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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Contemplating

Ever since we found out I am pregnant again, I have been doing A LOT of thinking. My mind seems to stay on the highest setting, just whirring and rumbling non stop. One of the things I've been churning over and over in there is the possibility of experiencing this pregnancy with a midwife rather than with the doctor.

Yesterday, I had an ultrasound scheduled to help us pin down a due date and just to check things over. Having been more along the 12 week area with both of my first children when I had my first ultrasound, and only being 7 weeks yesterday, I was rather surprised at the uh.... KIND of ultrasound I was going to be having. I seriously had NO IDEA until the technician came in there and without any kind of warning instructed me on how to insert the uh... thing? probe? She was overall, unpleasant, and not just because of the way in which she was wielding that thing either. She was brisk and snappish and she kept asking me questions and then cutting off my answers to "move things along." She didn't even turn the screen around where I could see anything. She kept her end of the conversation to as few words as possible:

"Baby."


"Heartbeat."


"Due date about September 13th."


And we were done. That kind of attitude and treatment is one of the biggest reasons I've considered a midwife. I haven't ever had any major complications with my pregnancies, though my delivery of Ya-Ya did have a few. Still, I'm a major worrier and I don't know if I would have the courage to go through with a birth without having the safety net of a hospital staff on hand. Plus, I like having the ultrasound later on so I can know what the baby is before it gets here.

As you can see, I'm still very much on the fence of the whole thing. I have a lot of questions and am working on researching some of them on the internet as well as possibly planning a visit with a midwife to get some first hand info.

In either case, so far this pregnancy is going as well as can be expected. I don't know if it's all in my head or not, but I seem to be experiencing some pregnancy symptoms that don't usually occur until much later. Primarily being leg cramps. Oh my gosh, they are HORRIBLE lately.

In other news, we had a few days last week of 75 degree, sunny weather, and now it's cold again. I'm ready for spring already.

6 comments:

Daphne said...

That sounds horrible. Just a completely self-centered aside... my birthday is September 15th, and September babies are awesome. So, you've got that going for you. :)
(hugs, dear)

Karen said...

My first pregnancy I had a midwife and a homebirth. It was wonderful. This last pregnancy I couldn't have a midwife or homebirth because dumbass florida law says no midwives for twin pregnancies. Let's just say that if i ever get pregnant again I will either have a midwife or i will have nobody. Seriously. Ugh, my blood pressure is up just thinking about what assholes my doctors were. I hope you have better luck, who ever you choose.

Also, homebirth midwives can schedule ultrasounds--they almost always do; that's how we found out i was having twins.

I think calcium or magnesium helps with leg cramps.

Nowheymama said...

Oh no! I had to have that fun ultrasound this week, too, but the technician was wonderful. Is there an OB practice near you with a midwife?

Theresa said...

There is a birthing center near us that has a midwife. So, rather than doing a home birth, I would go into the center just like going to the hospital, but way more comfortable and private.

Aleta said...

If you look on my blog at "Favorite" Posts, I believe there's one called "Doula." It's an interesting job, where the Doula is there for the mother-to-be and works with Midwives. I'll be curious as to which way you go. It's not an easy decision, but if I was ever blessed with a pregnancy, I'd strongly consider home birth.

Theresa said...

Aleta- I had a doula with my last pregnancy. They can work with doctors too as they are mostly there for the mother to be, so it doesn't really which environment they are in. My doula was WONDERFUL. I loves her very much