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Growing humans is hard, yo

I mean, perhaps I should say growing A human is hard (yo) but I feel like humanS fits since technically I’ve already grown ONE human and that was hard too. Because as of my routine, pants-on check-up today, there’s still only one human in my uterus thankthesweetbabyJesus.

(Also cue the baby-Jesus-thanks for not having to disrobe from the waist down and have my space invaded.)

I signed in, made a bee-line for the bathroom, peed in the cup (clean catch, whatwhat!?) and returned to the waiting room to, you know, wait.

Eventually I was called back to a room to meet with Dr. NIH Fellowship. He shook my hand enthusiastically and gave me a firm pat on the shoulder. (Also weird.) Because every time he comes into the room, he comes in like you’re his long-lost BFF. Except he remembers nearly nothing about you for at least 5 minutes.

He started talking about how at my next appointment at 20 weeks we’ll do the anatomy scan to measure all the baby’s parts and how my file is marked to have the glucose tolerance test then because prior to my first pregnancy, I was slightly insulin resistant as a result of or as a contributing factor to my PCOS.

So I said “You know, I really don’t understand that, because…”

To which he sort of cut me off and said, “Yeah, you’re a c-section…”

To which I immediately cut him off and said “No, I’m a VBAC. But I’ve had no bloodwork that’s shown insulin resistance since my last child, so I don’t understand why I need to start testing for this at 20 weeks.”

He then asked “How much did your first baby weigh?”

Me: “About 9 pounds.”

Him: “And why did you have the c-section?”

To which I wanted to reply, “DOES NO ONE AROUND HERE READ A FACKING HOSPITAL REPORT?!?!?!?!!??!!?!?!?!?” but to which I actually said “Failure to progress, except it was really that I wasn’t progressing as quickly as…”

And then he remembered the last time I was there, a mere 4 weeks ago. A visit during which Dan and I asked him about his thoughts on VBAC and he dodged the question and started spouting off statistics and “if this…then…” kinds of things and saying things like “it’s never happened to me, but….” and “when it goes bad, it goes bad quickly….” and “TORT reform…” and all I heard was “Look, lady, I’m going to tell you you can VBAC, but the minute I don’t like the way that labor goes, we’re slicing and dicing, mmkay?”

Because that’s what I heard 4 weeks ago and the fact that he assumed, based on my history, that I’m a repeat c-section means that he has no intention of being supportive of me VBACing this baby.

I understand that doctors see a LOT of patients and they cannot remember everything about everyone, but for the love of Cheez-its, can someone please make a note of this? Somewhere? And perhaps refer to it before walking in the door?

Vee. Back. VBAC.

(Whew. I got a little off-topic and ranty there, didn’t I? My apologies folks. Can you tell this is a topic that gets me going?)

The result of today’s visit are that everything’s all peachy. Except my skin, nails, and eyelids, which are pale. Because I’m anemic. Or at least I was today. Or the doctor said I was today. But then I told him I was starving at that moment and he seemed to take that as an acceptable reason for why I might be so pale.

(Though, the more I read about this anemia thing, the more my ridiculous fatigue makes sense.)

Dr. NIH Fellowship just wants to keep an eye on it and instructed me to get more iron in my diet to see if that will straighten things out before we go the route of supplements.

While I was laid back on the table and he was feeling on my flab for my uterus, he reached up with one hand and, like, pinched my cheek. Like something a grandma or a Great Aunt Ethel would do. It was…bizarre? to say the least.

He listened for the heartbeat and said “Sounds like a champ!” and then I was free to go (with one more enthusiastic pat on the shoulder) and get my blood taken. Again.

I swear my OBs office is inhabited by vampires, what with the 20, 24, and 28 week glucose tests someone ordered and the fact that I have not yet had a single appointment where there has not been a blood draw. Not a single one.

And then I made an appointment for the 20 week ultrasound. Which was maybe the highlight of the entire appointment.

Place your bets, people. Pink or blue?

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Mama

Saturday 29th of October 2011

Well you know I'm guessing pink, but the most important thing to me is a healthy child, and a smooth delivery. Everyone deserves to experience the joys of a daughter. If this one is a girl OMG, she is spoiled before she gets here being the only girl grandchild on Dan's side of the family. Now back to the game!

Miranda

Saturday 29th of October 2011

A smooth, vaginal delivery :)

And yes, spoiled. Totally.

This game? Is going to give me an aneurysm.

Katie

Saturday 29th of October 2011

dude. we are living opposite OB lives. Seriously. My OB is so pro-VBAC it's almost freaky. But we both decided with all the risks and stuff from Eddie, we were going to plan on a Csection unless charlie seems WAY different than his brother.

And your OB is creeping me out all the way in MI.

And I guess BOY!

Miranda

Saturday 29th of October 2011

The VBAC situation here is awful, considering where I live and how progressive so many other things are. And the fact that I just called VBAC "progressive" is laughable because pushing a baby out of your vagina should be NORMAL.

Katie

Saturday 29th of October 2011

oh yeah and? Everyone who looked at my results was SHOCKED at how stocked up on iron I am. I do not get why this is weird, but they way they reacted, I thought someone was going to give me a trophy on my way out that day.

STK

Friday 28th of October 2011

Delurking to tell you: Find a new OB even if you have to walk uphill both ways, barefoot, and in the snow to every appointment. This dude does not give two craps about your VBAC, and you will end up with a repeat c-section. He's made his stance clear, and he isn't going to suddenly become supportive. Been there, did that, still coping with the emotional toll almost a year later. He sounds like a creeper anyway.

Miranda

Saturday 29th of October 2011

I know. I KNOW. It has to be done. But there are so many factors standing in the way that it's a hard trigger to pull, even knowing my chances with this doucher.

pinkflipflops

Friday 28th of October 2011

good lord. i thank goodness every day for my amazing midwife (and aunt!). i need photos before i ever guess pink orblue.

Miranda

Friday 28th of October 2011

I just look fat. And my child is a second child. I can find zero motivation to take weekly belly pics, but I really should start because this child deserves that kind of attention, too.

NOW I WANT TO STUFF MYSELF WITH CHOCOLATE TO SOOTHE MY SELF-LOATHING :(

Jenn @ Middle of Mommyhood

Friday 28th of October 2011

I'm not placing my bets on the boy/girl thing yet.

But I am placing bets on whether or not I will punch this man in the face. The odds are pretty darn good.

(No worries, though. I'll pat him on the shoulder and pinch his cheek afterwards.)

No. Just NO. Run far and fast.

Miranda

Friday 28th of October 2011

I'm waiting to hear back from one of the two openly pro-VBAC practices in this ENTIRE METRO AREA. (Others "do" VBACs or are "pro"-VBAC, but things have to be perfect and fairies have to dance around your head for them to "allow" the VBAC to happen.)

It's just going to be challenging because the closest one is in 1/2 hour away and I don't think they take appointments late enough for me to avoid missing too much work. And if I miss too much work, that cuts into the days I'll get paid for after this child is born.

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