Answers.

So I went and saw my new OBGYN today. I'd heard great things about him, and that he also has a special interest in fertility. I've wanted to see him for a while, but we just got insurance that he accepts, so I made an appointment as soon as I could! Today was my appointment and I went over my medical history with him, and we lingered on the topic of pregnancy and my 4 miscarriages and he was very surprised that I still had not had any tests done to see what is going on. I told him that my doctor basically would tell me to try to get pregnant and then they would see how my body handled it and he was not thrilled about that.

So he explained to me that new findings show that a 20% of repeat miscarriages are caused by clotting disorders like thrombophilia. Basically a clot forms in the placenta and eventually destroys the pregnancy. He said that since I had a 2nd trimester miscarriage it made it even more likely that this could be a problem for me. So they drew 8 vials of blood today and sent them off to the lab to be tested. If it does happen that I do have a blood clotting disorder, when I do get pregnant I get to take 2 shots a day of a medicine called heparin throughout the entire pregnancy and through postpartum recovery. Not looking forward to that, but if it gets me a baby I'm all for it. And this made me wonder, since I had my son and the only "complication" was mild preeclampsia onset at the end of my pregnancy, why wasn't this possible disorder a problem? He told me that it can not only be genetic, but acquired at later points in life, so I could have acquired it after my son was born, but that gives no explanation to my 2 miscarriages before him. Anyways, we'll know in about 3-5 days the results.

He also told me if I am not pregnant now, than once I start my cycle again to call and schedule an HSG test (Hysterosalpingogram) which is where they inject dye into my uterus and it flows up the fallopian tubes and then they take an x-ray of it. They look for misshapen uterus, blocked tubes, or anything in the uterus like a fibroid, polyp, or scarring that prevents the embryo from properly implanting. He said sometimes the dye that is injected can clear out any blockages in the tubes, remove scar tissue, and basically aid in the process of getting pregnant. I heard it is a little painful and uncomfortable, but the results are usually pretty good- conception wise.

If all those come back normal we'll do a semen analysis, and then he suggests genetic testing to make sure neither of us have any genetic defects that are causing repeat miscarraiges.

Well, HOPEFULLY I am pregnant now, and these things will not be necessary. Well, except for the blood clotting thing, because if they came back positive I'd get on those shots right away.

I am very relieved, even excited at the chance to get some answers. Who knows, they all might come back normal and there's nothing wrong with me, but atleast this will remove any doubt! I am due to test a week from tomorrow and I am going to try with all my might to resist the urge to pee on a stick until then. We shall see! Wish me luck folks!

Baby Spring Fling

So this past weekend was that Baby Spring Fling. I ended up going with my 2 year old and it was kinda an interesting experience. Mostly because I forgot Cohen's stroller and had to keep him from running off the whole time.

But I was thinking this fair was going to be all things baby, and according to the fliers that there would be medical professionals of all types there to get some info and ideas of what you wanted out of childbirth. This fair was just a way for every anti-medicated birth, anti-formula feeding women, anti-doctor, anti-hospital birth person to get together and push their ideas onto others. I didn't leave feeling informed about anything, but I felt bad that I had an induction, an epidural, a hospital birth, and that I did not breastfeed Cohen. Which is odd, because I am not upset about my choices. In fact, I stand behind them 200%.

For these professionals who claim that women should be able to do it unmedicated, and give a shpeal about how women need to stick together and support each other and yada yada yada... making someone feel like crap because they don't think the same way you do is quite hypocritical. They only want you to do what they want you to do. I left this place sorely pissed off because I was looked down on for having an epidural, or for formula feeding my child.

It irritates the crap out of me that people have to stick their noses in my business that way. I brought a freaking baby into this world, he was perfectly healthy, and is smart as a whip and growing. How can anyone look negatively on the way that I chose to do that? It really ticks me off that people dwell way too much on the childbirthing "experience" rather than the point of it all...the child.

Sorry about the rant, it just ticked me off going to this fair and all these women thinking they were better than me because they did everything "the way it was supposed to happen." I bet you if all those women back in the olden days were offered an epidural, I bet you most of them would take it.

Moral of this Blog:
If you want to do it natural, great. If you want to feed your baby bottle or breast, fine. If you want to give birth in tub of water, or a hospital bed, great. Just don't assume that it's the only way to do it and that anyone else who does it differently is selfish or ignorant. Just mind your own business and keep your opinions to yourself.

Thanks for listening. :)

Finding Doctors...Cont.

I read all the comments on my "Doctors" post, and I had never heard of a DO... so I did some research for one in my area and my current doctor just happens to be a DO. Now out of all the docs I've been to, she's been the best so far... maybe I'll give her another shot and lay everything out on the table about what I'm expecting in my provider.... hmmm.

For those of you, who are like me, that have no idea what a DO is, it stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Click here to learn more about them.

Doctors

I've had the unfortunate pleasure of being seen by MANY doctors in only the last 4 years... I think I've seen a total of 10ish OBGYNs in the last 4 years, and it is discouraging to me that I have not found one that I would recommend to my friends, one that I feel has my interests at heart, and someone who sees me as more than their paycheck. It is frustrating to me, that doctors are so quick to prescribe medication to fix everything, and that most of the time they don't listen.

This doesn't have anything to do with TTC, but I just took my 2 year old to the doctor because he would be in extreme pain every time he had a bowel movement. I mean, screaming bloody murder pain, and sometimes he would blister and just have random bleeding out the rectum. Sorry if this is TMI...just trying to give you a summary of what's wrong. Anyways, it's been going on for more than a month, and it doesn't matter if is a soft or hard poop, he still screams. And he is not constipated, because he goes regularly every day pretty much. So, I finally schedule him an appointment and my usual doctor is not there. I guess I can say he is one doctor I like... he has been my son's doctor since he was in the hospital at birth... anyways, he wasn't there, but being so desperate to get my baby boy some relief, I agreed to meet with another doctor. BIG MISTAKE! I explained the situation to him, he lays my son down on the little table thing, and does some feeling around in his abdomen. He says, "He's probably just constipated. Try mixing a stool softener into his juice in the morning and that should fix it." I explained that it was not constipation, and the doc basically just stared at me like, "I'm the doctor and this is what I say it is, Give him a stool softener." So, I was getting irritated that he wouldn't listen or even consider anything else. So I rudely asked (yes, I know I was being rude, but I didn't care by that point) "So what do I do about the blisters and random bleeding coming from inside of him?" His anwer... DIAPER RASH CREAM! As far as I know, that is for EXTERNAL use only...and I think the problem is inside. Then before asking if there was any other questions, he just walked out of the room and I was left to escort myself out of the office. Anywho... I was/am so mad at that waste of time, and I plan to go back on Thursday to talk to my usual doctor and even file a complaint against this guy. Anywho...it made me think about doctors in general and the overall experience I've had with them. I've comprised a lit of everything I would like to see in a doctor, so if you'd like, read it, add to it, customize it. These are just things I want, and plan to ask the doctors as I choose the next doctor for my next pregnancy. It's best to decide on a doctor before hand, that way you are not rushed into picking one just to get medical care.

1. I want a female doctor. From my experience, they are a little more sympathetic to my feelings. 2. I want a doctor that will deliver at the hospital of my choice. I'm surprised at how many doctors deliver at only one hospital in town...

3. I want an OBGYN that is more like a midwife. I want one who is trained as an OBGYN but puts more emphasis on me and the birth, rather than making it just a job. I want someone who can stick with me through any complications and not have to pass me over to a strange doctor if I need more serious care.

4. I want a doctor who is patient. They knew what they were signing up for when they got their job... I don't want a Dr. who wants to cut me at 8cm just so I'll deliver faster so he can go home. That's your job buddy, deal with it.

5. I am not against Vacuums or forceps persay, but I'd like to avoid them if possible. I need my Dr. to understand that, and give my body a chance to do what it's designed to do.

6. I want my OBGYN to be proactive about helping me keep a pregnancy. I want frequent monitoring of my pregnancy.7. I want my doctor to do the ultrasounds, not an ultrasound tech, OR I would like my doctor to be present for ultrasounds. Past UTsweren't as personable, because they know nothing about me.

8. I want a doctor that is pro-herbal/natural medicines. I'm no hippy, and I like my epidural, but I want a doc who's supportive of taking a natural approach to medicine and feeling good.

9. I want a doctor that calls me back with my lab results, not some 18 year old receptionist who knows nothing about what she is telling me.

10. And lastly, I'd like a doctor to speak kindly about me at all times. I've had doctors who will step outside and talk to a nurse and speak badly about me, not realizing I can hear him through the door.

I just want a doctor who is worth keeping. I hear stories about how women love their doctors and stay with them for years, and even have their kids see them when they have babies. I want a keeper doctor.

But for now the search continues!