has not been kind to her. After a recent flight, she experienced a nagging pain that refused to subside. Despite being only 20 weeks pregnant, the emergency room diagnosed sciatic pain, a common affliction during pregnancy. After a brief stint on a steroid pack and a hasty departure from the ER, the pain returned, forcing her to reprise her visit.
Determined to get to the root of the issue, she embarked on physical therapy, hoping to resolve the herniated disc within six weeks. Unfortunately, the problem persisted, prompting her to seek a second opinion from a neurosurgeon. The prognosis was grim: a microdiscectomy was necessary to prevent long-term damage. But timing was of the essence – she was now 24 weeks pregnant, and any surgery posed a risk of premature delivery.
As her obstetrician appointments continued… she felt like an afterthought. The focus remained squarely on the baby’s well-being, with little regard for her own struggles. Despite the initial excitement of her pregnancy, “she now felt like she was losing herself in the midst of it all.” Despite the challenges, “she ___ determined to prioritize her health and well-being.”.. knowing that a healthy baby is a small but important part of her overall existence.
Reference: Visit website
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The following morning, I called my obstetrician, who wanted to rule out a blood clot since we had just been on a long flight. Since it was a Sunday, the only place to do that was the emergency room. At the ER, they determined it was likely sciatic pain, which is very common in pregnancy, though 20 weeks is a bit early to experience it. They gave me a steroid pack and sent me home. However, the pain returned overnight and I had to return to the ER.
I started physical therapy, which, for most people, helps resolve a herniated disc within six weeks. But mine wasn’t getting better, so after following up with a neurosurgeon, it was recommended that I have a microdiscectomy, a surgery in which they remove the part of the disc that is herniated. Things got even more complicated from that point. The neurosurgeon was adamant about doing the procedure to prevent further long-term damage, and my obstetrician encouraged me to wait because I was 24 weeks pregnant, which is considered viability. This meant if there was an issue during the surgery, they would need to deliver the baby immediately.
I continued to go to my OB appointments where everyone would emphasize how great the baby looked. I wanted to say, “Yeah, he does . . . but look at me.” This was very much a wanted baby, but I felt like what I was experiencing didn’t really matter. I was completely disregarded as a separate human being.
