I just got back from my first appointment with the midwife at my local clinic. (At our orientation, they said since they have so many pregnancies right now, they are trying to spread them out so they don’t get overbooked. Everyone who lives on base or has a high-risk pregnancy goes to the naval hospital, and those who live in town can go to a clinic. I love the clinic since it’s my regular clinic, they know me by name, and it’s two minutes from work.)
First, my blood pressure was high. After assuring them that wasn’t normal, they said they would take it again after my appointment.
The doctor/midwife was very nice and personable. She went through my files (all the paperwork I filled out at the hospital two weeks ago), confirming what I had put and asking more questions.
Due to my age (you know, the dreaded 35 is this September!), she is sending me out in town for a consultation with Maternal Fetal Medicine—to see if I am going to be a high-risk pregnancy or not.
Also, due to past thyroid issues, I am going back to the naval hospital to consult with an actual OB doctor (since it’s a bit outside the scope of the midwife). She said that even if I am not having any issues right now, they can come up after pregnancy, so they just want to be in the loop and take any necessary preventative measures.
Lastly, at the same time I consult with the OB doc, I will also have a consultation with anesthesia—since I am overweight, they just want to make sure (in the case of a caesarean) that my airways are not constricted and an anesthesiologist would have no problems.
I really hope they don’t deem me high-risk, because that means all my future appointments will be on base, instead of at the clinic two minutes from my office.
She asked if I had any questions and I mentioned that I was still sick every day and she said she would give me a prescription for anti-nausea pills. I am debating whether they will work or not, because I really don’t think I have nausea per se (I just feel all around crappy, not specifically nauseous)…but I assured her I wouldn’t take them if they didn’t help.
Then I asked what she thought of me doing the HydroMassage Dry Hydrotherapy.
Hydro Massage: Unique, open design for comfort with a traveling water-jet system for full back and side body massage. Hydro Massage has 39 preset programs for customized, massage sessions that may be recalled at any time with a temperature controlled cooling system. This service is engineered using heat and water pressure to relieve stress, decrease muscle tension, and increase flexibility while leaving tired muscles feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
This is a spa treatment offered at my tanning place. Since I stopped tanning when I learned I was pregnant, they said I could turn my tanning membership into a spa membership (at the same rate). I had to wait until this appointment to get my answer. So, now, if I want, I can go get a 20-minute massage once a day!
So, after the questions and whatnot, it was time for the exam. She started with the ultrasound—YAY! I didn’t think I was going to have one today (at the orientation, they stressed that we would have TWO ultrasounds, one of which was that day)! Of course she saw the baby, but all I could see was a big black blob (my uterus) and something that I think might have been the head. But I did see the pulsating dot that was the heartbeat! She said everything looked great.
Then, since I had a pap smear in April, she didn’t have to do that part of the exam, but she still had to do a test for, oh, I forget, gonorrhea and syphilis I think (mandated by the state of North Carolina for all pregnant women).
A quick breast exam (which she said was excellent, and no need for a baseline mammogram until I’m 40) and then I was done. On my way out, I had my blood pressure taken again, and it was still elevated, so they just put a note in my chart and will keep an eye on it.
My next appointment (as far as I know right now) will be in 5-6 weeks (at about 16 weeks) with the OB at the naval hospital. I have to wait 48 hours to call the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor, so that appointment could likely be in the meantime.
On the way home, I stopped at Planet Beach, gave them my permission note from the doc, and had my first massage! It wasn’t perfect, but it was nice and relaxing…and it’s something I will definitely enjoy getting out of the office for a few times a week!