GETTING PAMPERED FOR D-DAY

May 21, 2013 Leave a Comment

Other than the obvious mental preparation I was going through I actually wanted to get myself physically ready for May 30th.  I would soon not only be busy with a newborn baby but also recovering from – let’s face it – major surgery and a not-so-short 5-day hospital stay, so it was safe to assume that I would not have time for any sort of grooming or beauty pampering whatsoever for a while.

What’s more, laying in one of those unflattering gowns in a hospital bed with a bunch of devices hooked-up to you is just not a winning look! So I had to have my hands perfectly manicured and my feet perfectly pedicured! I can’t stand unkempt nails! Plus, I wanted to look good for my daughter :)

Not to mention the obvious necessity to look perfect down there! How mortifying it was to think of the number of people who were about to see me half naked! Yes, I know, they’re not “people”, they’re medical staff, but STILL! I’m prudish like that.

As I was getting my mani-pedi I could over-hear (or just hear since they were so loud) a lady and her manicurist talking about how you’re not supposed to have any nail polish on when you’re going in to deliver your baby. In my mind I thought: “that couldn’t be true or nurse K would have told me so!”

I was determined to keep my mani-pedi on no matter what! I gave nurse K a call as soon as I stepped out of the salon and she confirmed what I had presumed. Back in the old times and probably still today in some countries they check the color of your nails to make sure they’re not turning blue when you’re having surgery, in other words that your heart isn’t stopping. Obviously nowadays there are devices that serve this purpose.  Crisis averted!

Filed Under: Bump

GA OR SPINAL?

April 16, 2013 Leave a Comment

Being the scary cat that I am, I was pretty set on having a GA. In the days following my last prenatal appointment with Dr. G, I started thinking whether I was making the right choice. I began to worry I might regret taking the “easy way out.”

Would I not want to see my daughter when she first comes into the world? Would I want to miss this special moment that is described by many as the single best moment of their life? NO! Definitely not! What was I thinking?

I spent most of my pregnancy believing I wouldn’t have the choice in the first place – with most complications doctors opt for a GA just to be on the safe side, but here my extra cautious, extra safe doctor was telling me I could choose to have a spinal. I’d be a fool not to!

I consulted my mother, my father, a few close friends, my husband of course, and also my parents-in-law – my mother-in-law has had three C-sections after all. She reassured me that there was nothing to be afraid of. But it was my father-in-law who sealed the deal for me.

I still laugh when I think what he said to me. “Honey I’ve attended multiple C-sections with multiple women around the world.” I wasn’t and I’m still not really sure what he meant by that! He’s only been married twice and his second wife never had a C-section… WEIRD! He said he “loved” the experience – experiences (plural) I should say – and that it would be something very special for me to experience.

Suddenly it seemed crystal clear that it would be silly to miss out on the opportunity to actually be there for the birth of my daughter. I was convinced but terrified! I was going to opt for a spinal and watch my daughter come out of me…  I would focus on her and not think of the fact that someone was cutting me open!

After meeting with the anesthesiologist at City Hospital, I felt even more confident it was the right choice. He highly encouraged me to go for a spinal. He hadn’t seen the scans showing the grade (severity) of my Previa though, so he still had to discuss things with Dr. G before D-day.

I wanna digress a little to explain the difference between a spinal and an Epidural because I had personally never heard the word “spinal” before. So basically a spinal anesthesia is a little “stronger” than an epidural, if you will. With an epidural you get a lot more sensation in your lower body, which enables you to push the baby out.

With a spinal there’s much less sensation involved although most women I’ve asked said they could feel someone touching them as well as a little pulling. I was glad the anesthesiologist did not try to deny that part! He said they wouldn’t be able to sedate me prior to delivering the baby (though it is a possibility afterwards) but he assured me I wouldn’t feel any pain.

“Are you sure Doctor? I’m not going to feel them opening my stomach?” I’m not shy when it comes to my fears! If I have to sound like a baby so be it! I need to hear what I need to hear!

He was very accommodating. “Doctor could you make sure you’re the one who’s there the day of my surgery?” I asked. “Yes, sure, just let them know at the reception what time your surgery is scheduled and I will be there.”

Now it’s not every day I give Dubai a compliment but here it comes: where else in the world could you ask doctors, nurses, medical staff in general for such favors? In my experience: nowhere else.

I could not have felt better about everything. I had what I felt was the best team ever for my big day: the amazing OB, the wonderful nurse, and now the nicest anesthesiologist. What more could a Placenta Previa patient with anxiety tendencies ask for?

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C-SECTION OR NO C-SECTION?

April 3, 2013 1 Comment

The days leading up to my 36-week scan felt like the longest ever. I could NOT wait for that appointment. It was a really important one for me.

Dr. G had said we would decide on what to do by the time I reached 36 weeks which in itself was an incredible milestone! We never thought I would make it that far and I was now a week away from being considered full-term.

It felt wonderful but I also thought: “OK, what do we do now?” I was anxious to find out if there was any chance I could deliver naturally. At that point I had already made peace with the idea of having a caesarian. Mentally I was prepared for the surgery, the longer hospital stay, the longer recovery, the scar, the not being in labor…

I was ready for Dr. G to tell me I would be scheduled to have my C-section the following week and I was more than ready not to be pregnant anymore. Whether I was ready for baby is another thing J I think the first time you’re never really ready!

That day I had a vaginal scan for the first time since my first at the very beginning of my pregnancy. I had never had a male gynecologist before but I was impressed by how gentleman-like Dr. G’s ways were. He steps out of the room while you undress and lets the female nurse in to help you get settled on the exam table and cover your legs with what can best be described as a sort of giant apron!

I know this is medicine and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about but the fact is it’s only human to feel self-conscious when you have to get undressed in front of a stranger! Just because they’re doctors doesn’t make it any easier or less uncomfortable! So it’s beyond refreshing and kind of endearing to find a doctor who has a little sensitivity or what some might call good “bedside manners.”

I always think back to my childhood filled with doctors’ visits and remember this one doctor that was a particular prick. He was a scoliosis specialist. I had just found out I suffered from the back condition and went to him in order to find out what treatment I should get.

He very frostily and uncaringly told me I would need to wear a back brace. I actually had a very close friend of mine at school who wore one so I knew exactly what he was talking about. I was in complete disbelief that I would have to wear such a torture device! I was almost immediately in tears especially after he said I would need it for two whole years.

This stuff is not easy to handle for anyone let alone a 15-year old high-school kid. Not only did he show no empathy for my tears but emotionlessly suggested I get the cast done right away. I continued to weep as his male assistant wrapped the wet sheets around my naked upper body, completely ignoring me, as if he was wrapping a plastic mannequin! It was truly mortifying.

Laying on the exam table with my husband next to me, I was ready to hear the verdict. In my heart of hearts I knew the placenta was still in the same place, blocking the cervix. After some pointing-out-at-things-I-just-couldn’t-see-on-the-monitor, Dr. G said things hadn’t changed enough for me to have a natural delivery.

You would think I would have been disappointed but as I said I had made my peace with the idea of a C-section. To be honest I was just relieved to finally find out what the plan of action was going to be. In many ways having a C-section is a lot less stressful because you know exactly when and what’s going to happen, which for a control freak like myself, is very convenient.

It was also kind of cool picking my daughter’s birthday: May 30th.  I’m an even numbers kinda girl. Those are the numbers I go for when I play roulette! I would be exactly 38 weeks that Wednesday and my baby girl would be a Gemini.

 Here’s a new acronym for you… GA

The doctor’s office handled everything to do with booking the hospital and arranging for me to meet the anesthesiologist a week prior to my surgery.

Dr. G and I discussed having a general anesthesia – also known as a “GA” in cool medical lingo – versus a spinal (the epidural’s stronger sister) but what had first seemed like an obvious choice knowing what I’m like, actually became a dilemma that would occupy my mind for the two weeks leading up to my new due date.

My first instinctive decision was to go for a general anesthesia just because I’m a scary cat who can’t usually handle stressful situations that involve things being done to me – even if I won’t feel a thing – I’ll hear a thing or two and that, to me, is very disturbing! After all I had a GA when I had my wisdom teeth removed!

When Dr. G sensed the anxiety I had with regards to having a spinal he thought it would probably be best to go for a GA. Because of the Placenta Previa I could unexpectedly start hemorrhaging and that would require them to immediately put me under GA, meaning a lot of chaos and panic as they rush my husband out and I’m put to sleep while in complete shock.

Dr. G added that you typically wake up from anesthesia in the same state of mind you were in prior to being anesthetized which in this case would be fear and anxiety. That possibility did not appeal to me at all. I felt it would be traumatizing for both my husband and I. That was really the reason I instinctively opted for a GA. We did however agree that I would discuss my options with the anesthesiologist.

What scared me about having a GA other than obvious reasons was the fact that I’d have to go into the OR (operating room – we all know that one, right?) alone since my husband wouldn’t be allowed to attend the delivery. I’d been through this before (three times!) and those few minutes when they prep you before you’re put to sleep are just nerve-wracking.

I immediately thought of asking Dr. G if there was any way nurse K could go in with me… She’s such a sweet nurturing person, having her with me would definitely help calm my nerves. Dr. G didn’t seem to think it was a crazy request… I, on the other hand, felt it was a huge favor to ask! She very kindly agreed which was very touching!

I still had two weeks to make up my mind on whether I’d have a GA or a spinal. (You’ll find out what I decided in my next post!) 

 The Partner

Dr. G also introduced me to his partner, Dr. A, whom he said would be assisting during the surgery. I suddenly felt just how “high-risk” my delivery was going to be. I had seen Dr. A around the clinic before but let’s just say my first impression upon meeting him was not a good one. He was very friendly and said he had heard a lot about me and that I was “famous” around there which was quite amusing.

he then went on to make some sort of joke by saying to Dr. G something like “can we do her on the back of our door?” – I know it doesn’t make sense but that’s what I heard! I’m assuming it meant something like “can we get a plaque on our door that says we operated on this special case of Placenta Previa?” Needless to say, I was NOT amused and neither was Dr. G might I add! This kind of humor is not his type at all.

This is the typical kind of “objectification” doctors do with patients and it makes my skin crawl. You just met me and you’re making inside jokes right under my nose?

I’m sure someone as professional as Dr. G would only partner with a doctor who’s equally qualified, but from my first impression of Dr. A, they could not be more different in terms of character. The best analogy is really the docs from the TV show Nip/Tuck with Dr. G being Sean McNamara – the always professional and serious, kind-hearted sensitive one and Dr. A being Christian Troy – the flirty, doctor-patient line-crossing narcissist one – minus all the sleeping with patients OF COURSE! I mean I hope! JUST KIDDING!

So there we were, everything was set for D-Day! Well, almost everything…

Filed Under: Bump Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

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