I was referred by my family Dr. (Eva) to Dr. K *just* in case I want into labor before 37 weeks or while my midwife, Wendy is away on holidays (38-39.5 weeks). Honestly, I went in with an open mind, I have no problem with Dr's. I do, however have a problem with condesending know-it all arrogant people of any sort.
:
After waiting an hour in the waiting room, I met Dr. K. I'm not sure if Dr. Eva didn't tell her I was planning a homebirth with a midwife or whether Dr. Kali didn't bother reading my charts and referal. She didn't ask me WHY I wanted a homebirth, just what I planned on doing if there was a problem or an emergency. I told her if there was something that my midwife couldn't handle we'd go to the small local hospital or call the paramedics, both of which are across the street from us. I told her I wasn't trying to prove anything but that I felt most comfortable having a homebirth. She kept saying well this isn't how I do it, I don't know anything about this midwife etc.
Dr. K completely ignored that Dr. Eva & Wendy already set an EDD based on my wacky cycles. I kept telling her that I had 36+ day cycles and she kept saying I was due the 3rd, not the 9th. Then she looked at my ultrasound report and said that it confirmed my due date (now would that be the 3rd or 9th)---I asked her and she just plowed ahead and didn't give me a straight answer We all know that 20 week ultrasounds are NOT the best dating ultrasounds right? She treated me like I was 12. I have NEVER been treated that way by a doctor before. I'm a well educated articulate woman!
Then I hopped on the table and I proceeded to tell her how I couldn't labor/deliver on my back due to my chronic lower back issues. Heck I can't even have sex in the missionary position (the second I spread my legs I'm paralized with pain and can't move...TMI but very relevant)She doesn't respond, just ignores my comment and proceeds to measure fundal height etc. She listened to the baby with the doppler for awhile and concluded that she couldn't hear decels or accelerations, the heartbeat was too consistent (duh...the baby was sleeping) and that I needed to go for a non stress test at the hospital. Fine, ok. That won't hurt anything. Then she tells me the baby is oblique (head down but slightly tilted to one side). I'm thinking, no big deal, I'm only 36 weeks today (or 36.6 by her stupid estimations) She insists that I go for an ultrasound in 1.5-2 weeks. Ok, fine, I can always cancel it right? I couldn't even get to all the other things on my birth plan, and honestly, she wouldn't have listened anyway.
Then she asks me what my plans are for continuing care. I tell her that I'm continuing to see my family doctor (who doesn't 'deliver' babies but is happy to work with my midwife) and my midwife and that I don't plan on seeing her again unless there are complications or I go into labor while my midwife is gone (all the while thinking I NEVER plan on seeing you again!) She seemed really annoyed that I had wasted her time or something. She sent me out to her receptionist with the ultrasound form. The Receptionist called and booked the ultrasound and said to me, 'So I suppose Dr. K wants to see you that day'. I said, 'no I don't think so, the results should probably just go to my family doctor'. She gave me a strange look, went back to Dr. K and came back to the front with an annoyed look on her face and said, 'well, you can go now'.
I was just shaking when I got out of there. Thank goodness my Mom drove me, we stopped for a snack before going to the hospital for the NST and I calmed down. The roads are so bad after the blizzard we had earlier in the week.
I had the first non stress test but baby was SO active after my snack they couldn't get a baseline, coupled with the fact they had a new NST machine that was giving them grief. The nurses were kind and patient that I mellowed a little. I had to come back an hour later for another NST. This one was perfect, and they told me so. They said that I could go as soon as they called Dr. K with my results. I overheard them talking to the Dr. on the phone and the nurse said 'ohhhhhhh. Ohhhhhhhhh. Ohhhhhhhh' about 5 times. I'm certain that Dr. Kali was telling them about my planned homebirth and that the baby was oblique. My perfectly calm nurse came back and asked if I was going to the ultrasound that Dr. K had booked for the 25th. I told her yes, but that I really wasn't worried about the baby not being perfectly postioned at this stage. She then proceeded to tell me how easily the baby could turn breech. I just told her I wasn't worried, the baby would either turn or it wouldn't and left.
I was just so disgusted, the Dr had tried all her scare tactics on me and is scheduling all these unneeded 'cover her butt tests'. I'm NOT high risk, I had an quick easy first labor with a posterior nearly 10 pound baby. My body is obviously made to do this. Arrrrgh!
Now I need to tell my regular family doctor how crappy this appointment went. I called my midwife Wendy tonight and her viewpoint was EXACTLY the same as mine. She's not worried in the least and says she knows I'm going to have this baby happily and safely at home and in the unlikely event we have to transfer that she'll be my bulldog.
Sorry about the power rant. I'm just so FREAKING mad!
:After waiting an hour in the waiting room, I met Dr. K. I'm not sure if Dr. Eva didn't tell her I was planning a homebirth with a midwife or whether Dr. Kali didn't bother reading my charts and referal. She didn't ask me WHY I wanted a homebirth, just what I planned on doing if there was a problem or an emergency. I told her if there was something that my midwife couldn't handle we'd go to the small local hospital or call the paramedics, both of which are across the street from us. I told her I wasn't trying to prove anything but that I felt most comfortable having a homebirth. She kept saying well this isn't how I do it, I don't know anything about this midwife etc.
Dr. K completely ignored that Dr. Eva & Wendy already set an EDD based on my wacky cycles. I kept telling her that I had 36+ day cycles and she kept saying I was due the 3rd, not the 9th. Then she looked at my ultrasound report and said that it confirmed my due date (now would that be the 3rd or 9th)---I asked her and she just plowed ahead and didn't give me a straight answer We all know that 20 week ultrasounds are NOT the best dating ultrasounds right? She treated me like I was 12. I have NEVER been treated that way by a doctor before. I'm a well educated articulate woman!
Then I hopped on the table and I proceeded to tell her how I couldn't labor/deliver on my back due to my chronic lower back issues. Heck I can't even have sex in the missionary position (the second I spread my legs I'm paralized with pain and can't move...TMI but very relevant)She doesn't respond, just ignores my comment and proceeds to measure fundal height etc. She listened to the baby with the doppler for awhile and concluded that she couldn't hear decels or accelerations, the heartbeat was too consistent (duh...the baby was sleeping) and that I needed to go for a non stress test at the hospital. Fine, ok. That won't hurt anything. Then she tells me the baby is oblique (head down but slightly tilted to one side). I'm thinking, no big deal, I'm only 36 weeks today (or 36.6 by her stupid estimations) She insists that I go for an ultrasound in 1.5-2 weeks. Ok, fine, I can always cancel it right? I couldn't even get to all the other things on my birth plan, and honestly, she wouldn't have listened anyway.
Then she asks me what my plans are for continuing care. I tell her that I'm continuing to see my family doctor (who doesn't 'deliver' babies but is happy to work with my midwife) and my midwife and that I don't plan on seeing her again unless there are complications or I go into labor while my midwife is gone (all the while thinking I NEVER plan on seeing you again!) She seemed really annoyed that I had wasted her time or something. She sent me out to her receptionist with the ultrasound form. The Receptionist called and booked the ultrasound and said to me, 'So I suppose Dr. K wants to see you that day'. I said, 'no I don't think so, the results should probably just go to my family doctor'. She gave me a strange look, went back to Dr. K and came back to the front with an annoyed look on her face and said, 'well, you can go now'.
I was just shaking when I got out of there. Thank goodness my Mom drove me, we stopped for a snack before going to the hospital for the NST and I calmed down. The roads are so bad after the blizzard we had earlier in the week.
I had the first non stress test but baby was SO active after my snack they couldn't get a baseline, coupled with the fact they had a new NST machine that was giving them grief. The nurses were kind and patient that I mellowed a little. I had to come back an hour later for another NST. This one was perfect, and they told me so. They said that I could go as soon as they called Dr. K with my results. I overheard them talking to the Dr. on the phone and the nurse said 'ohhhhhhh. Ohhhhhhhhh. Ohhhhhhhh' about 5 times. I'm certain that Dr. Kali was telling them about my planned homebirth and that the baby was oblique. My perfectly calm nurse came back and asked if I was going to the ultrasound that Dr. K had booked for the 25th. I told her yes, but that I really wasn't worried about the baby not being perfectly postioned at this stage. She then proceeded to tell me how easily the baby could turn breech. I just told her I wasn't worried, the baby would either turn or it wouldn't and left.
I was just so disgusted, the Dr had tried all her scare tactics on me and is scheduling all these unneeded 'cover her butt tests'. I'm NOT high risk, I had an quick easy first labor with a posterior nearly 10 pound baby. My body is obviously made to do this. Arrrrgh!
Now I need to tell my regular family doctor how crappy this appointment went. I called my midwife Wendy tonight and her viewpoint was EXACTLY the same as mine. She's not worried in the least and says she knows I'm going to have this baby happily and safely at home and in the unlikely event we have to transfer that she'll be my bulldog.
Sorry about the power rant. I'm just so FREAKING mad!
Some doctors are just crazy! I wish you a beautiful birth w/o Dr. K!!!
