I had my first OBGYN appt yesterday. I felt like I had to wait forever. With Olivia, they saw me at 4 weeks, and 8, etc, but maybe because this is my second, they made me wait 9 weeks? Anyway, it felt good to actually confirm the pregnancy. That might sound silly, but I liked having assurance that the little bean is in there! I really wasn't worried, but the other day, my dad curiously asked, "so you haven't confirmed it with the doctor yet?" Without going into too much detail, I tried to explain that I was sure, but then I started thinking that some embryos stop developing and you don't know for a while, blah blah blah. Anyway, it was good to have my blood tested and a physical exam confirmed that my uterus is definitely already bigger!
They asked if I was still nursing, and it was sad to tell them no. Olivia hasn't asked since that one post last week, so I think we are indeed done. Now that I've had my first appt, I feel more excited about this baby.
And here's the most awesome news! My OBGYN has changed some policies (not all good-- I'll get to that later) and they now do ultrasounds around 10 weeks. They scheduled me for tomorrow, so I'll get to see the baby!!! I am so excited. We'll get to see the heart beating They didn't try to find it with the doppler yesterday because they said usually the earliest is 10 weeks. I think we'll get to see it moving around. I'm not sure what a 9.5 week old fetus is doing exactly...
This time around, my OBGYN only will see me at every other visit and his PA will see me the other times. I'm thrilled because I really like her. She's a bit more forthcoming whereas my OBGYN is quieter and I usually had to ask him questions. There are some other new policies that I don't like. Although this doesn't apply to me, he won't allow patients to attempt a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). As long as they monitor the baby and mom, it's totally possible. Also, he doesn't allow written birth plans. I also had to sign something essentially saying that he had the right to use a vacuum and/or do an episiodomy. Sadly, I think there are few doctors who allow mothers to take a more natural approach to birth. Those options should be available. A midwife can't even get licensed here in Georgia.
I've gotta throw something about Olivia in here. When we went for Vietnamese again on Saturday night, she stuck a spoon in James's Pho and held it up to his mouth, saying "taste?" James opened his mouth and she said, "What ya say? Say peeeeese. O-tay?" So he said please and she gave him a taste. Hillarious!!!
Well, I'm off to get dressed. It's cooooold today. I'm meeting MF for lunch at Atlanta Bread Company (mmmmmm.... hot soup and a panini) and then we're going to the Christian bookstore to get new materials for our moms' bible study tomorrow morning. Fun!
Posted by Hannah at November 7, 2007 11:43 AMI remember it feeling so surreal having my first appointment with Meri ... thinking, "Wow, we're really doing all of this again!" hehe :) Some policies at my office had changed, too. I never had that first ultrasound with Lucas, but with Meri I did. I was so excited about that! I can't wait to see your U/S photos! Glad to hear that you are indeed pregnant, hehe :)
Posted by: lisanne at November 7, 2007 03:03 PMWow on the policies. That kind of surprises me, but at the same time I can see their points too. And be grateful... I had to wait 13 weeks for my first appointment. No confirmation at all. :(
Posted by: Laura at November 7, 2007 03:29 PMThe policies are kind of hard to stomach, but I totally see the doctor's point. If I were a doctor I wouldn't want to perform a VBAC either. All the monitoring in the world doesn't help some women. Maybe I'm jaded b/c I've known a baby to end up with severe issues b/c of that choice, but I think it's a woman's right....I just wouldn't want to be the doctor. Their malpractice insurance is sky high. One of my best friend's husbands is doing his residency in surgery, and he said that OB/GYN is at the bottom of the list when it comes to most popular areas of medicine, b/c after the insurance they don't make nearly the money they would have if they'd gone into something like surgery or orthopedics. Anyway, that said, I can't believe they won't let you have a written birth plan! There are tons of midwifes here in TN, lots of home birthers here as well. I'm surprised that GA would be so different.
Posted by: Chas at November 7, 2007 06:12 PMThat's great that you get to see the baby today~how exciting :) I agree about some of the changes~that's hard to believe they won't allow written birth plans. Keep us updated about baby #2's visit today :)
Posted by: Connie at November 8, 2007 08:30 AMI really didn't like my OB much. She was so ... abrupt. She's the one who walked casually into the examining room and said "I've scheduled you to be induced tomororw." I was all "WTF? No dialogue. You just decided!??!" And she's the one who wouldn't give me ANY answers when they were concerned about my AFI levels and Tabs being "small for dates." I really liked my NP and the perinatologist we had (got) to see, though. I may ask for a different OB next go around. Can't wait to hear about bean #2.
Posted by: jesser at November 8, 2007 09:02 AM