I'm a bit stressed with the Navy, but trying my best to deal. I haven't shared any of it on here because I figured I've monopolized enough space, but I'm about to burst and I just have to vent and see if maybe anyone has any suggestions.
My peri wrote for a MINIMUM of 8 weeks convelescent leave, but the military and the base "family practice doc" said they don't care and the standard in the military for c section or vaginal is 6 weeks. Nobody seems to care that #1 a C section is considered MAJOR surgery and #2, that I had 3 babies...ahhhhhhhh politics.
I'm looking at the Navy instruction right now and it states, <i>"Convalescent leave will normally be for 42 days after discharge from the MTF following any <u><b>uncomplicated </b></u>delivery. The attending physician may recommend extension of convelescent leave beyond the standard 42 days based on the servicewoman's clinical circumstances". </i> My doc said I had a complicated delivery. Nothing complicated happened to me (no bleeding out, no blood transfusion...), but that a C section is considered a complicated delivery, add triplets and it was very complicated and my road to recovery will be a bit longer than the average. They still don't care.
So they want me back in 6 weeks from the date I was discharged. That means I'll have about 2.5 weeks home with the last baby before I go back to work. What great bonding that will be.
Also, I don't think I'll be recovered enough for the demands that my job puts on me, 10-12 hour days 5 days a week and 1-2 saturdays a month of 5 hours, lots of running around and being on my feet almost all day... I am a very energetic outgoing person, but I just don't see me being that way after 6 weeks. And not that 8 weeks is the "magic number" either, but at least it gives a bit more recovery time.
My peri is floored, but doesn't know what to do. She is fearful that I will have a very long drawn out recovery after I go back to work simply because of my work environment/demands and she is very concerned about PPD as well. She says that an unsupportive work environment contributes to that, of which mine is VERY unsupportive. I'm not too concerned about PPD, but I am watching myself careful because I do have some emotional ups and downs and some afternoons where I just don't feel like myself. Hard to differentiate between PPD and normal post delivery hormones, but all these things combined have me wanting to take as much time from work to heal, emotionally and physically as I can.
Mark is in the process of looking for a job, he's applied to WSP, the Snohomish county sheriffs office, Dept. of defense (a few jobs there), and some local companies that have international offices (He really wants to travel if possible for his job and I support that), although he will not have his degree (business administration/Mgmt. operations) until December. The plan is that IF he gets a job where the benefits are comprable to what we are recieving now, I will put in a hardship discharge. I wanted to complete my contract, but just can't see that happening with the treatment I'm already recieving and am not even back to work. I mean, they made me drive to the base (1hr drive) two days after I was discharged from the hospital to "fill out" paperwork for leave. They wouldn't let me fax it in, or come in the following day. NOOOO I had to call my mom home from work to get a ride up there because I was on narcotics and 6 days post C section. I told them I had no way to get there and with no prior notice, couldn't. They told me if I didn't I'd be seeing the captain for disobeying an order. OMG, what have I done wrong to these people???
Some of you may remember the problems I had with this same command telling me I couldn't do IVF to get pregnant, that they wouldn't authorize the procedures. WTF is wrong with these people!!!?!?!?!?!!?????? I mean, it ended up happening anyways but it was a long drawn out month or so.
I guess I'm just venting, unless someone has suggestions, ideas, knows a military form my doctor can fill out.........
Tristan Declan 4.3
Cassandra Madison 4.7
Ryland Markus 4.2
9/5/2006 32w4d
My peri wrote for a MINIMUM of 8 weeks convelescent leave, but the military and the base "family practice doc" said they don't care and the standard in the military for c section or vaginal is 6 weeks. Nobody seems to care that #1 a C section is considered MAJOR surgery and #2, that I had 3 babies...ahhhhhhhh politics.
I'm looking at the Navy instruction right now and it states, <i>"Convalescent leave will normally be for 42 days after discharge from the MTF following any <u><b>uncomplicated </b></u>delivery. The attending physician may recommend extension of convelescent leave beyond the standard 42 days based on the servicewoman's clinical circumstances". </i> My doc said I had a complicated delivery. Nothing complicated happened to me (no bleeding out, no blood transfusion...), but that a C section is considered a complicated delivery, add triplets and it was very complicated and my road to recovery will be a bit longer than the average. They still don't care.
So they want me back in 6 weeks from the date I was discharged. That means I'll have about 2.5 weeks home with the last baby before I go back to work. What great bonding that will be.
Also, I don't think I'll be recovered enough for the demands that my job puts on me, 10-12 hour days 5 days a week and 1-2 saturdays a month of 5 hours, lots of running around and being on my feet almost all day... I am a very energetic outgoing person, but I just don't see me being that way after 6 weeks. And not that 8 weeks is the "magic number" either, but at least it gives a bit more recovery time.
My peri is floored, but doesn't know what to do. She is fearful that I will have a very long drawn out recovery after I go back to work simply because of my work environment/demands and she is very concerned about PPD as well. She says that an unsupportive work environment contributes to that, of which mine is VERY unsupportive. I'm not too concerned about PPD, but I am watching myself careful because I do have some emotional ups and downs and some afternoons where I just don't feel like myself. Hard to differentiate between PPD and normal post delivery hormones, but all these things combined have me wanting to take as much time from work to heal, emotionally and physically as I can.
Mark is in the process of looking for a job, he's applied to WSP, the Snohomish county sheriffs office, Dept. of defense (a few jobs there), and some local companies that have international offices (He really wants to travel if possible for his job and I support that), although he will not have his degree (business administration/Mgmt. operations) until December. The plan is that IF he gets a job where the benefits are comprable to what we are recieving now, I will put in a hardship discharge. I wanted to complete my contract, but just can't see that happening with the treatment I'm already recieving and am not even back to work. I mean, they made me drive to the base (1hr drive) two days after I was discharged from the hospital to "fill out" paperwork for leave. They wouldn't let me fax it in, or come in the following day. NOOOO I had to call my mom home from work to get a ride up there because I was on narcotics and 6 days post C section. I told them I had no way to get there and with no prior notice, couldn't. They told me if I didn't I'd be seeing the captain for disobeying an order. OMG, what have I done wrong to these people???
Some of you may remember the problems I had with this same command telling me I couldn't do IVF to get pregnant, that they wouldn't authorize the procedures. WTF is wrong with these people!!!?!?!?!?!!?????? I mean, it ended up happening anyways but it was a long drawn out month or so.
I guess I'm just venting, unless someone has suggestions, ideas, knows a military form my doctor can fill out.........
Tristan Declan 4.3
Cassandra Madison 4.7
Ryland Markus 4.2
9/5/2006 32w4d