Well, I had my first doctor's appointment yesterday. We spent an enjoyable day in the big city, and went to my appointment after having some fun. My appointment was the last appointment of the day. ...I'll never do that again! My appointment was at 4:30 and I didn't see the doctor (and not even the doctor I signed up to see) until after 5:00 (we didn't leave the office until almost 6:00!). I've decided I don't really appreciate nurses, no offense to anyone who is a nurse, it's a noble job, but the ones I've met lately have just rubbed me the wrong way. The nurse yesterday took me into the room and started to ask the normal questions and then informed me that I was going to have to have a pelvic and a pap. What! I had one done 6 months ago when I miscarried, why on earth would I need another one! So I told her that to which she told me, because apparently she thought she was the doctor, that it didn't matter that I had had one then, that I was going to get another yesterday. So I shut up and waited for the doctor. The doctor came in and was as nice as peaches, she told me that the nurse had informed (told her that I was a grouchy prego woman, and that I complained) her that I was "concerned" about getting a pap and went into a lengthy explanation on why she needed to do another one. "If it's been more than 6 months we like to do another one"... What really would've changed?! Honestly? I've become more aware as I get older that I have the right, no matter what it is, I have the right. I've also learned that if I don't speak up and say what I want or what I'm thinking, people will walk on me. So, I "politely" told her "no, I had one 6 months ago, I don't need another one, and frankly I'm not feeling like inflicting any bleeding on myself which may cause me to miscarry". Call me paranoid, but I am with good reason, I just had a miscarriage 6 months ago. I don't want to lose this pregnancy, so it's my right. And ya know, she was as nice as can be about. She said "that's totally fine, your last labs looked great, and there's no need for any concern about anything". Okay... so if all that was okay, why were you insisting on me doing one! Whatever. She still had to do a pelvic, which is not my favorite part of pregnancy. If I could just get pregnant, enjoy feeling the kicking baby, and deliver without ever showing my parts off, I would sign up for that! After the exam she informed me that my uterus was showing bigger than 11 weeks, so yea! I could be farther along! Then she went on to try and find a heart beat. Let me tell you, usually this is fun for me to hear the heart beat but she wasn't finding it. Alarming to me, but she said she kept hearing glimpses of it, and then the baby would move. She looked for about 15 minutes, a painful 15 minutes of her pushing on my already sore tummy. Only after that time did she locate it for about 3 full seconds and then the baby moved again. Her comment, "You have a wild one in there! The 'little cutie' just didn't want to be found!" Great... I hope this doesn't show the future personality of Lee Baby #2. After the exam the doc when into explaining genetic testing and that if I wanted to do that it would be done at the next appointment or two. I didn't think they did that unless you were older than 35? Did any of you do that? I'm scheduled for an appointment the first of December, but I should be getting scheduled for an ultrasound before then. Since I'm measuring a little big, she wanted to find out exactly how far along I am. It will be nice to get pictures as proof. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm always a little nervous about the first doctors appointment, I'm afraid they are going to tell me I'm not pregnant or something that it was all in my head. So finding the heart beat or getting an ultrasound is always a relief for me.
This doctors office is a group practice, so I won't know who I'm going to deliver with until I deliver. That's how my last doctors office was, and it really wasn't a bad experience. I'm going to make an effort to see all the different doctors just so I know who I like and maybe don't like so much. The doc I saw yesterday was only a nurse practitioner, so she doesn't deliver, but I wouldn't mind seeing her again. I'm still a little peeved at the reception area of this doctors office, they seem so disconnected with the doctors. There is a huge lack of communication between them. In scheduling my next appointment she tried to schedule me for the wrong appointment with the wrong doc, so I corrected her which made her very unhappy with me. Oh well, it's my right to speak up, right?
8 comments:
good for you for speaking up! i have learned more and more as i grow up that WE are the ones that decide what we do and do not do. good for you!!!! and yay to having an 11 week old fetus inside you!!! :) whoo hoo!!
I am so freaking excited for you!!!!! Seriously!!!! It is definatly your right to speak up about things that they are going to do to U!! In healthcare we encourage people to let us know any concerns they have and if they don't want something done, so high five on speaking up about it!!! And seriously you have no idea how excited I am for you!!!!
Hey! Through all 3 and now my 4th pregnancy they always ask if you want to do genetic testing, that is usually around 18-20 weeks, and its to test the baby for spina-bifada and down syndrome and stuff. Its so you know if you want to terminate (not!) or just be prepared for it. I've actually never got the test done so I can't help you there! But I'm sure its nothing to worry about and totally normal! Good luck!
Way to go, Kay! We never did the genetic testing (to my knowledge). Sorry about feeling so yuck... I used to wander the aisles at the grocery store (in a motorized cart since I was so sick) and have Jenna grab stuff off the shelves for me. Anything and everything that sounded remotely good. Our grocery bill was through the roof, and my family ate a lot of random castoffs for me. Aah, those were the good old days. NOT! Good luck. Love you!
We did the genetic testing, but only so we would be prepared if something was wrong.
My OB was a group practice, too. I only ever saw one other doctor and he was the one that delivered me and I was so thankful he was! It was an emergency situation and he was LDS so I trusted him even more.
I wish I was more like you - I'm a sucker and do whatever they tell me to and then complain about it later.
Kay,
The likely hood of you miscarrying now is only like 3-5% (Just FYI). I totally felt that way as well when it took us so long to get pregnant and then to run all the test and what not didn't appeal to me either. I did the quad screening though. I have some of the same problems with the doctors and aids/nurses as well...but no matter where you go I think you will always find people like that. Let me know if you need anything.
Hey girl! I was really nervous at my 1st check up too. You know you are pregnant and everything, but you still have that little niggling doubt. So it is a relief to hear that heartbeat and see those pictures. Joe and I opted not to do the genetic testing (they test for disorders such as Cystic Fibrosis & other hereditary conditions). Since no one in our families have any genetic disorders (praise God) & abortion was NOT an option, we decided to forgo them. I did decide to have the alpha fetoprotein (sp?) test done, as it was a simple blood draw, and I wanted to be prepared if the Lord chose to entrust us with a Down Syndrome baby, but it is really a personal choice. I hope your next appt is better. :)
I didn't do the genetic testing either. I didn't need that extra worry about how the baby would be if the results came back positive. KEEP SPEAKING YOUR MIND! You know what's best for you.
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