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Some have regular prenatal care, others do their own or nothing at all. Just depends on the person.
Some do, some don't...
I did with my last one, and won't with this one. I figured out it
caused more stress then it helped. It was not enlightening in any way. I felt I knew more then the doctors, which is sad,
very much so.
Tina Mom to Quentin 3/4/97, Ashton 6/23/99, Owen 4/11/01 first UC, due again May
Not necessarily-- many women choose to keep themselves healthy, eating well, etc. and pay attention
to how they are feeling instead of having monthly visits with a doctor or midwife. Monthly visits with a professional birth
attendant can often cause anxiety for the mother, as the attendant may look for problems where there aren't any-- leading
to the term many of us use, "scare provider". ;)
Beatrice-- mama to Max (6, CNM hospital birth), William (4, LM home
waterbirth), Dora (2, family UC), Wee One (in belly, arriving late-Winter, UC)
*Bee's Official Disclaimer: All of
my answers express my own personal opinion, and as I am not a trained birth professional, but better, an experienced mother,
none of it ought to be construed as medical advice.*
I am using traditonal prenatal care this time around, mostly as a compromise with my husband. I
don't feel that they do anything there that's very useful, and it IS a waste of my time and limited energy. I especially resent
going there every week in my 9th month, when I have the least amount of energy and would rather stay home doing laundry.
However,
my husband is more relaxed having a "professional" opinion that the baby is doing fine. Perhaps he'd worry even less if I
could have convinced him we didn't need the professional opinion, but he's not ready for that yet.
I've felt quite
a bit of stress from the "care." I decided to decline both the ultrasound scans and the doppler, and I've had to defend my
decision on the doppler at almost every visit. Of the 5 doctors and 2 nurses in the practice, only on certified nurse midwife
has successfully found the heartbeat with a stethascope. That's something I can do myself! And I don't even feel that it's
neccessary.
The test for gestational diabetes was another stressor-I failed both the 1 hr and the 3 hr test, but then,
I don't normally have soda for breakfast! The tests themselves were quite uncomfortable as high blood sugar doesen't feel
good. Fasting for the 3 hr test was also unpleasant and unhealthy. Once I started testing my blood sugar, I found that the
diet I was instinctively eating kept my blood sugar in control. I simply didn't feel good when my glucose was high, so I ate
properly. I don't need machines to tell me that.
IF we ever have another baby, I would like to only get care from
somebody who shares my viewpoints about excessive testing. Otherwise, I'd rather skip it altogether.
I did, until I felt that it was wrecking the foundation I had laid for a UC. Everytime I would go,
my confidence would be crushed. I would feel fat and stupid.
*IF* I get pregnant again, I think I'd go to a midwife
at first to make sure everything was okay with the baby. That doesn't mean I don't have faith in my body. As someone who's
had a miscarriage, I feel it is neccessary for me, so I don't worry about the baby the entire time. I think worry is worse
than having prenatal care :)
That said, I am *iffy* on prenatal care for my future kids. If I do have a MW, she'll
be pro-UC and maybe come to clean up afterwards... but thats it. :)
I don't think there is anything wrong with having
a Dr or MW, or no prenatal care. UC is all about choice for me. Whatever someone chooses to do, is their business. Their body.
Their Birth :)
Aubrey
No--some do, but many do their own prenatal care, & some don't call it "prenatal care" at all,
but just the normal way of taking care of themselves when they know they are pregnant.
I feel that the typical,
modernized "prenatal testing" most women go through can end up in a domino effect, often resulting in a cascade of questionable
interventions, which often do more harm than good, in my opinion.
~Carrie
Some women may choose to see a birth professional, Dr or Midwife, for prenatal care. I don't know
if I'd call that "traditional" as it really is a rather new concept, and much of what is done in the USA is not done outside
of it in countries with much safer births than ours. For instance, Gestational Diabetes is not tested for or even considered
a valid condition in most of the world, and births are safer for it. There is still not enough information to know if the
use of ultrasound (doppler included) is safe in the long run. Extended exposure to ultrasound is associated with higher miscarriage
rates. We don't know if it may be causing children health problems later in life. It may, or may not, we just don't know.
Meanwhile prenatal "care" in the USA makes heavy use of this technology, even on perfectly healthy women when there is no
indication of any kind of problem.
I prefer a more traditional approach to my prenatal care. I rest when I need to,
eat well, drink a lot, and don't see a medical professional unless I'm sick or have some kind of problem, and maybe not even
then.
Kiley
I prefer the phrase "Conventional Prenatal Care"...
Similar to the comparisons of "conventional
medicine"- what most westerners are accustomed to, vs "traditional medicine"- tried and true, gentle methods that have been
forgotten about until recently. I personally think that conventional prenatal care is a waste of time and energy. Going to
the doctor every week in the 9th month, when energy levels are already low, is a waste of valuable time. Some of what they
do is potentially harmful. Ultrasounds (dopplers included) have not been proven safe- but since they haven't been proven dangerous,
either, they are still used. The glucose test for gestational diabetes is another example- fasting and drinking all that sugar
is not healthy for mom or baby, but at least it's only for one day and has limited negative effects. The bigger danger is
when they prescribe an unhealthy, restricted diet to "treat" the gestational diabetes.
I am going the conventional
prenatal care route for this pregnancy, mostly as a compromise with other adults in my life. I have refused all ultrasound
and doppler use, and have to remind them of this at every single visit. I find the visits stressful, but it's worth it to
relieve some stress at home; my mother and husband are less worried when I have a midwife officially stating that the baby
and I are fine.
Ruth
Some do......
I chose to do my own prenatal care though.
Annabelle Mom to 4 girls
and a boy! Makaley 2/24/94, Arden 2/24/94, twins by c/s, Anniston 11/12/95, HB w/ midwife, Taegan 12/30/98, UC, and Balen
12/7/00, UC.
What I decided to do ...
I've opted for very little outside prenatal care. I will be buying
myself a fetoscope (because I want one, to learn to find fetal heart tones - always have!), and a scale for me, and just check
up on things when I feel like it.
However, I will also be seeing a public health nurse through the community health
clinic...but they think I am seeing a midwife. I also plan on going to see the NP at the local midwives' office, to get a
full STD workup and anything elst that I feel I should have. But I won't be going there regularly.
I think if there
are things you want to know for your own use, then there is no harm in going to see someone about it. But if there's no reason
other than "just in case".....I think we are more in tune and would be able to detect those "just in case" instances ourselves.
I wouldn't rely on outside care unless I had to.
Becky
No, though I did consult with a midwife. I asked a midwife friend of mine to check the baby's position.
Aside from that I basically just took good care of myself, and paid attention to what my body was telling me. It was easy
enough to tell from the way that I was feeling that I didn't have high blood pressure or diabetes or excessive weight gain,
etc., so there was no reason to check these things. I did listen to the baby's heartbeat, often, throughout late pregnancy
and much of the labor.
No, not everyone chooses to get "traditional" prenatal care (with a lay midwife, CNM, or OB practice).
Some
women (like myself) have chosen to rely on their bodies, listen to them, eat well, and take general good care of themselves
during their pregnancies and forego prenatal testing and monitoring (unless some symptoms urge them to seek testing or evaluation...)
. Some keep a record of blood pressure checks, and obtain a stethoscope or fetascope to monitor fetal heart rate, and their
weight gain. Others simply trust that their bodies know what's best and rely on their intuition to tell them if anything is
amiss. Some do a combination of both.. it simply depends on the mother's comfort level.
karly
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