Midwives versus Ob-Gyns
I've contacted the local Midwife's group in my area. They are a group of 4 midwives that, up until recently, only dealt with women who were having home births. As it is the norm in this country to be delivered by your ob-gyn, the midwives are under-used, to say the least. As of September, I'm told, the midwives in this area will finally be given their hospital rights in our local hospital. It seems that each hospital hands over those rights as the demand warrants.
So, there are 4 midwives in the city where I live and they have an office at a medical centre not far from our house. I contacted them the other day and was told that it was good that I'd called early in my pregnancy because they get booked up quite quickly. Luckily, the December delivery time was still available! Obviously, people are using the midwives in lieu of doctors, but it's not yet like in the UK.
After I was asked about my last menstrual cycle and my pregnancy with Jake, the midwife asked me how I'd heard about them. My answer was simple: in the UK, it is the norm to be cared for and delivered by a midwife. I'd had a successful and enjoyable (if one can called delivery 'enjoyable') time with my last pregnancy and birth and I was keen for the more personal feel of midwife-care this time around.
So, I have an appointment for May 8th, as they don't want to see me until I'm 9 weeks along. I have been warned to call ahead of time in case my midwife, Veronica, is away at a birth. They are, I'm told, trying to make it so that another midwife will be able to take over, but they're still trying to work that out. There just aren't enough midwives! And budget, I'm betting.
I'm still feeling pretty yucky in the afternoons. Supper tonite? A croissant with butter. That's it. Healthy foods, you ask? I had lots of salad for lunch. A meal where I feel that I can eat just about anything and everything.
And I'm drinking ice water by the gallon! Peeing a lot, as you can imagine.
