wanderlost
New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LouLou</b></i>
I'll have to ask why constant fetal monitoring. I don't recall a good answer other than that it was standard practice for high risk pregnancies. If things continue to go as well as they have and my lung function doesn't decrease much, I will opt to not have high risk tracking with any add'l pregnancies. Also, I want to ask because I want to occasionally be off the monitor if I wish for such occasions as taking a shower (although I know I will likely not be allowed to if my water has broken). A part of me half expects to have a birth like your daughters Shannon....last minute. I'm going to stay home as long as possible. What are they going to do put a catheter in for peeing or is the toilet within reach of the monitor?? Ugh!
Did you all know that when they do internal monitoring of the baby they actually screw a probe into the baby's head ... WTF?? I'm going to try to opt out of that. Okay I won't get started. I've been very anti hospital this week which isn't going to help anything.
The stocking is literally like a big sock that goes from under your breasts to below your belly and the monitors are tucked under the stocking. My doula doesn't think my hospital has them but she suggested I ask in advance to put in a request in case they do have one. She described the belt option very similarly to the experience your SIL had Christian. She feels it will be unpleasant for me to have it on constantly. Also, with the alternate positions I plan for labor they darn thing might not stay on and I don't want them to lock me down on the bed just so they can get a good reading. I hope they have the sock or I might look into what one costs. The more I think about it, the more I think this will be a point of anxiety for me.</end quote></div>
Well you know me by now to know it seems I am always anti-hospital/doctor protocol - I like to dot hings my own way, which, so far, for me, has worked.
I would say you won't need constant fetal montioring - I mean, why would you? You're baby isn't at risk here, you (supposedly) are (which we know, you aren't).
I think you hiring a doula is the smartest thing. Will she come to your house when labor begins? It would be good to have someone well versed in birth to be there to help you gauge when you need to go.
Are you reading the Bradley book? I know we definitely used the emotional sign posts as a gauge - once you can no longer speak through contractions, you might need to go. I know in the book they tell of a couple who labored at home for like 5 hours, it was getting serious, the husband decides they need to go, so he bundles up the wife and as they are about to walk out the door and she laughs about something and he realizes if she can still laugh, it isn't time to go, so they stay home a few hours more and then go.
Birth is NOT an emergency! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> (well, I mean, it can be....but you know what I'm sayin')
I'll have to ask why constant fetal monitoring. I don't recall a good answer other than that it was standard practice for high risk pregnancies. If things continue to go as well as they have and my lung function doesn't decrease much, I will opt to not have high risk tracking with any add'l pregnancies. Also, I want to ask because I want to occasionally be off the monitor if I wish for such occasions as taking a shower (although I know I will likely not be allowed to if my water has broken). A part of me half expects to have a birth like your daughters Shannon....last minute. I'm going to stay home as long as possible. What are they going to do put a catheter in for peeing or is the toilet within reach of the monitor?? Ugh!
Did you all know that when they do internal monitoring of the baby they actually screw a probe into the baby's head ... WTF?? I'm going to try to opt out of that. Okay I won't get started. I've been very anti hospital this week which isn't going to help anything.
The stocking is literally like a big sock that goes from under your breasts to below your belly and the monitors are tucked under the stocking. My doula doesn't think my hospital has them but she suggested I ask in advance to put in a request in case they do have one. She described the belt option very similarly to the experience your SIL had Christian. She feels it will be unpleasant for me to have it on constantly. Also, with the alternate positions I plan for labor they darn thing might not stay on and I don't want them to lock me down on the bed just so they can get a good reading. I hope they have the sock or I might look into what one costs. The more I think about it, the more I think this will be a point of anxiety for me.</end quote></div>
Well you know me by now to know it seems I am always anti-hospital/doctor protocol - I like to dot hings my own way, which, so far, for me, has worked.
I would say you won't need constant fetal montioring - I mean, why would you? You're baby isn't at risk here, you (supposedly) are (which we know, you aren't).
I think you hiring a doula is the smartest thing. Will she come to your house when labor begins? It would be good to have someone well versed in birth to be there to help you gauge when you need to go.
Are you reading the Bradley book? I know we definitely used the emotional sign posts as a gauge - once you can no longer speak through contractions, you might need to go. I know in the book they tell of a couple who labored at home for like 5 hours, it was getting serious, the husband decides they need to go, so he bundles up the wife and as they are about to walk out the door and she laughs about something and he realizes if she can still laugh, it isn't time to go, so they stay home a few hours more and then go.
Birth is NOT an emergency! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> (well, I mean, it can be....but you know what I'm sayin')