Tuesday, December 15, 2009

So thankful for midwives

Warning: Female discussion topic ahead. Not that I have many male readers anyway.

On Friday I had my annual exam with a midwife, as decided months ago. On the advice of some of you, when I scheduled the appointment I also mentioned that I wanted to do a pre-conception consultation at the same time. This turned out to be an awesome idea, because the midwife actually spent over an hour just talking to me about various pregnancy- and health-related topics.

Seriously, she was AWESOME. She was supportive of my desire to have a natural childbirth without being too extreme about it. She was very knowledgeable and discussed some issues that hadn't occurred to me, such as genetic counseling (since Torsten and I are both European Caucasian, we're at higher risk for being carriers of cystic fibrosis), testing for rubella immunity (apparently some batches of the MMR vaccine weren't fully effective against rubella), and checking Torsten's blood type (I have a negative blood type, and if Torsten's is positive, it's possible that a baby's would be too, and then there would be concern about my body attacking the baby, which could be alleviated with a simple shot).

She listened to all my questions, and answered them thoughtfully and thoroughly. She was interesting. She didn't seem rushed AT ALL, and even sometimes took the time to go on tangents that were useful but not strictly necessary. We talked about doulas and water births and self-hypnosis and c-sections and risks and my thyroid and weight and lots of other things.

Background on the thyroid as it relates to pregnancy: apparently untreated or poorly-managed thyroid problems can lead to temporary infertility. So, before my thyroid was treated and before I went on the pill years ago, my period was quite irregular, and according to my endocrinologist, I probably wasn't ovulating.

Also, because apparently when you've been overweight your whole life you assume that everything is related to your weight, and because thyroid problems affect your weight, I assumed that the non-ovulation was related not just to my under-treated thyroid condition but also to my weight, because being overweight can be related to fertility issues. BUT, this midwife told me that the weight has absolutely nothing to do with thyroid-related non-ovulation. Since my condition is now well-controlled, there's no reason for me not to ovulate once I go off the pill, and if I'm not ovulating, it's irrelevant to my thyroid condition.

SO, yet another way that I've let my weight get to my head for no reason, huh? But good news that I don't have to freak out that I won't be ovulating. And since I didn't start treating my thyroid condition until well after I started the pill, I am sort of curious to see whether my period will be as irregular as it was now that my thyroid is under control.

She was just... she was supportive and aware and reasonable and understanding and non-judgmental and made me EXCITED not just to be pregnant but also to give birth. EXCITED. To squeeze a large baby through a very small passageway! Seriously.

So, let's see. Annual exam done, pre-conception questions addressed. I'll just keep taking my vitamins and folic acid and eating well and exercising and generally do everything I can to get myself in the best possible condition for pregnancy. We're going to meet with a genetic counselor and get tested and if we're both carriers of the same condition (which is unlikely, but possible) take steps to avoid passing the condition to our child.

And then... well, then the waiting game begins. And I try to avoid freaking out about potentially not being able to get pregnant. I try to limit my freakouts to worries that can actually be productive. We'll see how that goes.

19 comments:

  1. You are so prepared! It would never have occurred to me to see a midwife before even conceiving. Very smart!

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  2. Sounds like a great appointment - that's so rare in the rushed world of OB- type appointments.

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  3. This? Is SOOO interesting. This has never even occurred to me. This is something I will be doing once I move. Thanks for posting about it!

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  4. You are one of the most on top of it people I have ever met/read. I'm impressed!

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  5. I am so impressed with your planning skills. Good luck with your future babymaking!

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  6. I had a similar appointment with my really awesome OB/gyn (at a local women's only hospital). The pre-planned baby makin' must be in the air...

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  7. YAY! I loved my pre-conception appointment, too. It is so nice to get some questions answered. Less to fret over, right?

    I can't WAIT for the day I click into your space and see The Big News! You and Torsten will be great parents. :)

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  8. Yeah, the medical stuff has something to do with getting pregnant. But, I'm a firm believer that the body should be in a maintenance mode of sorts. And that includes your mental health. There's no reason (yet, and hopefully ever) for you to be overly concerned that you won't get pregnant. Don't let the insanity of trying to get pregnant get the best of you. It may take time, but you'll get there.

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  9. Wow! This is SO exciting!

    I, too, never thought of seeing a doctor or midwife before getting pregnant. Good for you!

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  10. Oh, Jess this is awesome! It makes such a difference when you can have an actual conversation with a medical professional, rather than a lecture or an appointment that leaves you feeling more confused or frustrated after the fact. This chick sounds amazing. I can't wait until I get on the baby-makin' train because there is a wonderful midwifery program at the hopsital where I will most likely be giving birth. Yay for you! How exciting!

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  11. Weight (lack of or excess) can still impact ovulation. BUT! It is not a 100% correlation, so you're right - your cycle might be completely regular now that your thyroid is under control. No need to worry about this yet, And Nilsa is right to say that having a calm, happy outlook (i.e. little stress) is absolutely helpful for conceiving a wee one.

    When you are off the pill and closer to getting ready to "try" you could check out one idea we often suggest to my study patients that are trying to concieve (I see them pre pregnancy and post partum only)...Charting your cycle carefully can absolutely help you understand whether you are ovulating (it may sound funny, but you can look at the Catholic sponsored "natural family planning" web sites...they teach you to learn your cycle to AVOID pregnancy, but if you flip it around & get busy on the days they tell you to avoid...bingo! Babymaking!). The other thing to consider is buyging a handful of the ovulation predictor tests you can get at pharmacies. They are VERY accurate - as long as you follow the instructions.

    Okay, so holy hell, epic comment from me, sorry about that. Working in women's health on pregnancy related studies means I've been soaking up all this pertinent knowledge for the past three years & love to share when I get the chance...the take home message I'm trying to share: You most certainly can get an idea of your ovulation patters through these methods, and you can also definitely head back to your midwife if you have any concerns about that. Women's health care providers (from Ob/Gyns to NPs to midwives) are generally the helpful sort of folks...and it sounds like you've found a good match in your midwife, so that's awesome!

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  12. that's all so fascinating..! i hope my doc will sit down with me when/if i ever decide i'm ready for Teh Babies.

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  13. This is great! 1) because you left feeling great- which is what everyone should feel after leaving a medical professional's office, 2) because you feel informed, 3) because you passed it all along to us! Yay!

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  14. Haha I don't think think this post was any more directed at women than the average for your blog.

    If it were possible for me to have a baby, I would want to do it doped to the gills in a hospital room with enough flashing lights and beeping machines that I would think NASA was taking care of things for me.

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  15. Ah yes, the RoGAM shot. I've had one already. In the bum and it stings! But it's a simple solution to keep you and baby safe.

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  16. A college classmate is a midwife and it certainly sounds like the way to go. You're wise to begin the thinking and planning before you even conceive.

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  17. God, I wish I was half as smart and methodical about stuff as you are. I have no desire to have babies, but you always think things through and consider every possibility, which is so admirable as far as I'm concerned. (I tend to dive head-first, without the appropriate head gear).

    However: if I were to concieve, I think I'd like the idea of a mid-wife/water birth combo.

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  18. I am really SAVORING this anticipation time with you! It is so fun to read about all the steps and imagine the future!

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