I just found out I'm pregnant and we're considering a homebirth. There are several CPM's in our area to choose from that are well trained with many years of experiance, along with a birth center that will also do homebirths. I've considered a CNM at the hospital, but the 2 hospitals that allow CNM's in our area don't allow waterbirths and have a very strict "No Kids allowed" during flu season. I understand why, but my children are very involved and I think not allowing my kids to visit will effect the transition of adding a new baby... and then there's the possible seperation of their daddy who may not be here for the birth, because he'll be oveseas.
Anyway, I'm just curious to know if a CPM would consider me high risk. The day my youngest was born I woke up with a blind spot in my left eye and tingling on the same side of my face and down into my arm, followed by a headache. Pre-eclampsia was ruled out. 4 months later I was hospitalized for tingling and numbness on the left side of my body, followed by a mild headache. The Dr. ran several tests and concluded it was a TIA. 6 weeks later I was still having tingling in my body, so I saw my DO who ran some bloodwork (showed Vit. D defiecency and a high rheumatoid marker) and referred me to a new neurologist who didn't believe I had a TIA. He ran more tests. The Ct Scan showed bulging discs and he sent me to PT, but I wasn't able to get started because we moved. I also had 2 positive syphillis tests, which were proven false by the secondary test. So, I got a new neurologist after we moved who disagrees with the previous 2 neurologists. Yea, it COULD have been a TIA, but I'm young and fairly healthy so he ran even more tests. They came back clear, so now he wants to rule out partial seizures. I'm also seeing a opthalmologist, because in the last 6 months I have had the blind spot and the tingling a few more times. He found that I had papilledema (could have been pseudo- papilledema). Psuedotumor was ruled out, as was all other illnesses that would cause it. The swelling has since disappeared.
I'm meeting with CPM's when I get home from vacation, and I have an appt. with a CNM so I'm curious to know what answers I might get. I'm also looking for ideas on what questions to ask a CPM and the CNM regarding my past health history and birth, as well as any precautions I may need to take? I did speak with my neurologist and he wasn't concerned with me being pregnant; however, he did run bloodwork to test my D, B6, B12, iron, and a few others.
Thanks for reading this and responding!
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