norsegirl | Losing a battle

I hate admitting defeat, but I'm going to have to do just that on one thing I was pretty firm on for my delivery. It's standard hospital procedure to put in a hep-lock when you walk in the door at the hospital at which I've chosen to deliver (and probably at all hospitals). I figured if I raised enough of a stink that they'd back off and leave me alone. I hate IVs. I have shitty veins and they always collapse, resulting in pain and massive bruising. I don't need to deal with that shit on top of everything else I'll be dealing with. I also don't like the convenience that they represent to the staff when it comes to administering drugs. I want to do this naturally and do everything I can to avoid interventions of any sort. I don't appreciate the idea of the staff having immediate and convenient access to my bloodstream.

Unfortunately, I found out yesterday that I tested positive for Strep B colonization. This means I have to have antibiotics administered by IV every 4 hours during labour. I can't skip it because it could really harm the baby, and I'm guessing they won't just do it by injection. So I'm stuck with the hep lock.

Why do I get the feeling that this is just step 1 of me losing all control over this situation?

In other news I threw my back out last night, so I've been utterly useless all day. All I've really done is nap and eat and do a bit of browsing on the internet. On the bright side, I found a great gift for someone. On the downside, I got nothing done and I have no idea what's for dinner.

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Ack. Yeah, I share your concerns.

Have you looked into the feasibility of hiring a doula? The research I've read (which comes out of Henci Goer's book) suggests that mothers who have a doula have dramatically lower rates of interventions and C-sections. A professional doula apparently helps in a way that a husband/SO birth partner doesn't.

True, but money is tight and I don't feel like I have the time to interview and select anyone at this point. Also I'm a very solitary person when I'm uncomfortable, so the thought of having one more person in the room really doesn't do it for me. If I didn't have time to interview and got someone who got on my nerves that might just make everything worse. My birthing class teacher for example shares on a regular basis that her services are available for just such a thing, but I'm dead sure that if she were in the room I'd find the time between contractions to strangle her.

Also, is it just me or are you irked by the whole Bradley Method emphasis on HUSBAND coach? As if there aren't alternative families. It just feels judgmental to me.

I have no doubts now that Jason will be able to stand up for me anyway. He wanted to kill my ob-gyn when I had spotting after that last exam, and that's a pretty normal side-effect. Heck, if they let the beagles in the room I'm sure Anna would keep everyone at bay. She was pretty pissed off about that incident too.

I had Lasairfhiona (

beithgrove) come be my unofficial doula. She was great. I'm sorry that you are in a position where you don't know anyone and can't hire someone. My sister-in-law (Amy) said her doula made all the difference in the world for her (giving birth in Kentucky). But if you want to be solitary, that's a valid choice, too. I was just terrified of being left alone.

I don't know anything about the Bradley Method. I take it that's the class you are taking? Both Joel and Dru lent Jay copies of a book called "The Birth Partner" which, as is pretty obvious from the title, doesn't limit the "birth partner" to husbands only. It might irk you less.

Yeah, I can understand all of that. And had to laugh at the finding time to strangle her.

And yes, the emphasis on husband coaching raised an eyebrow, and was one of the reasons I didn't actually buy the book.

spotting after the last exam? Did you blog about that?

Yup, totally posted about the spotting (http://eve-the-just.livejournal.com/176305.html). But it was buried in with a lot of other chatting. I bled for 48 hours and Anna beagle followed me around everywhere like she was on a leash. Had to check my panties every time I went to the bathroom too. Very concerned beagle. It will be interesting to see how she behaves when I give birth.

I'll be refusing all future vaginal exams because I just don't need the extra discomfort. My doctor is okay with that since they can't tell you anything meaningful anyway.

I haven't read the "Husband Coached Childbirth" book yet, but my brief wander through "The Bradley Method" book didn't impress me much. I've been running with info from Goer's book and the old "what to expect" book. It's interesting to have the contrasting views of completely distrusting the medical professionals and putting it all in their hands. I figure between the two I'll get a more well-rounded view of the reality.

My daughter was flipping channels last night and made me suffer through an episode of "18 and counting" (yawntv!). I'm not certain what religion the Duggan Family (they're quite religious though) are but they had friends that were all using the Bradley Method and talking about it as if it was second nature and they all knew it inside and out. I suspect it may only refer to the Husband as coach as it may have some religious roots with traditional denominations.

No religious roots at all that I can see. There's not a single reference to God in the whole course (which I appreciate immensely). But it's been around since the 1940s, when traditional families were not only the norm, but probably the only model (excepting of course the single mom left behind when the man died in the war). I just feel like it would be nice if they updated their terminology a little.

Bradley method basically is "second nature". No funny breathing, no drugs, just lots of massage and encouraging words from your partner, listen to your body and push when it tells you to, and otherwise try to relax and go with it. The course seems pretty useless to me actually, assuming you and your partner already work well together and know how to relax and calm each other.

Losing a battle

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