Pre-E questions....anyone have experience?

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[Post New]10/01/2013 12:04
quote
Anonymous
jindc wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Have them give you a 2nd bucket, just in case.


LOL ok, I will.
how gross.

also, I'm not going to get an epidural unless it is required. If it's only an induction, which at this point isn't planned yet, and I don't need magnesium, I'll be able to walk around - this is what I hope for.


I think setting yourself rigid rules like "I am not going to get an epidural" is too much pressure. You don't know how you will feel in the moment, and there is no failure in childbirth! I agree that you are overthinking things and the chance of needing magnesium is slim. (And I am the poster who was saying your BP is still reasonable to keep an eye on!) yes you should be informed, but you should not drive yourself crazy trying to figure out exactly what is going to happen.

Do you have a doula? I think that might be helpful for you.

BTW the telemetry monitors they have at GW are wireless and I think waterproof so you can still walk around. Be sure to keep that in mind.
[Post New]10/01/2013 12:18
quote
Anonymous
I wouldn't say she's overthinking it so much as she is pushing back on and gathering as much information (information is power!) about a course of action her doctor is pushing, as if her getting pre-E diagnosis is fait accompli and not a relatively unlikely scenario given her general health and the fact that her BP has been only MILDLY elevated at most, and it has stayed at consistent levels rather than climbing towards the end, thoughout her pregnancy (If I'm reading correctly). She seems to be reacting to a legitimate ham-handed diagnosis and suggested plan of attack from her doctors by gathering all of her information, which I personally think is prudent. The magnesium worries may be getting ahead of herself but I can see my head going there, too. ONce your doctor who you've been seeing says something like "well, you're probably going to get pre-E, and if you do, we'll induce" who can blame you for researching and vetting your concerns about induction?

As far as not getting an epi unless it is required, I don't read setting up for failure in that. I just think giving birth without drugs generally appeals to determined people, and OP is determined to do it that way if she can, recognizing her circumstances might dictate a change from the plan. This is how I felt about my own first birth, and although I would not have ruled out an epidural under circumstances, I also believed in my body and my ability to cope without drugs. Had drugs been necessary (to bring down my BP, to give me rest after a long labor, and if were prevented from using other pain management techniques for genuine safety reasons, like moving around, etc) then yep, I would have gotten an epidural without a single regret. So there's no real need to counsel women out of feeling determined about what they want in childbirth. We all know that life throws curveballs, we all adapt. there's a difference between being rigid and being determined, IMHO.


[Post New]10/01/2013 12:24
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say she's overthinking it so much as she is pushing back on and gathering as much information (information is power!) about a course of action her doctor is pushing, as if her getting pre-E diagnosis is fait accompli and not a relatively unlikely scenario given her general health and the fact that her BP has been only MILDLY elevated at most, and it has stayed at consistent levels rather than climbing towards the end, thoughout her pregnancy (If I'm reading correctly). She seems to be reacting to a legitimate ham-handed diagnosis and suggested plan of attack from her doctors by gathering all of her information, which I personally think is prudent. The magnesium worries may be getting ahead of herself but I can see my head going there, too. ONce your doctor who you've been seeing says something like "well, you're probably going to get prme-E, and if you do, we'll induce" who can blame you for researching and vetting your concerns about induction?

As far as not getting an epi unless it is required, I don't read setting up for failure in that. I just think giving birth without drugs generally appeals to determined people, and OP is determined to do it that way if she can, recognizing her circumstances might dictate a change from the plan. This is how I felt about my own first birth, and although I would not have ruled out an epidural under circumstances, I also believed in my body and my ability to cope without drugs. Had drugs been necessary (to bring down my BP, to give me rest after a long labor, and if were prevented from using other pain management techniques for genuine safety reasons, like moving around, etc) then yep, I would have gotten an epidural without a single regret. So there's no real need to counsel women out of feeling determined about what they want in childbirth. We all know that life throws curveballs, we all adapt. there's a difference between being rigid and being determined, IMHO.




Yeah right, those of us who get epidurals are just not determined enough?

There was a mom on DCUM who posted a while back about how she believes her "determination" to avoid induction at all costs lead to her child's brain damage. She may or may not be correct about causation. But what seems clear is that some women are not so much determined about it, but have a sort of phobia or superstitious belief about interventions that really does not serve them well.
[Post New]10/01/2013 12:30
quote
Anonymous
I think saying "I won't get an epidural unless it's required" is a little preemptive. Maybe "I do not plan on an epidural" or "I hope not to get one"? I made a lot of silly declarations based on feelings and things I had read before I went into labor. Lot of that goes out the window once you're experiencing it. I've learned with labor, there's very few absolutes and the more room you leave yourself to be flexible, the better.
[Post New]10/01/2013 12:35
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say she's overthinking it so much as she is pushing back on and gathering as much information (information is power!) about a course of action her doctor is pushing, as if her getting pre-E diagnosis is fait accompli and not a relatively unlikely scenario given her general health and the fact that her BP has been only MILDLY elevated at most, and it has stayed at consistent levels rather than climbing towards the end, thoughout her pregnancy (If I'm reading correctly). She seems to be reacting to a legitimate ham-handed diagnosis and suggested plan of attack from her doctors by gathering all of her information, which I personally think is prudent. The magnesium worries may be getting ahead of herself but I can see my head going there, too. ONce your doctor who you've been seeing says something like "well, you're probably going to get prme-E, and if you do, we'll induce" who can blame you for researching and vetting your concerns about induction?

As far as not getting an epi unless it is required, I don't read setting up for failure in that. I just think giving birth without drugs generally appeals to determined people, and OP is determined to do it that way if she can, recognizing her circumstances might dictate a change from the plan. This is how I felt about my own first birth, and although I would not have ruled out an epidural under circumstances, I also believed in my body and my ability to cope without drugs. Had drugs been necessary (to bring down my BP, to give me rest after a long labor, and if were prevented from using other pain management techniques for genuine safety reasons, like moving around, etc) then yep, I would have gotten an epidural without a single regret. So there's no real need to counsel women out of feeling determined about what they want in childbirth. We all know that life throws curveballs, we all adapt. there's a difference between being rigid and being determined, IMHO.




Yeah right, those of us who get epidurals are just not determined enough?

There was a mom on DCUM who posted a while back about how she believes her "determination" to avoid induction at all costs lead to her child's brain damage. She may or may not be correct about causation. But what seems clear is that some women are not so much determined about it, but have a sort of phobia or superstitious belief about interventions that really does not serve them well.


Why so defensive? You are inventing an argument here where this is not one. I never said nor would I say that women who do get epidurals are not sufficiently determined. We all have different perspectives here, and nobody's feelings or decisions are invalid.

On the other hand, some women seem to lump all of us who ARE determined to forego pharmaceutical pain relief in one lump category of "crazies" after nothing more than some sort of meta "experience," as if there can't be genuine and real reasons that a woman might choose or aim for different things than you or others did? Likening the decision to avoid pain medication if possible to voodoo or a phobia is just silly and completely simplistic / reductionist. Case in point, see your above, absolutely irrelevant story about brain damage. There is no call for comparing someone who is genuinely seeking evidence-based care and asking questions about her care (who has clearly said all along she'll HAVE the induction if it is best for baby) and is seeking to have a minimum of interventions otherwise to someone who you characterize as "determined to avoid induction at all costs." Who has described such a scenario here? Not me, and by my read, not OP.

I'm NOT going to keep hashing out the issue of "to have an epidural or not" with you here, you can start your own thread if you want that fight and I'm sure you can poke the mommy war beast into a 10 page response. But I wanted to go on record to say your comparison is unfair and highly inaccurate in terms of capturing how I and many people like me approach the issue of interventions. Seeking evidence-based care, and forgoing pain meds is NOT voodoo or crazy stuff. It's a legitimate choice, and it has NO bearing on your choice. really, it's not all about you.
[Post New]10/01/2013 12:53
quote
jindc
Member Offline
Yes, I apologize - I do not have plans for an epidural. We have spent months planning on going without by choice because I want to move around and for other personal reasons - this is an ivf pregnancy and because of that, I feel like the conception was so artificial I want to birth to be a natural counter to that. This is my choice, I really don't have any problems with what others do. And I realize 110% that interventions are necessary (see comment about how my mom's stillbirth experience has shaped my view of pregnancy). We are very realistic I am just trying to arm myself with knowledge so I am not coerced into something that is unnecessary or possibly based on bias. I obviously take this seriously as I reached out and am headed in a bit for lab work and to get my pee jug.

So, I had planned on no epidural. I apologize if I sound rigid. I am so not.
[Post New]10/01/2013 13:02
quote
Anonymous
Word salad
[Post New]10/01/2013 13:35
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Anonymous
Hang in there, J! I agree with Pumpkin that this particular OB seems to have it in for you, and it sounds like you're handling things well. Good luck with the 24 hour urine (fun times).

From everything you've said, you've prepared well for an unmedicated L&D, and if things change at the time, so be it. You'll cross that bridge if/when you come to it. Take good care.

-Poppy
[Post New]10/01/2013 13:57
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Anonymous
How high were your two BP spikes? Sorry if I missed that.
[Post New]10/01/2013 14:49
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Anonymous
I think you need to see another doctor for a second opinion.
[Post New]10/01/2013 17:30
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jindc
Member Offline
I've got my pee jug!

My only high BP spike was low 140s over low 80s (I forget the number but I remember her saying if the lower number was 90 or above then we would need to worry). I haven't been over 140/90 since.

But I've got the pee jug and should have blood test results hopefully by my Thursday appointment!

Thanks everyone for the advice and info about their experiences. It has been helpful and reassuring. I am looking forward to seeing a different doctor Thursday just to talk it out with someone new.

Ps: I always feel bad for pee processors!
[Post New]10/01/2013 18:17
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I also had mag and my baby was in the NICU. During the 24 hours of post-birth mag (which they shorted to 18 hours since my labs looked so much better), the nurses did bring me, in an oversized wheelchair with the mag drip and catheter, to the NICU for a brief visit with baby. I was so out-of-it from the pre-e and mag that that was all I could manage. But I was not prevented from seeing him.


Pp here who couldn't see the baby for 20 hours. Where was this? I'm gathering up "it's not done this everywhere" evidence to steel
Me for my complaint letter to Inova Fairfax.
[Post New]10/01/2013 20:58
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also had mag and my baby was in the NICU. During the 24 hours of post-birth mag (which they shorted to 18 hours since my labs looked so much better), the nurses did bring me, in an oversized wheelchair with the mag drip and catheter, to the NICU for a brief visit with baby. I was so out-of-it from the pre-e and mag that that was all I could manage. But I was not prevented from seeing him.


Pp here who couldn't see the baby for 20 hours. Where was this? I'm gathering up "it's not done this everywhere" evidence to steel
Me for my complaint letter to Inova Fairfax.


I'm not the pp, but I gave birth at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. C/S on mag at 29w. I was very sick and it was a very rough surgery-5hrs in surgery and recovery, and of course I had general ans. I was taken up to see my daughter 8hrs after I got out of recovery (still on mag, in a wheelchair and catheter like the other poster). My nurses said that the time it takes to get a mom up to the NICU depends on the mom's condition, but also on staffing. At least at Mercy a mom on mag had to have an L&D nurse with her the whole time she was in the NICU, and if things were really crazy on L&Dthat might not happen.
[Post New]10/01/2013 21:46
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also had mag and my baby was in the NICU. During the 24 hours of post-birth mag (which they shorted to 18 hours since my labs looked so much better), the nurses did bring me, in an oversized wheelchair with the mag drip and catheter, to the NICU for a brief visit with baby. I was so out-of-it from the pre-e and mag that that was all I could manage. But I was not prevented from seeing him.


Pp here who couldn't see the baby for 20 hours. Where was this? I'm gathering up "it's not done this everywhere" evidence to steel
Me for my complaint letter to Inova Fairfax.


10:44 here -- this was at GW. Baby was born at 34 weeks and is doing fine now at 8 months.

Also, I didn't start pumping until I was off the mag (probably at least 24 hours after birth), and I assume at some point he had bottles of formula, but mostly he had bottles of colostrum then BM. When he came home from the hospital, he has been EBF since then. The delay in pumping, his having bottles (and for a while he had a g-tube) in the NICU, did not adversely impact my milk supply or our nursing relationship.
[Post New]10/01/2013 21:50
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I also had mag and my baby was in the NICU. During the 24 hours of post-birth mag (which they shorted to 18 hours since my labs looked so much better), the nurses did bring me, in an oversized wheelchair with the mag drip and catheter, to the NICU for a brief visit with baby. I was so out-of-it from the pre-e and mag that that was all I could manage. But I was not prevented from seeing him.


Pp here who couldn't see the baby for 20 hours. Where was this? I'm gathering up "it's not done this everywhere" evidence to steel
Me for my complaint letter to Inova Fairfax.


I seem to recall you have posted your story multiple times on this board. Have you ever had a conversation with the Head Nurse or someone in patient relations at Inova? As another posted stated, there very well could have been either a medical reason or a L&D staffing issue that caused your situation. I only say this, because clearly you are still processing it, and I think you would feel better if you had more information, rather than just writing a letter. I can tell you that I had a complicated delivery at Fairfax, my baby was in NICU, and I was not prevented from going to be with her, although I was stabilized pretty quickly and it was dead in L&D.
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