You are currently browsing the daily archive for October 25th, 2008.
Today I called the hospital, as I need to find an obstetrician to get my files transferred to and start my pre-natal care. I’ve decided to go public for a few reasons… I don’t really have my own doctor, I don’t want to pay the out of pocket expenses from my private health insurance (full obstetrics don’t kick in for another month after Bub is due) and because I was born in the same public hospital – and if it was good enough for me, it’s good enough for my bub too.
They have advised that they do shared care with GP’s and that I should continue (?) to see my own GP until my 12 weeks scan. I had to explain that I don’t have a GP, but that I will try to find one. I can have my appointments at the hospital, but they don’t have after hours appointments, so it’s probably better if I find a GP that can help.
The ante-natal clinic has advised that I see their specialist for a one-off appointment, and then the specialist will decide if I should continue to see him, or if I’m okay with the GP. That’s scheduled for two weeks away, so I will have to leave work early… no idea how that’s going to happen yet.
In addition, I need to do my “booking in” appointment with the midwives, which will take 1 ½ to 2 hours! At least that appointment is early December and scheduled for 8.30am, so might be easier to fit in.
All these appointments are going to be tricky as I will be starting my new job on Monday and need to hide any doctor visits until at least my 12 weeks – I’ve decided to tell my boss before the end of my probationary period, but as soon as my safe period has passed – no point in upsetting the new company with my news if something terrible happens.
Today is the day I find out if I’m still pregnant…and if I’m having one or two babies!
The last two and a half weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions. There’s a part of me that hopes it’s twins, ready made family, no having to go back to try again for a sibling and therefore, reduced costs of IVF, and less disruption to my work. On the other hand, twins bring more expense of having two of everything up front, more potential medical risks to the babies and myself, and a whole lot more work for a single mum to contend with. So while I hope its twins on one hand, I equally hope that it’s just a single too. And overall, I just want the clinic to confirm the heartbeat is still there!!!!
By the time I made the one and a half hour drive to the clinic, I’d worked myself up into such a state that I was going to learn that I wasn’t pregnant anymore! The office was unusually empty, something that I had never seen before as every other morning appointment I had been to there was a hive of activity and patients everywhere.
My doctor called me in to have my scan and she was so positive and happy for me being pregnant, even though I told her I was excited (to learn I was pregnant), worried (that she would now tell me I wasn’t) and nervous (that she would tell me it was twins).
The scan was straightforward, another internal of course. A nervous few seconds until I saw movement on the scan… and there was my baby’s heart beating! Wow! What an exciting moment in my life.
She was really pleased, she took pictures, told me that there were some early signs of a twin pregnancy, but it’s definitely not there now (no real idea what that meant), and that the baby is 0.4mm long. After that, she checked my blood test results and said she was still pleased with all my levels and just reminded me to use iodised salt in my cooking as the baby needs iodine, and Elevit doesn’t contain this. I asked her how long to keep taking the cartia, and she advised for at least the first 2 months, and I also asked if it is safe to take fish oil supplements as well, and it is, so now I’ve added that to my morning pill popping routine too.
I confirmed my donor details that were used, asked about siblings and how soon I can start again (3 – 6 months after bub is born) and how to go about putting aside more sperm from the same donor for the future. After that, I was told to find a local GP so that my files could be transferred, and that was it!
Later this afternoon I went “window shopping” with my girlfriend to see what sort of furniture and other big items are available, and what sort of prices I’m going to be up for. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, and after a few price comparisons and internet comparisons, I think Baby Kingdom has the best bargains for the car seat, cot, mattress, basinet, pram, change table/chest of drawers, baby sling and change mat – all up, around $2,500.
I’m not sure if it’s too early to lay-by or if that would be tempting fate. The great thing I learned was that I can lay-by now on a 30% deposit, and then pay nothing until I pick up the items, and more importantly, the guarantees will commence from pick-up, not from the date of lay-by.
