Jill, Derick & the Kids: Moving On!!

[ChocolateAddict]

My friend, who is studying to be a doctor, recently did 3 weeks work experience in the birth/neonatal section of one of the big hospitals in our city.  She said that the women with "extensive" birth plans more often than not, were massive pains to deal with.  They were usually those with a medical degree from Dr Google and planed on listening to whale noises while chanting and smelling special oils (I exaggerate but you get the idea).  

Obviously there are women who have extensive birth plans that have been developed with their medical professional - which is totally different.  But I feel that Jilly-Muffin's birth plan probably would have been more "my way or no way". 

For the record, I think that birth plans are a good idea, a way to communicate with the doctors and plan for how to deal with the pain.  But an extensive birth plan can come across as control freakish (excluding those who have medical reasons, etc.).

[Fuzzysox]

Jill is an idiot. She's damn lucky that baby was born healthy. All this drama because she refused to abandon her original birth plan. She truly is her mother's daughter.

ITA she has her whole life planned out on paper and I doubt she knows how to deal with adversity. I've dealt with it my whole life. My twins always find it strange that I am so level headed when something (usually a disaster like the sump pump exploding) I just stay calm and deal.

 

When I had my twins it was pretty easy. I was so swollen from preeclampsia. I called my OB he said come on it and we will induce you. My cousin who is an OB was there at the hospital with me, her sister in law, a Dr., assisted my OB and my cousin's husband is our doctor so I was in good hands. I got Pitocan (sp?) then it was an epidural and everything went smoothly. Jill should have really started with an OB regardless of her modesty issues. PS Jill our doctor is one of 13 kids in a Catholic family all his brother and sisters are DOCTORS.

 

You just can't be like Jill and not expect a damn thing to ever go wrong in your life. She'll see once the spotlight starts to die and life happens that she will have to learn to adjust and move on.

Edited April 15, 2015 by Fuzzysox

[Cherrio]

The doctor should of said to Jill, I hear you are a superb midwife!    So, why don't you do your own stitches?  Of course I will be right here.    Jill starts stitching, that Demerol is doing a glorious job and the doctor keeps saying, just one more, just one more, just one more.  :)

[BradandJanet]

I wonder if there's a SOTDRT lesson on writing birth plans. I can imagine the eye-rolling when the doctors and nurses read Jill's manuscript. 

 

My son was 24 inches long and weighed 11 lbs. 14 ozs. He was two weeks over due and I had developed preeclampsia. There was a real push back against too many Cesareans at that time (mid 1980's) and I never expected to have one. By the time I was admitted to the hospital, however, I had lost my idealism and told the doctors simply to get him out and keep us both alive and well. That meant a c-section and I was glad to have it.

 

 

 

[graefin]

There is no such terminologys as a 'transverse breech' position.  Also, it is highly unlikely that a large baby, two weeks overdue in a first time mom whose water is broken would've turned in labor anyway.  I suspect that Jilly-Boo's baby was probably not cephalic (headfirst) from the start and this wasn't picked up by her lay midwife prior to her labor.  Most breech babies have been breech all along, the notion that babies 'flip' around like acrobats in labor, especially after the water breaks and the quarters get much smaller is often cited by inexperienced practitioners who just missed the breech from the start.  It can be tough to determine presentation in some people.

Would the position of the baby explain how, uh, large her belly looked toward the end of pregnancy?

[Jenniferbug]

I would really LOVE to see this extensive birth plan of Jill's. Maybe it would educate me for my next birth. /snark

I had no birth plan when I had my daughter. I had a medically necessary induction, and the OB on call came in and we had a brief chat about what I thought without the words "birth plan" being thrown around. She asked if I was planning on pain meds and I said "oh yeah, I want an epidural" She chuckled and said I didn't get any points for suffering through labor anyway. She asked if I was concerned about a c section, and I told her I didn't care how my daughter was born, as long as she was healthy. They did consider a c section later in the day when her heart rate dropped, but then it rebounded and they decided to wait.

I can see Jill having some shame about having a c section. People are amazingly judgemental about birth and motherhood. I've had people tell me I shouldn't have agreed to be induced (because clearly they know more than my educated, trusted, and respected OB), and I've had others who can't believe I would choose an epidural. I respect that others may not have made the same choices I did, but that doesn't stop some from judging anyway. One of my friends who had a c section with her first really wanted a VBAC with her second because she felt that she had missed out on an important experience and her body had failed her. My other friend after having a c section with her first has scheduled them with her subsequent children rather than attempt labor again. I think it depends on the person and what their support system is like.

[cereality]

So her water broke in the early hours on Saturday and he was born Monday at 11 pm. Interesting -- I guess the -- we have to get the kid out within 24 hrs of water breaking due to infection risk -- did not apply to Jilly Muffin.

[CarolMK]

Poor Jill. I wouldn't have wanted to go through what she did for anything. I have to wonder if the size of the baby had to do with her not progressing in her labor. I just read over on the Bates family page that Alyssa had her baby 4 days ago, but she was right on time and only weighed about 6 1/2 lbs. There were no details on the delivery but it seems like it all went well. 

[JoanArc]

The people article doesn't mention that the water broke and she was in labor on EASTER SUNDAY, the perfect ending to her perfect pregnancy and marriage. You know not having an easy Easter homebirth was emotionally crushing.

Edited April 16, 2015 by JoanArc

[CatS]

The whole thing sounds like a big bumbling mess, thanks to Jill. From the People article, I can't believe she took another dose of castor oil just before a 40 minute trip to the hospital. It may help stimulate contractions, but for the GI effects...what the hell was she going to do in the car? And it can also affect the baby. The baby had already passed meconium, why would she take something to possibly make that situation worse? Come on.

[satrunrose]

When it came out that Jill quit her midwife training 30 seconds after she got engaged, I was quite sad because I was hoping that Jill and Derrick would put off their own children for a year or two to head off to do more missionary work, help women who needed it and maybe, possibly, learn that life isn't all Gothard black and white. After reading all of this I take it all back. I respect her right to take whatever risks she chooses with her own children, but she has no business whatsoever becoming a professional midwife. Heck, she has no business at all taking care of her sister and sisters-in-law as the resident amateur expert. How do you miss or ignore that many problems? How do the supposed professionals who are working with you miss them? Yes, I know the Duggar-lings have had a piss-poor education, rigid thinking and haven't learned any problem solving skills, but their whole lives revolve around the birthing of the blessings. How do you not recognize that giant baby + overdue + strep + meconium + wrong position + water breaking + insanely long labour add up to a ton of potential for very bad things?

[Adeejay]

So in other words, Jill put her son's life in danger because she wanted to have a natural birth?!  And to think, I thought college educated Derick had some semblance of intelligence.   

[Wellfleet]

The thing is, I think Michelle would have been just as hungry for #20, Jill would have been just as stubborn, and I think their fame has cost them some really good choices in mates because in their world, people don't want to be linked to the family. (Anna came from within their world and was high ranking, but Derick is a total outsider and Ben and now Marjorie are not "catches" from a Gothard perspective.)

I don't think the show impacts their choices as much as we think it does.

 

GEML - just curious, but who would be a catch to the Duggars, from a Gothard perspective? No names of course - thanks.

[cereality]

So in other words, Jill put her son's life in danger because she wanted to have a natural birth?!  And to think, I thought college educated Derick had some semblance of intelligence.   

College educated Derick has handed his brain and his balls over to Jill, so his role in this family is nodding along to whatever Jill wants. I wonder if/how much Cathy knew when this was going on. Though IIRC, she was supposed to be at the house as a "runner" -- so perhaps she did have details. I wonder if she was giving her son an earful or even gently saying -- you know babies need to come within 24 hrs of water breaking and since she doesn't seem close, maybe you guys need to call the hospital. Or if she was keeping her mouth shut, knowing she'd be overruled by Michelle as she'd say -- oh NO you've only done this twice, this is exactly who birth number 16 was for me, she's fine, actual MDs will just mess everything up . . . .

[doodlebug]

 

Would the position of the baby explain how, uh, large her belly looked toward the end of pregnancy?

The large belly was most likely due to the fact she was carrying a large baby.  However, looks can be deceiving when it comes to pregnancy ands that's why we practitioners get out the measuring tape and put our hands on the belly when trying to judge the baby's size.  As I recall, Jill and the other Duggar women are shorter than average and I believe they are also somewhat short-waisted in build.  A short woman with a short torso is always going to look bigger than a tall, long-waisted woman, even if they are carrying same sized babies.It is also true that the belly can look a little smaller at the end once the baby drops into the pelvis, which Jill's kiddo apparently never did.

 

Jill was a set up for a cesarean section and she should've realized that.  I would hope that her lay midwife realized that she was carrying a larger than average baby and that it wasn't dropping into the pelvis in the last few weeks like first baby's usually do.  Real midwives and doctors are also taught to estimate the size of the baby at every exam and research has shown that an experienced practitioner's estimate of fetal weight is as accurate as an ultrasound.  And that doing both is more accurate than either one alone. If I had a patient with a suspected large baby that was not descending into the pelvis by her due date; I'd be wanting to get an ultrasound to assess the fetal weight by another means and also to be sure the baby was cephalic.  Since it appears Jilly was taken by surprise that her baby wasn't headfirst, I suspect that neither she nor her 'midwife'  thought she needed an ultrasound to assess the situation.  BTW, a competent practitioner would also get an ultrasound by the time a woman was a week overdue to assess the amount of fluid around the baby since that is a big predictor of placental insufficiency which can occur when  the baby is late.  Had Jill had that done at 41 weeks, she also would've found out the baby was malpositioned. If the fluid is decreased, continuing to wait for labor would be dangerous for the baby. I guess the key words are 'competent practitioner'.

Edited April 16, 2015 by doodlebug

[3girlsforus]

That's a good question Wellfleet. I'll be curious to hear what GEML has to say. I wonder if they can even know who would be a 'catch' before the marriage. After all it's all about making babies. Even if a woman/girl fits all the criteria of a perfect wife, whatever that might be, if they end up with infertility issues or other problems making babies she'd fall off the pedestal pretty quick.

[JenCarroll]

Jill sounds so ridiculous. "Stitch me up good, so I can pop out the next one in a year". Just stop, Jill. Be grateful that Israel is healthy, and stop talking to People.

It is just so very, very JILL to inform us that she instructed the doctor on how to finish the job. (Good thing you were there, Jill, or he might not have understood.) It is also so very, very Jill to assume that "most detailed birth plan we've ever seen" is a compliment. She'll probably manage to learn absolutely nothing from this.

As far as thinking she'd be a bad fake-midwife because her judgment is poor -- I wouldn't assume she has a problem telling when other people need help. I think the issue wasn't that she didn't understand the situation, but that she thinks she's exempt. Reality was not going to be permitted to impinge on her agenda-driven plan. (I guess when you grow up on reality TV, your notion of what reality is can be kind of screwy.)

[Fostersmom]

You almost have to root for that being the case when it comes  to Duggar girls. They've been birthed by a freak of nature who had 17 (successful) pregnancies and who ALWAYS has to compare her children's life experiences to her own. All these girls need an "ah-ha" moment (including Anna). As mentioned above, I hope Jill's "ah-ha" moment also kicks in when Izzy is around six months and Mullet starts waxing poetic about how she cut off her babies at that age so she could concentrate on the next one.  Here's hoping the thought horrifies Jill. 

 

 

No, it will be when Izzy is a year old, she's 8 moths pregnant with #2, and there's no buddy to hand him off to. 

[doodlebug]

There's a common saying, 'The Lord helps idiots and small children'.  In this case, Jill had all bases covered, it seems.

[satrunrose]

 

As far as thinking she'd be a bad fake-midwife because her judgment is poor -- I wouldn't assume she has a problem telling when other people need help. I think the issue wasn't that she didn't understand the situation, but that she thinks she's exempt. Reality was not going to be permitted to impinge on her agenda-driven plan. (I guess when you grow up on reality TV, your notion of what reality is can be kind of screwy.)

 

JenCarroll, you're probably right that Jill might not behave the same way when it isn't her child and we don't really have enough information to know how much of what happened was ignorance and how much was denial (we don't even know if all of the scary red flags are being reported accurately). The problem for me is that, whatever the capacity, Jill is probably going to be working with "like-minded" people if and when she assists at a birth, and those women are going to be just as agenda-driven and reluctant to seek more advanced care as Jill was (see Duggar, Anna and the infamous toilet birth). Plus, a strong grip on reality and an ability to change the plan when reality happens are kind of key skills in the person in charge of getting a baby born safely. 

[sandyskyblue]

Her entire life she's been given a specific set of step to follow that guarantee happiness as long as you're totally obedient. Hopefully this shakes her out of that kind of thinking.

I so agree with this....having specific steps and rules are OK, but what if something happens that does not fit into the steps/rules??  We all know that life throws many curve balls at us and we need to think on our feet...and quickly!!!  Seems to me these fundies are not taught to think for themselves with the brain God gave them....I think Jill was extremely lucky that nothing happened to her and her baby....I cannot fathom 70 hours in labor in this day and age, seems like something out of the dark ages....

[Wellfleet]

The large belly was most likely due to the fact she was carrying a large baby.  However, looks can be deceiving when it comes to pregnancy ands that's why we practitioners get out the measuring tape and put our hands on the belly when trying to judge the baby's size.  As I recall, Jill and the other Duggar women are shorter than average and I believe they are also somewhat short-waisted in build.  A short woman with a short torso is always going to look bigger than a tall, long-waisted woman, even if they are carrying same sized babies.It is also true that the belly can look a little smaller at the end once the baby drops into the pelvis, which Jill's kiddo apparently never did.

 

Jill was a set up for a cesarean section and she should've realized that.  I would hope that her lay midwife realized that she was carrying a larger than average baby and that it wasn't dropping into the pelvis in the last few weeks like first baby's usually do.  Real midwives and doctors are also taught to estimate the size of the baby at every exam and research has shown that an experienced practitioner's estimate of fetal weight is as accurate as an ultrasound.  And that doing both is more accurate than either one alone. If I had a patient with a suspected large baby that was not descending into the pelvis by her due date; I'd be wanting to get an ultrasound to assess the fetal weight by another means and also to be sure the baby was cephalic.  Since it appears Jilly was taken by surprise that her baby wasn't headfirst, I suspect that neither she nor her 'midwife'  thought she needed an ultrasound to assess the situation.  BTW, a competent practitioner would also get an ultrasound by the time a woman was a week overdue to assess the amount of fluid around the baby since that is a big predictor of placental insufficiency which can occur when  the baby is late.  Had Jill had that done at 41 weeks, she also would've found out the baby was malpositioned. If the fluid is decreased, continuing to wait for labor would be dangerous for the baby. I guess the key words are 'competent practitioner'.

 

Doodlebug - just want to say "thanks" for providing so much excellent information in the last few days. I feel like I should also say "thank you for your service" as we do for our troops. You OBs clearly have very difficult work to do - many times at least - and as we're learning, often in very difficult circumstances. Blessings to everyone in the field... :>) 

No, it will be when Izzy is a year old, she's 8 moths pregnant with #2, and there's no buddy to hand him off to. 

 

Something tells me Jana - maybe JoyAnna too - will "be sent over from the Big House" to deal with Izzy and do Jilly Muffin's bidding while she waits for #2.

[NikSac]

I absolutely do not wish any ill will on them, and I'm so glad he's apparently been born safely, but I am still worried about the meconium thing. I have known of two different cases where the baby got an infection from it and suffered serious consequences a week or two later (by serious consequences I mean didn't survive). I hope they continue to seek out medical treatment for that, just in case he needs it. He looks pretty darn healthy in the pics I've seen so far, so hopefully that continues to be the case.

[GEML]

Anna, was, for the time, a catch. A Waller would be a catch. If something had worked out with Josh and the Holt daughter, as was speculated at the time, that would have been a catch. Politicians, even at the state level, people with influence within the Fundy movements, to be blunt about it, families with money. Money still goes a long way in Fundy world because it can still be seen as a sign that God is "blessing" you. Jim Bob is right to be looking for people who have a call to "ministry" - he says all the right things. He's basically saying he wants someone who has some political or influential chops to come courting. It's kind of a code. He wants a pro-life activist or politician, or someone who does these conferences that they are always attending but are C list speakers. But they aren't resounding. They managed Anna, but otherwise they've found three local folks. It's really interesting in it's own way.

[JoanArc]

 

Politicians, even at the state level, people with influence within the Fundy movements, to be blunt about it, families with money.

The  Bates landing a Webster was a catch. He's from the most successful Gothard political family to date.

[GEML]

Huckabee had Gothard ties, although not full fledged.

[JenCarroll]

Plus, a strong grip on reality and an ability to change the plan when reality happens are kind of key skills in the person in charge of getting a baby born safely.

Well yeah, there is that. :-)

[DangerousMinds]

Huckabee had Gothard ties, although not full fledged.

Interesting. I doubt he would,ever admit it though. How many Gothard politicians can there be out there? Or do they truly not care about that?

[Wellfleet]

Anna, was, for the time, a catch. A Waller would be a catch. If something had worked out with Josh and the Holt daughter, as was speculated at the time, that would have been a catch. Politicians, even at the state level, people with influence within the Fundy movements, to be blunt about it, families with money. Money still goes a long way in Fundy world because it can still be seen as a sign that God is "blessing" you. Jim Bob is right to be looking for people who have a call to "ministry" - he says all the right things. He's basically saying he wants someone who has some political or influential chops to come courting. It's kind of a code. He wants a pro-life activist or politician, or someone who does these conferences that they are always attending but are C list speakers. But they aren't resounding. They managed Anna, but otherwise they've found three local folks. It's really interesting in it's own way.

 

So, if I understand you correctly, the parents of the kids Boob would like to match his kids up with basically want nothing to do with him?  Duggars come in the front door, and the fundie parents start looking for the back door and a quick exit?

Edited April 16, 2015 by Wellfleet

[Jac]

I wonder if Jilly Muffin was able to keep sweet for 70 hours of labor, or if she ever gave in and screamed and cursed.

 

 

I'm not sure Jilly Muffin knows any curse words.

[Zahdii]

I'm sure all the kids know curse words.  I bet they get cussed out every time they stage one of their ridiculous outings with Boob and MEchelle taking the lead and the rest of their brood wandering along behind them.  They're especially curse-able when they do that while crossing a street.

[graefin]

The whole thing sounds like a big bumbling mess, thanks to Jill. From the People article, I can't believe she took another dose of castor oil just before a 40 minute trip to the hospital. It may help stimulate contractions, but for the GI effects...what the hell was she going to do in the car? And it can also affect the baby. The baby had already passed meconium, why would she take something to possibly make that situation worse? Come on.

I was wondering also why on earth someone would want to stimulate contractions when you are 40 minutes away from the hospital rather than just wait until you get there. But then I realized that Jill was hellbent on delivering the baby herself and avoiding the hospital altogether. I guess she thought she could deliver in the car? What an idiot.

[Emme]

Latest headline from PEOPLE:

 

How Derick Dillard Kept Jill Calm During Her Intense Labor

 

 

Enough already. I am really surprised by the total saturation of Duggar media coverage right now. Obviously, it's being eaten up - and by more than just those of us who read to snark ;-)

 

So what do you all think is the reason for the endless fascination? Do you think people are looking for the anti-Kardashian (wholesome, sweet) alternative to follow? 

 

Frankly, if we're going to get every single detail - don't hold back. Where was this headline?

 

Derick Dillard Takes Jill Duggar from Pure to Pregnant in 38-Second Moment of Passion after Months of Buildup

 

[Cherrio]

Last night I thought about Jill and talking about how it did not go as planned. I realized that it is truly a warped thing to say, as most new and especially first time parents are just SO thankful for having a healthy baby. The disappointment is in the past and they smile and rejoice at this little creature. The baby seems secondary for Jill. Exactly like her mother. Derick should take his son and leave for good.

[BitterApple]

I agree that Joy will get stuck with nanny duty. Both Jill and Jessa grew up watching Michelle laze about and do nothing. To them, marriage and motherhood equals "pass on the work to someone else". Hence, Jana being summoned to make scones and Jill talking about baby #2 while her c-section stitches are still fresh. The drudge work is for the poor, lowly unmarrieds, not the special princesses who landed a man.

[floridamom]

I am curious to know exactly WHO WAS Jill's midwife, doula, and other assistants when she was at home? What are their actual qualifications? What advice and or insistence did they give her as this' laborious' situation evolved? Did she use some self-made midwife and assistant or a really trained professional one who could administer whatever medications might have been needed? Will we ever know the whole, real truth?

[bigskygirl]

You can't handle the truth!!!  Sorry, my headache and med sensitivity have taken over my brain.

[BitterApple]

floridamom, I'm curious as well. Did the midwife not do any ultrasounds? They didn't even know the baby was feet first until they examined her at the hospital. I think Jill is so uneducated she genuinely doesn't realize how back-alley her prenatal care was.

I can't wait to see the highly edited, highly sanitized birth special that makes Jill seem like some all-knowing expert. I wouldn't put it past them to re-shoot scenes after the fact, especially with all the internet criticism. The editing monkeys are racking up the overtime with this one.

[Fuzzysox]

Let's just pray that Jessa pray doesn't end up using the same worthless midwife. *shudder*

 

I've already lost interest in little RickJamesBitch. Yawn too much coverage has killed my interest.

[JoanArc]

 

I am curious to know exactly WHO WAS Jill's midwife, doula, and other assistants when she was at home? What are their actual qualifications?

I thought she used the one she went to on the show - where the camera lazed over her certification hanging on the wall. Of course it could've changed since then.

 

 

I can't wait to see the highly edited, highly sanitized birth special that makes Jill seem like some all-knowing expert.

It must be comforting to know you can catch all your mistakes in editing. As long as the baby lives, and he did, everything else is 'fixable'.

 

RE: Jill's training. Does anyone know how long Jill can legally take a break from her studies, then resume them for certification? I'm worried that she'll pop a few kids out overt the years, then go back and finish whatever little bit of time she has left. That wouldn't be good. I've known people who waited anywhere from 1-5 years after nursing school to sit for boards; it wasn't illegal for them but you forget so much. I don't know if Lay Midwifery has any rules regarding this (probably not).

[Ljohnson1987]

Hey, People: We don't need a new Dill article everyday. Enough!

[Dawn16]

Midwives, including certified nurse midwives, typically do only one ultrasound at the time Jill had hers (remember the gender reveal episode), unless there's cause for concern. In my first pregnancy, I could see and feel that the baby had descended and was head-down, so I don't know whether cnm midwives typically do ultrasounds when that is not the case.  Generally, midwives claim to be able to feel where the baby's head is positioned.  They also believe in waiting for the baby to turn, some will try to turn the baby, and some will deliver breach.  Because of Jill's involvement with midwifery, I don't see this as a Duggar or fundie thing so much.  There is a lot of passion and extremism within the midwife culture, and a lot of it is understandable when you hear about women being pushed by some OBs into inductions and C-sections unnecessarily.  Both sides believe they ARE doing what's best for the baby and mom.  And Jill in particular is very niave, sheltered, and trained not to question her beliefs. 

 

Jill's dislike of shoes is also something I relate to.  My husband says I walked the halls barefoot during those hours of labor that my memory has blocked out.  Some of us would prefer to live barefoot as much as possible, and it has nothing to do with religion or making women be barefoot and pregnant.  Jill just has never had to go to school or a job where she was forced to get used to shoes, and she grew up being allowed to keep her feet unconfined. 

 

What I'm more concerned about is whether Jill and/or Derick have the guts to have a normal, healthy family size and to allow their children to get a real education.  I'm hoping that Jill's training included the value of extended, exclusive breastfeeding and she doesn't get her cycles back for at least a year.  She may view motherhood like being a queen, but I think she also wants to be there for her kids, based on her efforts to keep giving attention to her siblings.  Unfortunately, she may also be as fertile as her mother and if she considers natural family planning a sin.... I'm afraid Derek may be too nice and passive to stand up to her.   

 

[Absolom]

 

Does anyone know how long Jill can legally take a break from her studies, then resume them for certification?

I think Jill has basically finished her studies.  She said she plans to take the examination in a few months.  If she does and passes and has completed the other minimum state requirements, then she'll get her license.  

[doodlebug]

 

Did the midwife not do any ultrasounds?

Well, she managed to have one to find out the baby's sex well ahead of the birth, but I guess it wasn't so important to assess the baby's, size, position or amount of fluid. While it is absolutely possible to predict the baby's size and position by exam without an ultrasound; Jill's situation suggests that she would've benefited from an ultrasound done when she went so far past her due date. After all, you can't film an episode around boring stuff like that. I've been doing OB for over 30 years and while I don't miss breeches very often, I do miss them.  Most recently, last week as a matter of fact (examined a woman in early labor who wasn't my patient and didn't catch it; luckily, a good L&D nurse examined her a couple hours later and did). Her midwife is definitely a lay midwife which is legal in Arkansas, but it is unlikely that she has an ultrasound in her office or anything other than casual training in using it.  A basic ultrasound machine costs 30 grand or more brand new, lay midwives don't have that kind of dough. If she's licensed, she should be able to order ultrasounds from a nearby medical facility.  It may be that the ultrasound for fetal sex was done at a for-profit ultrasound center and was paid for by production.  There are places all around the country where a pregnant woman can get an ultrasound, even  3D, for a price, starting around $300 around here. They usually have cutesy names like The Glass Womb. However, those places have everyone sign a waiver that the ultrasound is for entertainment purposes only and no medical information will be obtained or provided; so the midwife couldn't send her there for any obstetric purpose.

 

As far as Jill leaving school, once again, the midwifery program she was doing isn't a typical medically/scientifically based training. Probably if she's willing to fork over the cash, she's back in anytime she wants (or more likely, anytime the producers decide they want more footage and write the check).  In real life, my medical school would grant a leave of absence for up to a year.  After a year, if the student wasn't able to return, they were off the roster and would have to re-apply, get accepted and start all over again.  The learning is progressive in these situations, one class builds on the next.  Too much time passes and too much is forgotten.

Edited April 16, 2015 by doodlebug

[Ljohnson1987]

Jill will say her career is motherhood.

[Sew Sumi]

The 40 minutes to the hospital bit  bothers me. There's a hospital five minutes from the McMansion. Why on earth didn't they find a doctor who practices there? 

[JoanArc]

 

Probably if she's willing to fork over the cash, she's back in anytime she wants (or more likely, anytime the producers decide they want more footage and write the check)

That's what I'm afraid of.

[Ljohnson1987]

I wonder if mothers will shy away from having Jill assist them, because they saw how negligent she was with her own birth.

[Hpmec]

Sew Sumi, regarding the hospital. I suspect Derick's insurance is an HMO that restricts which hospitals its members can use and which doctors they can see. In a life or death situation, they can use any hospital, but would be transferred once stabilized anyway. That's the only explanation that makes any sense to me.

[Wellfleet]

Last night I thought about Jill and talking about how it did not go as planned. I realized that it is truly a warped thing to say, as most new and especially first time parents are just SO thankful for having a healthy baby. The disappointment is in the past and they smile and rejoice at this little creature. The baby seems secondary for Jill. Exactly like her mother. Derick should take his son and leave for good.

 

I think the real root of Jill's whole attitude of "disappointment" here is that for the first time in her life, little Jilly-Muffin didn't do it perfectly. Circumstances, and her own subsequent decisions, stepped in to alter her plans. She learned at age 23 [?] what most of us learn much earlier, as children and teens, that things don't always go the way you want them to go - even when you do everything right. Life throws us all curves of various sizes, usually when you least expect or want them, and you need to be ready to handle things for which you never prepared or imagined. Until now Jill's been driving a brand-new vehicle on a flat, dry, straight stretch of road, with no traffic in sight - and about a week ago she experienced her first traffic jam.