(no subject)

[rivka]

My primary care doctor can't see me until Wednesday. Instead, I've called the midwife practice my landlady recommended. The receptionist was so nice - she congratulated me twice, and offered to answer my questions when I told her I was nervous about going a month without being seen. She also checked to make sure that I understood they were CNMs, not physicians, and set me up with an appointment for the 8th week. That seems so far away! I want someone to see me right now and tell me that everything will be okay.

Here's what she told me:
- I should keep taking my regular multivitamin, but add a folic acid supplement. "We want you to get most of your vitamins from food."
- I should keep exercising normally, especially water aerobics, but shouldn't start anything strenuous and new.
- Cimetidine is totally fine to take during pregnancy, praise Jesus.
- If I miscarry now, I'll already probably need a RhoGAM shot. Better to have it and not need it, I guess.

I can still hardly believe it. Pregnant. Holy cats.

Comments

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Midwives get two thumbs up from this corner of the arena. I'm so glad you've decided to go that route, and it sounds like you've stumbled upon a good one.

What's a CNM? What's a RhoGAM shot?

-J

[rivka.livejournal.com]

This is the best of both worlds for me: midwives who deliver at a hospital. Because of my weird hip configuration, I may need to have a C-section - it's more likely for me than it is for the average woman. But I still want to have a midwife handling my prenatal care even if she doesn't wind up delivering me.

What's a CNM?

Certified Nurse-Midwife. It's a professional licensure. Among other things, it means that these midwives are covered by my insurance.

What's a RhoGAM shot?

It has to do with Rh incompatibility in the blood. I'm Rh-negative, and Michael is Rh-positive - which means that the fetus probably is too. If I'm exposed to fetal blood, my body will form antibodies to the Rh factor. Usually, the only exposure to fetal blood is at delivery, miscarriage, or abortion, so the antibodies don't have a chance to do any harm to that baby - but in subsequent pregnancies, the antibodies can attack the baby's blood cells.

RhoGAM prevents a mother from forming antibodies to Rh. I think it's basically a form of immune globulin. I'll have a shot if I miscarry, or after any bleeding during pregnancy, and then late in the pregnancy to prepare for delivery.

[kcobweb.livejournal.com]

I just found out with this pregnancy (how did I never know before?) that I'm Rh-negative. Woohoo Rhogam. I said, yeah, I worked in an abortion clinic - I know *all about* Rhogam. Sheesh.

[ailbhe]

Here it's called the Rhesus Anti-D jab. I had it. I didn't know what my blood type was until I got pregnant.