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Sex in the first 20 weeks was a very nerve-racking experience. We were worried about increasing our existing risks for preterm labor, so abstained. Now, in the 3rd trimester we're working it back in, but there have been a lot of hurt feelings along the way. In hind sight, we support our decision, and are confident we'll get back on rhythm.
It's hard to feel pretty, sometimes, when your pregnant. It's even harder to separate tough decisions and stress from body image perceptions. We have to get pretty creative to remind each other of how we really feel. Maybe, we're not all dressed up, and Nobody has put on makeup, or even changed out of sweat pants. But, we still need to take a little mommy and daddy time... on a schedule. Once we get that down, maybe we'll even work on foreplay!
It's hard to feel pretty, sometimes, when your pregnant. It's even harder to separate tough decisions and stress from body image perceptions. We have to get pretty creative to remind each other of how we really feel. Maybe, we're not all dressed up, and Nobody has put on makeup, or even changed out of sweat pants. But, we still need to take a little mommy and daddy time... on a schedule. Once we get that down, maybe we'll even work on foreplay!
I heard this through the grapevine, and was mortified!
A Labor and Delivery nurse at Sibley was fired for trying to report malpractice. A young physician told a nurse to, 'keep their mouth shut,' about a situation. The nurse tried to use the reporting system to file a complaint, but they fired them before they could. Apparently, it's gone to the DC Dept. of Health. Hopefully, they'll take care of everything! I have to say, there have been A LOT of nurses that have left Sibley and had similar stories. I guess, the morale is... Sibley gets a lot of bad press in OB, and it's got a lot of merit. Try not to blame the nurses! Apparently, they can't help you as much as they'd like!
A Labor and Delivery nurse at Sibley was fired for trying to report malpractice. A young physician told a nurse to, 'keep their mouth shut,' about a situation. The nurse tried to use the reporting system to file a complaint, but they fired them before they could. Apparently, it's gone to the DC Dept. of Health. Hopefully, they'll take care of everything! I have to say, there have been A LOT of nurses that have left Sibley and had similar stories. I guess, the morale is... Sibley gets a lot of bad press in OB, and it's got a lot of merit. Try not to blame the nurses! Apparently, they can't help you as much as they'd like!
We've been REALLY pleased! Our child loves cross country running, and all of the ecological programs. I'm very impressed with her coursework. Their in all advanced placement classes, and are challenged within reason. The administration seems transparent, and the facilities are almost all new. I am very impressed with their performing arts resources. Our child really enjoys the smaller student body. Their friends at Blair are always very jealous of how intimate the environment feels at Northwood. The other kids say, "We totally feel like a number at Blair". I'm sure they're exaggerating, but it's an interesting asset to hold onto for 'Northweed.'
What is the grade like around your houses perimeter? You can really save your self some money by re-grading around your foundation. Water finds the path of least resistance. A little encouragement can redirect a river.
Lemme know if you think grading the terrain could work!
Lemme know if you think grading the terrain could work!
Dear Moms, Dads, Families, and Friends,
As a bachelors prepared perinatal nurse, I have had the most significant impact on my patients by arming them with education and advocating for their holistic care. The hospital environment, at times, limits my capabilities to reach enough families. I open this forum to you so that I can help, when we're not in the hospital together.
I look forward to discussing any topics you desire. I can offer evidenced based information, and recommendations. For legal purposes, I must disclaim, that any communications are not to replace formal evaluation, assessment, diagnosis, referral, or other recommendation related to seeking and/or receiving care. My presence here is not endorsed by any institution or medical affiliation.
I will enthusiastically respond to forum posts, personal messages (PMs), or direct emails to district.rn@gmail.com.
Your friend,
OB Nurse
As a bachelors prepared perinatal nurse, I have had the most significant impact on my patients by arming them with education and advocating for their holistic care. The hospital environment, at times, limits my capabilities to reach enough families. I open this forum to you so that I can help, when we're not in the hospital together.
I look forward to discussing any topics you desire. I can offer evidenced based information, and recommendations. For legal purposes, I must disclaim, that any communications are not to replace formal evaluation, assessment, diagnosis, referral, or other recommendation related to seeking and/or receiving care. My presence here is not endorsed by any institution or medical affiliation.
I will enthusiastically respond to forum posts, personal messages (PMs), or direct emails to district.rn@gmail.com.
Your friend,
OB Nurse
Anonymous wrote:I'm 5 and a half months pregnant with my first baby and hadn't really thought much about my "birth plan", except that an epidural seems very common and sounded pretty good to me to help with the pain. Now that I'm through the first trimester and enjoying the second (I'm thrilled and relieved that the baby is doing very well so far and I have no complications) I'm realizing that its really time to start thinking about the birth plan. Still, I just figured an epidural was the way to go because so many people I know had one and it's kind of the norm. Then, the other day, I was searching for something to watch on Netflix and came across the documentary called "The Business of Being Born". It really opened my eyes to the controversy surrounding the high rate of medicated births and c-sections in America - that perhaps women are scared into believing that they're not strong enough to give birth and that medical intervention is necessary and normal. Now I'm really torn with what to do. I like my doctor and it's scary to think about seeing someone else midway through my pregnancy. But I really like the idea of having a natural birth and I'm a little afraid I'll be pressured into getting pitocin to speed up my labor at the hospital. Also, I loved that the natural births at birthing centers or homes could be done by moving around and getting into different positions, or laboring in water to ease the pain. However, if something goes wrong, I would want to be in a hospital where they could help me. With my doctor, I would be giving birth at Sibley Hospital. So here's my questions:
1) Does anyone know how receptive Sibley is to natural births?
2) Do they let you walk around to get through the contractions, and change positions?
3) Do they allow midwives to attend the birth if you'd like that kind of support?
Also does anyone know of a place that combines hospital and midwives? Where someone who is unsure and afraid could start out the natural way, but be able to be in a hospital setting or at least very close by if you needed that care? I haven't asked my doctor anything yet about my looking into natural birth, but that'll be the next step.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
To build on the great advice from other members, when you actually 'go in' is the greatest predictor of success in achieving natural childbirth in a hospital environment. A good doula will come and help you labor at home, and can hopefully offer cervical assessment for evaluating your progress (although this courtesy is not a practice standard). She or He will know what things you need to go in for sooner, such as meconium stained amniotic fluid, treatment of GBS if your water has broken, bleeding, or if the baby isn't active.
The second you get to a hospital, they put your progress on a clock. This is the ever dreaded, 'curve.' Natural labor very rarely follows the 'curve', and is eternally misdiagnosed as being dysfunctional just because it isn't efficient.
If you want a natural child birth, your best success will be facilitated by laboring safely at home and presenting to the hospital at, like, 8cm.
Anonymous wrote:I am totally shocked to read about Birnkrant! I am on my second pregnancy with him and LOVE him! Like most solos, he doesn't take insurance. But his insurance person is awesome and submits and argues and does everything for you to get you reimbursed.
Funny in reading about DeSouza - I would explain Birnkrant the same way. A little odd, not super warm and fuzzy, which might be a turn off at first (i.e. - he doesn't usually get my sarcastic comments). But he is an awesome doctor - I had a threatened miscarriage in my first pregnancy and he was great, seeing me weekly and giving me weekly ultrasounds until we were out of the woods. He also suggested progesterone supplementation, which not all OBs would consider. I also had quite a few post-partum issues and had to see him several time before the standard 6 week PP follow-up visit. I was never charged for any of these. The difference between seeing a solo and a huge factory practice are obvious and covered extensively elsewhere so I won't go into the general advantage of that.
I'm not sure why the nurse on here would say that these docs wouldn't be able to care for pre-term complications. Birnkrant has priveleges at both GW and Sibley and allows you to choose where to deliver so if you had major pre-term issues, you would obviously go to GW and be cared for there.
I have to admit, I didn't realize Birnkrant had privleges at GW. That certainly accentuates his potential! The birthing center there is inspiring. The main OB unit is a teaching environment, though. While many people enjoy the care of resident physicians, it can be less satisfying for some. While Sibley is not a teaching hospital, they have limited resources for anything other than low risk care. IVF doesn't always transition to high-risk factors, and early pregnancy has lots of good indicators for what may come.
How has it been going so far, post initiator?
Anonymous wrote:anyone else have this or have a recommendation? I constantly feel like I have a bad taste in my mouth, no matter what I eat or how many times I brush my teeth. never had this issue before, but have noticed it a lot over the last week (I'm 7 weeks pregnant). it's just a gross taste, hard to describe. I am brushing my teeth all the time and it doesn't help. thanks! weird, I know!
The raging increase in Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) in early pregnancy causes all kinds of wild side effects related to metabolism. This hormone is very similar to thyroid stimulating hormone, and your body gears up it's digestion. This is why, as many other members have said, the 'penny taste' will go away. This hormonal surge tapers off and is balanced by other hormones that will change over the months to come.
There is a LONG list of things you can do. Many excellent recommendations have already made within this post. Some additional resources you may want to use are:
-Antacids: Tums are great, and have something your body needs anyway
Over the counter Pepcid, Zantac, or even Maalox can help re-balance the works. They are of no risk to pregnancy, but prolonged use can precipitate heartburn, ironically. This
would happen when you stop taking them, and will resolve with abstinence.
-Vitamins: Prenatal Vitamins are loaded with the same nutrients and elements that are in, well, metal. This directly contributes to your sensation of 'penny sucking' as the components that
are circulating in your blood stream are perceived by your taste buds. Especially early in pregnancy as the folate is too valuable to your baby in the 1st trimester for most
people to get enough without vitamin supplementation. That said, if you were committed to good diet decisions, you can get enough of the 'pregnancy nutrients' from food,
alone. This would probably have the greatest impact on reducing your bad-taste-ed-ness, but would require the greatest discipline. That said, the advantages to your
body would be signifacant. Decreased hunger, nausea, constipation, and many other things including less metal taste in your mouth.
Anonymous wrote:I'm in the very fortunate position of switching from my RE to an OB, and I'm hoping for some input. My RE gave me these names: Alan Birnkrant; Janet Schaffel; Russel Bridges. Does anyone have experience with these OBs? Any of them particularly receptive to extra questions/worries/emails? I'm coming off a long TTC process with multiple IVF attempts, so entering this phase gingerly. Thanks.
As a Labor and Delivery Nurse who has worked with the OB's you've mentioned, and most others in the DC area at regional centers, I have advice. Key to my guidance, though, is some more background about your pregnancy. All OBs are not as skilled in dealing with variant needs. I wouldn't refer you any of those practitioners if you are high risk, as they wont be able to care for any pre-term complications. You mentioned your TTC process, and your success with IVF. Congratulations, by the way! How many weeks are you? If you'd like more guidance, please feel free to continue to use this forum string, PM, or email me directly at district.rn@gmail.com.
Your friend, and Nurse.