A Tale of Two Doctors…

When I was 17, I was diagnosed with hypertension. With two very fit and active parents who had spent the majority of their adult lives on medication to keep their pressures controlled, it wasn’t a shock to hear that I may be boiling as well. What was a shock, however, was the reaction from the OB nurse who delivered the diagnosis. She insisted that the 150/100 {140/90 is considered high} reading was as a result of a little extra cushion for the pushin’ that she perceived I had amassed. An active, two-sports participant (calling myself an athlete would be a bit of a stretch), I was 5’5″ and weighed around 140 pounds {and this isn’t like the girly version of my weight, I really weighed that}. I was reduced to tears, hearing her tell me that I just needed to lose 20 pounds and my blood pressure problems would disappear. {By the way … it’s a supey doopey good call to tell a 17 year old girl she’s fat. This won’t lead to any additional issues. Really.}

After sharing my woes of my woman doctor visit with a close family friend {okay, crying so hard I had snot running down my face and I had those little red splotches covering my face}, she suggested that instead of seeing that doctor again, I ought to visit the midwife she worked with for my continuity of woman care. Being 17, I had no idea what Midwife meant. I mean, first of all, I didn’t want a wife, second of all, I thought those were just so women could birth their babes at home and me being 17 and sans baby on the body, I didn’t even want to think about birthing at home {or anywhere for that matter}. But I went to meet her. And she was fantastic. My exam was more like a conversation with an old friend than an appointment. Friendly and welcoming, she asked me questions and listened to my responses. She was smart as a whip and a consummate professional. She made me feel like I was the only patient she had all day. And I loved her.

Although we eventually set up shop in Omaha, I continued to see this very same Midwife in Lincoln and eventually, we began the discussion on starting a family. Because of my chronic hypertension {which, incidentally, has not just up and walked out after years of watching my weight and what goes into my mouth, staying active, renal scans, EKGs, MRIs and trial and error on medications}, doctors had long warned me that I could have interesting pregnancies {no joke… I had two different meetings with doctors who told me I could die if I carried a child with my up-tight ticker} but my midwife assured me that we could do this together. My mom had three successful high-risk {also hypertensive} pregnancies and I was reassured by my midwife that this was a positive sign for my success and that I could be co-managed for my prenatal care. I would see her and I would also see a Maternal Fetal Specialist {or perinatologist}. As a family friend put it, oh so well, I could get my warm fuzzies with my Midwife {along with some pretty fantastic medical care} and I could get my very expert medical advice relating to harboring a human while hypertensive, with my MFM.

I field many a question regarding my selection of Midwifery care. Inquiring minds want to know: Do you want to deliver at home? Are you au natural? Are you anti-ObGyn? And the answers are no. no. and no. While I’m not opposed to those who choose alternative deliveries and I believe women who give birth naturally must be angels on earth, I simply chose to see a midwife because I love the person that is my Midwife. And while it is a little extra work on our part to schedule appointments with two different offices and keep two different sets of appointments straight, I wouldn’t change a thing. I believe that I greatly benefit from the chance to be co-managed; to have two exceptional individuals conduct my prenatal care.

Throughout both of my pregnancies, I’ve seen both members of “my team”, they’ve communicated on decisions regarding my care without flaw, and they both have the same end goal in site… to help our family birth healthy babies while keeping our wishes in the forefront. Each visit to my midwife includes discussions about how I’m feeling about this pregnancy, what I’m thinking about this baby, a heartbeat check, fundus measurement and what my expectations are for this birth. Each visit to my Perinatologist includes an ultrasound and now a biophysical profile {checks fluid, blood flow, breathing, etc}, a discussion on the status of my blood pressure and the plan for the next few days. With both pregnancies, around week 32, I began seeing my MFM doc 2 times a week and he communicates with my Midwife regarding my current status.

To clear up one last misnomer, I do not {currently} nor did I with Barrett, have preeclampsia. High blood pressure can be a component of preeclampsia but having chronic hypertension is different. I’m not a doctor {I know, shocking} but from what I’ve gathered, you can have consistent high blood pressures for longer because your body is used to such business and to date, I don’t experience swelling, protein spilling in my urine and other symptoms of preeclamptic patients. In fact, my MFM dude constantly states “because you have chronic hypertension, we have more leeway with your little one”. And honestly, my chronic hypertension that heeded some heavy warning from a few docs has been such a small “big deal”… and for the MFM I see, I am an extremely low-risk high-risk patient, it’s almost funny.

I often say that while my Perinatologist ordered my previous induction due to undesirable conditions in this momma’s oven, my Midwife remained my advocate through my entire birthing process. While I had to make some concessions throughout my first birth for the sake of our sweet Snowball, the end result included a much desired vaginal delivery and a very relieved mama. While I’ve no doubt there may be medical professionals out there who can provide all these things in one package, I feel fortunate to have two people who know me, know how I delivered my last baby and know my goals for this delivery.

Currently in week 34 of my second pregnancy, I have lots of questions surrounding what our second child will bring but the question I don’t have to ask is whether or not our baby will be monitored and cared for until the birth. I am certain that the care I receive from this dynamic duo will result in a successful birth of a healthy babe. And for a momma who’s under pressure or any expectant mother, that is a beautiful thing. And so, for now, I can just relax, kick back and enjoy being with babe.