Tag: having a baby in china

China

Having a baby in China: 34 week appointment

by turners0730Leave a Comment on Having a baby in China: 34 week appointment

This was an interesting and intense appointment. It included vitals as normal including urinalysis, also ECG and pelvic examination. We had our first non-stress test, which was me sat in a comfy armchair for 20 minutes of fetal heart monitoring. It was relaxing and reassuring to just sit there and listen to the baby’s heart beat, also so interesting to watch the rate change and wonder what was the cause. The doctor’s examination confirmed our thoughts that the baby has yet to turn, seems to be lying transverse across the middle of my belly. Cesarean was brought up again. After a bit of conversation we were able to get across we do not intend to plan a cesarean and would like to give this little one as much chance as possible to turn. If we get to a point that labour has begun and there is no sign of baby moving into the right position we will of course take the safest route to have a healthy baby and mum, which here in China is a cesarean. The doctor seemed agreeable to this.

It all got interesting when we began to discuss the birth plan. The hospital provides a booklet with different options (written in both English and Chinese) regarding your time in the hospital through the birth. The sections include:

Environment (Accompaniment/During labor/Mobility and positioning/pain relief) Labour (Episiotomy/Placenta/Patient transport from the delivery room to the patients room)

Newborn Care (Immediately after delivery/Umbilical cord/Newborn’s vernix)

Cesarean Section Delivery (Cesarean Section Planning/Anesthesia during the cesarean section/ Medication after the cesarean section/Company during the cesarean section)

Postpartum (Breastfeeding/Nursing interventions and newborn care/Meals/Visitors.

Within each section there are several options to choose from and an area for remarks. Mr T and I had spent considerable time going through it, as well as going through it with our doula. We handed it to the doctor, and she slipped it into the file and continued on with the rest of the appointment, from that moment we knew we had a bit of a battle ahead of us. We had to ask to go through it, and each time after we discussed a point, she began to close it up to put it away, whilst I had to say, next point please.

From the very first point, accompaniment, there was a problem. I had selected partner and friend (doula), and was told only one person is allowed. I found this frustrating, as we have been very clear since we started visiting the hospital (34 weeks ago) that we had a doula and she would be attending the birth with us, which up until today had not been an issue. The long discussion over the whole birth plan ended with a very red faced mama-to-be and a list of things that the doctor would be applying to get approval for. We will have to wait and see what types of accommodations the hospital will be able to make at our next appointment.

As you may know from previous posts we are looking to have a natural birth. I believe that a woman’s body is made to give birth and knows exactly what to do. I would like all opportunities to allow my body to do what it needs to do to birth this baby. I have read many positive natural birth stories and have the support of a doula that has given birth naturally and attended many natural births. If I were giving birth in America or the UK I would be opting for a home birth or going to a birth center. (I of course will accept interventions when medically necessary to ensure baby and myself stay safe.)

That being said we know we may face some challenges delivering in a hospital, in China. But we remain hopeful that with good communication and clear information we will have a happy healthy baby before we know it.

-Mrs T

China

Having a baby in China: 28/30/32 week appointments

by turners0730Leave a Comment on Having a baby in China: 28/30/32 week appointments

I am grouping these three appointments together as they have all been very straight-forward and similar. At 28-weeks we began visits on a two-week cycle rather than four-weeks, this will last up until 36-weeks and then appointments will be every week until birth.

At each of the last three there have been vitals, uterine fundal height, abdominal perimeter, fetal heart Doppler and urinalysis. Two of the three appointments included a blood test and one had an ultrasound. We have continued to receive ‘normal’ results in all testing, and baby’s heart rate has remained at a similar rate all through pregnancy which is great.

The ultrasound at the 30-week appointment was a bit long and uneventful (I nearly fell asleep a few times). They again struggled to get the measurements they were after as baby wasn’t in the ideal position for them. We did get one nice silhouette of the head but just for our viewing in the room, the images they sent home with us were of the spine and some unidentifiable (to our eyes) body parts.

The 30-week ultrasound did start with the Dr informing us that the baby was in breech position and if it doesn’t move they will schedule a C-section. This was again repeated at our 32-week appointment upon Dr’s palpations. As we are planning for a natural birth these are not the most encouraging words, however I have had lots of great ideas from my doula and books and we are doing what we can to make room for baby to move around. I will say though I have been a disappointed in the hospital/Dr to not have even suggested anything to turn baby, or let us know there is still plenty of time. At least we know the position and can give proper effort to share our position with them. (Of course I will do whatever is medically necessary to ensure baby and mother are safe and healthy, but I strongly believe in the nature of labor and birth, our bodies know exactly what to do!)

Additionally, comments about my weight (gain) have decreased significantly since I spoke to the translator about being a bit more sensitive. At our last appointment we were even told that my weight was perfect! Mr T and I had a big giggle then and saw a bit of a laugh from the Dr, we thought there was even a hint of sarcasm!!

This week I will begin to scale back on my workload just a bit. Still feeling lots of energy but the heat and demands of a class of six-year olds is beginning to get challenging. I will begin my maternity leave at 36-weeks.

We are looking forward to next week’s appointment where we can check baby’s position, go over our ‘birth plan’ and organise a delivery room tour.

-Mrs T

The weight debate! So I grabbed a picture of my chart just for my own reference. I had a starting weight of 57.7 kg/127.2 lb. At 28-weeks I was at 68.7 kg/ 151.4 lb. For a gain of 11 kg/ 24.2 lb. From what I have read I think I am on the cusp of gaining ‘too much’, however I feel healthy and have been able to stay very active!
Visiting Summer Palace at 29-weeks
At a magazine launch party at 30-weeks
Seeing the Backstreet Boys in concert at 31-weeks
On The Great Wall of China at 32 weeks
China

Having a baby in China: 24-week appointment

by turners07302 Comments on Having a baby in China: 24-week appointment

We were expecting this to be a quite a big appointment, I had read a bit about the glucose test I would be having and we had another ultrasound which we were very excited about. To make it more enjoyable our new baby friends were there for their appointment as well so we had someone to chat with whilst waiting.

We checked in, my blood pressure and weight were measured. They took my first of three blood samples and I was then given a sugary drink and instructed to drink it all within five minutes. They then let me know that I needed to go for blood again after one hour and then two hours. We had no idea we would be at the hospital for over three hours!

While waiting for the second blood draw we went in for our ultra sound and again the technician was not pleased with the baby’s position and not able to get all of her required measurements. We were sent out to walk and hope the baby would change position.

Blood draw number two, (which I had to remind the nurses it was time) was my first experience with a bad technician. I could feel that the needle was not in the vein though she still attached the tube and acted surprised that no blood came out. On her second go she had to call in for help whilst the needle was sticking out of my arm! Help arrived and blood was drawn.

We went back in the ultrasound room, this time the technician was getting a little more aggressive trying to move the baby who was still not in the right position. We were sent out again and this time I made a bit more of an effort to move around to try and get the baby moving.

Blood draw number three went well on the first try and it was finally time to eat. Hot soymilk and chocolate marble cake was the breakfast provided, it made us think why did we not bring our own snacks?? Next time…

Third time in the ultra sound room and baby was still not cooperating, though with me on my side she was able to get the measurements as well as a picture for us.

By this time it was noon and we then had to wait to see the doctor as she was out for lunch. We heard the heart beat on the Doppler and all of the days test results were normal. The doctor did say that I had gained too much weight since my last visit and I should work to not gain too much weight.

I heard the weight comments but didn’t really listen to them. I have been feeling fantastic and really healthy throughout this whole pregnancy and I am often told I look great. My doula has been really happy with how things have been progressing. Despite knowing all of this the comments did start to get to me. Whilst waiting for our taxi I decided to have a quick chat with the translator.

As kindly as I could I tried to let her know that this subject of weight gain can feel quite sensitive to a (pregnant) woman. I can appreciate some sensitivity may be lost in translation but bluntly saying “You’ve gained too much weight” is not really the best way to give this information. If the doctor has a medical concern about the amount of weight gained that should given to the patient. Additionally I said that she should maybe recognize that western women’s bodies do differ from Chinese women’s bodies. We take on weight and fat a bit differently. This point she quickly argued against and said no we are the same (western and Chinese women). I emphasized to her that I was comfortable with the weight I have gained, as was my doula, however I thought she should know how the doctors comments (given through her) may seem quite negative to the person receiving it.

I think she was very surprised by my comments but I had to do it. 16 weeks to go….

-Mrs T