Thankfully, God spared us from these horrible possibilities and my contractions slowed, then stopped without causing change in my cervix. Our baby was still safe within me. During this trial my second ultrasound showed us a perfectly formed, healthy baby that was just right for a baby whose due date was about 5 weeks later than originally assumed. Blood work confirmed this adjustment. So the peace I had felt was affirmed. My due date was changed from the original 9 March 2002 to 12 April 2002. As I finally got settled into the High-Risk Obstetrics practice at this hospital, I was dismayed to find a situation not much different than that from which I�d transferred. Because I was a Medicaid patient, I wasn�t allowed to see one OB regularly. Instead, I saw residents, a different one, sometimes two, at every appointment. John and I came in together to discuss the birth with a doctor. We had been taking Bradley Method birth classes and this had confirmed much of what I�d discovered in my reading since having become pregnant. We believed that my body was uniquely created to nurture life and give birth. Women have been doing this, largely successfully, for thousands of years. We believed that many of the common interventions were actually the reason for the necessity of other interventions and that, in most cases, a woman�s body left to itself, was wonderfully capable of successfully giving birth. This was much more than just a personal feeling, but a belief supported by a large body of research. When talking to the doctor, we asked what the hospital�s birth policies were if the physician�s recommended interventions conflicted with the parents� wishes. They offered no compromise at all. Even though the GTT that had sent me to the high-risk clinic had been false, they still had me labeled as high-risk. I would have no options or voice in the birth process. It would be conducted as they determined, with certain standard interventions planned from the beginning, including induction, constant electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), their prescribed birthing position (reclined on back with feet in the air), continuous IV fluid and no eating or drinking from the point of admission on. I asked if they would access my port-a-cath in case they needed it, but avoid a continuous IV drip. No. Could we have intermittent fetal monitoring so that I could be free to walk around and change positions to help my body birth? No. Would I be able to wait for my body to go into labor on its own? Not unless that day came before 12 April. Could I choose my birth position when we got to the pushing stage? No. We concluded that they planned to do the same things to �assist� a healthy, full-term labor that they had done to stop my pre-term labor! We went home very discouraged, realizing that, in this facility and most others, because of my high-risk label, inaccurate or not, our birth would not be our own. It would be determined and regulated to their specifications, regardless of what was healthiest for me and our baby. We also realized that because of that diagnosis and CF, these doctors were unable to see me as an individual. They were blinded by their own, unfounded fears, though my health had been extremely stable, even more so than my non-pregnant health. We looked at my medical charts and found everything to be in order. My pulmonary function tests (PFTs) showed my capacity was increased. After weathering a few viruses in the fall, I was well all winter (a first for me). I was gaining weight now and my vital signs were normal. The baby in my womb was growing steadily and her heart beat strong and normally, giving us fresh hope daily. She was wiggling around and making her presence known. Because of my good and stable health, we began to search out other options besides hospital birth. We had no birthing centers nearby and Medicaid would not reimburse for their services anyway, so we researched Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs). There were some in the area, but none that we could afford because, again, Medicaid would not reimburse their services. So we then began looking into the services of a direct-entry midwife (a documented (DM), licensed (LM), or certified professional (CPM)). We found that they were allowed to do less medically than CNMs because they are not trained in medicine, but in the specialized skill of caring for women throughout their childbearing years. Part of their training is in the identification of complications and issues beyond their abilities and under what circumstances a referral to appropriate medical personnel would be necessary. I scheduled an appointment with a midwife to discuss the possibility of birthing at home. We had a good rapport and shared many convictions about the process of birth and the approach to care. We spent hours poring over applicable legislation to see if CF (either in diagnosis or in my symptoms) precluded this option. We found nothing that would legally prevent a woman with CF from choosing homebirth. Nor did we find anything precluding someone with mild to moderate lung disease. There was nothing about digestive issues and because my health was stable and I had no infection or inflammation this option was available to me. With these issues out of the way, it was time to discuss reimbursement. I told her that I knew my insurance would not pay for her services and that I had little money. She informed me that many midwives barter their services. In fact, she had bartered for an addition on her house as payment for a birth! However, I had no services she needed. But I was armed with the information and confidence I needed to keep looking for a midwife who would attend the birth of my baby. |
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| So, I interviewed another midwife, Pie Kirby, CPM. She and I quickly hit it off. We worked out a barter agreement in which my husband and I would teach piano and violin lessons to her two children as payment for her services. She advised that I continue to see the hospital doctors in case of a flare-up necessitating a change of plans and I agreed. This was toward the end of February. Shortly thereafter, I developed a urinary tract infection (UTI), which is very common in pregnancy. Pie recommended an herbal and vitamin treatment. To my surprise, the UTI cleared up much more quickly than with antibiotics and with none of the usual side effects. I continued seeing the high-risk OBs at the hospital and was told all was progressing normally. I�d gained a total of 30 lbs. and was feeling well. I walked for an hour or more every afternoon and ate a healthy, balanced, high-protein diet. At the visit on my due date, the doctors began discussing induction, but I petitioned for an extra week. I am fortunate that they did not push sooner as I have found many tend to do. We went home thankful for another week to wait on my body and baby to be ready. We believed that only God knew exactly when our baby should be born. |
| The next week I went back and since I was not in labor, they began to talk again of induction. This time we made our position very clear, informing them we would not allow induction. We also informed them that we were going to have our baby at home to allow my body every advantage to birth on its own. They were angered and made many outrageous and even blatantly false statements in an effort to sway us. I was so grateful for John�s quiet strength there with me. |
| Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. John 15:13 |