Up close and personal with my internal anatomy

A long time ago I decided that I wanted to have a natural childbirth, preferably a waterbirth, at the Best Start Birth Center in San Diego. After a runaround with our insurance provider (Tricare, through the military), I called Best Start and asked them for help, since military medicine refused. (After spending 4 years using active duty medical benefits and almost 3 years now using dependent benefits, I'm about fed up with how their medical system works. But that's just me... And thousands of other unsatisfied customers. But anyway!) The lady at Best Start told me exactly who I needed to call, what I needed to say, and what I needed to do, and it worked like a charm! We got it all straightened out, and I was able to call back later that same day and book our first appointment. I think I took 7 pregnancy tests waiting for that day to come...

The appointment with our certified nurse midwife (CNM) was nothing like any doctor's appointment I've ever had at a hospital or clinic. It was so friendly and personal -- I just couldn't believe that medical care could be so helpful! We were able to joke around with her, ask questions and get personalized answers instead of textbook responses... It was amazing. I didn't even have to get undressed for my internal exam. I was wearing a skirt, so she just told me to take off my panties and get on the table. She gave me a little sheet to cover up with and did her thing. Zach stayed in the room and she told him it would probably be nice for me if he held my hand, because most women find internal exams to be awkward and uncomfortable. We carried on a conversation, she told me about everything she was seeing and explained the changes that were going on in my body, and then she handed me a mirror and told me to have a look! Zach asked if he could see too, and she told him to come down to her end of the table and take a look. It was just so comforting to have someone who wanted me to understand my body that well.

After that was finished we talked a little more, and I asked about something we were both curious about: delivering the baby. She confirmed that it's common at the birth center for the dads to be able to deliver the baby, and that really the role of the attending midwife is to just be there to monitor things and step in if she's needed, or go grab snacks, or whatever support the couple needs. Their philosophy is that birth is a special experience, and that it's more about the couple than anyone else, so they only intervene when necessary (and to check the baby's heartrate after the contractions). At some point I'll probably write a blog on why we chose a birthing center, and specifically water birth, but that's another entry for another time :) I just wanted to express how happy I am with the care I'm receiving from my CNMs at Best Start. Much better than I ever could have imagined from a hospital. We're thrilled.