Alabama Tracks

So here’s how it went.  My appointment was at 3:30 and I didn’t see the doctor until 4:35.  When I did finally see him, I saw him for 40 minutes and was his last patient so he could feel free to calm down and spend some time with me.  Of which he did.  Have I told everyone how much I like this doctor? 

He wouldn’t even let me sit on the exam table.  He asked me to sit in the chair as all we were going to do was talk.  My blood pressure was back to normal (PTL) and Ruthie’s heartrate was 160.  I had only gained 5 pounds in the 7 weeks since I was last weighed which totals now 27 lbs total. 

He re-read my birthplan and only marked those items that he thought he would need to address.  First and foremost, he thought my plan was very reasonable.  After all, God is the creator of life and He didn’t need him for 95% of the deliveries.  It was a very natural thing and it works.  :)  So based on that, the only things that I needed to conceed on were the IV and the monitoring.  Now let me explain before hackles get raised. 

I only have to have a port for my IV.  I don’t have to be hooked up unless it is absolutely necessary if I am dehydrated.  He just wants to have easy access should anything go wrong.  I can handle this as I thought I would have to “give” on this one.  Monitoring.  He vocalized that continuous electronic fetal monitoring has given rise to the amount of C-sections and thus the only thing he wants me to do is to have it done every 15 minutes and even then I don’t have to be on my back, nor do I have to have the thing strapped on.  I just have to have it up against my belly through 2 contractions.  As long as the baby is responding well, I can continue to get up and stay mobile and upright.  :)  He also mentioned that he is very slow to cut and was very responsive to perineal massage and support. 

I asked him about the two pediatricians that I have appointments with and again, I was very pleased with what he said.  One is his kids doc and the other he birthed two of their kids.  They both are in the same practice and all vacinations in the practice are thermerasol free.  Both will work with me on delayed vacs and then he pointed that one tends to be where more of his “natural” patients go but he would recommend both and wouldn’t hesitate with either one.  So, I will keep both interviews and go based on my interactions with them.

One of the last concerns that I have had was whether or not I would be passed around to the other doctors in the practice during my last few appointments in the event that he is not on call when I go into labor.  He said that they don’t do that there as it disrupts the relationship that is created between the dr and the patient.  Say no more.  I was delighted.

At the close of the appointment, he took my hand and prayed with me regarding our plans for delivery, the health of Ruthie and I, and that God would annoint the steps that were to be taken.

So here is the prayer request.  He is on vacation the week of Christmas, returning on the 28th and then is considering a family camping trip the first week of January.  We need to pray that Ruthie is right on time, if not a day or two late.  I really want him to deliver her and if my family history proves anything, I will have a tendency to go early.  Furthermore, he reiterated to me yesterday that when he has a delivery at my hospital of choice, he abandons the office for the day.  All the better in my book.  So pray, pray, pray. 

All in all, my appointment was worth the wait.  My doctor is like gold.  There will be things that we need to take up with the nursery while we are there but he said every request that I had was very reasonable and shouldn’t be a problem.  He signed every page and every change we agreed to.  My plan will go to the hospital with him and I’ll have a copy with me as well. 

 

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