FEBRUARY HEARTS Due in February 2015 , open group all welcome!

[swanxxsong]

SurpriseBub: I would call my insurance if I were you, personally. I had my first round of bloodwork accidentally sent to the wrong lab by my midwife. It was her error, not mine, and I got charged the full $300 and change for the bloodwork because, "You need to go to such-and-such lab." I explained that my midwife had drawn it and I had assumed she would know correct procedure. They were very nice and apologized and contested it. Within a month, all the fees and charges were removed and taken by the Center. I felt a little bad that they had to eat the fee based on an error... but c'mon. I wasn't paying for it! LOL.

 

[Feronia]

Ttc126, wow, that sucks that your hospital doesn’t allow vaginal breech birth! I admit that I’m a bit extreme in that I would either A.) have a home breech birth, even though midwives aren’t technically allowed to support them here (they have to show up and attend you if you decline other options, and they’re trained in emergency breech delivery). B.) Show up at the hospital in labour and decline a c-section. While a hospital might not technically allow this option, they can’t force you into a c-section and you ALWAYS have the right to decline care. I know most others wouldn’t be comfortable making these choices, which is totally fine, it’s just what I would personally do since I am prepared for the backlash. If you don’t mind me asking,why will you be induced at 37 weeks? Good luck! I know avoiding an epidural is tough if you’re induced since pitocin contractions are an entirely different beast. Don’t feel guilty if you end up getting one.

Swan, that’s such great news! Yay! I’m so glad that what you’ve been doing has been helping.

SurpriseBub, thanks, I would try not to be disappointed. At least I’d know that I did everything to avoid one... Wow! I could never have fillings done without anaesthesia, impressive!
I would totally call the insurance company on that bill. How lame that you got pressured into a test you didn’t want! Can you switch care providers? It’s not good to be taken advantage of by someone you’re supposed to be trusting with a very important journey...

Sounds like there’s some great knowledge here on pumping! I only started pumping at 11 months, but I’m going to have to earlier this time in case I get an interview weeks after birth. Depending on when you go back to work, dcm_mw12, I would not start pumping until around 6 weeks if you don’t have to (though it seems like it was really helpful for you to do so, swan)! You can always start establishing a supply after nursing your baby. (Nurse then pump like swan did.) That’s what I’m planning on doing, too.

 

[savvysaver]

Swan, I was shocked when the OB told us that our insurance might cover some, if not the entire pump! Sounds good to me!

Thanks for the pump info! Definitely adding those to my list in case the insurance will cover any of them. I never thought about the babies tangling their hands in the cords, good to know for the future.

 

[Feronia]

Oh yeah, my midwife appointment went really well! I got my SIPS blood test results back, and the odds are all really, really good on everything. I spoke with my midwife about skipping my 20-week scan and she was very supportive and gave me some articles on avoiding routine scans, so I officially cancelled my October scan. She also was able to hear the heartbeat on a fetoscope! I’m 17 weeks tomorrow, I’m impressed she was able to hear it – but yay! She let DH hear it (it sounds like a ticking clock on a fetoscope compared to a racing horse on a doppler) and had my daughter help measure my belly.

 

[MellyH]

Does round ligament pain happen on top of your belly as well? Getting new shooting pains in the top of my belly and they're new, so of course I'm anxious!

 

[savvysaver]

SurpriseBub, I am sorry this happened to you. I would totally contact the insurance company like the other girls have said. I hope you are able to get things taken care of!

 

[savvysaver]

Does round ligament pain happen on top of your belly as well? Getting new shooting pains in the top of my belly and they're new, so of course I'm anxious!

I am not sure about on top of your belly but it seems possible. About an hour ago I had sharp, intense pain on the side of my body right below my ribs, it lasted about 15 minutes...hoping things are just stretching out. I have only had those sharp round ligament pains that last like 5 seconds way down low when I cough, sneeze or move quick.

 

[dcm_mw12]

Thanks ladies for all your great advice ! I'm definitely encouraged to breastfeeding 100%. Swan, you have such a great strategy that I'm going to actually follow.

 

[ttc126]

Feronia, yay for a great appointment!!!!! So glad you heard the hb! And so great that your mw is including your daughter in everything!!!
I totally agree with you on the breech birth! I couldn't believe a hospital can make a policy like that!
I'll be induced at 37 weeks (or around then...I'd prefer 38) because at that point it's better for the baby to come out than to keep trying to grow with me being severely anemic. Last time would have been similar only i was induced for severe preeclampsia even sooner. I really would rather avoid the nicu this time so hoping i can go an extra week

Surprisebub!!! I'd be so beyond furious!!! I would definitely call the insurance. Oh! And from what I've seen, a lot of offices will charge YOU for records, but your current Dr could request them and obtain them free of charge. I would ask your dr office to do that and then you could at least get the results you're being charged for!!!!

 

[Feronia]

ttc126, fingers crossed you don't get PreE again! Will they re-test your ferratin levels again, and is there a chance that you won't be anemic when the time comes? Just personal curiosity, I'm learning a lot from all of this.

 

[SurpriseBub]

Thanks, ladies. I only saw that (apparently immoral) doctor once and have since found a fantastic doctor

Just so annoyed that they would do that! It seems wrong on a lot of levels- so will definitely object. I have the time and anger on my hands to follow it through, too.

Appreciate the advice very much!

 

[SurpriseBub]

Yay for a good appointment, Feronia! And how lovely your OH could hear the hb. I bet it is so much more realistic through the fetoscope

 

[ttc126]

ttc126, fingers crossed you don't get PreE again! Will they re-test your ferratin levels again, and is there a chance that you won't be anemic when the time comes? Just personal curiosity, I'm learning a lot from all of this.

Well with thalassemia in pregnancy there's really no fixing it. The only solution is blood transfusions and unfortunately there are high risks even with a safe blood supply. So right now i get my complete blood count done every 2 weeks but now it's changing to every week. My hemoglobin was 9.6 (normal range is 12-16) and hematocrit was 31 (normal is 36-4?) this week. I get my folate, ferretin, b12 and a few other levels tested every month now but they are all well within the normal range even tilting toward high! That's why it's so frustrating. As blood volume increases, my weak red cells are destroyed too quickly and I don't make enough to keep up with the increase.

So it's *possible* i won't be anemic come 37 weeks, but it's not really probable. If I need a transfusion around 22 weeks again, i usually do a lot better for about 6 weeks, then downhill again. I'd rather deliver at early term if my dr thinks it's best than have another transfusion. Last time after delivery my hemoglobin was down in the 6-7 range and my heart was having problems. So they don't want that happening again....

I love that i get to share all this with you! I really do hope it helps you when you're a midwife!!!!

 

[Feronia]

Oh yeah, the thalassemia -- I remember now! I actually shared with my friend with thalassemia a little bit about what happened with you during your first birth (anonymously of course). It sounds like she has the same kind of thalassemia that you do, so it's really helpful to hear from you since I couldn't find any good information online. She's TTC and worried about what will happen when she gets pregnant, so I wanted to reassure her a bit. Thankfully, her husband was tested and doesn't have recessive thalassemia (I think that's it) -- did you have to have your partner tested?

 

[SurpriseBub]

My SIL had a baby at the end of August, turns out she has thalassemia too! (But what my brother called a 'mild case'). She was apparently pale and weak after the birth, but got through both pregnancy and birth without needing a transfusion. I guess she was very lucky that way!

I think she had extra blood tests throughout pregnancy and an extra night in hospital, but that all ended up just being precautionary

 

[ttc126]

You know i actually declined to have my husband tested... he's just showed no evidence of being a carrier and the chance of him having a recessive trait is so slim... plus now we have a healthy baby who seems not to have it so in all likelihood he's negative. I hope nothing I've said scared your friend Feronia! It's not too bad most of the time! I am so sure that your friend has every chance at a healthy pregnancy and baby. Maybe she'll need extra monitoring but it's actually a bit rare to need transfusions.

Surprise!!! What a crazy coincidence. In real life i know only 2 other women who've had it (outside of my sisters) and one has had a baby and never needed a transfusion either! Glad your sil is ok! Is she by chance Mediterranean descent?

 

[bridgetboo62]

yeah its really sad that the policy for breech is c-section exclusively at hospitals these days
OBs just do not learn how to deliver a breech birth anymore
its not part of their schooling

 

[SurpriseBub]

You know i actually declined to have my husband tested... he's just showed no evidence of being a carrier and the chance of him having a recessive trait is so slim... plus now we have a healthy baby who seems not to have it so in all likelihood he's negative. I hope nothing I've said scared your friend Feronia! It's not too bad most of the time! I am so sure that your friend has every chance at a healthy pregnancy and baby. Maybe she'll need extra monitoring but it's actually a bit rare to need transfusions.

Surprise!!! What a crazy coincidence. In real life i know only 2 other women who've had it (outside of my sisters) and one has had a baby and never needed a transfusion either! Glad your sil is ok! Is she by chance Mediterranean descent?

I didn't know it until after she had had the baby- but then when my brother talked about it, I knew what it was from the discussions on this board! her mum is of Irish descent and her Dad is Italian (actually born in Italy). I guess from what you say, it likely came from her Dad then! I guess she was lucky/did well/lucky if she has a 'mild' version.

 

[MiniBump]

Thanks ladies for all your great advice ! I'm definitely encouraged to breastfeeding 100%. Swan, you have such a great strategy that I'm going to actually follow.

Unless you have feeding issues like swan did, I really wouldn't start pumping from the word go as you will likely end up with oversupply which can cause feeding problems in itself.

Definitely feed exclusively at the breast for the first few weeks (if you have time) then start pumping after feeds and storing/freezing a couple of weeks before you go back to work. If you're pumping as you go along you won't need a massive stash of milk so try not to go overboard! x

 

[RaspberryK]

Swan I'm glad you had a lovely midwife and she reassured you.
Dcm I breastfed for 13 months, I'd also say establish at the breast first before pumping.
Best thing I did was research and education then getting to a breastfeeding support group regularly.
Xx