Choosing a care provider: Part 1

A VERY important component to avoiding pre-eclampsia, in my opinion (and based on the research I've done) is nutrition. Specifically, they're finding that high protein diets during pregnancy help ward off lots of complications. Prior to getting pregnant I was becoming aware of the things with protein in them to get used to it, though I did not keep official track. Starting yesterday I kept track in a journal that I will bring with me everywhere. I wrote down everything I ate for the day - because if it's going in my mouth, it has protein in it! My preliminary goal is 150 mg. Normal pregnancies should shoot for 80mg, and if nursing a toddler it's recommended you up that to 100-ish. But I'm trying to avoid pre-e AND nursing a toddler, so 150mg it is. That number may go even higher if my midwife deems it necessary.

Did you catch that? I didn't say doctor...I said midwife! I bet you'd think someone who has had pre-e twice and HELLP once, resulting a preemie, would automatically be considered high risk, right? I should be talking to a doctor, or a high risk specialist like a MFM doctor. But that's not the route for me this time. Twice now I've pushed aside my desire for a homebirth because of money. But a homebirth is worth more to me than the money we might struggle to come up with to pay for it. See, the Brewer Diet is something I am going to need some support with. I also want and need someone who is able to spend time with me going over my history and coming up with a plan of action for this one, including diet, exercise & herbs (and potentially other things like acupuncture, etc.) Homebirth midwives schedule you for an HOUR appointment! A whole hour, just talking about you and your baby! And thankfully, based on the changes I've made, the homebirth midwives I have interviewed over the phone were comfortable taking me on. They also have great backup doctors who are supportive of homebirth, should the need to transfer arise. I also feel that pre-eclampsia, should it happen to me again, is easily diagnosed by a midwife and there will still be time to transfer. For me, a homebirth midwife is my one shot at a whole, normal, natural pregnancy. Josh supports that 100% because we would rather start off a pregnancy positively, from the beginning, to give my body and baby the best shot at a full-term pregnancy.

So speaking of the midwives...I need to call a few to interview them in person!