Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Can't people just get it already???

I'm annoyed. I'll warn you now this a whining post about the potential 'birth' of this baby. So feel free to look away and I'll understand.
I saw my OB today and he told me that the two dates I had chosen last time were not available when they called. The OR's were booked. So they rescheduled, without asking me, for the following Friday. There are many reasons why this is bothering me. One, I don't want to deliver on a Friday because that means I will spend the weekend in the hospital. What this means at my hospital, is that it will be crowded, loud, noisy and the nurses will be understaffed and over busy. This is the best hospital in the area. It has a Children's Hospital attached. It has everything you want as a high risk OB patient both for my care and for any potential complications for the baby. But it is also right in the middle of a 'not so nice' area and serves the uninsured and the indigent population that surrounds it. My experience with the Ob floor is that the nurses spend a great deal of their time chasing large families who defy the visiting rules, i.e no children, no more than 2 visitors per patient at a time etc.. off the floor. On the weekends this is many, many times worse. Many of these families bring sickly kids, lots of them and then have them running around on the floor, "just for a few minutes" while so and so says hi, blah blah blah. It's loud, it's annoying and I don't want to deal with it. It boils down to any needs of mine or any other patient coming second to having to ask for the nurses to first act as sheriff and then, please bring me my baby. Preferably down a hallway that isn't littered with kids and germs and strangers. Also, if you do the math, that Friday happens to be the Friday before Thanksgiving. Which isn't that big of a deal but it does mean that I'll be released the Monday before and will be the most neediest the week of Thanksgiving, not so great when your husband is in the Hotel industry. Finally, pushing the delivery back to that Friday, puts me at almost 40 weeks. I DID NOT want to go that far. I wanted the baby out at 38 weeks. My doc says that isn't the "current medical standard" for scheduled c-sections. So he offered up the early dates that I went with last time, which were a Monday and Tuesday. Now I am Friday. And I am pissed. Shouldn't I be at the front of the line? Shouldn't they have pushed me in, for Christs sake, what do you have to do to get a little preferential treatment? Wasn't my baby dying enough??? Should I really have to beg for this???? I was so stunned I didn't say anything in the office because the news was followed up with the "OK, we are starting your stress testing today, twice a week and the amniotic fluid level checks. Come with me to the nurse who will schedule everything". I followed along and it wasn't until I was done scheduling all of that, that I really had time to think about the new date.
Now I have and I don't like it. Does anyone have thoughts on the 38 week 'standard'? I know I have to make a phone call, I just hate having to fight over stupid shit like this. It's hard enough for me to even wrap my head around believing my baby will be born alive much less having to battle over when that day might be.
God, I am so tired. I think the stress is getting to me and the closer I get, the more worried I have become and everything is setting me off. Why do I have to keep explaining that to everyone. Why does it seem like I am the only one this has ever happened to, otherwise wouldn't the doctors office have pushed to get me in on the dates I chose? Can't people see how hard this is? Do they not get that everyday longer is another day that this baby might die? Even if they don't see it that way, can't they at least see why I might feel like that?
Fuck. Why can't people just get it already????

12 comments:

Ya Chun said...

I would be worried about going to 40 weeks too. Hope you can get it worked out!

Aunt Becky said...

Aw, shit. Do I need to regulate for you, my friend? Because I TOTALLY will. You need more stress like I need another cheeseburger.

Sue said...

Sorry this is so freaking hard. I don't know why people can't just get it.

I think somebody (or a few somebodies) needs a punch in the throat. Where's G?

janis said...

((hugs))
I am ALREADY in high anxiety mode...

The thing is, I find, people are freakin' too busy to care. the sad reality is, we always have to fight and look out for ourselves. I know a fellow bereaved who has to remind her OB EVERYTIME about her loss, each time she goes in. How sucky is that?!

It is sick, but we will have to keep repeating and keep explaining, coz they will never get it.

My heart is with you. Go for it, mama!

CLC said...

I hope you are successful in moving it. I think every one of your points is completely valid. Especially waiting longer...
And OB should get his head out of their ass...I know 38 is the usual minimum standard, but every doctor I have talked to is willing to take my baby out at 36 weeks just to relieve my mental anxiety. They should do that for you too.

Which Box said...

Ugh, so sorry you have to deal with this. It stinks - the level to which you have to be your own advocate. You'd think the doctors would be your advocate, but for a variety of reasons they aren't. You have to fight for what works for you.

I hadn't focused on how close our timing is - I knew it was close, but not this close. I just scheduled my C for Nov 24th. Thinking of you.

Ashleigh said...

Oh boy- do I get this. I have no answer as to why people get seem to get it but know its not just you.

Sarah said...

I totally get where you're coming from. It is SO frustrating...but no, unless they've been there, they just don't get it. I'm sorry babe - hang in there!

Cara said...

FIGHT FOR THE DATE YOU WANT!!!!

I tell myself on a daily basis (regarding my Bear) "Cara, you are her best advocate!" - and that started when I faught to get her delivery INDUCED AT 38 WEEKS!

If I had fought for Emma, she would be alive, but I didn't realize I needed to .

MAKE THE CALL AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

Ange said...

I can feel your stress and I get it. "They" need to sit up and listen and essentially do WHAT YOU WANT. The obs and midwifes and carers just need to do more - us dead baby mamas need "more, bigger and better" than we have had in previous pregnancies.

charmedgirl said...

the cold hard truth is that they don't care. well, they might care, but they don't remember and if they do, they certainly don't care more than they do about pushing it on the OR scheduler, docs, etc. the upside is, you may be able to get another day if you demand it...like wednesday? does the doc have privileges at another hospital? do you want the big hosp because of your own fears or is it medically indicated? shit, good luck.

(ps- i work as an ob/gyn surgical scheduler now and i book c-secs from 38 weeks on as per both the docs.)

Rosalind said...

OH Man!! I would be pissed too .. I was upset just reading this..No body GETS it sweetheart..especially not them