Help finding a midwife @ 30 weeks???

[Jamie19]

I'm just going to post what I posted over at lj, since I'm running out the door.

So I had a dr's appointment today.
cut for the people who don't care about the glucose test.


I lost another pound. Bringing my weight to -4lbs at 30weeks. No biggie though as I was overweight BEFORE pregnancy.

So the dr comes in and says 'so I see you haven't taken your sugar test, Dr. Andrew wrote an entire page on it.'
me-yes, and okay...
dr-'well don't you care about your child? Do you want a stillborn baby?'
me-*mouth gap* Um no... that's not why I am declining it though.
-insert about ten minutes of him telling me my baby will be dead or have something wrong with it-
him-well then if you aren't going to take it, we'll have to treat you as though you have diabetes, meaning we'll have to test your sugar twice a day.
me-so I'll have to come to the hospital TWICE a day???
him-no we'll send you to the diabetes wellness clinic and they'll teach you how to do it at home
me- I know how to, and do. It's always low.
him-well I want to make sure you know how to do it right.
me- If I was going to a midwife this wouldn't be an issue at all. What are my 'risk factors' other than being overweight?
him-you gave birth to a large baby last time.
me- NO I DIDN'T what in the hell, she was 7lbs and 15oz and THREE weeks overdue, she was SMALL, hell average but small for how far overdue she was! what other risk factors do I have???
him-You don't really have any factors, but that's the risk of diabetes, no risk factors are the number one leading factor in diabetes.
*blink* me-so I have MANY factors, yet I have none? That makes NO sense.

SO I have three choices-
Take the test
Find a midwive
Go to the clinic and test twice a day.

The dr also made me have blood drawn today, for 'iron' and blood sugars, I'm thinking he just lied. Whatever I know I have low blood sugar so I can laugh in his face unless he decides to lie to 'scare me into taking the test'

He also said he gets one of me a year. Whatever the fuck that means. I guess I'm that one then. Everyone wishes I would budge (the drs and nurses) but I'M NOT! I will not budge, why can't he respect my wishes? Because if I budge on this I will have to budge on other things, even during labor when I won't be able to stand up for myself as much. Last pregnancy I BEGGED them not to break my water, and they did it AGAINST my will. If I budge god knows what they'll do without my consent.

I just needed to get that out, any advice is gladly accepted at this point.

ETA- I don't know of any midwives in the area, any help there? I'm in Middletown, Ohio (sw, ohio) I also have caresource, I paid out of pocket last birth, so I'm not sure what restrictions I have to deal with. Caresource is a gov. medical insurance program.

Anyways can anyone point me in the direction of a midwife? I cannot CANNOT go through the hell I went through with Khylie's birth again. I won't have anymore kids, and I was depressed for a long time after her birth about it.

TIA girls.

[MrsMoe]

Funny - my OBGYN who is also a University Professor at McMaster says he doesn't give out the glucose test routinely. He says they are totally uncessary and the urine tests with every appointment and the one time blood panel he does would show if anything was wrong.

Your OBGYN sounds BEYOND rude. Just WOW!

You have RIGHTS. If you cannot find a midwife or at the very least another OBGYN, tell him NO. He cannot control you. He is trying to buffalo you.

[3for3hb]

your doctor is a major jerk, to say the least.
Hope you find a midwife !!!
I had to switch midwives at 32 weeks last time around, so you'll still have plenty of time to get to know them.

[spughy]

Wow, your OB is an @sshole. But, good for you, for standing up to him! He is right, he probably does "get one a year" because most women are sadly too easily swayed by a white coat and a bossy attitude. You are an inspiration - but I know you would probably rather just be treated well by your care provider and not have to fight

However, if you end up stuck with him, show him this article: Henci Goer article on GD and ask him to defend GD testing, given the research results on it. One caveat: there was an article published in the BMJ (I think?) very recently showing some small "advantages" for women who are tested and treated for GD. If you just read the abstract, that's what it looks like. However, the study's view on "good outcomes" and mine didn't exactly correspond; while there was a statistically insignificant reduction in neonatal infant mortality, generally it showed that treatment for GD resulted in WAY more inductions (for "large babies") and a resulting cascade of interventions, and more babies in the NICU in the "treatment" category. Also, I question the study's conclusion that treatment resulted in lower birth weights because so many in the treatment group were induced. Duh of COURSE they'll have lower birth rates if they're induced!

The only good reason for undergoing GD testing IMHO, is that it IS a fairly accurate predictor of your chances for developing type 2 diabetes later on. I actually did do the test because I thought it unlikely I would have GD, and I was prepared to refuse treatment beyond diet and exercise, but I was curious about my risk level because I DID have a weight problem for most of my adult life and I felt that a kick in the pants like a positive GD result might help keep me on the wagon, so to speak. As it turns out, I passed the test with flying colours, so end of story, pass the cheesecake.

[spughy]

Actually Jamie - get Henci Goer's book: A Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. You should be able to find it at any largish bookstore. It is well worth the $20. You will find LOTS of ammunition in it if you end up having to battle through your entire pregnancy with the medical "establishment".

Sadly many prenatal tests and most interventions during birth are not supported by real research data. Again, good for you for standing up for yourself though. (I confess to some awe at the fact you're only 19 and can stand up for yourself to a doctor like that. You rock.)

[flapjack]

7lb 15 is not large- the average birthweight in the UK is 7 lb 7oz this year, so your daughter would have barely made it past the 55th centile. Because the US has a different ethnic mix and a tendency to crap obstetrics, the average birthweight is slightly lower (7lb 2 oz? something like that? ) but 7lb 15oz really isn't large. 9lb is generally accepted as the definition of a big baby over here (I know Isaac wasn't.) I'd seriously consider a complaint to the AMA or other relevant authority about him- because treatment for GD is not a guarantee that your baby will not be stillborn, and he is bullying you. I'm astounded that such a thing could happen.

Also, most European countries don't routinely do blood tests for GD, because they aren't accurate. A urine dipstick will identify if one is needed. The US do them because it's a good way of getting women into the "patient" mentality and identifying the goats from the sheep (so to speak). Look on Finding Your Tribe for the Ohio tribe, and ask them for resources on finding a midwife, but you can do this, you really can.

[gonnabeamom]

I really wish I could get you a midwife!

Let me congratulate you for standing your ground, and not doing the test. I got to skip it because my midwives substitute monitor testing instead. But even more important than the test is the fact that the doctor seems to think patients should suspend all critical judgement. He's rude, he's arrogant, his judgement is suspect, and he can't explain himself well.

I will try to find out what I can about midwives in Ohio and post it here later. If you are concerned about switching late in pregnancy, I have a friend who switched near 30 weeks, and apparently some people around here wait to switch until pre-term labor danger has passed.

[MrsMoe]

7.5 pounds is NOT large - it's a small end of average. So so silly! Large is 9 or 10 pounds.

[Jamie19]

Thanks guys. I've calmed down, I'm going to go post in finding your tribe and see what I can dig up over there.

I know, she was chubby because she was sort but FAR from large. And I was tested last time and came back with low blood sugar, so if she was large it wasn't due to having GD what the heck???

They monitor my sugar through my urine and it comes back normal everytime, if I had sugar in my urine I'd def. take the test. I even stole some of the dipsticks to check it and it's came back fine (yellow is the lowest and it's light yellow)

When Khylie goes down for a nap I'm going to settle down and read all the links thank you guys sooo much, I was freaking out all day yesterday about it. I think it'll be okay though once I find somewhere...

[gonnabeamom]

Here are some resources for finding Midwives in Ohio. This link will lead to some others that should be relevant. I hope this is helpful.

http://www.cfmidwifery.org/states/states.asp?ST=46

Also I ran into a reference to a legal case involving a Lay midwife who served the Amish/Mennonite community in Ohio. I don't know if you are in the area of the state served by those women, but if you are it might be a way to find an affordable midwife.

[Jamie19]

Update, I found a midwife thank god.

Website- www.midwivescare.org

My first appointment is tomorrow morning. Thank you guys so much

[*Amy*]

Jamie, I live in Yellow Springs, only about 30 minutes north of you. Let me know if you need help with anything, OK? I'm seeing the midwives at University Medical Center in downtown Dayton area; I don't know if that is too far for you (it's about 5-10 minutes north of the 75/675 split) but so far I've been pretty happy with them. I guess it all depends on what your insurance will cover.

You are doing the right thing though - you don't have to put up with that crap!!!

PM me if you need anything!

[MrsMoe]

Originally Posted by Jamie19

Update, I found a midwife thank god.

Website- www.midwivescare.org

My first appointment is tomorrow morning. Thank you guys so much

Yay!!!!!!!!! :LOL