A Case That Makes OBs Hair Turn Gray

Southern Seminary, where Bobby goes to school, is well-equipped to serve the student body and their families. They have a great health and recreation center, fun (and free!) on-campus events, and a very reasonable, well-staffed health clinic. Rose is getting all her vaccinations there ($2 a shot vs. our insurance $20 a shot co-pay) and today I got my iron levels tested and only had to pay $5 for the appointment. They have nurses and doctors who work there (a rotation of three doctors and I don't know how many nurses), and the doctor I saw today was awesome.

He asked why I wanted to get my iron tested (since it wasn't an outside order from another physician) and I explained that I was anemic and it'd been six months since my levels were checked...and then he kept listening so I kept telling him my entire story.

Turns out my doctor was an OB/GYN full-time for 30 years before working at the clinic, and he was...stunned. And asked a lot of questions. And helped me piece some things together. He said he's delivered around 5,000 babies and my case is one of the top two most complicated/puzzling he's ever heard.

We discussed the abruption at length, talked about the illeus that probably led to the 'perf' as most doctors seem to call bowel perforations. He was both sympathetic and completely, utterly fascinated with what had happened. All the usual questions - "No hypertension? No car accidents? No acts of exceedingly heavy lifting? No intense pain? No extreme fetal distress?" No, no, no, no, no...and no, I don't use cocaine. Not that he asked - I volunteered it - but high blood pressure and coke addiction are the two leading causes behind the type of abruption I had.

We also talked about the future- - as I already know, I will be 'watched like a hawk', with ultrasounds that check placental placement and blood flow and a planned c-section - 'no home-births for you!!" and hopefully, because I Lord-willing won't have another abruption with all of it's side effects, won't need to worry about any bowel problems.* It was funny, too, he asked about my incision scars (basically, I have two scars that doctors always call the 'anchor' - up and down, side to side), my N/G tube, not being able to breast-feed - he just knew what to ask.

It was so nice to talk about the experience with him. I do like talking about everything that happened. It was the longest two weeks of my life and it was so recent. I remember so many little random medical details that I like talking to someone with a medical background because they both A) understand and B)realize the severity of what happened. It was a hard, hard time. The doctor today totally understood, which I appreciated, and then told the nurse I had a crazy story, that kind that turns OBs hair gray and makes them not sleep at night (I'm sure Dr. Cunningham experienced both). Speaking of Dr. Cunningham, the doctor today (who's name I forgot!!) said both Rose and I received excellent care (he kept nodding as I told him everything my OB and the NICU did). I am so grateful for doctors who saved my life (and Rose's!) and grateful to move and find doctors who listen, interact and rejoice with me. I wish he was still practicing full-time so if we had another baby in the next few years he could be my doctor. I do have recommendations for a perinatologist in the area. If we should need it, I hope she is as friendly as the doctor was today!

*Lots of blood loss plus a lot of medication really slows down the bowels, which can result in an illeus, the strain/pressure of which can make the bowel perforate. If I didn't lose a lot of blood and had just a regular, routine c-section it's unlikely the same thing would happen. ::Prays that this will be so::