Just thought I'd update anyone who is following along.
This entire pregnancy so far has been stressful in regards to drs. Because I am high risk and the baby and/or I may need emergency care/treatment upon labor/delivery, I must deliver in a hospital. Being new here, I haven't been established with drs, nor did I immediately know what's good or bad. I didn't even really know what all a NICU meant. But I did my research. And this is what the conclusion is:
1. Closest hospital to us in town is tiny and basically just meant to be a go between to a bigger hospital... no labor or delivery anything whatsoever. Not an option.
2. Next 2 closest hospitals are 30ish minutes away. One is not covered by my insurance thus not an option. Then the other hospital does have NICU and high risk, and would be my closest option. However, the only dr group my insurance covers is a group that others highly recommended to stay away from. You don't know who will deliver your baby and half the drs there "aren't worth the paper their degree is on" as I've been told repeatedly. Having met a high risk dr there, they are also very pushy, very stressful environment. I need calm, peaceful and relaxed as much as possible. Would not be my choice unless I absolutely must.
3. Next 2 closest hospitals after that are about 50 minutes away. Both are covered by insurance. However, the one is where the one dr just dropped me, which also does not have high risk or NICU so it really shouldn't have been an option to begin with, but I didn't know that when making my first appointment there. Maybe it's for the better that he dropped me; stressful nonetheless. The other hospital does have NICU, recently completely updated and placed on the same floor as labor and delivery, and high risk and there are 2 dr groups to choose from. 1 didn't get the best reviews, the other did. So I made an appointment with the one that did and that will be on Tuesday. I've heard this dr is great but mixed things about whether this dr is open to doing things more naturally vs not. Praying my way through this. Please join me in that prayer.
4. If the option above doesn't work out, I have 2 more options, both about 50 minutes away also but in different directions. Both are covered by insurance. However, neither has high risk or NICU. Well the one does have level 2 but that's not really what I would need if the baby had any serious issues. If either of these hospitals had high risk and NICU they would be my top choices regardless of the distance. Because there is a dr at each of them who does things as naturally as the patient wants, the dr fully goes along with birth plans, and what the dr says there goes as far as the nurses so there isn't likely as much conflict. The one with the level 2 even has birthing balls and birthing tubs. That is definitely more of the birth experience I am looking for. But again, without high risk or NICU not the best option unless all other options fail.
So last I mentioned on here my dr dropped me because I considered alternatives to the one way he wanted me to do things. I'm not saying I'm just ignoring drs advice or ignoring them all together. I'm listening to everything they have to say. But I'm certainly not going to jump right in unless it's an emergency. I'm going to do my research, consider all my options, pray and make the decision I feel led to that's best for me personally. Everyone is different and my experience has shown I certainly don't fit in a medical text book. I want a dr who will be there side by side with me, not give me commands and then kick me to the curb if I don't follow narrow minded advice. I want a dr who knows sometimes natural/alternative is best, sometimes pharmaceutical/traditional medicine is best, and sometimes they can work hand in hand. Sadly that is always hard to find.
So please pray for my appointment coming up on Tuesday and that all is well with baby and I. In addition to this I'm nervous about my stress level lately. It might sound silly but our dog is driving me absolutely nuts. I heard dogs can sense when someone is pregnant and go bonkers... totally happening here. Plus ants. Lots of ants. In our bathroom. While J was gone. Totally not fun. So pray for my stress level and sanity also! I know the negative affects this can have on baby.
On a more positive note, all has been really well otherwise. Morning sickness is gone, just food aversions to meat and wanting sweets way too much! I've learned if I eat something small every couple hours and rest often, I can stay fairly stable. Actually my stepdaughter loves to tell everyone I eat 6 meals a day... she was even saying that before finding out I was pregnant which is funny but so true. My belly has started growing just a little...and with all this eating I don't know if it's baby or weight gain haha. I think I felt little flutters for the first time about a week ago. We are hoping to be able to find out the gender in 2 weeks if baby cooperates. I'm super excited for that! Bring on the pink or blue! But also just hoping for a healthy baby all around.
Praying my way through this pregnancy trusting that God is the ultimate physician and will guide me. 💓
