Speaking of having to advocate for ourselves and our babies as patients...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth last year and I don't remember a doctor ever seeing me or talking to me once I moved into postpartum. A pediatrician came for the baby.

I'm the OP. I had my baby in July. The doctor who delivered her came by twice. Baby was born at 8:30pm, and doctor stopped by at 8:30am the following day before going home to see how the night had been. He also came by the following morning to give me my discharge instructions (stitches will fall out/dissolve on their own, use the peri bottle, take Colace, stay hydrated, don't have sex until 6 weeks, etc.). He did not actually do a physical exam either of the times he visited, which I thought was weird. I had no complications so was not worried about it. Pediatrician visited the baby the first and second nights. Then we didn't see her again until the end of the week (2 days after discharge). She had no complications either and had regained the weight she lost in the hospital by the time we saw the pediatrician at the end of the week.

In so far as I have advice for first time moms, it's that in the moment, after you have your baby, you will think you will remember stuff like who visited and when and what was discussed, but realistically, you will not. Write it down. Use the "notes" app in your phone. Whatever it takes. Ditto baby stats. I used the Sprout baby app to track feeds, diapers, and sleeps from birth to 3 months. I now use it to track pumping. You think you'll remember, but you won't.

I too thought I'd have a physical exam before being discharged! I was bleeding heavily and in pain, so I kinda wanted someone to look at me. I've been told since that they don't do physical exams after birth. Next time anyone looked at me was 6 weeks later!

Same here and no one even did a pelvic exam at my 6 week appointment!

you're right! I'd forgotten that. I was surprised by that too. I wanted to know how my stitches had fared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth last year and I don't remember a doctor ever seeing me or talking to me once I moved into postpartum. A pediatrician came for the baby.

I'm the OP. I had my baby in July. The doctor who delivered her came by twice. Baby was born at 8:30pm, and doctor stopped by at 8:30am the following day before going home to see how the night had been. He also came by the following morning to give me my discharge instructions (stitches will fall out/dissolve on their own, use the peri bottle, take Colace, stay hydrated, don't have sex until 6 weeks, etc.). He did not actually do a physical exam either of the times he visited, which I thought was weird. I had no complications so was not worried about it. Pediatrician visited the baby the first and second nights. Then we didn't see her again until the end of the week (2 days after discharge). She had no complications either and had regained the weight she lost in the hospital by the time we saw the pediatrician at the end of the week.

In so far as I have advice for first time moms, it's that in the moment, after you have your baby, you will think you will remember stuff like who visited and when and what was discussed, but realistically, you will not. Write it down. Use the "notes" app in your phone. Whatever it takes. Ditto baby stats. I used the Sprout baby app to track feeds, diapers, and sleeps from birth to 3 months. I now use it to track pumping. You think you'll remember, but you won't.

I too thought I'd have a physical exam before being discharged! I was bleeding heavily and in pain, so I kinda wanted someone to look at me. I've been told since that they don't do physical exams after birth. Next time anyone looked at me was 6 weeks later!

NP. I was examined briefly by a nurse before being discharged (this was at Sibley). I also had multiple visits from my OB. I didn't have a pediatrician visit until I was discharged and took the baby in for his 3 day checkup, but there were no complications. I assume I would have had access to medical help for him in the hospital had the need arisen. This is all anecdotal, of course - I fully agree that overall our prenatal and postnatal care in the U.S. Is shamefully lacking (this is backed up by lots of data).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth last year and I don't remember a doctor ever seeing me or talking to me once I moved into postpartum. A pediatrician came for the baby.

I'm the OP. I had my baby in July. The doctor who delivered her came by twice. Baby was born at 8:30pm, and doctor stopped by at 8:30am the following day before going home to see how the night had been. He also came by the following morning to give me my discharge instructions (stitches will fall out/dissolve on their own, use the peri bottle, take Colace, stay hydrated, don't have sex until 6 weeks, etc.). He did not actually do a physical exam either of the times he visited, which I thought was weird. I had no complications so was not worried about it. Pediatrician visited the baby the first and second nights. Then we didn't see her again until the end of the week (2 days after discharge). She had no complications either and had regained the weight she lost in the hospital by the time we saw the pediatrician at the end of the week.

In so far as I have advice for first time moms, it's that in the moment, after you have your baby, you will think you will remember stuff like who visited and when and what was discussed, but realistically, you will not. Write it down. Use the "notes" app in your phone. Whatever it takes. Ditto baby stats. I used the Sprout baby app to track feeds, diapers, and sleeps from birth to 3 months. I now use it to track pumping. You think you'll remember, but you won't.

I too thought I'd have a physical exam before being discharged! I was bleeding heavily and in pain, so I kinda wanted someone to look at me. I've been told since that they don't do physical exams after birth. Next time anyone looked at me was 6 weeks later!

That is crazy. I gave birth at VHC with Arlington Women's Center. The nurses looked at my stitches (I guess? They looked between my legs anyway) a couple times and felt my uterus a few times. An OB stopped in twice during my hospital stay and took a quick look at me. Then I had a pelvic exam at 6 weeks. This was all after a completely typical vaginal birth, minor tear.

Same here and no one even did a pelvic exam at my 6 week appointment!

[Anonymous]

Damn, where are you delivering your babies? I had my vitals taken regularly and had both doctors and nurses palpate my uterus and check discharge (both asking about volume and looking at pad after palpating) a few times postpartum in the hospital. I also had a pelvic exam at my 6 week appointment with time to ask about any concerns. My delivery was very smooth and routine.

The pediatrician saw my baby very regularly, particularly because he was sent down to the special care nursery to go under the lights within 24 hrs of birth. He received great care and we didn't have any additional complications.

I delivered at Sibley and would recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Damn, where are you delivering your babies? I had my vitals taken regularly and had both doctors and nurses palpate my uterus and check discharge (both asking about volume and looking at pad after palpating) a few times postpartum in the hospital. I also had a pelvic exam at my 6 week appointment with time to ask about any concerns. My delivery was very smooth and routine.

The pediatrician saw my baby very regularly, particularly because he was sent down to the special care nursery to go under the lights within 24 hrs of birth. He received great care and we didn't have any additional complications.

I delivered at Sibley and would recommend.

OP here.

I delivered at Sibley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Damn, where are you delivering your babies? I had my vitals taken regularly and had both doctors and nurses palpate my uterus and check discharge (both asking about volume and looking at pad after palpating) a few times postpartum in the hospital. I also had a pelvic exam at my 6 week appointment with time to ask about any concerns. My delivery was very smooth and routine.

The pediatrician saw my baby very regularly, particularly because he was sent down to the special care nursery to go under the lights within 24 hrs of birth. He received great care and we didn't have any additional complications.

I delivered at Sibley and would recommend.

OP here.

I delivered at Sibley.

I delivered at Reston.

[Anonymous]

so as an upcoming FTM, what would be the advice? to be vocal and say I want you to check me down there and take my bp? would we be met with resistance?

[Anonymous]

I'm an AA woman and the articles from ProPublica, NPR and now this one involving Serena Williams have terrified me! I have two children; one was born when I was Active Duty in the military, the other born at non-military hospital. I am so incredibly thankful that I got great care, both in the military and as a civilian. After the birth of my second child, I remember multiple check ins from the doctor that delivered my baby and the nurses employed there.

My sister in law is pregnant with her first and I was so alarmed by the articles that I read that I spoke with my brother and my mother and made them promise that they would help advocate for her after my nephew is born.

I briefly considered the possibility of having one more child....not anymore. Seems far too risky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so as an upcoming FTM, what would be the advice? to be vocal and say I want you to check me down there and take my bp? would we be met with resistance?

Go read Advice from mothers who almost died: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/659821.page

I would also educate your husband. I was so out of it after birth and didn't know what was normal and not, DH was way more with it and he's the one who could advocate for both of us. Grandparents only cared about the baby and didn't even want to see me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so as an upcoming FTM, what would be the advice? to be vocal and say I want you to check me down there and take my bp? would we be met with resistance?

I would say that you ensure that you have an open dialog with your OB/GYN; share these articles with him/her and ask them what their policies are (and the policies of whatever hospital you are delivering at) regarding postpartum care. Share your concerns with them. Let your partner know too so he/she can advocate for you as well.

[Anonymous]

My first thought when I read Serena Williams' experience was "how many women has that team hurt or killed because they didn't take them seriously."

[Anonymous]

My OB examined me before discharge at Sibley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth last year and I don't remember a doctor ever seeing me or talking to me once I moved into postpartum. A pediatrician came for the baby.

There's no way you were discharged without a doctor or at least a CNM clearing you. A nurse cannot make the decision to discharge a patient. That said, for both my pregnancies I only saw an actual doctor for me once post-partum, and for that reason.

[Anonymous]

I just read her story. I was on lovenox due to a genetic blood clotting disorder. Never had a DVT or PE but also live in fear of this. I am wondering if anyone knows if it is customary not to go back on blood thinners after a cesarean? I was back on lovenox within 12 hours of giving birth and stayed on it for 6 weeks, but did not have surgery. I guess I thought that was standard, but maybe I just had a good MFM and OB who followed those recommendations.

[Anonymous]

DD was delivered at Inova Loudoun. I was examined repeatedly by both post-partum nurses and CNMs (initially by the CNM that handled delivery, then later 2 exams by the CNM on-call). They palpated the uterus, checked blood/discharge levels, discussed post-partum symptoms, etc. Nurses checked blood pressure every few hours and drew blood every few hours for the first 24 hours post-delivery (PROM, and I think they were monitoring for signs of infection with the bloodwork). We received excellent care. Reading some of these stories, I'm very thankful I had no complications. I didn't realize just how prevalent these issues are, even in this area.