Pregnant with Leo - Part 06

There is this epidemic in this country where women are encouraged to be paranoid about their pregnancies almost to the point of sabotaging any chance of having a normal birth experience. Mother Nature designed women’s bodies in such a way that birth is pleasurable enough to do again and again if it is not interfered with. Some of these interferences happen long before baby is ready to be born through the plethora of unnecessary prenatal tests that doctors tend to pressure women into getting.

I had such an experience last week when I met for the first time, one of the doctors that delivered at the local hospital that will be my emergency go-to place. Those than know me and have been following my insane research into anything the medical community proposes I should be doing with my body, will be astounded that I was completely duped during my appointment. It was like everything I have learned over the last few months went out the window when I met this woman because she lowered my defences by being friendly. She was still spewing the same filth other doctors have done but because she did it with a smile, I was somehow convinced that what she strongly suggested was what I should do to be a good patient. Until I went home and her voodoo magic dissipated and I shook myself and dove into the research about the testing she was urging me to do (the gestational diabetes test). I then learned that not only was she full deceitful about its necessity, she had employed scare tactics to manipulate me.

She had the nerve to tell me I could birth a stillborn if I didn’t have this test done. Not only is that grossly improbable based on my health history, but the ‘therapy’ involved if the test came back positive for gestational diabetes WOULD NOT CHANGE MY BIRTH OUTCOME. There have been no conclusive studies done on its accuracy for one, nor on any difference it made on birth outcome. If anything, it tended to convince doctors that women would need a cesarean because it will make babies grow too big to birth (extremely rare condition called macrosomia that many women have successfully vaginally birthed regardless) or have stillborns (even more rare). That would be only if I did have it, and even so the only therapy would be to eat healthy, exercise and possibly take insulin if really serious.

I’m 34 weeks pregnant as it is, under 25, have no history of diabetes, have no trace of sugar in my urine, am not gaining excessive weight or am underweight, or otherwise unhealthy. With that info, which the doc has, I would not be a candidate for the test because I am not at risk. So why would she threaten me with having a stillborn when I asked about her reasoning behind pushing this test on me? Most likely because she believes it herself. And this scares me because in an emergency, I would be relying on her ‘expertise’ to help my baby and I. The fact that she jumped right into what could go wrong, even if it didn’t apply to my situation, and completely bypass the accuracy and necessity of the test when I asked her directly, tells me that she isn’t someone I can trust with life of my baby. This saddens me because I know she means well but lying to a mother about her options is not acceptable.

This is why it is important for mothers-to-be to DO THEIR RESEARCH and not blindly follow any advice, from docs or friends, or that well-meaning stranger on the street. We have the ability to make CONSCIOUS CHOICES about our bodies and our births and we really can’t afford to be ignorant. Our babies are relying on us to protect them.

I was not impressed with that appointment but I will prepare myself better for the next one and not let anyone bully me, however sweetly, into doing anything to my body that I don’t consent to. I will hold true to my initial intention of telling them that they’re my back-up plan and not my main choice for birthing my baby, even if they don’t like it. It’s not about them after-all. I am simply preparing them for a possible transfer (however unlikely) to the hospital in case of emergency. Seeing as I am not at risk for anything, and will not be interfered with in any way during my birth, I can predict that I really won’t need them. Better to be prepared in advance though, which is why I made the appointment to begin with.

So apart from that experience, everything is going well. Baby has rotated downwards so I don’t think I will have the breech issue, as long as he doesn’t change his mind last minute. I’ll take everything as it comes however. I’ve gained over a pound a week, catching up from my last few weeks where I was gaining just under a pound. Growth occurs in spurts and is rarely consistent during pregnancy so there’s no need to panic for those who seem to rely on those inaccurate charts docs use. Baby moves around a lot, mostly kicking me in the ribs, but also rolls over and elbows me if I change position too quickly. I’m also not allowed to wear anything constricting because he doesn’t like that.

Baby hasn’t quite dropped into the birth canal, I can still walk, but sometimes I feel pressure on my cervix that makes me wonder if he’s getting ready to anytime now. I noticed he gets really active when I am reading a book to the children that I volunteer with at the Military Family Resource center. I suppose he enjoys the sound of my voice and likes listening to the stories. I predict that he’ll be a happy baby. A happy wriggly baby. Finally meeting this baby can’t come soon enough!