Month 1

Today I had my first appointment for my new pregnancy. We got to the office about 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork and shit of the sort. Zek's in a bad mood today. He didn't want to go/be there. I was a little hurt by this and I'd have rather he have waited in the car then have gone in with me. I tried my best to ignore it.

I was given quite the hassel at the office. I have Tricare Health Insurance, which is what the military uses. It's very good insurance. It covers 100% of everything. The only draw backs are that my providers on base are very busy and understaffed. They hadn't put in my referral to the down town obstetrics clinic. I was forced to wait an hour after my appointment was meant to begin to actually be seen. I was feeling very irritable and wanted to leave.

My paperwork was very farmiliar. "When was your last menstral period? What contraceptives were you using? How old are you? Any birth defects in your family, or the baby's father's family? etc." I am once again to be considered a 'High Risk' pregnancy due to my age. Women under the age of 21, and over the age of 35 at the time of delivery are to be considered high risk.

Finally I am called in for my examination. I was seen by my nurse practitioner who helped me through my last pregancy and all my other gynocological needs.

Upon an initial appointment, you will have a pelvic exam, pap smear, STD test (Chlamydia), and breast exam.

My blood pressure was taken prior to my undressing. I was at 117/73. So I'm doing rather well. 120/80 is normal. I've always been a little low. So all is normal at current.

Having a pelvic exam is almost like getting a pap smear. Your naked from the waist down and have your feet in stirrups. My NP slid her fingers inside my vagina up to my cervix and used her other hand to press on my abdomen.

After the pelvic exam, she swabbed me for my STD test, and then for my pap smear. Then I was prompted to put my legs together again.

She lifted my shirt and bra and massaged my breasts checking for any anamolies. All clear there.

I then scoot up on the exam table and expose my tummy. She uses an instrument called a dopler to find the heartbeat of the baby. She squeezed a small amount of gel on the dopler to help receive a better signal. We couldn't find the heartbeat today. Because I have NO IDEA when my last period was, ( I recently had my IUD taken out. It had been messing with my period, so I don't know when my last one was) I will have an ultrasound done next week to figure out in measuremeants how far along I am.

At this point I couldn't be more than 5 weeks. But we'll know for sure next week.

I was given a prescription for Pre-Natal vitamins. I will have to take these everyday even after the baby is born until I am instructed to stop taking them. I was also told to drink 3-5 liters of water a day. (As if I didn't have to pee all the time already!)

With this first appointment, it is also the beginning of no more not approved drugs. I.E. When you are pregnant, your immune system goes down tremendously. Like anything foreign in your body your white blood cells will try to attack the baby. To accommodate the baby, your body turns your white blood cells on 'virtually non-existent. This means that you are much more likely to get sick and stay sick. Now I'll tie the drugs into this. The only medication you can really take while pregnant is acetaminophen (Tylenol). No cold pills, no OTC anythings. The only other medication I can take is my Welbutrin.

Right now, my feelings about this pregnancy are mixed. I am excited about it. But at the same time, I feel a little apprehensive. Already, I am experiencing a severe loss in concentration, my mood swings are taking over my sanity, and I'm having expensive cravings. (Sushi.... mmmmmmm.) I feel like I'm constantly being attacked by Zek and his constant bad moods. (He hasn't taken his meds in three days.) I feel very overwhelmed at the moment. I try to tell myself that I'm not going to get upset about these things and not to let my hormones get the best of me. But I'm in a vulnerable state of mind right now. Things will get better I'm sure. At present, they're not that great. Just have to wait it out.

I'll be sure to have another report next week after my ultrasound.



I apologize for my various grammatical errors etc. I'm far to tired to care too much about them right now. Although in the morning I'm sure there will be a nice edit. :P

Uh yeah. I'm fine and not attacking anyone.

She's already getting moody and craves expensive foods that we can't afford. Also doesn't like lifting things.

<3.

quote:Originally posted by HandOfZek:

Uh yeah. I'm fine and not attacking anyone.

She's already getting moody and craves expensive foods that we can't afford. Also doesn't like lifting things.

<3.

You're having a kid? I thought you're gay, sir?

Thanks for sharing.. I'm ever-curious about most aspects of pregnancy. I wasn't aware that under 21 is considered high risk..(heck, the virgin mary allegedly had jesus when she was 14) I was hoping to have a baby before then if I could afford it and sort out my education. Not likely, I know.

Anyway, interesting read, thanks.

quote:Originally posted by HandOfZek:

Uh yeah. I'm fine and not attacking anyone.

She's already getting moody and craves expensive foods that we can't afford. Also doesn't like lifting things.

<3.

More like you don't want to lift anything, and then get mad when I decline. :P

quote:Originally posted by Flock:

I wasn't aware that under 21 is considered high risk..(heck, the virgin mary allegedly had jesus when she was 14) I was hoping to have a baby before then if I could afford it and sort out my education. Not likely, I know.

Anyway, interesting read, thanks.

I too was unaware that under 21 is considered a risk.

quote:Originally posted by Flock:

Thanks for sharing.. I'm ever-curious about most aspects of pregnancy. I wasn't aware that under 21 is considered high risk..(heck, the virgin mary allegedly had jesus when she was 14) I was hoping to have a baby before then if I could afford it and sort out my education. Not likely, I know.

Anyway, interesting read, thanks.

More updates to come. Going to school and trying to afford a baby is tough work. But you can do it.

[This message has been edited by Hardly There (edited 09-20-2006).]

quote:Originally posted by jackketch:

I too was unaware that under 21 is considered a risk.

Yep. A woman's body is considered fully developed after age 21 (or about). I'm still considered, 'underdeveloped.' But I've been developed for a while. This just means that my insurance will spoil me. :P

I was particulary pleased that you described the physical examination in some depth. From personal experience i know that not all young/first time mothers realise that over the course of a pregnancy that various peoples hands will be going up there !

Also to be frank, the first time i went with a girl to the Gyno , for a full exam , i have to admit the setup does resemble something out of the Middle Ages...and not one of the nicer parts of the era.

The 'chair' with it's stirrups and straps,the weird vice like 'strechers' ...all layed out , ready for 'action'.

So if a first time mother has never had a full examination before (and here in the uK many haven't i guess) then it must be a little scary.

[This message has been edited by jackketch (edited 09-20-2006).]

For your immune system, I'd suggest taking a generous amount of vitamin C. Although there's no guarentee with that, a good amount of Zinc would go a long way.

quote:Originally posted by jackketch:

I was particulary pleased that you described the physical examination in some depth. From personal experience i know that not all young/first time mothers realise that over the course of a pregnancy that various peoples hands will be going up there !

Also to be frank, the first time i went with a girl to the Gyno , for a full exam , i have to admit the setup does resemble something out of the Middle Ages...and not one of the nicer parts of the era.

The 'chair' with it's stirrups and straps,the weird vice like 'strechers' ...all layed out , ready for 'action'.

So if a first time mother has never had a full examination before (and here in the uK many haven't i guess) then it must be a little scary.



By the time you actually give birth, you'll have no shame. So many people will have seen/touched/rubbed the hell out of so many of your parts. I was beginning to become jealous, as I was the only one who hasn't seen my cervix.

[This message has been edited by Hardly There (edited 09-20-2006).]

My OB told me my cervix was "Pretty."

Anyway, glad everything is going well for you!

...Sometimes I really wish I could have another baby.

quote:Originally posted by Xiao Mei:

My OB told me my cervix was "Pretty."

Anyway, glad everything is going well for you!

...Sometimes I really wish I could have another baby.

I was told I had a nice pelvis. But you win with the pretty cervix.

quote:Originally posted by Xiao Mei:

...Sometimes I really wish I could have another baby.

what happened that you can't have another child?

My uterus was severely damaged when my daughter was born. She was almost 10 pounds, so her birth was pretty difficult! My uterus and cervix were both torn as well as my vagina in 3 places. I hemorraged and I had to have emergency surgery to repair the lacerations. I was told that another pregnancy would open the rupture back up and cause me to bleed to death, so my husband got a vasectomy.

I still had a lot of problems, though, so in January I had to have a partial hysterectomy to remove my damaged cervix and the damaged portion of my uterus.

It sucks...Because I really would like another baby.

quote:Originally posted by Xiao Mei:

My uterus was severely damaged when my daughter was born. She was almost 10 pounds, so her birth was pretty difficult! My uterus and cervix were both torn as well as my vagina in 3 places. I hemorraged and I had to have emergency surgery to repair the lacerations. I was told that another pregnancy would open the rupture back up and cause me to bleed to death, so my husband got a vasectomy.

I still had a lot of problems, though, so in January I had to have a partial hysterectomy to remove my damaged cervix and the damaged portion of my uterus.

It sucks...Because I really would like another baby.

Adopt?

We've thought about it.

quote:Originally posted by Flock:

Thanks for sharing.. I'm ever-curious about most aspects of pregnancy. I wasn't aware that under 21 is considered high risk..(heck, the virgin mary allegedly had jesus when she was 14) I was hoping to have a baby before then if I could afford it and sort out my education. Not likely, I know.

Anyway, interesting read, thanks.

I was pregnant at 19 and my doctor didn't say it was high risk.

Maybe it depends on where you live?

Why would you specifically want to have a baby before you were 21?

I'm not trying to be a dick...

But was it really necessary to give a step by step of the procedure? This whole thread could have been summed up by 'Zek was being a prick, but aside from that...all went well'

quote:Originally posted by SilentMind:

I'm not trying to be a dick...

But was it really necessary to give a step by step of the procedure? This whole thread could have been summed up by 'Zek was being a prick, but aside from that...all went well'

I was asked to blog in detail my experience. Don't read it if you're not interested in the details.

quote:Originally posted by Hardly There:

I was asked to blog in detail my experience. Don't read it if you're not interested in the details.

but...but...totse isnt your blog.

Jackketch asked her to.

quote:Originally posted by SilentMind:

but...but...totse isnt your blog.

It is until I give birth.

And even for a little after.

Get used to my frequent updates. :-P

[This message has been edited by Hardly There (edited 09-21-2006).]