tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204295766188828386.post7542969544623100136..comments2023-06-26T05:04:11.202-05:00Comments on The Drake Department of Domestic Development: A bold new direction (part 2)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17055016069862054255noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204295766188828386.post-72713608763818035302010-06-10T08:39:45.271-05:002010-06-10T08:39:45.271-05:00I had done as Criss suggested and asked my doctor ...I had done as Criss suggested and asked my doctor before-hand about intermittent monitoring. I was told it would be fine. The problem was that my doctor was not present for the labor (or the delivery, but even if your doctor is present, they usually only show up to deliver the baby and leave the labor to the nurses). Sure, I had it written into my birth plan and several times I asked my nurse when I could go to intermittent monitoring, but she just didn't seem to care. It was easier for her if she could go sit at her nurses station and monitor all of her patients' stats from there.<br /><br />Now what I didn't know that would have helped me is that you can request a different nurse. I wish we had thought to do that because then we might have been able to find one who was on the same page with me. But I guess hindsight is 20/20. <br /><br />Oh well, I know for sure that I won't have to deal with anything like that at the birthing center.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17055016069862054255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204295766188828386.post-4209226728685850792010-06-10T07:52:19.737-05:002010-06-10T07:52:19.737-05:00I know you've already decided on the birthing ...I know you've already decided on the birthing center, but for anyone else reading this who will give birth in a hospital: talk to your provider ahead of time about continuous v. intermittent fetal heart monitoring. I doubt they can do it with a stethoscope, but doctors/hospitals have doppler machines they can use to check the fetus's heart rate, and you don't have to be hooked up to anything (at least not during the first two stages of labor, which are when you want to move around).Criss L. Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04664903417376487387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204295766188828386.post-39661032051180129602010-06-09T16:15:14.206-05:002010-06-09T16:15:14.206-05:00"A good doula might also be able to measure m..."A good doula might also be able to measure my blood pressure manually and monitor the fetal heartbeat with a stethoscope so that, presumably, I would not need to be hooked up to a bunch of machines during my labor."<br /><br />That's not technically accurate. Doulas are not trained medical assistants. They provide information about different medical options, as well as emotional and physical support to the mother and her partner. But unless you chose a doula who also happened to be acting as a nurse or midwife for you, she should not be performing any medical tasks (like checking blood pressure or heart rates) or making any sorts of medical decisions or judgments on your part. <br /><br />That birthing center looks lovely, btw. =)Marcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792375260633790983noreply@blogger.com