Monday I had my 1st "pregnancy" doctor visit. No, not with my OB/GYN, but with a high-risk doctor to access the riskiness of my pregnancy. It was just a consultation - a $40 consultation - for him to tell me I can just stick with what my OB already said - to take a baby aspirin daily and to take blood thinners - either in pill form or by injection - 6 weeks post-labor . I'm glad it's only after labor - I've got a friend who's sister had to give herself daily injections throughout her pregnancy for both pregnancies and it was not a pleasant experience for her the 1st go-round. I can imagine it not being fun, but if I had to do it, I would! I'm torn on if I would want to do the pill form where you have to get your blood drawn weekly to run tests, or the injections - where you only have to have your blood drawn once and then you're good to go. Guess I'll just cross that bridge when I get there.
I had to move my 1st OB appointment for ultrasound numero uno and my pre-natal visit from next Monday to the FOLLOWING Monday (October 4th - my sister Maria's b-day) b/c Steve wasn't off of work and we didn't want him to have to ask for the day off and come up w/ a reason why. So I just took his schedule and tried to work around the days he already has off. Kinda bummed, I admit, b/c I was somewhat anxious to get in there and confirm that this pregnancy is real. I know I took 3 tests and they all confirmed POSITIVE, but I still have that fear, that feeling of the unknown and uncertainty - along with every other emotion tied to this time in my life.
I think I'm 6 weeks along this week - still so early and so very hard for me not to tell ANYONE! No one but Steve and I know right now (and of course the doctors/nurses and my cat's vet - random, but I wanted to ask her about toxoplasmosis or whatever it's called). And no, I did not call her up - our cat had a vet visit so I felt it was perfect opportunity to ask. I keep having these urges to just go ahead and tell my mom (I talk to her almost daily), Dad & Katherine, Steve's Mom and Step-Dad...but we wait - and time seems to be ticking so slowly. We want our parents to know 1st before we spread the word to anyone else - and after our 1st OB visit, I'll feel better about telling the parents. So moving this appointment only prolongs that day when we share our exciting news. And I can't stop thinking about HOW we're going to tell them. We don't see them often - so actually planning a time to get together might not be easy. I want to tell everyone in person. But there aren't any plans to see my mom until Friday, 10/8...same week of the appointment, but I'm going to want to tell her THAT NIGHT of the appointment! So I may just have to tell her over the phone - as much as I hate to do that. I'm hoping we can invite Dad, Katherine & the girls to our house for "Maria's birthday dinner" and maybe do the same with Steve's parents - just to have them over.
And we do want to try and wait that magical 12 weeks before telling anyone outside of our parents. But that plan will prematurely fail b/c we are headed up to NY to see my family the weekend of 10/22...one week shy of 12 weeks...but I can't be around my drinking Italian family and not drink w/o them thinking something is up! :-) I'm already struggling with having to lie this weekend at the Benefit Concert for Heather...eek. We'll see how that goes - there are plenty of excuses circulating in my mind!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
No Early Bed Time for Me!
Thursday - September 16, 2010
Well, I did NOT get in bed at 9pm last night. More like 11:30! Big Brother didn't start until 9 b/c Survivor premiered at 8 and Big Brother was a 2 hour season-finale, so it didn't end until 11! I had a few things to wrap up for the Thirty-One party tonight and then I hit the hay. Of course I still forgot to grab the pens and name tags - oops! I'll stop and grab some on my way to/from lunch today. I'm STARVING speaking of lunch. I ate a banana on my way into work and drank a small Gatorade. Then about an hour ago, I ate some yogurt. Good thing I'm leaving for lunch in 5 minutes. Meeting a co-worker at Serena's - yum. Hopefully we can sit outside - beautiful day today!
Well, I did NOT get in bed at 9pm last night. More like 11:30! Big Brother didn't start until 9 b/c Survivor premiered at 8 and Big Brother was a 2 hour season-finale, so it didn't end until 11! I had a few things to wrap up for the Thirty-One party tonight and then I hit the hay. Of course I still forgot to grab the pens and name tags - oops! I'll stop and grab some on my way to/from lunch today. I'm STARVING speaking of lunch. I ate a banana on my way into work and drank a small Gatorade. Then about an hour ago, I ate some yogurt. Good thing I'm leaving for lunch in 5 minutes. Meeting a co-worker at Serena's - yum. Hopefully we can sit outside - beautiful day today!
More Frequent Bathroom Visits & Lots of Tossing & Turning
Wednesday - September 15, 2010
So maybe I'm making it up and tricking my body, but I've been getting up in the middle of the night for the last few nights which I never do. I've read this happens - more frequent trips to the bathroom, but if it's this bad this early on, should I just plan on sleeping ON the toilet in about 4 months? I have increased my water intake - so I know that has contributed. And last night (well, this morning really) I woke up at 3:35am. I got up, used the bathroom and crawled back in bed. I tossed & turned for an HOUR! I'm surprised I'm not falling asleep at my desk!
I have a lot going through my mind too and it wouldn't stop going at a million miles a minute when I was laying there, so that didn't help me trying to fall back to sleep. I hope tonight I get some good shut eye. I have a Thirty-One party to prep for tonight AND Big Brother comes on. I'm going to aim to be in bed by 9 though! We'll see if that really happens!
I have a lot going through my mind too and it wouldn't stop going at a million miles a minute when I was laying there, so that didn't help me trying to fall back to sleep. I hope tonight I get some good shut eye. I have a Thirty-One party to prep for tonight AND Big Brother comes on. I'm going to aim to be in bed by 9 though! We'll see if that really happens!
Doc Appointments
Wednesday - September 15, 2010
Monday I put a call into my doctor's office to see what my next course of action was for this whole "my pregnancy test(s) came back positive" situation we're in. Still in somewhat of a state of shock and disbelief - NOT UNHAPPY THOUGH. I don't want this to be misconstrued! Very excited - but definite thoughts of what could go wrong keep clouding my head. I need to be optimistic though and keep those prayers going that what is happening is all part of God's plan.
So anyway - back to what I was saying. I call my doctor and the receptionist said "congratulations" (not enthusiastically) when I told her I had taken a test over the weekend that was positive. I proceeded to tell her that I wasn't sure what the next step was and she informed me (which I already knew) that they typically schedule the 1st appointment when the pregnancy is 8-10 weeks along. I told her that I understood that, but the doctor had told me at my last appointment when we were discussing that Steve and I were hopping on this baby train and were going to start trying, that I needed to call the office when my test came back positive so that I can talk to the high-risk doctor (as I've mentioned in a previous post). There was major confusion, b/c there are no high-risk doctors at this practice. She ended up taking a message for the pre-natal nurse and told me the pre-natal nurse would be calling me back.
After I hung up - it occurred to me that when I was talking to the doctor at my last visit, she mentioned the office I would go to in Rex Hospital was part of UNC Hospital and I would meet with a high-risk doctor there. You would THINK the person answering the phone would be familiar with referrals to this practice for high-risk pregnancies, but I suppose not.
The nurse called me back later that day and had spoken to the doctor to clarify what I need to do, which was to start taking a baby aspirin daily (check - already doing that), meet with the high-risk doctor for a consult (counseling session I guess) and schedule an appt. to come in for a 7 week ultrasound - earlier than normal but I guess considering my genetic issue, that's why (scheduled for 9/27 at 9:50am). Steve will be joining me on this visit. She told me the UNC office would be in touch w/ me to schedule the high-risk consult soon.
I heard from the UNC office yesterday (Tuesday) and there was confusion there too! I hope this isn't a sign of things to come! She was really nice but asked if I was coming in for an ultrasound. I said I don't know! Maybe? And explained the situation. She then thought I meant that I needed to come in for genetic counseling and I said I don't think so. I've already undergone genetic testing to find out that I carry this gene (and counseling as a result of the testing), so I just need to find out if anything special needs to be taking place right now or if I can just carry on doing normal pregnant woman things. So she kindly placed me on hold and spoke to the doctor to confirm I just need to come in for a counseling session of some sort. So we scheduled that appointment for Monday - 9/20 @ 8am. Steve will not be at the appointment - I don't think there is a need. We'll see how the appointments go and I'll report back next week!
Monday I put a call into my doctor's office to see what my next course of action was for this whole "my pregnancy test(s) came back positive" situation we're in. Still in somewhat of a state of shock and disbelief - NOT UNHAPPY THOUGH. I don't want this to be misconstrued! Very excited - but definite thoughts of what could go wrong keep clouding my head. I need to be optimistic though and keep those prayers going that what is happening is all part of God's plan.
So anyway - back to what I was saying. I call my doctor and the receptionist said "congratulations" (not enthusiastically) when I told her I had taken a test over the weekend that was positive. I proceeded to tell her that I wasn't sure what the next step was and she informed me (which I already knew) that they typically schedule the 1st appointment when the pregnancy is 8-10 weeks along. I told her that I understood that, but the doctor had told me at my last appointment when we were discussing that Steve and I were hopping on this baby train and were going to start trying, that I needed to call the office when my test came back positive so that I can talk to the high-risk doctor (as I've mentioned in a previous post). There was major confusion, b/c there are no high-risk doctors at this practice. She ended up taking a message for the pre-natal nurse and told me the pre-natal nurse would be calling me back.
After I hung up - it occurred to me that when I was talking to the doctor at my last visit, she mentioned the office I would go to in Rex Hospital was part of UNC Hospital and I would meet with a high-risk doctor there. You would THINK the person answering the phone would be familiar with referrals to this practice for high-risk pregnancies, but I suppose not.
The nurse called me back later that day and had spoken to the doctor to clarify what I need to do, which was to start taking a baby aspirin daily (check - already doing that), meet with the high-risk doctor for a consult (counseling session I guess) and schedule an appt. to come in for a 7 week ultrasound - earlier than normal but I guess considering my genetic issue, that's why (scheduled for 9/27 at 9:50am). Steve will be joining me on this visit. She told me the UNC office would be in touch w/ me to schedule the high-risk consult soon.
I heard from the UNC office yesterday (Tuesday) and there was confusion there too! I hope this isn't a sign of things to come! She was really nice but asked if I was coming in for an ultrasound. I said I don't know! Maybe? And explained the situation. She then thought I meant that I needed to come in for genetic counseling and I said I don't think so. I've already undergone genetic testing to find out that I carry this gene (and counseling as a result of the testing), so I just need to find out if anything special needs to be taking place right now or if I can just carry on doing normal pregnant woman things. So she kindly placed me on hold and spoke to the doctor to confirm I just need to come in for a counseling session of some sort. So we scheduled that appointment for Monday - 9/20 @ 8am. Steve will not be at the appointment - I don't think there is a need. We'll see how the appointments go and I'll report back next week!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
V8 Juice
I'm kinda freaking out about a pregnancy diet. I'm still walking around thinking "am I REALLY pregnant"? I'm going to feel better once I see the doctor. From what I've attempted to figure out, I'm 5 weeks along. I think my due date is around May 15, 2011...funny b/c that is founders day of my sorority - Alpha Delta Pi.
Anyway - to get back to the title of this post, I know there are things you aren't supposed to eat when pregnant...fortunately I don't drink coffee or a lot of sodas but I do love sweet tea, so that is going to be hard to cut that out. I've been drinking a lot of ginger ale.
I just ran over to walmart and did some grocery shopping - went a little overboard on fruits...thought I might try out a peach smoothie recipe I found online for breakfast tomorrow. Of course I think I'm going to need to do a trial run tonight to see how it turns out. Vegetables are a little harder for me - I don't really make many vegetables, especially b/c Steve doesn't eat many veggies as a rule. So I bought some V8 juice. 2 servings of veggies are in each 8 oz. glass. So i'm trying to force my 1st glass down as I type.
I've tried to find some sort of daily pregnancy menu, but I haven't had much luck. I'm sure my doctor will be able to guide me better, so again, I will feel better once I see her.
Anyway - to get back to the title of this post, I know there are things you aren't supposed to eat when pregnant...fortunately I don't drink coffee or a lot of sodas but I do love sweet tea, so that is going to be hard to cut that out. I've been drinking a lot of ginger ale.
I just ran over to walmart and did some grocery shopping - went a little overboard on fruits...thought I might try out a peach smoothie recipe I found online for breakfast tomorrow. Of course I think I'm going to need to do a trial run tonight to see how it turns out. Vegetables are a little harder for me - I don't really make many vegetables, especially b/c Steve doesn't eat many veggies as a rule. So I bought some V8 juice. 2 servings of veggies are in each 8 oz. glass. So i'm trying to force my 1st glass down as I type.
I've tried to find some sort of daily pregnancy menu, but I haven't had much luck. I'm sure my doctor will be able to guide me better, so again, I will feel better once I see her.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
1, 2, 3...
2 weeks ago when Steve's mom was visiting, we noticed we had an ant problem near our sliding glass doors, so Steve bought some "safe for pets" spray to try and get rid of the ants. The smell was so strong - I felt nauseous. Hours after he sprayed it, I still smelled the scent...sickening! The thought crossed my mind that IF I were pregnant, my sense of smell would probably be heightened. I dismissed it. I also dismissed the nauseated feeling I've been experiencing...chalking it up to some other excuse...I need to eat or something. I've been noticing a change in my boobs too. TMI - I know. But they've been feeling different from my normal pre-menstrual tenderness. And that's what led me to test 2 Thursdays ago - before Labor Day Weekend (as mentioned in my previous post), 5 days before Aunt Flow was supposed to come knocking on my door. I did have thoughts, maybe I was pregnant...but still have been more convinced that I'm just making things up.
Tuesday is when Aunt Flow was supposed to arrive (Day 28 since her last visit). She didn't. So I waited...Day 29, Day 30, Day 31...I'm typically on-time and regular when it comes to her monthly visits. I decided last night to take another test. Why not? I mean it's gonna be negative anyway, right? WRONG. Here's what I saw:
But is that a + sign? The line is kind of faint (the one in the circle). So I brought it downstairs to show Steve. He gave me a look, said why didn't I take one that said "pregnant" or "not pregnant" and I said, this was what I had bought earlier this year, trying to exhaust our flexible spending account so we didn't lose the $ we had already put aside...and that maybe I had some that would show pregnant or not pregnant and I would test again in a few days. Besides, it could be wrong. He also said "I thought you said this could take a while?" Sorry honey - I can't predict these things! It could take a while - we don't know!
When I went upstairs, I checked the other tests - no such luck though, the other 2 tests were the exact same kind - EPT, + or -.
This morning I was volunteering for the Cree Habitat for Humanity house that Cree is sponsoring in Durham, NC. Before I left, I decided to test again - of course, with the same EPT test b/c that's all we've got. And I got this result:
no - this is not the same test as the night before...see - still faint! This is so UNCLEAR. So I left for Durham to meet up with Lindsey & Heather to volunteer and we installed some siding on the house. We grabbed lunch afterwards and I headed home, but 1st I stopped at Walmart and bought a 5-pack of Clearblue Digital pregnancy tests that say PREGNANT OR NOT PREGNANT. This had to be more clear.
With some anxiety, I took the test and waited as the hour glass blinked at me on the screen. It didn't take the full 3 minutes it should take to come up with it's answer:
I'm still not fully convinced.
I did, however, go to the library and check out "What to Expect When You're Expecting" - to read what it had to say about the early stages of pregnancy. I'm a dork, I know! There is such a pregnancy as a chemical pregnancy where you can get a positive result and then a few days later get a negative test. Where the pregnancy doesn't become viable and it flushes out with your period, as if it never existed. Not exactly called a miscarriage though.
I'm definitely not hoping for that - but I guess I'm still in a state of shock.
I don't know that I'll test again - I'll just call the doctor on Monday and see what they say. My doctor said to call when I got a positive test and I would meet with the high risk doctor to discuss if my pregnancy will be considered high risk or not. I carry a gene called Factor V Leiden that my mom passed down that increases my chances for blood clots and miscarriages. The doctor figured I would just have to take a baby aspirin every day and then give myself blood thinner injections for 6 weeks after labor, since that is when a woman's body has a bigger chance of forming a clot. So today I took a baby aspirin. And I've been sporadic with the pre-natal gummies (which I've had approved by my doc)...but today I made the commitment to take them DAILY! I mean, things are going to have to change for me if this sticks...and my diet needs a complete overhaul too. But that's another story!
So...that's it for now. Looks like Steve and I may be parents by May 2011 if all goes as God has planned!
Tuesday is when Aunt Flow was supposed to arrive (Day 28 since her last visit). She didn't. So I waited...Day 29, Day 30, Day 31...I'm typically on-time and regular when it comes to her monthly visits. I decided last night to take another test. Why not? I mean it's gonna be negative anyway, right? WRONG. Here's what I saw:
When I went upstairs, I checked the other tests - no such luck though, the other 2 tests were the exact same kind - EPT, + or -.
This morning I was volunteering for the Cree Habitat for Humanity house that Cree is sponsoring in Durham, NC. Before I left, I decided to test again - of course, with the same EPT test b/c that's all we've got. And I got this result:
With some anxiety, I took the test and waited as the hour glass blinked at me on the screen. It didn't take the full 3 minutes it should take to come up with it's answer:
I did, however, go to the library and check out "What to Expect When You're Expecting" - to read what it had to say about the early stages of pregnancy. I'm a dork, I know! There is such a pregnancy as a chemical pregnancy where you can get a positive result and then a few days later get a negative test. Where the pregnancy doesn't become viable and it flushes out with your period, as if it never existed. Not exactly called a miscarriage though.
I'm definitely not hoping for that - but I guess I'm still in a state of shock.
I don't know that I'll test again - I'll just call the doctor on Monday and see what they say. My doctor said to call when I got a positive test and I would meet with the high risk doctor to discuss if my pregnancy will be considered high risk or not. I carry a gene called Factor V Leiden that my mom passed down that increases my chances for blood clots and miscarriages. The doctor figured I would just have to take a baby aspirin every day and then give myself blood thinner injections for 6 weeks after labor, since that is when a woman's body has a bigger chance of forming a clot. So today I took a baby aspirin. And I've been sporadic with the pre-natal gummies (which I've had approved by my doc)...but today I made the commitment to take them DAILY! I mean, things are going to have to change for me if this sticks...and my diet needs a complete overhaul too. But that's another story!
So...that's it for now. Looks like Steve and I may be parents by May 2011 if all goes as God has planned!
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