Sunshine, Rainbows and Bananas

I had our 30 week appointment an hour before we were scheduled to leave for Peter and Lindsay's wedding in Ohio.  They scheduled it this way to make sure I could get the green-light to travel.  I was anxious to get the results from my glucose screening at 26 weeks, and had a blackberry memo list of questions for the doctor.  I scheduled this appointment with the physician Daniel and I thought we wanted to deliver us, if possible (because really it is whomever is on call that day/night).

The doctor came in, asked me how I was feeling, and started up the machine to hear the heartbeat.  He told me that he had delivered a baby at 2:30 a.m. that morning, and hadn't slept yet...and that he wanted to cancel his appointments, but he knew I needed to be seen.  We found the heartbeat, so he quickly turned off the monitor and asked me if I had any questions.  I pulled out my phone and started to ask him about the illness (head cold/sore throat) I had come down with earlier that week.  He blew off the question and told me he couldn't give me anything (duh, that's not what I was asking for) but that if I developed a fever to go to the ER immediately, especially while I was in Ohio.  Then he started rambling on about the cord-blood bank registry, asking me if I had signed up yet.  I told him to refer to our chart and he would see that at 20 weeks, we discussed this and declined this procedure.  He started to leave the room as if we were done, so I couldn't get any more questions answered.  I was able to sneak in one more about my swelling and the pressure I felt the night before (literally....felt like so much pain and that baby boy wanted OUT NOW!).  He said, "maybe they were light contractions...is that what they felt like?"  I told him "um, this is my first baby, so I have no idea what an actual contraction 'feels like'."  His response....unbelievably, "I'm not a woman, so I have no idea either...but if you were able to talk on the phone or to your husband, it wasn't a contraction".  OMG.  He did not seriously say that.  And then he left.

I was befuddled and in tears as I left the office.  Then it hit me when I got to the parking lot...he never gave me the results of my glucose test.  That a-hole.  Now I was not just upset and confused....I was raging mad.  I ran back in the building because I knew they would be closing soon....but even if I could get with the nurse about the test results, I could rest easy that weekend in Ohio.  Coincidentally, I ran into the doctor on the elevator.  He was on his cell phone, but I interrupted him by screaming that he never told me the test results, or finished answering my questions.  He continued on his cell with his friend, until the call dropped from being in the elevator...when he proceeded to cuss and throw a little fit because he didn't have the phone as a scape-goat anymore.  He told me to call the office to get the results, that he forgot.  Then he was on his way... and I quickly decided since it was too late to leave the whole practice all-together (not that I really want to because I LOVE my normal physician...she just doesn't deliver babies) that this doctor WOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES deliver my baby.

I called the office to get the test results.  The nurse must of had a head's up, because normally they aren't permitted to discuss it over the phone, so I was ready for the whole story about how I was supposed to call to get the results because of an unprofessional/negligent doctor.  Good news...and the silver lining....I passed with flying colors.

I promptly called to rescheduled all future appointments with anyone but him.  I'm half-tempted to write a letter to the board, or at least to the partners of the practice....maybe I'll just refer them to my blog. haha :) 

 

We had our 28 week appointment and follow up to the awful news we received at the 26 week mark.  Apparently, my intuition was right and vacation worked like a charm.  My blood pressure was back to a healthy enough number that immediate bed rest was not in order.  They want me on a "limited" work/activity to make sure the preclampsia does not set in.  Not quiet sure how that will be managed, or even what "limited" would entail, but we are definitely taking it seriously so that we can keep things on a healthy note for the next ten weeks.

I got my blood drawn for the glucose screening.  Despite what people warn, the orange juice was actually not bad at all...I even found it a little tasty!  I joked with Daniel that it was my "treat" of the week, because I usually have one caffeine free pop a week (mmmmm IBC Cream Soda...I need it now!)...and this was just like drinking a flat orange pop.  Then they drew a few other viles for other tests, to make sure my vitamin D levels aren't too high because they have me on such a supplement for that still), iron, and protein.  Fun fun.  Daniel didn't pass out, he just looked away and held my hand for most of the time.  :)

We re-scheduled our next few appointments to be seen by the same doctor, because so far, we really like his approach the best out of the others in the practice.  He is very laid-back and straight forward at the same time.  He answered our questions and laughed at some of our silly concerns with us.  My total weight gain thus far is 13 pounds...which we all could not be happier with (since the "norm" could be around 22 at this point).  Me and baby can gain together for the remainder of the third trimester and be just fine.

Fingers crossed the swelling stays down, the blood pressure stabilizes, and we get the clear vote to travel to Ohio for Pete/Lindsay's wedding and our Ohio baby shower (at 34 weeks!! yikes!).

Yesterday we had our 26 week check-up.  It was a longer-than-expected one because the night prior I had a little bit of bleeding that we needed to address (huge scare, don't EVER want to see that again for the next three months!).  Good news first though...I've gained 11 pounds total, which puts me right on par for what the doctor hoped.  I was a bit surprised because my appetite has increased so much, but I suppose making health"ier" choices is what is keeping things steady.  I got my glucose test kit for when we return from Florida, which included a goodie bag of samples and magazines!  And, I get to be seen every two weeks now as we enter the third trimester.  Unfortunately, that's where the good news ends....

First up, pee in a cup.  They think I have another UTI and my D levels are actually too high now...fantastic.  Next, blood pressure....through the roof.  Nurse called in the doctor who checked me for swelling and symptoms of preclampsia.  Great.  Then we talked about the spotting I had the night prior and things I can do to help.  We listened to baby boy's heartbeat...which was unusually high (high 150s and not very steady).  They asked me if I was stressed, if I had eaten any sugar, and if I was exposed to second-hand smoke at all on a daily basis (fantastic...insert sarcasm).  They aren't too worried about it, just want to monitor him next time and may order an ultrasound.  Finally, they measured me, and he is still measuring about two weeks ahead.  Either we have a really big baby on our hands, my due date was miscalculated (not possible...unfortunately, I wish it were that easy), or there is more than one in my tummy (also very NOT possible...we hope. haha).  We had to talk about how I may deliver earlier than expected, especially if my blood pressure remains high and does not improve, the baby keeps growing at this pace, and the swelling gets any worse.  After addressing all of these things...the two (what I like to call "bad words") came out of her mouth...BED REST. 

Of course I told her there was no way I could go on bed rest at this point in the pregnancy, with over twelve weeks left.  We simply cannot afford for me not to work, and do not have any options for supplemental income.  Obviously, we are going to take my health and the baby's seriously as the number one priority, so I opened up the conversation for our "options".  We do go to Florida next week (which luckily they did keep me in the clear to fly since it is a direct flight!!! yay!)....so I will be away from my normal "routine" for a week and possibly less stressed (that's the point of vacation, right!?! haha).  They agreed to revisit everything when we return from Florida, check my levels again, and then make the final orders for bed rest, limited work/activity, or resume normal.  I am praying that it falls somewhere in the middle...because at least that would be manageable.

Daniel and I had a long talk with baby G...which isn't unusual...but this time it was praying with him, instead of just praying separately.  Hoping the BIG man upstairs has BIG plans for our BIG baby. :)