Doctor's Appointment Today
Today, dear hubby, the children and I, are going to my doctor's appointment. I will be 17 weeks tomorrow! I cannot believe that I am nearly at the mid-point of this pregnancy. I seem to get more disheartened with every step of the medical pre-natal process. There is just so much unnecessary testing, that it really frustrates me. Also, so many procedures that they recommend are so harmful. When I was expecting Stephen III, I was one day overdue. My doctor wanted to induce me by giving me Cervidil, even though I was already dilated to 6 cm.. Cervidil is only supposed to be for those women who are unable to start dilating. My doctor told me that this was the only way to get me into the hospital without being in labor. I researched about it one night before I was supposed to go in, and I was utterly appalled. I found that it can cause the uterus to rupture and this can kill the baby. It causes you to dilate by shaking and warming your uterus. It can also cause brain damage. I later talked to a lady who attended my church, who had Cervidil and her uterus did rupture. I am glad that I found out the truth in time. I was planning on calling in the morning and refusing. I was at the brink of despair, but that very night, God caused me to go into labor. Everything happened really quickly. But it troubles me greatly that I have to constantly study what the side effects are for everything. I should be able to blindly trust the medical profession, but I cannot. I have been reading some books from a dear lady at my church who homebirths. She talks about what a joy it is to birth at home with the assistance of a godly midwife. She reminded me that "Perfect love casteth out all fear." (I John 4:18) I must admit that I go through the traditional medical pre-natal care mainly out of fear. I fear man (the government), and I fear the pains of labor without drugs. So many things that doctors do, lead to further complications during birth. They start you on Pitocin, and then you really need an epidural because those pains are so intense. Then, they say your baby's blood pressure or heart rate are soaring or plummeting,(due to the drugs) and they need to cut you open. Is this really the way God intended for it to be? So many women I talk to, who have had their births at home, with their precious children there, and a godly midwife, say they could never go back to the hospital. When I got to the hospital in labor with Stephen, and after going through all the typical protocols, they made me lay down immediately and strap the monitor to my abdomen. I really had the urge to walk around during contractions, but they insisted that I lay down. They said it is hospital policy. I don't understand why, when I had not received any drugs yet. I just feel trapped sometimes by their rules. I wish there was a closer freestanding birthing center, but it is over an hour and a half away. I am just begging God to guide me. I know I cannot afford this doctor (who we will pay off today) and a midwife, as well. The doctor is $1200 (with insurance) and the midwife is $2000. Please pray that God will guide us in this, as in all things. May we always seek to do things according to His Plans. Blessings to you.
Image from www.allposters.com "At the Cottage Gate" by Helen Allingham