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Posts Tagged ‘OBGYN’

What I want from my OB/GYN. (Yes, this is about girl stuff.)(What’s with all the lists lately?)

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

When I got pregnant I remember seeing a movie where the preggo protagonist “interviewed” a bunch of OB/GYNs to find one she liked. I had NO IDEA how to go about this process. Moreover, I had no idea what I wanted from my baby doctor. Well, lately I’ve been reading a lot of posts by pregnant friends and strangerbloggers, so I thought I’d write up what I’ll be looking for next time around. I got super lucky with the doctor that I chose to deliver Camper- but who knows? Maybe next time around I’ll need to figure out that interview process?

1) Availability- How big of a “rotation list” is the doc on for weekends, etc. Do I have a 1 in 4 chance of getting my doc if I go into labor on a Saturday, or 50%? I think it was 50% with Camper’s doctor.  Also, if I have an emergency (i.e. I think I’m leaking amniotic fluid, but I’m not sure…) will I see her? Or the nurse? Or get rebuffed on the phone by the receptionist?
2) If the doc isn’t on call for deliveries…who is? Camper’s doctor’s partnership was with her father…who I also really, really liked. In the future I will schedule an appointment to talk to doctors who could potentially deliver my child in case my doc is not available.
3) Call me sexist, but I like girl doctors.  I have always had the best experience with women doctors, whether for myself or for Camper.  I don’t know if it’s because of my own hangups or preferences or because they were just great doctors.

4) I want to be the only one pushing in the relationship.  For example, is the doctor all about breastfeeding and natural childbirth?  That’s great…but I don’t want to hear too much about it.  I liked Camper’s doctor because she told me what she thought, but only once.  After that it was up to me.  Although she did seem disappointed when I stopped breastfeeding, and I could have done without that (I had already worked through my feelings on the subject), she was always supportive of my choices.

5) I don’t want to have to have a “birth plan.”  Planning out how every last thing is going to go can just set me up for disappointment.  Camper’s doctor talked to me about options, she told me the risks up front and let us make the decisions.  We made decisions as the process went along, when we actually had information to make decisions with.  Camper’s birth was highly routine- epidural, pushing, baby comes out.  I did get to hold him for a few seconds before he went to the NICU, but if I had insisted on holding him “first” and trying to breastfeed immediately, they wouldn’t have caught the breathing problem as quickly as they needed to, not to mention the sepsis, which can be fatal.   After this experience, I will always deliver in a hospital with a good NICU.   Although what actually happened didn’t match what I wanted to happen (pretty heartbreaking, actually), my baby was safe.  He got a pacifier, yes.  He didn’t breastfeed the first day, no.  But he was a great latch and I think we’re pretty bonded…and he’s here.  Alive.  I guess the summary of this “idea” I’m trying to get across is: I want to trust my doctor.  I want to trust her to make decisions when I am too delirious or too happy or too grief stricken to even know what’s going on.

6) Referral from a like-minded friend.  There’s NOTHING like a referral from someone you trust.  That’s how we found Camper’s pediatrician now, and we LOVE her.  LOVE.

I think that’s it for now, but if anyone has any that they’d like to add (or even how to “interview” doctors without messing up your insurance royally) I’d love to hear it!

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Posted in Toooo tired to choose a category | 1 Comment »

Am I still sleepy?

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

So…I’m not sure what time I went to bed last night.  I see that I posted at almost two, and I thought I had Camper in bed about a half hour after that, or maybe an hour…but I also remember being up at 3 and then feeding him one more ounce.  So I don’t know.  What I DO know is that I laid down and what seemed like 2 seconds later it was 7:30 am.  I think he slept for at least 3 hours, maybe even 4.  Again, I wish I could know what time I got him to stay in his crib.  Tis ok.

Yesterday was a busy, busy day.  John went to school and then came home.  From there I stopped by work to see the people I used to work with and show them my little boy, almost 6 weeks old.  It was a little crazy.  I didn’t even get up the ramp to the accounting department before we were swarmed.  It was nice to see everyone again and introduce them to the Little Camper I waddled around there carrying for so long.  I ended up being pregnant the entire time I worked there.  I was pregnant when I started and pregnant when I left- interesting.

After that stop John and I went to the mall, we were actually looking for a digital camera- a Cannon Rebel…because I desperately want a better camera with which to capture pictures of my baby.  The store we were searching for was closed, though, which was not cool.  We just want the body of the camera because John already has a cannon camera with a compatible lens…but we didn’t find it.  So instead we headed into a couple of stores and ended up getting John some new church/job interview clothes and me a new winter coat (as I have, um, “outgrown” my old one).  More things we probably shouldn’t buy but probably actually need.

We then ran home to meet my friend Anisa who was going to help me with Camper’s Halloween costume (pictures on codenamecamper.com for anyone who cares to register).  I had gone from wanting him to be an owl…to a horse…to a ghost…because I had NO IDEA how to accomplish what I wanted to do costume-wise with a newborn ready to cry/eat/poop any moment.  “Anisa to the rescue” convinced me to go for the owl, and after a brief outing to a crafy person shop we were busy hot gluing away.  The result is not professional, by any means, but it is damn cute.  Way to save the day Anisa- and now my little boy gets to spend his first Halloween as an owl baby.  I LOVE it.

In other news…I have my 6 week post-natal appointment tomorrow.  I’m a little nervous. I just want a clean bill of health and to be able to move on with life.  We will see.  We’re also inquiring into Mirena.  I may walk away with it tomorrow, I may have to make an appointment.  I’m not sure how that all works, really.  I know how it gets in there, but I don’t know if we have to wait for a certain time to do it.

OK, I think my baby is hungry again.  I may feed him them try and work out with one of these fabulous in your living room type DVD’s I’ve got.  Anyone have the secret to being able to exercise when you have a wee baby hanging out with you all day?  And don’t say, “Don’t.”  Haha.

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Posted in All About Baby, Day to day | 1 Comment »

I’ve Officially Surpassed the Weight Limit on my Snowshoes

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Another doctor’s appointment today.  I went in trying to control my expectations- even though I felt like things were happening over the weekend, I know that you can never tell.  But it turns out I am a bit dialated, and 50% effaced.  The baby’s head is also at 0, which means he’s right there. He’s about as dropped as you can get before actually entering the birth canal, although he’s still held in there cushy and comfy by my unbroken water.  I just can’t believe that his head is so low…and yet I can feel him up under my ribs at the same time.  That makes me a little scared actually…but I’m sure he’ll be the size he needs to be.

I am also gaining weight like a champ these days.  I went so long at a total gain of 30 lbs…which, although is depressing, is within the recommended weight gain for a pregnancy.  Well, let’s just say I’m getting up there more and more, and I’ll have some serious work to do if I’m going to be able to snowshoe around the Berkshires when we get out there in December.  Because my Dad bought me skinny snoeshows.  And…in the spirit of full disclosure…I am also no longer stretch mark free.  Sad.  I thought that when I got through 36 weeks of pregnancy with a pretty white belly that I’d be safe, but this past week I’ve literally seen my skin stretch and scar and it’s so ITCHY.  I’ve been through every lotion, and have actually just started to pour oil on myself to get a little relief.  The price we pay for progeny.

Work today was a little sad.  I went in late (because of the doctor’s appointment) and came in to find my computer access changed and set up for the girl who is replacing me- I didn’t even have email!  I’m glad that the new girl is settling in so well, but I don’t know if I was really ready to come in and feel displaced.  Stupid job I had to like so much and is making me so sad to leave it.  But it’s ok, this is what is best for my family…and honestly, I should just be glad that we found someone so soon to take over my responsiblities.  Looking back I just can’t believe how many things I’ve learned how to do and figured out that I like.  Good things to get from a position.  Let’s just hope I’m ready to leave it behind when it’s time.  People keep saying, “You’re still coming in?” as I walk into the building.  They ask how the doctor’s appointment went and when I tell them they say, “seriously, why don’t you go home?”  Well, do YOU get paid an hourly wage for sitting home?  Cause I don’t.

In other news, we’ve looked up the “Monday’s Child” poem that tells you what you’ll be like depending on the day you were born.  I was disappointed to find out there are actually two versions: the original and the revised.  Here they are both, I’m a Tuesday’s child for the record.

Revised:

Monday’s child is fair of face.
Tuesday’s child is full of grace.
Wednesday’s child is full of woe.
Thursday’s child has far to go.
Friday’s child is loving and giving.
Saturday’s child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

Original:

Monday’s child is fair of face.
Tuesday’s child is full of grace.
Wednesday’s child is loving and giving.
Thursday’s child works hard for a living,
Friday’s child is full of woe.
Saturday’s child has far to go.
But the child that is born on Sabbath-day
Is bonny and happy and wise and gay.

So we’ll see! My Dad was born on a Tuesday too…I think we must share a special brand of grace.

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Just Another Day Probed by Healthcare Professionals

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Today we slept in a wee because we had a morning appointment with our baby doctor.  I was told, through her examinations, that Camper is indeed head down (although the ease with which she was able to figure that out made me a little scared that he has a monster-sized dome), that I’m pretty much ready to go any time (we did the strep test today in prep for birth), and that she’s ready to discuss the birth-plan type arrangements whenever we are…although she says, “Most of them, honestly, are pretty much the same.”  Which actually comforts me a little.  She seems to favor a sooner than later labor situation, which is comforting as well.  Although my iron is up (as is my weight :( ) I am still on the low-side of nourished, so we’ll just keep working on it as we have been and hoping it gets high enough to sustain me through the birthing process.  She also indicated that we can do whatever we want with regard to immunizations at birth, but her opinion is that they rarely cause the problems that people claim them to cause, and in some cases could not cause the problems that people claim they cause.  She’s a big advocate of the Vitamin K shot, and I think the only other one we have to yay or nay is Hepatitis…I think they save the other ones until later checkups.  We will see, I’ve got to find out a little more info about it.

In other news- I think we are seriously ready.  We took a little trip to the store tonight for some butt cream and wipes and changing table stuffs…and really…I don’t think we should be allowed to buy anything else.  So bring it on, Camper!  We’re ready!!

Work today felt a little long- getting ready for payroll next week.  I’m now training my replacement, which is a lot of work.  Don’t get me wrong, she is so nice and I’m very VERY glad she accepted our offer.  She is very capable and my favorite candidate for sure.  I just didn’t realise that training in general… is hard.  I don’t think I’ve ever had to explain such a large amount of specific processes and information with someone before.  Everything I do I have to talk through- and I didn’t really realise how effortlessly I go through the tasks of the day.  I guess I have been doing all this for awhile now, and again, I’m reminded that I do like (most of) the work.  I’m just glad that I randomly got this payroll job with a bunch of fun people and was able to learn and gain confidence in a new skill set.  Another little something that has expanded me a bit that I just stumbled into.  I’m sad to let it go…but I’m working toward it.  Maybe in a couple weeks I can cut down a little more to make sure I’m not overtired for when the baby comes.  It’s amazing how much I can want to be lazy and not work at all, but be so reluctant to let it go, too.
I guess it’s just so final.  I just won’t be working.  And even if I wanted to, we’d have to figure out what to do with this new little person we’ve created.  Crazy, huh?  We are going to have someone else to worry about.  Someone who can’t drive or stay home alone…or even eat without me giving him food.  A litttllee tripppyyyy if you ask me.

So yes, we’ve got a restful long weekend ahead of us.  We’re probably going to hide tomorrow, seeing as how BYU is playing the first game of the season down the street.  Traffic hell, anyone?  My Mom cleaned the entire house while I was at work today (I asked her what her plans were for the day and she said, “Oh, I don’t know,” and was TOTALLY planning on cleaning everything, I KNOW it) so we can all relax tomorrow.  She’s a good one, huh?  I’m totally spoiled.  Maybe I’ll read something.  Or watch a movie.  Or lay in the backyard.  We’ll see.  I just know I’m NOT going to work, and I’m NOT buying baby stuff.  Or any stuff if I can help it.  Just reellaaaxxxx…..

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