VBAC Consult

I was very pleasantly surprised. My assigned OB is a 4th year resident. She reminds me a lot of one of the docs I used to "work" with at the clinic where I did my AmeriCorps service.

She was very up front about what exactly I can expect, answered all of my questions without waffling or "maybe" or "we'll see". She said "This will happen, this will happen, this will happen, but beyond that, it's all up to you." So, I signed the consent forms and we're now officially planning a VBAC. The hospital seems to be very progressive as far as natural birth goes. None of the residents being trained do routine episiotomies, my OB at least will catch in any position I want to be in, and I was encouraged to use things like a birth ball, the shower and the tub. Excellent!

They don't use any ripening agents for VBAC's (very good) and will only use pitocin if a pressure catheter shows that contractions just aren't doing the work they should. Those are both very good things.

The only sucky part is that my blood pressure was REALLY high while we were there. They checked it twice. She ordered some blood work and I have to keep my pee for 24 hours to check for protein spilling in it. I am going to puke soooo much, just thinking about that makes me nauseous. Better safe than sorry, though.

Slacker!

Totally.

There just hasn't been much going on here to blog about. Life goes on. I have my VBAC consultation on Monday, which I hope goes well. I have a very long list of questions to ask the OB. I hope I don't scare him. I've done my research.

I am getting another ultrasound. It seems that idiot midwife missed the part that said "FOLLOW UP RECOMMENDED" on the report. Marvelous midwife did notice it, however - but only after I asked about the gender and then cried. I didn't intend to cry, but hormones got in the way.

So, that will be on February 4th - a week from Monday. Hopefully baby will cooperate and we'll get the money shot.

Freyja has gone from "If it's a boy, I am running away to live at Grandma's" to "NO, I don't want a GIRL baby, I only like BOY babies."

Gut feeling still says boy. Gut feeling was accurate for Freyja, so we'll see how well mother's intuition plays out this time. Frankly, I hope it's a boy because we decided on a boy name already. Girls names are still up in the air - we have three we both love, and we would probably have to have the baby first and see what name fits her the best.

Hmmm

How the heck is this baby all up in my ribcage already? I'm only 24 weeks. I should have known things were expanding further in there from the heartburn I've had the past few nights.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare

Oooh, I AM as pretentious as I feel...hee hee :)

Sour Grapes

Because one of the midwives in the practice couldn't find the baby's heartbeat at my 18 week appt, she sent me for an ultrasound "just in case".

What she neglected to mention was that this was going to be the "big" ultrasound. You know, the one where they check the spine, and the organs, and the GENDER.

So I didn't ask. I figured I'd get another one in a couple weeks.

Ha. No. No ultrasounds to be had here. They flat-out REFUSE to order another one. "Oh, you'll just have to wait, just like the old days! Hee hee, won't that be nice?" And the other preggos on boards I visit who are due around the same time are all having THEIR "big" ultrasounds. I find myself unwilling to congratulate them because really I want to be jealous and petty and say "you bitch" - even though it isn't anyone's fault but the midwife.

I know it's not a life-changing thing. We know the baby is healthy, and that's what matters.

Yeah, fuck that. I want to know what I'm having. Medical technology affords me that, and I'm not being permitted to access it. I can't get anything ready, I only have enough gender neutral things to last the first couple months, IF that.

Why does it feel so wrong to be upset about this? It seems like such a small thing, but it isn't, not to me.

Dizzy

The past two times I've been up and about doing any significant amount of walking, I have gotten lightheaded and dizzy and almost fainted. The first time I thought that maybe my blood sugar was really low. This time I ate dinner right before I went to the store - sausage, potatoes, green beans; pretty balanced, and it happened again. I was able to sit down for a few minutes and I was OK again.

I think I'll be fine waiting until Monday to call. Hubby thought I might need to call the emergency line. I don't really know what he thinks they can do except have me go into the ER or something, which I can't do anyway because he's at work and I have Freyja at home with me.

The baby is very active tonight, kicking and rolling and doing lots of moving around.

Ow?

I have a zit on my bum. I realize this happens from time to time. However, it is one of those nasty bright red, hard and hot ones. You know, the sort that are nigh impossible to pop so I can put myself out of my misery?

And it hurts to sit on a hard surface.

Why, at a time when the skin on my face looks relatively fabulous, has the skin on my bum gone haywire?

And to add insult to injury, the underwire just popped on the last bra I have that fits. The rest are all too small in the cups or have sustained similar underwire injuries.

I am going to fucking cry now. When you have boobs as big as mine, bras are not cheap nor plentiful. And I have no money.

The Family's Peculiar Aristocratic Titles

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Grace Lady Heather the Perplexed of Hope End Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Baron Kerwin the Loquacious of Waterless St Mildred Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Entirely Miss Reverend Lady Freyja the Implacable of Piddletrenthide on the Carpet Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title