oz., I must submit to BIWEEKLY NST's for baby from 30 weeks on, and I must go into labor spontaneously BEFORE 39 weeks. There can be NO meconium, I must allow fetal monitoring during labor, I have to have NO epidural. I got him to agree that if it did come to a cesarean, that I would not consent to one before 40 weeks. Preferably I would go into labor on my own, come to the hospital and have the cesarean... he grudgingly agreed.
So, after that small victory, we shook hands and he left.
Then I stayed in that room and waited for the Nutritionist. I didn't want to face DH just yet, I figured I would give him time to calm down. The nutritionist/dietician basically gave me the entire Diabetes Education class again, it took nearly an hour... It was very good. I learned a lot. I talked to her specifically about how to very strictly control my diet to avoid causing a macrocosmic baby... she had lots of great ideas... mostly, I have to get myself into a routine where I get to bed no later than 10pm, get up by 8am, eat 3 meals, and 2 snacks during the day, get at least 30 minutes of walking in daily, AVOID at all costs corn syrup, and artificial sugars... try to avoid regular sugars such as white sugar, agave nectar, honey, etc... avoid processed anything... eat lots of veggies, check my blood 9 times DAILY... oh man... so much! But it is worth it if it helps me to VBAC....
Then I went back to the room where DH was waiting... he was much improved in his mood, apologized for his behavior and THANKED me for leaving... DS was calm and coloring in a book that the nurse gave him, and munching on crackers, peanut butter, and apple juice. DH proceeded to tell me about the conversation he had with the PA while I was gone. She explained things to him at his understanding level and helped him to calm down. So it was all good. He told me that he just is worried that I will be forced into another machine... I am scared too!
Finally, the PA and med student came back to do the ultrasound... baby is doing good, strong heartbeat, my uterus is tilted to the right, but that's ok. Baby attached in a good spot, nowhere near my scar, so that helps matters with the VBAC issue. I am exactly 7 weeks 5 days along. So my new due date is March 20th. Got a pic, will upload it soon...
Then after that, the Diabetes Nurse came in to show me how to inject myself with Insulin, told me I was to take 25 units in the AM and 15 at bedtime. My sugars should be BELOW 90 before meals and BELOW 140 1 hour after meals. If I don't meet those marks, I have to up my insulin at both times by 2 units till I meet my goals. She also said as an aside, not that it is official, since doc told her specific instructions to give me, that to really have TIGHT control if I want a VBAC that I should shave 10 points off those estimates for my blood sugar goals... she rocks! So she made me inject saline into my thigh and when she was satisfied that I knew what I was doing, she left.
Then we sat there for a bit longer and waited for the discharge instructions, they sent me to the lab to get 7 vials of blood drawn... yeah... SEVEN! Then we waited for my scripts to be filled and left.
Altogether it took 6 HOURS... Then because I was STARVING and so were DH and my Grandma, who graciously offered to drive us over today, and next Tuesday... we stopped at Taco Bell on Ranier Street and ate... DS was asleep before we got out of the parking garage at the UW... Then we drove around home rather than wait for the blasted ferry...
I am EXHAUSTED! Emotionally and physically drained. And we have to repeat the nightmare next Tuesday! It will be better though as I don't have to meet with EVERYONE and their brother and their brother's dog... and DH will be more relaxed...
and congratulations for surviving that! 
: It's a horrible vice. I might as well eat a candy bar.
oh yeah! I always seem to forget about portion control 
It's not my strong suit! When I want a big fat ice cream sundae I want a big fat ice cream sundae. It's a rare treat, so I've got to have it 'right' or it just wouldn't hit the spot, you know?
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