More on Records and EFM Stuff

So, I didn't have to get all lawyer-y on my doc's office - I just asked if a letter requesting my records for my own use would be sufficient, and they said yes.  Thank goodness.  I faxed in that letter yesterday afternoon, and I plan to follow up with them first thing tomorrow morning.  (I'll be picking up the records myself and delivering them by hand to the midwives' office to avoid any screw ups.  Well, to avoid screw ups by other people -- never discount my own ability to mess things up).  After getting off the phone, I basked in my utter rebelness, did a victory dance and told my assistant that "I fight for the forces of justice and goodness."

In answer to a few commenters' questions regarding the availability of a compromise with my doc, unfortunately, there really isn't one.  My doc wants me to be on continuous monitoring from the second that I walk in the hospital doors.  She wasn't even thrilled with the idea of my getting off of the monitor for bathroom breaks, let alone only being on the monitor for 10 or 20 minutes out of every hour.  Also, as I mentioned yesterday, at my hospital, if you're on the monitor, you're in the bed, and that's that.

I've got some issues with the whole idea of continuous monitoring in general (e.g., the monitors are notoriously inaccurate, and are even more so for overweight women), but am willing to do continuous monitoring with a wireless system, that would enable me to move freely during labor, while giving my care provider the information that they would like.

Hopefully, this will all work itself out in the coming days.

A Change Is Gonna Come - We Think

I saw my doc on Monday for my 30-week (yikes!) appointment.  Everything looks good, and I even managed to lose 4 lbs.  The weight loss is likely due to a slight return of nausea over the past two-week period.  My doc had warned me previously that this could occur in women who've had hyperemesis and that I should take the Zofran pills on an as-needed basis.  Most of my nausea was eased by a cup of tea and longer naps; there was really only one day where I needed the Zofran to get me out of the cycle.

I also went over our preferences for the birth with my doc.  JD and I are both hoping to have as "natural" a birth as possible, i.e., one that is as unmedicated as possible.  Our doc was mostly willing to work within our preferences, but absolutely balked on the question of external electronic fetal monitoring (EFM).  Apparently, the policy of our hospital and of our doctor (who only works out of this one hospital) is to have the mother on continuous EFM from the time she walks in.  At our hospital, this means that mom cannot get out of bed while she's in labor.  (Other hospitals have the capability to do wireless EFM, so that moms can move around, change positions, and even take a bath while remaining monitored; it's just that our hospital does not have this capability).

In our research and through our Bradley Method classes, JD and I have learned techniques to cope with labor and almost all involve being able to move freely and change positions as needed to encourage an easier labor and easier delivery.  It seems like we're at a deal breaker with our doctor, which just stinks.  If our doc delivered at any other hospital in the area, we could go on the wireless EFM and that would be fine with me.  But we can't, so it's time to investigate other options, even at this late stage in the game.

I contacted a local midwifery practice that delivers at a hospital only 30 or so minutes from us.  The nurse was pretty sure that they'd be able to take me on; I just have to go through a phone consult with one of the midwives to make sure that I'm not high-risk for their practice (I'm not).

Once that's done, they'll want me to meet all of the midwives in the practice, and I need to make sure that I get my records transferred over at least 3 business days before they meet with me.  The nurse highly recommended that I call my doc's office to inquire about their policy for transferring my records and the doc's office manager said, "Well, you have to give us at least 30 days, although we usually get it done before that."  WHAT?!  3 days vs. 30 days.  After looking at my records though, the office manager said it shouldn't take really long to get them together, since I only started with the practice during this pregnancy.

Still, before they start copying the records, they need a letter from me releasing me from their care.  I'm not ready to do that yet, because I don't know if the midwives will take me on.

I also didn't want my doc to know that I was thinking about changing practices until after the decision was made and I could write a letter explaining that I loved her, but that the EFM issue was a deal breaker for me (maybe this would give her leverage with the hospital).  This stinks.

I think I may have to get a little lawyer-y with the office manager and tell her I want a copy of my medical records for my personal records.  It's called HIPPAA, dude, I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to get my files cause they're MY files.

Anybody have any other ideas or experience in dealing with this?

Overachiever

This week, my doc sent me in for an estimated fetal weight scan.  (Acause of the two bellays, fundal height measurements aren't exactly accurate).  The result?  This kid is in the 91st percentile for weight, at an estimated 3 lbs., 6 oz. at 28 weeks.  My mom said her grandchild is an overachiever.

If the baby maintains this rate of growth, we're looking at about a 9 lb. baby.  Yes, I am growing the next Alex Ovechkin.

This large size (assuming that these estimates are accurate, many times they are not) doesn't bother me and I was not all that surprised.  I'm large and was a bigger baby (over 8 lbs.) and my siblings were both bigger babes as well (sis was the same as me; brother was over 9 lbs).  My only concern here is that I not be pushed into an unnecessary induction or c-section just because of my weight or the weight of the baby.  I'd greatly prefer to have labor start on its own and have an unmedicated birth.  Obviously, if me or the baby is in danger, we do what's necessary, even if that includes meds and/or a c-section.  I plan to sit down with my doc when I see her in 2 weeks, to discuss our preferences and how that will work with her practices and that of the hospital.

The good news is I've really been trying to do all that I can do to help us have that unmedicated birth that we want.  I've been walking every day and doing my Bradley-recommended exercises most days.  I've been pretty good at getting the right amount of sleep.  I'm drinking lots of water.  I'm doing really well at controlling my portions and making sure I'm eating good foods (ex: I'm having yogurt almost every day which has really helped with the heartburn).  I passed the 1-hour glucose test, yay!  I successfully limited my weight gain to 3 lbs. this month, yay!

This month, I'd like to keep my exercise up and work on doing the Bradley exercises every day.  I'm going to work on making sure I include a 20-minute nap at lunchtime, so I'm not worried about falling asleep on the drive home from work.  I'm also going to try and get back to meal planning, to make sure that I'm eating a good variety of proteins and fruits and veggies.  (Yeah, including grains has never been a problem for me).

Last, and definitely not least...JD got a job!  He started this week and is feeling very positive about what he'll be doing and the people with whom he'll be working.  We're both hoping that this job will be a good fit for him -- something that will be more of a longer-term situation.

I'm hoping to post more often than I have been, not only about the baby and how we're doing with cleaning out what will be the baby's room, but also with regard to how we're doing with routines, meals and exercise.  Thank you all for sticking with me through these lean-posting times.

Everything's Fine

Went for my ultrasound this morning and everything checks out fine.  No heartbeat yet, but both I and my doc thought it was probably too early for that.

I'll be going back next week for another ultrasound.  In the meantime, I really need to make an appointment with my acupuncturist for help with nausea and personal calm.

More In-Depth Pregnancy and Birth Talk Below
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He asked me if I had an OB yet, but said, "Don't worry, you're not ready to graduate yet; it's just something you need to start doing."  When I mentioned that I was thinking about homebirth, he replied, "Nice knowing ya."  He gave me a little talk about why he thought being in a hospital with an OB was best, given several factors, including: the time and money we'd spent in getting to this point, and the rate of c-sections for someone with my weight.  I said, and this is true, "No decision has been made, but it is something I'm thinking about."

So, now I've got to start this search in earnest.  A happy medium may work for me.  There is a midwife practice in a sort-of-nearby county that practices exclusively at a local hospital.  There's also a midwife practice that has a birth center and affiliations with some of the local hospitals.  I'll be investigating those and more.

My mother had all three of her children at hospitals using natural childbirth methods, so I grew up with this mindset.  The hospitals in our area, however, seem to be very pro-inducement and very pro-c-section (I remember reading that one of our hospitals has something like a 70% c-section rate).  I'd like to avoid these procedures and meds if at all possible.  The most important thing, of course, is my health and the health of the baby, but I'd like to have as little intervention as possible.

You Thought I Was Crazy Before?

I'm quite certain that my crazy has expanded exponentially the past few days, but I think I've succeeded at keeping it internalized, or at the very least, keeping the crazy worries to myself.

Feel free to skip this list of lists of current concerns (now in new and improved anal-retentive outline form!), but know that if you skip it, you're missing a lot of mocking and schadenfreude opportunities:

I.)  My House Is A Giant Mess and We're All Gonna Die
    A.)  My house is terribly, terribly cluttered.  Would it be easier to just move?  Forget selling the current house, just moving.
    B.)  We have a second bedroom that is going to be the baby's room, but currently serves as:
           1.)  JD's cave (which he doesn't spend time in since he got his laptop, but is, nonetheless, stuffed with all his crap, including the closet);
           2.)  Main storage area;
           3.)  Guestroom;
         which boils down to making me feel like moving is the better option.
    C.)  Where did all this crap come from?  Firebombing is starting to sound like a good idea.

II.)  I'm an IFer and Am Unable to Relax About Anything
       A.)  General concerns about every twitch and ache, wondering if they spell miscarriage or just gas.
       B.)  Worries that I'm gaining pounds by the second since the only thing that stops nausea is eating.  Saltines are working right now, but isn't that a lot of carbs?  Maybe too many carbs?  I haven't hurled yet, but I've been close a couple times.  The nausea is pretty constant, but most times I can will it to a dull roar.
       C.)  Need to exercise again, but can I really use the Wii Fit?  Will start walking again, damnit.
       D.)  Think that homebirth may be the right thing for me (right now, it all depends on my health and the baby's health), but am concerned about these issues:
              1.) Will I be too loud in our condo while laboring?  (Maybe we should move?)
              2.) Will the midwife be sympathetic to an IF couple and their concerns?
              3.)  Need to reread Nina Planck's Real Food for Mother & Baby, but am in the middle of another book and I should really finish that one first, but every time I'm reading the other book, I'm thinking of how I need to read the Planck book.
      E.)  What if I get so big that I can't wipe my own ass?
      F.)  What if I kill someone because they say/do something stupid?  What if that is JD?  My MIL?  My SIL?  Random passersby?
      G.)  Is there any way for me to lose weight so that I will look like a cute pregnant person with an actual baby bump, and not someone who's just fat and gotten fatter?

III.  Miscellaneous Worries
       A.)  My hair looks bad (need to get my highlights retouched, like NOW) and feels like straw.
       B.)  I don't feel that I look my best right now and I feel sad about that.
       C.)  JD refuses to get me anything on my Amazon wishlist for my birthday because he "doesn't like any of those ideas."  Hello?!  I'm the one who wants those things!  He's a bum.
       D.)  Passover is in a little over a month and I'm screwed.  House needs to get cleaned and need to get rid of four tons (ok, maybe just 4 lbs) of flour and yeast.  Will need to bake bread 24/7.  Must quit job in order to bake bread.
       E.)  Some guy was driving around the John Mayer concert last night with megaphones attached to his car, screaming about how John Mayer is a "bigoted racist."  Does anyone know what this is in reference to?

Other than that, I'm actually being pretty calm about all this.  :)
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Now Playing on WJEN:  "Birdhouse In Your Soul" by They Might Be Giants

Yoga for Fertility Retreat - DC Area

Hi all! Just wanted to put in a plug for a Yoga for Fertility Retreat taught by my yoga teacher!
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Join us for this day long retreat into the healing power of Yoga for Fertility...
Yoga for Fertility Retreat
Sunday, December 6th 8 AM-4 PM
Pulling Down the Moon -- Rockville, MD

Join Pulling Down the Moon Instructor Sara Shelley for a day long retreat exploring the healing power of yoga for fertility. At this unique event you will learn the program that literally thousands of women have used to help them get pregnant since 2002. At this retreat you will learn:

Asana - a specific yoga posture practice to increase blood flow, reduce tension and detoxify body tissues.

Pranayama - yoga breathing techniques to manage stress and improve the overall vitality of your body and mind.

Meditation - an in-depth exploration of the "yoga way" of coping with negative thoughts and emotions.

In addition, we will explore teachings from yoga philosophy that will help you frame the fertility journey in a manner that reveals your personal strengths, reinforces the joy of everyday life and empowers you to create the family you're meant to have. Through this experience you will also join the positive, healing community of Pulling Down the Moon and enjoy the community of the amazing women who use our programs.

PDtM Yoga for Fertility is appropriate for any level, any stage of the fertility journey, during medicated or natural cycles, and is unlike any other yoga experience. Register online or call 301-610-7755 for more information.

**Retreat Participants can take an advantage of a 20% discount for our services (yoga, massage, nutrition, acupuncture), when they schedule their appointment for December 5th or 6th.**

When: Sunday, December 6, 2009. 8 AM - 4 PM

Where: Pulling Down the Moon, 15001 Shady Grove Road, Suite 210, Rockville, MD 20850

Details: $150 covers the cost of the one-day workshop, a light lunch, and PDtM's DVD Yoga Practices for Fertility.
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If interested, please sign up and please tell your fellow IF sisters about the retreat!!

Healthy Fat Giveaway

So, in my quest towards Real Food, otherwise known as SOLE (sustainable, organic, local, ethical) food, I've been investigating healthy fats. I have moved almost entirely away from all vegetable oils and margarine. For us, it's cold expeller-pressed olive oil and butter from grass-fed cows all the way, baby.

Something that I have wanted to try though is frying in beef tallow. Did you know that beef tallow (rendered fat from cows) can be a healthy fat? If you get your meat or tallow from happy cows raised in a healthy environment, the fat is good-for-you! Per U.S. Wellness Meats' blog, one of the reasons to switch to grass-fed beef is that it is high in omega 3s (the "essential fatty acid") and CLA (an anti-carcinogen shown, among other things, to increase lean body mass, prevent arteriosclerosis and slow or halt diabetes).

Right now, Kelly the Kitchen Kop, a Real Food blogger, is hosting a giveaway of a tub of healthy beef tallow from U.S. Wellness Meats. The 36-pound tub is normally sold for almost a hundred bucks, but you could get it for free to make all sorts of deliciousness. Go on over, start reading and enter the giveaway today!

WFMW: Fertility Help

I have always been a tea drinker, but never got into herbal teas until we started struggling with infertility. Now, I try to incorporate various blends to help with my overall health and fertility. I use ARTeas (assisted reproductive technology teas) from my integrative care center and I believe you can buy them on their website.

During my current two week wait, I'll be drinking an Implantation blend. Here's what's in it:

Lemon Citrus - for flavor
Wild Yam Root - Supports liver and balances hormones
Skullcap - Supports heart and essence; calms the mind
Chamomile - Calms nervousness; good digestive aid; anti-inflammatory
Red Raspberries - Good uterine tonic
Black Haw - Uterine tonic; may help in preventing miscarriage
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Need ovulation predictor kits or pregnancy tests? You can get 10 for FREE from this website! (Hat tip to Hillary from Making Me Mom for passing on this offer.)

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Want to see more helpful hints and tips? Check out the What Works for Me Wednesday blog carnival this week and every week at We Are THAT Family.

Leaves & Twigs

Drifting ever more towards the crunchy side of things, I decided to buy one of the herbal tea formulas sold by my alternative fertility therapy place. Since I'm trying to get my cycle to come, I chose the appropriately named formula, Cleanse.

Suggested use: Use before or between cycles, or after a failed cycle.

What it's got:

Chamomile: Calms nervousness. Good digestive aid. Anti-inflammatory.

Milk Thistle Seeds: Liver and gall bladder support. Aids in the elimination of toxins.

Dandelion Root: Gentle diuretic. Liver, gall bladder and blood purifier.

Peppermint: Aids digestion. Anti-spasmodic. Expectorant and decongestant.

Organic Red Clover: Blood and liver purifier. Improves circulation.

Chrysanthemum: Clears and calms liver.

Lemon peel: flavoring.

I've had this tea before after acupuncture sessions, and I like it. To me, the chamomile flavor is pretty strong, but the peppermint gives it a nice bite.

I figure I'm theeees close to growing dreads, donning a hemp-fiber dress, Birkenstocks and naming myself "Moonglow."