This morning we (as in Zach, Kye and I) all went to Southern OBGYN for my 10 week visit. The big thing at this visit is getting to hear the heart beat for the first time. With Kye, we also got to have an ultrasound. I was crossing my fingers that we’d get one this time around too but Stacy said that insurance companies are getting hardcore about only allowing two ultrasounds total (unless, for health reasons, more are needed) and it’s important for me to be able to get the two later down the road. I was pretty bummed because I LOVED the picture of Kye at 10 weeks. It’s my favorite ultrasound picture of all because he looked like he was waving to me! (You can reminisce with me here).
We may not have been able to see Blitzen, but getting to hear the heartbeat was still awesome. I talked to Kye a lot about it before we went and he’d say “baby heartbeat.” Stacy warned us that it may be tough to find since I’m not very far along but it was almost immediate that we could hear it! Kye said “yay!” and kept wanting Daddy to do it too. He talked about it several times throughout the rest of the day and I’m so glad we decided to take him to the appointment. I think it def. helped him better understand what is going on! The baby is sounding nice and healthy – heartbeat was in the 160’s and 170’s. As soon as she told me that Stacy immediately told me not to run home and google what sex it is with a high heart rate because I’m so early along that those type things won’t be true yet (however…supposedly over 140 bpm means a girl…).
I didn’t have many questions, I mean this IS my second time around! I asked her to prescribe me an all-in-one type prenatal vitamin because it’s so hard when you’re feeling sick to down 4 vitamins a day (1 one-a-day multi, 2 folic acids, and a dha supplement).
We talked a lot about my whole delivery dilemma. It’s pretty crazy b/c I was so back and forth about whether to deliver at SGMC again or try out Smith Northview and guess what? SGMC bough Smith so now it’s all the same anyway! She said all the changes won’t be complete for about another 6 months, so when I deliver Smith WILL be South Ga…so why bother switching? It seems silly to me to go through all of that to end up under the same rules and regulations of SGMC anyway ya know? God answered my prayers about that situation!
When I delivered Kye (my wonderfully long story here), Zach and I had to practically fight with the staff for what we feel should be your natural rights (getting up to pee shouldn’t be something worth arguing over? really?). While I’ve been contemplating how to handle things this time around I remembered something. During the “arguing” one of the nurses asked if I had a signed birth plan. I purposefully didn’t have one for two reasons. 1) You can’t really plan your delivery…and if I had a plan wouldn’t it bother me when things didn’t go just right? and 2) I heard that when hospital staff hears you want natural childbirth they put up walls, but combining that with a hardcore birth plan means that they will really not be too excited that you’re there!
Looking back on it though, I wish I’d had one. Stacy was out of town when I delivered and she knew my wishes and would have done everything within her power (as long as Kye and I were healthy of course) to help me achieve my birthing goal. If she had signed something I think everyone would have been a little more accepting of my wishes, because I’d have more than just my husband to back me up ya know? Since I already know ahead of time that Stacy can’t deliver me (before conceiving baby #3 I WILL be making sure she’ll be available for all potential due dates!!!), Zach and I thought that a signed birth plan would be our best bet.
This way I can see Stacy up until she has to leave for her own baby #2’s birth, get the signed plan from her, then see other midwives and drs that she recommends up until I give birth. On the big day I just gotta cross my fingers that one of the ones I see will happen to be on call (really there’s only one midwife I refuse to let deliver my child, and you KNOW that’ll be the one on call haha). I discussed this with Stacy and she’s down for it…we’ll come up with every thing I’d like to be allowed to do then she’ll help me narrow down that list based on what’s realistic and what’s most important to me (I will NOT have a catheter and will hardcore fight it if needed, but I’m willing to budge on having another episiotomy). I think it’s a GREAT plan and I feel much better about everything.
Reality is, we live in a small, small town that is simply behind on the times. Natural childbirth is where it’s at people! I talked with a woman in Bermuda from California and she had the most A-MAZING birth story for her second baby. She planned to have the baby using hypno-birth, (which sounds very similar to Bradley Method) at home, in her bath tub. When she started labor she thought she had plenty of time but ended up delivering the baby HERSELF in the tub! Her midwife and doula couldn’t make it in time! Hearing her story and how supportive everyone at her local hospital was about her choice made me very jealous. Not that I want to birth my kid myself. Or even in my own house. But honestly, if this time around is tough again with the staff – I may look into the home birth option for baby #3.
The tub-mama (Sophia was her name) did tell me some stuff I didn’t know, which I also discussed with Stacy today. She said that it’s important to leave the umbilical cord attached until it’s stops pulsing so the baby can have all that extra blood. Stacy said it’s not proven yet that there is a benefit to that, but we can put it on my list and see what happens (not something I’ll fight on, but every little health benefit is always good!). Sophia also told me that she learned your labor and delivery time is HALF as long with your second as it was with your first. From start to finish I was in labor for 8 hours. Pretty good for a first timer…and that means my 2nd one should be about 4 hours. 4 hours!!!
Stacy said that it’s typically true and that made me feel a MILLION times better about everything! If I can hold out longer at home, I may not have to do much “fighting” at all. It’d be wonderful if I could get to the hospital at 6-8 cm dilated so there wouldn’t be any pushing for any types of drugs b/c I’d be too far along. And that may happen within 2 hours of labor. I can FOR SURE do this! Knowing I’ll have some type of signed birth plan, enough time to get to know the other midwives/drs who will be supportive, and a shorter delivery makes me feel at ease and confident about everything. Whew!
I had called up to the office before leaving for Bermuda to ask about getting a massage and Stacy said it was fine (I ended up not getting one though…WAY over priced!!!). I talked to her about it again today and she said I don’t even have to get a prenatal one! I’m good to go for any massage which is great news as I’m hoping to do a couples one with Zach for our anniversary in two weeks since I didn’t get one in Bermuda 😉
My official due date is December 9th (which I knew all along, but it’s good that it’s official) and Stacy said everything looks perfect for that being exact (Kye’s got moved from March 22nd to the 12th and I delivered the 4th!). She also said I’ve lost 4 lbs since my last appointment! I was pumped about that b/c I’m my typical GOAL weight right now on a dr scale (which you so know means I weigh even less at home). She said she expects to see that improve by my next appointment in 4 weeks and I’m sure it will…I doubt I’ll stay sick that long?!? She offered to give me a prescription for my sickness but I said no…I don’t want to take anything that I don’t have to take. Just because “they” say it’s safe doesn’t mean it actually is ya know? Better safe than sorry! I got a mini-lecture about skipping meals and I need to do better in that department. I’m working on it, I promise!!!
Overall it was a great appointment. I’m so, so glad I’ll get to see Stacy for the majority of my pregnancy. I’m very blessed to have a natural bond with my midwife and I’m hoping someday she’ll actually get to deliver one of my babies dangit! She’s on call this weekend and I’m going to be totally jealous if she delivers Ashley 😉 I was a somewhat disappointed that I couldn’t get an ultrasound but it was awesome having Kye be so excited for the heartbeat and I totally plan to take him to the next appointment in June (where I WILL remember to ask about the hospital rules on Kye coming up there!).
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I actually am a doula in Valdosta (I was googling info about SGMC and found this post) and Smith Northview is So So So much better about natural birth – even after being bought my SGMC. They staff is wonderful and very respectful and awesome about informed consent. I've seen a mom go 48hrs on broken waters and natural, vaginal delivery of twins (one starting breech!) and a handful of beautiful, peaceful births at Smith. SGMC has a through the roof cesarean rate and a few nurses told me that they can't remember the last client who hadn't been given Pitocin because "it's been months!"I'd check out smith if I were you! They haven't changed at all since being bought when it comes to L&D
I actually am a doula in Valdosta (I was googling info about SGMC and found this post) and Smith Northview is So So So much better about natural birth – even after being bought my SGMC. They staff is wonderful and very respectful and awesome about informed consent. I've seen a mom go 48hrs on broken waters and natural, vaginal delivery of twins (one starting breech!) and a handful of beautiful, peaceful births at Smith. SGMC has a through the roof cesarean rate and a few nurses told me that they can't remember the last client who hadn't been given Pitocin because "it's been months!"I'd check out smith if I were you! They haven't changed at all since being bought when it comes to L&D