Hello hello - I'm still here (waves at Jessysmummy) and I haven't popped. I've just had some awful appointments with consultants, which have stressed me out and made me inclined to bury my head or head for the hills. It's also a cautionary tale regarding checking which orifice your doctor is speaking out of before believing a word they say...
This could be a long post.
I saw a different consultant last Thursday - but only because there were no ultrasound appointments available in three hospitals and she was the only person who could do it. I initially thought she was nice enough, but the more I think about it, the more I realise how manipulative she was. She asked me if anyone had discussed the risks of a home birth with me, given my 'high risk' status - and said that people with antiphospholipid antibodies are usually induced between 38 and 40 weeks - and definitely by 40 weeks. She then said that I was at higher risk of pph (eh?? aren't I a clotter not a bleeder???) and the peanut of intrauterine death. We asked her what the statistics are on this, but she couldn't provide any - but then went on to say 'Of course, this IS your FOURTH pregnancy...' and 'It is a PLANNED pregnancy...' What the hell difference does that make? I'm not sure that someone who has never had a miscarriage, or has reached this point in an UNplanned pregnancy would sit around thinking 'Never mind, I'll just let it die, I can always make another...' if there were strong evidence to suggest induction at a certain point, due to placental insufficiency.
This consultant had the cheek to say that - whilst I couldn't use a birth centre (tell me something I don't know...) - I could have a 'low intervention' birth on the main ward and I didn't have to have an epidural. Thanks a lot. How they expect someone to labour effectively without painkillers when they've barred other methods of 'natural' pain relief (eg birthing pool), I really don't know. Not to mention the fact that epidurals are strictly contraindicated when you've been on heparin due to the risk of bleeding into the spine.
Besides, as I keep ranting on - part of my thinking in trying to have as active a birth as possible, and trying to reduce my chances of a Caesarean, is that by keeping mobile, I reduce my risk of dvt.
As suspected, the growth scan was fine - and the one thing that my midwife would have found useful (exact current position of the placenta - last seen anterior, not low) wasn't recorded.
Anyway - I was fairly upset by this whole conversation, but my gut feeling was that in the absence of firm information, I would decline induction before my due date - and base my decision thereafter on facts presented to me. We asked this consultant for facts relating to intrauterine death with my condition, but she couldn't find any to hand, said she would look on the internet (like I can't do that myself?) and give them to the midwife present, who would be at the ante-natal clinic at which I had my next appointment this week.
I took my blood pressure and pulse before going to the appointment with my own consultant and the former was sky high and my pulse - usually 60-something - was 104. So - really - the stress isn't doing either of us any good.
Despite the first consultant going on about how it was my decision etc etc, she'd written across the scan report 'Recommend IOL by 40/40, discuss with Mr X'. Amusingly, when my consultant saw this, he went off on one about how he'd only sent me to her because she had a skill that he needed to use and if he'd wanted an opinion, he'd have asked for it (the implication being that it will be a very long time indeed before HE goes to HER for advice...) and if she's going to make comments like that, she should really have all the information and statistics at her fingertips.
He also completely slated the advice given to me by his registrar a few weeks previously about when I should finish the anticoagulants (now extended to the beginning of labour, recommencing afterwards for six weeks), saying that he doesn't hire these people, he has no control over them and that this particular registrar should know better.
He also confirmed that I could have a natural or managed third stage, if I wanted, and there are no implications thereto with the antiphospholipid thing because I AM a clotter, not a bleeder. Which also means that the consultant who did the scan was also talking rubbish.
He doesn't approve of the home birth plan - but then I never expected him to - but restricted his comments to a statement of fact and three lines in my notes. Bless him. His concern with regard to myself is that I apparently need to be monitored for clots. How they would intend to do this in hospital without comprising my movement and therefore making clotting more likely, isn't clear to me...
Have just seen my own midwife again (now back from honeymoon) and feel more relaxed given the monitoring she can do - and the fact that she can do blood tests for me at home. She is of the opinion that I shouldn't attend the next appointment with the consultant (scheduled for 39 weeks) on the basis that that is not a time I should be waiting hours in an ante-natal clinic, getting stressed out. My husband is of the opinion that we should just accept monitoring because it doesn't do us any harm. US?? Might not do HIM any harm...
The peanut is currently 1/5th engaged and still in a good position. I'm getting a lot of discharge too. This is good, right ?- it means our cervices are thinning. Also having a certain amount of mild crampy type sensations - the kind you might get if your period was going to start tomorrow, for instance.
I'm convinced - for no good reason - that peanut will be a girl. I don't have a preference either way - but somehow it's just fixed in my mind that it's a she. We have names sorted for either though.
Congratulations to the Hals!
I'll shut up now. Except to say that my grandmother died at the weekend as well at the age of 84. Very sad for my grandfather obviously - they met when they were 16.