We had our first visit to the doctor's office today. Nothing too exciting (sorry to disappoint anyone). We met with a Nurse Practitioner who basically interviewed us (mostly regarding our/family medical histories, although we were surprised to find out her son, who is a Marine, joined/replaced Kevin's squadron in Iraq--small world). We also discussed the development of the baby, what I can expect from the doctor/nurses/staff, voluntary tests we may want to consider doing, nutrition, hospital options, classes/tours we need/should take, all of the basics!
My due date has been calculated as June 29, 2010, although she seemed to think I would most definitely go over that date (we all joked about a July 4th Birthday, wouldn't that be fitting?) Or, maybe the baby will share his or her Birthday with Grandma & Grandpa Snowden's Anniversary on July 1st? Or perhaps the baby will share his or her Birthday with the day we celebrated our wedding, July 3rd? Lots of big events happened around this time, so why not add on another?
Her biggest concern is that I am/have been underweight all my life. She said it's not a huge concern or even a problem, but she convinced Kevin (the food Drill Sergeant) that a little Taco Bell every now and then would NOT hurt in fattening me up a bit (boy am I eternally grateful for that comment). She is hopeful I will gain 25-30 pounds, so we'll see about that. She gave me nutrition charts showing the food groups and the amount of servings I should have from each. We were happy to see it matches the "menu" we've created at home--we've been doing that part right from the get go, so that was a relief (I was secretly hoping she'd say I no longer had to endure that torture!).
She also asked if my sister and mother got sick during their pregnancies. She said since they did, I likely will and she guessed it should kick in at some point this weekend. Not a good weekend for that, we are traveling to/from Hanford, have a party to attend, visits to make and other things we were hoping to get accomplished. Guess I'll see how much I am up for. She said the queasiness I am feeling in the mornings is NORMAL and usually means the morning sickness is coming. She said having snacks next to the bed is the right thing to do (I did not have the heart to tell her that the past two mornings, NOTHING sounds good, so I've just been drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast, letting that settle for a couple of hours and then eating). She gave me a prescription for some lozenges or popsicles that will "hopefully" help with the morning sickness by giving me a recommended amount of B6. She said of course there are other alternatives we can try if it gets too bad, but we'll see how it goes.
I also got a flu shot (thimerosal-free, AKA mercury free version for pregnant women), which we debated heavily on doing or not doing. Basically, if I did not get it I would be at risk every time I walk into a school (no matter how much I was my hands, that's just the nature of the job). Since my JOB requires me to go from school to school, I am exposed to many "opportunities" to catch all sorts of things. I cannot imagine not working the entire flu season (um, hello we have a baby on the way!) so we decided I had better get vaccinated. The benefits far outweigh the risks, considering some have miscarried after getting the flu, ended up hospitalized, suffered complications, etc. Just the ongoing fever associated with the flu can cause great harm to the fetus, so I decided I'd rather not take that chance.
She said when they get the swine flu vaccine (H1N1 to be politically correct) they will be holding a clinic for all of their pregnant patients to come in and get vaccinated, but I am going to do some research on this before I make that decision, as that vaccine is supposed to be much stronger than the seasonal flu vaccine (although again, it's going to be weighing my options, as many pregnant woman have died from H1N1 and I am considered more susceptible due to my line of work). They monitored me a while after my flu shot, then sent me out for some lab work, some required tests, others that were completely voluntary, but to our surprise, covered by our insurance (hey--why not?).
I know some of you have been concerned about the cramping I have been experiencing. She actually brought this up and said it is perfectly normal and as long as they are just like menstrual cramps, I am fine. Everything is just making the necessary modifications (expanding, moving up, etc.) to support the pregnancy. If the pain becomes severe and/or is accompanied by bleeding then we are to call the doctor.
Finally, what everyone has been asking us: I will definitely have an ultrasound scheduled between 18-20 weeks (Jan. 27-Feb. 10). If our insurance approves an additional ultrasound (and blood screening for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18) both will occur during the 11-14 week period (Dec. 9-Dec.30). We will let you know when we figure out what options are available to us and/or if we're able to pay for the procedure "out pocket" if our insurance does not cover it.
So far, I am pleased with our choice of doctor's office (although I have not yet met the dr.). I like knowing I have 5 Dr's. to rely on 24/7. I found the staff to be welcoming, courteous, supportive and honest. As our nurse put it, we're practically family (as mentioned, she has a son in the Marines, who served in Iraq and our doctor has a son in the military who also served or is serving in Iraq). I was also very impressed with how much I already knew and/or am already doing that was discussed today. Looks like that pregnancy book I was obsessively reading paid off (no worries, I am already on to the next and after my visit to my sister's house this weekend, I'll have even more information to digest!).
Because this appt. did not confirm how the baby is doing, I am only opening the blog up to our close family members who already know about the pregnancy. I think this will help everyone stay updated without having to make phone call after phone call. But, I do ask that you not share this blog with anyone else. We would like to decide when we will share the news and this blog with extended family and friends. So far, we have not come to a conclusion on that, although I do not know if this secret can be kept until Christmas (when I enter my second trimester). I know it is hard for some of you to not mention it in conversations, but know that we appreciate your diligence. We are not trying to hurt feelings or be unusually cruel, we would just like to confirm everything is going smoothly before we share the news. Thank you for your understanding and support, hopefully some news will come soon!
Well, that's it for now. My next appt. is November 16th, where I meet my doctor and we begin my monthly appts. You will likely hear from us again before then (as long as I am not too immobilized by morning sickness). Stay tuned for more!
My due date has been calculated as June 29, 2010, although she seemed to think I would most definitely go over that date (we all joked about a July 4th Birthday, wouldn't that be fitting?) Or, maybe the baby will share his or her Birthday with Grandma & Grandpa Snowden's Anniversary on July 1st? Or perhaps the baby will share his or her Birthday with the day we celebrated our wedding, July 3rd? Lots of big events happened around this time, so why not add on another?
Her biggest concern is that I am/have been underweight all my life. She said it's not a huge concern or even a problem, but she convinced Kevin (the food Drill Sergeant) that a little Taco Bell every now and then would NOT hurt in fattening me up a bit (boy am I eternally grateful for that comment). She is hopeful I will gain 25-30 pounds, so we'll see about that. She gave me nutrition charts showing the food groups and the amount of servings I should have from each. We were happy to see it matches the "menu" we've created at home--we've been doing that part right from the get go, so that was a relief (I was secretly hoping she'd say I no longer had to endure that torture!).
She also asked if my sister and mother got sick during their pregnancies. She said since they did, I likely will and she guessed it should kick in at some point this weekend. Not a good weekend for that, we are traveling to/from Hanford, have a party to attend, visits to make and other things we were hoping to get accomplished. Guess I'll see how much I am up for. She said the queasiness I am feeling in the mornings is NORMAL and usually means the morning sickness is coming. She said having snacks next to the bed is the right thing to do (I did not have the heart to tell her that the past two mornings, NOTHING sounds good, so I've just been drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast, letting that settle for a couple of hours and then eating). She gave me a prescription for some lozenges or popsicles that will "hopefully" help with the morning sickness by giving me a recommended amount of B6. She said of course there are other alternatives we can try if it gets too bad, but we'll see how it goes.
I also got a flu shot (thimerosal-free, AKA mercury free version for pregnant women), which we debated heavily on doing or not doing. Basically, if I did not get it I would be at risk every time I walk into a school (no matter how much I was my hands, that's just the nature of the job). Since my JOB requires me to go from school to school, I am exposed to many "opportunities" to catch all sorts of things. I cannot imagine not working the entire flu season (um, hello we have a baby on the way!) so we decided I had better get vaccinated. The benefits far outweigh the risks, considering some have miscarried after getting the flu, ended up hospitalized, suffered complications, etc. Just the ongoing fever associated with the flu can cause great harm to the fetus, so I decided I'd rather not take that chance.
She said when they get the swine flu vaccine (H1N1 to be politically correct) they will be holding a clinic for all of their pregnant patients to come in and get vaccinated, but I am going to do some research on this before I make that decision, as that vaccine is supposed to be much stronger than the seasonal flu vaccine (although again, it's going to be weighing my options, as many pregnant woman have died from H1N1 and I am considered more susceptible due to my line of work). They monitored me a while after my flu shot, then sent me out for some lab work, some required tests, others that were completely voluntary, but to our surprise, covered by our insurance (hey--why not?).
I know some of you have been concerned about the cramping I have been experiencing. She actually brought this up and said it is perfectly normal and as long as they are just like menstrual cramps, I am fine. Everything is just making the necessary modifications (expanding, moving up, etc.) to support the pregnancy. If the pain becomes severe and/or is accompanied by bleeding then we are to call the doctor.
Finally, what everyone has been asking us: I will definitely have an ultrasound scheduled between 18-20 weeks (Jan. 27-Feb. 10). If our insurance approves an additional ultrasound (and blood screening for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18) both will occur during the 11-14 week period (Dec. 9-Dec.30). We will let you know when we figure out what options are available to us and/or if we're able to pay for the procedure "out pocket" if our insurance does not cover it.
So far, I am pleased with our choice of doctor's office (although I have not yet met the dr.). I like knowing I have 5 Dr's. to rely on 24/7. I found the staff to be welcoming, courteous, supportive and honest. As our nurse put it, we're practically family (as mentioned, she has a son in the Marines, who served in Iraq and our doctor has a son in the military who also served or is serving in Iraq). I was also very impressed with how much I already knew and/or am already doing that was discussed today. Looks like that pregnancy book I was obsessively reading paid off (no worries, I am already on to the next and after my visit to my sister's house this weekend, I'll have even more information to digest!).
Because this appt. did not confirm how the baby is doing, I am only opening the blog up to our close family members who already know about the pregnancy. I think this will help everyone stay updated without having to make phone call after phone call. But, I do ask that you not share this blog with anyone else. We would like to decide when we will share the news and this blog with extended family and friends. So far, we have not come to a conclusion on that, although I do not know if this secret can be kept until Christmas (when I enter my second trimester). I know it is hard for some of you to not mention it in conversations, but know that we appreciate your diligence. We are not trying to hurt feelings or be unusually cruel, we would just like to confirm everything is going smoothly before we share the news. Thank you for your understanding and support, hopefully some news will come soon!
Well, that's it for now. My next appt. is November 16th, where I meet my doctor and we begin my monthly appts. You will likely hear from us again before then (as long as I am not too immobilized by morning sickness). Stay tuned for more!
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