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June 2014 Moms
OleSkillet
member
Dealing with a non-supportive hospital visit.
OleSkillet
member
Hello all!
I wanted to write this post, because I had a rather unpleasant experience at the hospital last night,
and was wondering if anyone else has had this problem? How would you react, or how to deal with it?
I understand with first babies (this is my first) sometimes things can worry you, but I feel that I am pretty grounded with things, and do not over-react easily.
Hope it is alright to share my story and get some input!
To give a bit of background, this week has been rough for me. I just hit 27 weeks, and baby girl is jumping around like crazy in there!
About 3 days ago I had a near-fainting spell. This first one ever in my life, and I didn't pass out all the way. Luckily I was with friends and after drinking some ice water, felt better after a little while. I called my OB and from what I was told, this happens to women with pregnancy. They brought me into the office the next day, checked my blood sugar, blood pressure and iron levels. Everything was normal, and again, I was reassured that this happens in pregnancy. My doc told me to carry some juice or cookies with me in case it happens again. I have my next check up in two days, when I also do the lovely glucose test.
I have been taking it easy since then, because quite honestly it was rather scary! I decided to give myself a couple days to get back up to normal.
Yesterday, I took a nap, and woke up around 6:30 in the evening with the worst period like cramps in my abdomen. Then they moved to my back. I have had round ligament pain from pretty early on in this pregnancy, especially in my hips, but this was nothing like that. It was an intense pressure like ache in my low back. Then it started getting worse in waves. Every few minutes it would get a lot stronger, (sorry TMI here!) and every time it would get strong I would feel and intense urge to go number 2. I had already went 2 times that day, so I knew I wasn't blocked up! The pain waves kept coming about 6 or 7 minutes apart and lasting for about a minute or so each time. This kept happening for an hour and a half, and I decided to call my doctor and ask them about it. Also, I took a Tylenol and a hot bath, seeing if that would help. After the bath it just kept getting worse and worse, to the point where I could hardly talk or do anything during the pain surges. My doctor said for me to go in to the ER and get checked out, and was very nice and supportive.
So I took myself to the ER, and they transferred me over to L&D. I gave them the rundown, even telling them about almost fainting a couple days earlier. They took some blood, did all the standard tests, etc. A few minutes later a woman came in and introduced herself as a midwife. She said that all the tests had come back normal and she did not believe I was having any contractions, for I was too early for that. She then started talking to me about my near-fainting spell a couple days before. She asked what I ate everyday, and I told her. I feel I eat rather healthy...no fast food, no soda, no candy, etc. Most of my diet is made up of beans, lean meats, green veggies, berries, assorted other fruits, grains, etc. I drink TONS of water. After telling her some of these things, she just starting telling me everything I eat was wrong, in a very condescending manner. She told me "You really need to learn how to read labels, especially if you are going to be feeding a child. Also they probably have things you couldn't even pronounce in their ingredients".
Also she asked, "Do you know what high fructose corn syrup is? Do you know what quinoa is?" and really kept drilling me. She told me, "sure you might eat a veggie sandwhich, but the multi-grain bread you ate it on is going to turn into sugar." She told me not eat bananas, no granola, etc. Really just going off on me about these things, as I laid there in pain in the bed. I informed her I read labels, and I know what all these things are, and that I was at the ER for the back pain I was having, not to discuss my diet, or even the near-fainting spell. She then informed me that the only reason I was having back pain was because I was 27 weeks pregnant, and the real problem is "I need to eat better". I was terribly insulted, as my healthy diet has been one of my main concerns throughout this pregnancy. I was never checked for contractions or anything else. A short time after that I was sent home, without ever seeing a doctor. My pain lasted throughout the night, and finally subsided this afternoon, about 16 hours later. I did call my OB office back today, and told them what happened and they were surprised that I never even saw a doctor. They told me to monitor it and if it starts to get really bad again, to go back in.
I apologize for the long post, but I wanted to come here to discuss this, and find out if anyone else has encountered this behavior? How did you deal with it? I know we only want the best for our unborn babies, and we should not be condescended if we are just wanting to make sure things are alright. Thank you for your time!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Dealing with a non-supportive hospital visit.
I returned 8 hours later when the contractions were every 5 minutes apart, lasting 45 sec and I wasn't able to talk/move during them. This time I only saw the attending doctor, they hooked me up to a monitor and confirmed that they were in fact contractions. They checked my cervix (long, firm and closed, thank goodness), did blood work (which showed I was severely dehydrated), gave me lots of IV fluids and kept me until they started to slow down (after about 6 hours and 2L of saline). They wanted to admit me but agreed to let me go home as long as I promised to drink 3L of fluids a day and be on strict bedrest until they were completely gone, as well as return if they became more frequent. 72 hours later I was contraction free.
Not very helpful, but I understand the frustration of not being taken seriously the first time. If your pains return, go back and insist on seeing the doctor.
I am a first timer too and everything freaks me out but luckily I have a live in doctor available to me 24/7. Although I do believe I am driving him crazy with all my questions and "is this ok?", "should I be concerned with this" poor DH
Sorry OP that you had a bad experience!
you had at the hospital. I would definitely take her name down and go to a higher source at the hospital. You are paying your money and any visit should be pleasant.
I'm sure she would have loved to hear my diet. Carbs carbs carbs more carbs and cookies. Eat it lady. I'm not gaining weight so suck it. I eat what I can not puke back up. Some days it is eggs toat and veggies. Some days it's a juicy fat burger and fries. I love cookies. Grr here I go getting all upset for ya.
Your not over reacting. I would have over reacted if it was me and made a big deal out if it. Good for your calm attitude.
Tell her next time to shove it.
Question. Was she some super slim or big lady? Just curious.
I'm not new. I just hate The Bump.
I'm not new. I just hate The Bump.
Really nothing just personally curious.
I would like it for a visual. Was she some healthy girl trying to push off her own ideas on you because she knows best from personal experience ?
Or was she over weight and really had no room to talk.
I'm not by any means trying to judge. I'm overweight so I would feel I would in no way be able to tell someone what to eat healthy. Obviously from my diet.
Just curious mostly. I'm very visual.
I'm not new. I just hate The Bump.
My two trips to L&D have both been false alarms and I've not seen anyone from my OB's practice at all. I know they've been aware that I was in L&D and/or been there themselves and that they cleared me to go home but I didn't actually see them. Yes, I'm paying quite a bit of money and not seeing my doctor, but I've just considered myself lucky that I was stable enough not to see them.
О Привязать! Z!
О Привязать! Z!
I'm sorry, I hope I didn't come off as thinking thats what you meant because its not what I intended at all. I was just trying to give an alternative viewpoint on why you hadn't seen your particular doctor- because I think its a different approach from what a lot of people expect when they go in to L&D. My advice about filing the complaint would have been the same if the comments had been made by an OB as well.
О Привязать! Z!
Hope everyone is having a great day! Had a discussion with my doctor again today. They are filing a complaint as well! They really couldn't believe it, and really made me feel a lot better about the situation. Also, my doctor is great and even made me feel really comfortable that I did the right thing going in.
I encourage anyone who has had a experience like this to take further action, and do not let anyone, midwife, nurse or doctor, talk down to them. They may do that to someone else, ignore them as well, leading to their, or their babies harm. I was lucky this time, and everything seems to be doing better. Everyone's body does strange things when their pregnant, and we should feel secure in our right to be checked out.
Thanks again for the support!
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