Not only is my baby somehow going to be born smack dab in the middle of the earliest time of year for my particular profession, I recently started getting calls for more freelancing. Starting, of course, in mid-October. It's incredible how everything always happens at once. Blast, this could have been useful last year.
Anyway, speaking of timing, I'm looking forward to having this baby. Carrying him or her has been a delight, but I'm getting heartily sick of doctor's appointments. I'll be at appointments every two weeks with my regular OB next week, plus I'm supposed to go in for weekly non-stress tests and then there's the perinatologist, who loves to see me. So that's a minimum of one appointment per week (for now), with the potential of four per week, if you count my neurologist (who fortunately doesn't need to see me as often) and not including all my blood work.
Anyway, so I go in for my first fetal monitoring session next week. I was all bent out of shape about it earlier, but my husband made an excellent point. Trust him to be the voice of reason. Grr, I hate that.
Husband: Andi, what's wrong?
Answer: *why, yes, I was in quite the diva-like snit* My doctor says I have to go in for fetal monitoring every week! Dammit, I have a job. How can I expect someone to keep me on staff if I can't even guarantee that I'll be there!
Husband: Well, have you been told there are complications with this pregnancy? What questions have you asked?
Answer: If anything I'm doing better with this pregnancy, not worse. My weight gain is less, my blood pressure is better - everything's better so far.
Husband: And, what questions have you asked?
Answer: Ummm...
Husband: So this is precautionary. They have absolutely no reason to suspect something might be going on with the baby.
Answer: Correct...for now.
Husband: Okay, why haven't you asked more questions about why they want you in so often?
Answer: Well...
Husband: You know they can't force you to go, right? Or you can at least ask for more information. I mean, if nothing is wrong and everyone knows it, even your doctor, why would you agree to possibly unnecessary tests without asking more just because they say so?
Answer: Ahhh.....
Husband: When you get closer to delivery, it probably makes sense, but you can disagree or at least get more information, you know.
Answer: *crickets chirping, Andi sniffing* Oh, yeah.
So I called, talked to the doctor who said that it was just standard policy for high risk pregnancies and she agreed that it was probably unnecessary but that she wanted me to go in next week if possible to get a baseline to start from and that, if I could, she'd like me to go in weekly, but if it wasn't possible, as long as my tests were normal, I could have a pass.
I wish I'd thought of that earlier instead of going into an "I can work like this!" diatribe. I'm lucky enough to have that luxury where many women experiencing a high-risk pregnancy don't. So I should shut my pie hole and take advantage of it already.
3 comments:
I've been there. 2x a week non-stress tests for the entire 3rd trimester. Once a week it was followed by the OB appointment. and there were a couple of ultrasounds thrown in for good measure. So, think I beat you on NST's, but you have me cold on sheer number of different specialists.
I think I took a different attitude about the whole thing, though. At the time, I just showed up and didn't stress about work. I could have--the rest of my office was putting in mega overtime around then. But I knew I couldn't--I did my best to make up the hours I was gone for the tests, and that was it. For me, the job was just a job (and health insurance).
So I made a point of enjoying the NST's--I took a book, picked up breakfast at Bread Co. across the street (food always got Trystan up and kicking anyway, so it helped), and sat back and relaxed.
The test itself involved sitting in a recliner with the monitors strapped to my belly and waiting half an hour (or until they saw a good heartbeat pattern). I could totally kick back in a recliner for half an hour twice a week. Doctor's orders, of course. And when you get to the hospital for the labor, you already know how to hook yourself up and where best to position the hockey pucks...
Bloodwork and the other stuff, however, would be much harder to relax and read a book through :)
Hang in there. It doesn't last forever.
Isn't part of this healthcare crisis the overabundance of expensive testing that doctors call far, driving up insurance and medicare costs? You are seeing the CYA (Cover Your Ass) mentality in action....
That's probably a better attitude to have. My job is also just a job - and health insurance - for me and the family. And I rarely get an opportunity to relax in the morning at home or at work.
Part of my problem is that my doctor has told me that she knows the tests are likely unnecessary.
Then I feel guilty for not being overcautious myself.
I'm just a guilty person, I guess. Oh, well - I'm giving myself no more than 6 weeks until labor day. Soon I'll know if I needed to be worried or not.
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