Care Situation

I met with a midwife today. I believe she is the only one practicing here in Torreon. She also gives natural childbirth classes. It was a good meeting.

I feel that she is coming from the same place as me in terms of trusting birth and God's design for our bodies. She will attend me, but not as a midwife in the sense that I understand midwifery, because there will also be a doctor there whose role will be the second stage (when the baby emerges).

That said, I haven't met the doctor she recommended yet, so maybe- hopefully- I can have a great, trusting relationship with him! She said that he is fairly sensitive and open. I will make an appointment with him in the next couple of weeks.

I have met the other OB she works with and had a pretty good impression of him. I know a woman who had two babies with him and was delighted with both births. But Lucia also told me a story which disturbed me. At one birth the nurse had forgotten to put the scissors on the instrument tray. And he felt like it was so important to cut the cord quickly that he tore it with his fingers! Eww. He is interested in natural birth but doesn't appear to really believe in it. Perhaps he sees it more as a novelty. Or another angle for getting patients? This despite the fact that Lucia said he has attended some wonderful natural births with her.

We talked about my options for the location of the birth and they seem to be pretty open. She recommended a number of hospitals, including one in which we could have a water birth. I will definitely investigate that option further as I think it can be an opportunity to have a very gentle birth for the mother, and for gentle transition for the baby. It also allows the mother to move around more easily than on dry land and therefore help the baby to move through the pelvis more easily. And of course it is a wonderful comfort measure to many moms.

I would also like to look into the option of home birth. I have some interest in that though I'm not married to the idea either. All the ducks would really have to be in a row for it to be the right choice, I think.

I have so many questions for the OB I choose. I pray he is receptive to my wishes. I am however prepared for some uphill battles. Praying that I can be convincing about those things with which he doesn't agree initially!

Lucia gave me some homemade- from her own trees- orange blossom tea to help me sleep better. I am having a cup right now. We'll see how it goes! Last night went slightly better. I brought an extra pillow to bed and propped my legs up on it and that gave me a bit of relief from the restless feelings I've been having.

I'm feeling pretty tired these last days, but it could be the poor sleep that's getting to me. Having some nausea, but very minor. Overall, feeling good!