I tend to write lengthy posts so I'm going to make a conscious effort to be concise. ETA: it didn't work, sorry.
My MW uses a group for ultrasounds and usually uses the location 5 minutes from her office which is 45 minutes away from my house. There's a location 5 minutes away from my house so the appointment was made there. She was clear that if his weight estimate is over 9lbs 12oz she can't legally do a HB so when It was my turn I let the tech's know not to document the weight. This was a huge issue and the radiologist there refused to do my u/s because it's his protocol. After a while on the phone with my MW and politely standing my ground with the techs they agreed to do it and send the report to be read to the radiologist at the other location. I was frustrated, but it wasn't too bad. it the worst part was being there for 2.5 hours during the time my daughter usually naps.
I assume this is the worst of it and happily go to the hospital for my NST tues morning. Right away I sensed some hostility with the nurse. She flat out asked me if I was having a birthing center birth and I said "no, birthing centers are legally not allowed to take vbacs in the state of Florida." but I offered no info about my HB. She proceeds to spend the next 30 minutes thanking god that I'm not careless enough to do a birth center birth and tells me every birth horror story she knows and why she's so thankful I'm giving birth in the hospital. Holy crap.... She then laughs about how the baby passed the NST in the first 5 minutes became everything looks great and she'll call my doctor and MW and let them both know. The OB that oversee's the MW has never heard of me so he tells them not to release me and he is going to section me. Uhhh, WHAT? I was just told my baby is doing great so WTF? I have them call my MW and they let me talk to her and she explains there is some confusion and the OB is being douchey (my word not hers) and her advice is to sign myself out against medical advice unless I want a csection. The nurses are seriously unhappy and make me wait, are totally rude and condescending towards me because I'm high risk (vbac) and going with a MW's advice and not an OB. I try to leave but the doors are locked and they won't swipe me out. I eventually stet the papers to sign (which say FETAL DEATH all over them) and they swipe me out.
The upside is that I picked my mom and daughter up for lunch after the shabockle and notice I lost my mucus plug when I went to the bathroom. This is the first real sign of anything so I got a little excited. When we got home I started to have contractions and was convinced I was in early labor, but now I realize it's prodromal labor. The contractions have been uncomfortable enough that it's difficult to sleep, but sporadic. Hopefully this means that thinks are not too far off. Maybe I had to be threatened with an immediate csection in order to get things moving
Re: Holy bad BPP and NST experience...
For as bad as it was, didn't it confirm even more your choice to give birth at home?
That is how I choose to look at situations like these.
Also, now your MW knows not to send people to these places anymore.
Yes, but I have to say the 30 minutes of horror stories really did scare me. I know the risks for me as a hbac, but it's one thing to read the statistics and another to be told very specific horror stories. The first thing I thought was "I'd better not go into labor today with those stories being the last thing I hear about birth."
Keegan Patrick - Bilateral Clubfeet found at Anatomy Scan.
www.facebook.com/portraitave
I'm so sorry you had to go through that. It kills me how quick doctors are to section you. Get those stories out of your head!! I would watch all the natural birth videos on you tube over and over as a fear clearing session. Ina May did say that some women progress much faster after being threatened with section. Gl with your progress : )
Yikes! I'm so sorry you were treated that way. That should re-affirm why you chose to be at home.
OBs have been hostile toward midwives from the beginning of their existance. They slander midwives in order to scare people into coming to their practice. It is all about money.
Oh man, what an adventure....that you didn't need at all right now, huh?
I swear having to have NST put me into labor with both my sons - the stress was insane for me, especially with my second son.
Glad you got through it, and hopefully labor's starting for you!!
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
Wow, they locked the doors and wouldn't let you out?! I'm so shocked that a doctor who didn't even know you would try to control the situation without discussion?!
I hope you're in labor very very soon!
...baby #3 is here...
Except for that shining period when, after the OB administered the ether, the MW would tell him to go back to his corner. Hah!
Come on Keegan!