First midwife visit.

[rivka]

I went to the midwife at noon today, and all seems to be well.

I saw Kathy, the senior midwife of the practice and the one who was there for my D&C. She suggested B-complex vitamins for my nausea and had a mix of good and bad ideas for the poor appetite/hot weather combination. (Good: high-protein shake made from yogurt, frozen berries, and a couple of those pasteurized whole eggs that come in a carton. Bad: aspic, WTF.)

She was sympathetic about the incredible disgusting goopiness of progesterone suppositories and assured me that yes, some of the medicine stays in. I'm to take them through the 13th week, at which point I can stop because the placenta will have taken over production.

Normal protocol for this practice is not to do an ultrasound until around 18 weeks, when all fetal parts can be clearly visualized. I asked her if I could have one around 12-13 weeks for mental health reasons, and she immediately agreed. I'm to go for an ultrasound in the 12th week (the week after SUUSI) and then come for an office visit in the 14th week, when we should be able to hear a heartbeat with the Doppler. You know, if Nothing Bad Has Happened Yet.

We did an abbreviated exam because I just had a Pap and STD test six months ago. Kathy went into raptures over the beauty of my uterus, which is always flattering, I guess. It's already measuring 10-12 weeks, even though this is the first day of the ninth week - she says, "because this is your third pregnancy, and your body remembers what to do." Hence, apparently, the Amazing Expanding Pregnancy Rack of Doom.

I still can't shake the feeling that Something Bad Will Happen. Even with my beautiful uterus.

Comments

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

I still can't shake the feeling that Something Bad Will Happen.

I totally understand this. I don't think you ever do entirely shake it, you just ignore it more and more.

Good luck!

[ruisseau.livejournal.com]

Nothing Bad Has Happened Yet

[kcobweb.livejournal.com]

A particular nurse practitioner/co-worker/friend of mine used to positively *gush* over my cervix. "It's beautiful! It's textbook!" :)

NBHHY. And yay for extra ultrasounds!

[eeyorerin]

NBHHY!

...aspic? Seriously? Ick-o-rama.

[txanne.livejournal.com]

Can I have your aspic? Especially if it's attached to pâté?

And I am _so_ glad that Nothing Bad Has Happened Yet.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

When I was pregnant with Henry, even without the spectre of tragedy, I was utterly convinced that something was going to happen. I'd never been a mom before. How was I to be a mother? It wasn't something I'd *done*. I breathed a small sigh, when we passed 25 weeks (the point where and aquaintance of mine gave birth, and miraculously, the child has no issues). But it wasn't until we actually went home that I believed we would. NICU didn't help matters, that's for sure.

But even with that, I'm sure what you're feeling is much more intense. *hugs*

[kate_nepveu]

raptures over the beauty of my uterus, which is always flattering, I guess.

Yeah, whenever medical personnel do stuff like that, I never know how to take it. It's not like I have anything to do with my nice veins or whatever, after all.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you all, and hope the twelve-week ultrasound (*twitches reflexively*) shows nothing of concern.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, whenever medical personnel do stuff like that, I never know how to take it.

Well, particularly when the supplemental adjectives she used were "soft" and "boggy." Huh.

hope the twelve-week ultrasound (*twitches reflexively*) shows nothing of concern.

It's not a nuchal fold screening, which I think is what you had at 12wks, right? It's just a viability check. We pretty much reflexively refuse diagnostic tests for fetal problems, other than the big ultrasound at 18 weeks.

[kate_nepveu]

Mine wasn't meant to be a nuchal fold screening, it was just to check the date because the nurse who did my initial checkup thought I was measuring small. Nuchal folds were never mentioned (and indeed we'd decided not to do the first trimester screens). But when my doctor read the ultrasound after I'd left . . .

But it sounds like your practice knows your preferences and so that kind of thing shouldn't happen to you.

Edit: also, today's doctor at the routine visit I just came back from: "What a cute little belly you have."

@@

(Not my favorite doctor in the practice.)

hugs!!

[librarygrrl]

Still thinking good thoughts for you and your beautiful uterus. ;)

[ex-serenejo.livejournal.com]

You and your uterus have my very best wishes. Oh, and of course, the Rack of Doom. ;-)

[iamjw.livejournal.com]

NBHHY.

A doctor once told me that my cervix was "high and tight". I had (and still have) absolutely no idea what to do with that information. I suppose I could feel flattered - my boobs are on their way to the floor but my cervix...

[ororo.livejournal.com]

Continued good thoughts.

[bosssio.livejournal.com]

ditto all the best wishes of the above. NBHHY!

About odd "compliments" - at Ant's birth, the nurses and midwife and doula all oohed and ahhhed at his umbilical cord. They told me it was beautiful, thick, braided, and perfect. Go me, rah.

At Liam's birth, they oohed and ahhhed at the placenta, which they told me was perfectly circular and beautiful. They even showed it to me (I didn't have my glasses on so I have no clue what it looked like other than a red squiggy thing - I assume that was the placenta and not someone's arm. I really don't see very well without glasses).

Go me, rah x 2.

Oh, and Liam had a true knot in the umbilical cord which they were really impressed with. But because it was so thick and perfect (I am guessing) it wasn't the disaster that I always suspected a true knot would be.

Revel in your soft, boggy uterus. Feel your woman power roar, or some such... ; )

[abbylee]

I just made the mistake of looking up what Aspic is. Ewwww.

Just adding more good wishes. And I'm glad your midwife (& practice) are pro "mental health" reordering :)

[selki.livejournal.com]

When I read "aspic" I think of a nice tomato aspic, sort of a savory tomato version of Jello.

The Wikipedia article did not mention this as an option, and the picture was off-putting to me.

But I've also accidentally made a sort of chicken-garlic aspic (with the soup stock, no chunks of chicken inserted), and it was actually pretty good.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Nice protein in aspic. Not that I'd want any. My doctors all met me after I got sick, so they don't say parts of me are nice!

More good wishes!

[erbie.livejournal.com]

I had to do the progesterone suppositories with my second as well. I hear you on the ick factor. Glad to hear NBHHY.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

the Amazing Expanding Pregnancy Rack of Doom.

gif! gif!

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Nonono: jpeg! They're so much more nuanced!

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Maybe I should open up bidding...

[womzilla.livejournal.com]

400 quatloos on the newcomer!

Oh, wait, this is an exhibition, not a competition. No wagering.

[zanawake.livejournal.com]

Best wishes for everything to continue to go well!