My latest doctor visit arrived today.

 ….:::pauses in contemplative silence:::….

Ok, wait, I just reread my first sentence.  Boy, you can tell I am caught up in babyspeak.  A doctor visit arrived?

 LOL…Anyway…

So, yeh.. the doctor visit arrived at 9:15 this morning.  :)  As usual, since Kevin is unable to get off during the day to go with me, my mom went instead (my mom is the greatest).  At 8:30 this morning, I dropped off some funeral bulletins to my dad that I had been asked to design for a dear friend who passed…and then at 8:45 me and mom hopped in the car and we headed onward to the OBGYN office. 

And I was miserable! 

I’ve always had the tendency to pass out whenever blood leaves my body.  It’s the most horrible feeling.  Plus, I’m scared of needles - especially after this one vampire “couldn’t find my vein” one time a few years ago when I was in the hospital with a bad stomach virus.  She stuck me 5 times in the arm…hard…before I puked on her.  I didn’t mean to..honest!

Today, I knew I was having my CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test performed which means they would be drawing blood from my arm. 

To make things worse, they were also using the same blood test to check my sugar levels, which means I had to start fasting last night after midnight.  I was completely famished!  Usually I’m not too hungry when I first start my morning, but wouldn’t you know that since it was a “required” fast, that’s the time when I end up feeling more hungry than I ever have in my life.  That, and and I had to potty.  It’s pretty hard waking up and knowing that, hey, if I don’t save this for the unmentionablepeeinacuptest at the office then I won’t have anything to donate!  

Oh, and did I mention how wobbly and stuffed I’ve been feeling lately?

A hungry, scared, wobbly, stuffed, miserable, bloated pregnant woman is NOT a fun thing to be.

So.  Anyway.

We arrived at the doctor’s office at 9:03 am with the slight hopes that they might call me in earlier than my 9:15 scheduled appointment.   No such luck though.

I think they finally called me back around 9:20 or so.

First Things First

First thing they did (as always) was take my vitals.  Blood pressure was ok - 90/60.   Then they weighed me - 143 lbs.  Which means, I lost a pound since my visit last week.  The lady nurse tried to accuse me of not eating at first… no way!  I’ve been eating great (just see our dinner last night, for instance).  After a few seconds she conceded that cutting out all of the sugar will make one lose weight, but she still sounded doubtful.   Then I was sent back for the unmentionablepeeinacup test, and was finally escorted to Doctor Ann’s room to await her arrival.   (There I go again, talking in babyspeak..hehe).

The OB Visit

She didn’t take too long to get there - maybe 3 minutes tops.  We went over my chart and vitals, I asked how much the baby weighs according to the ultrasound (3.8 lbs…I had forgotten to ask earlier), and then she brought up the “losing a pound” issue.  All in all, I’ve now lost a total of  4 lbs since my December 27 visit (which was the day my highest weight was recorded).  She asked if I was eating as well.  Of course I am!!  I even told her that since our last 2 visits (where she advised that I not worry so much and pick back up on a few starches) I’ve added some white potatoes, corn and a bit of pasta back into my diet.  She finally decided that the weight loss is just due to my sugarless diet.  Everything is going well with the baby, and he seems to be doing fine and dandy - so there’s probably not anything to worry about.

I think it’s quite a conundrum to have a condition that is known for causing increased weight gain and abnormally large babies - yet our main concern right now is the fact that I’m losing weight.  It’s very paradoxical.  Hrm.

After our little talking session was over, she measured me.  I’m measuring 32 weeks this week - last week I was only measuring 30 weeks.  So I guess I was correct in thinking that I’ve popped out more this past week!  I definately feel different.  She also took his heartbeat (140 bpm) and we got to hear him start the hiccups. It was way too cute.

Oh, and I did ask about the backaches I’ve been experiencing the past week.  And of course she said exactly what I knew she would say.  But anyway.  At least there’s no (perceived) problem with it.  

Then we discussed how my last few weeks of visits will be played out.  I don’t have another visit until 2 weeks from now - but once that starts, I’ll be having visits every week.  Doctor Ann explained that they determine how these particular visits go based on the “profile” of the patient.  Since I am a gestational diabetes patient I’ll be having ultrasounds done at each visit as well so they can monitor the baby.  Furthermore, because of the diabetes, I’ll be having to visit the hospital for a NST (non-stress test) once a week.  I was thinking this would be a long test, but was told later that it probably won’t last longer than 30 minutes or so.  Those weekly sessions will continue each week until the birth (whoohoo…it’s getting exciting.. I’m truly on the countdown now!!).

We also got in a bit of personal conversation about our favorite music genres and about Christian music - she has tickets to the upcoming Casting Crowns concert in our state’s capital city!  They’re a great group.  We also chitchatted a bit more about our faith.  It’s always nice to find a “professional” worker who isn’t afraid to admit their faith in Jesus.

Here Comes the Needle

Then we said our farewells and it was time for my blood test.  Since I always request to lay down (because of my tendency to faint), I got to stay in Doctor Ann’s room on the exam table (with the comfy pillow).  I was very nervous, but not quite so scared once I found out the GOOD “needle sticker” was there - Ms. Rachel!  She is a very kind older lady who seems to have 100 years of experience under her belt.  I barely even felt the needle during my last blood test. 

So in she came, and POP - my eyes closed…not to be opened again until she was done!   I know it would just scare me more to see the needle and watch it go in, so I just always turn my head and close my eyes.  (I’ve even given explicit instructions to my hubby and my cousin Carrie who will be helping in the labor room that I am NOT to see the epidural needle)!  The needle didn’t hurt much, since she is such a wonderful needle-sticker :)  but I did feel the usual warmth come over me and the start of a slight tingle.  Luckily the nausea didn’t hit this time like it normally does, and I felt pretty good afterwards.   Good enough to stand up a few seconds later (without passing out!!) and thank her profusely for such a wonderful, wonderful job she does! 

After that, it was time to leave.  Out in the hallway I chatted with Doctor Ann for a brief moment and she got my chart for me.  Then I gave my chart to the secretary lady and she set up my appointments.

My 1 week visits start in 2 weeks, with my next visit to the OBGYN office being Tuesday, March 25 at 9:15 am.  Then the secretary called the Labor & Delivery at the hospital to get my NST set up.  I’ll be going to them for the first time on Thursday, March 27, at 8:30 am.   The secretary said also that for the remainder of my pregnancy I’ll probably continue in that particular Tuesday / Thursday fashion - OBGYN every Tuesday and the hospital for NST every Thursday.

And then it was time for us to leave (and of course I immediately went over everything with mom in the car…it feels good to have someone to tell things to immediately after leaving the office). 

Tagged: Dr's Visits

What Next?

• “Beta Strep Test Time” Prenatal Visit #15 (36 Weeks) (Viewed 0 times)
• “First of the Weeklies” Prenatal Visit #12 (34 Weeks) (Viewed 0 times)
• Time for Blood! Pre-natal Visit #2 - Sept. 26, 2007 (Viewed 0 times)

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