Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Nov 13th Doctor Appointment

I went back to see Dr. Chamberlain on November 13th.  I signed in for my 4:15 appointment at precisely 4:15 pm.   I sat and waited for awhile.  The nurse called me back to get a urine sample, weight, blood pressure, and to ask a few questions.   After that, she sent me back to the waiting room because all of Dr. Chamberlain's rooms were full.  So, I waited out there.  It took a little while.  I can't remember how long exactly.   Then I got into a room.  I waited in there.  I waited.  Then, I waited some more.   I continued waiting.   It was 5:30 before I even saw his face!  He is a good doctor and spends a lot of time talking with me.  He is patient and a good listener.  So, I don't really mind waiting much.  

I was hoping that he would tell me that I could do the VBAC.  However, he said that Dr. Brumfield didn't agree with him.  However, he acted like it was still a possibility.  So, I don't know what to think now.  I need to know.  Next time I see him, I really want to know one way or the other.  

The appointment went very well.  I am still not far enough along for them to measure my belly, but they did listen for the heartbeat with a doppler.   It only took the lady (an assistant in the room with Dr. Chamberlain) about 2 seconds to find the heartbeat!  It was a really loud, strong heartbeat! It only lasted a split second, so they didn't measure the speed.  Dr. Chamberlain said, "Wow, Isn't that a great sound? Nice, strong heartbeat!"  and then he said, "So, there IS a baby in there.  No wonder you've been sick!"

My next appointment is scheduled for Monday December 16th at 3 pm.  Jesse will be there with me since it is also for our anatomy ultrasound! I'm very excited to find out the gender!


Monday, November 4, 2013

Compare & Contrast

As of 12 weeks, this is a comparison of my first and second pregnancies.

1st Pregnancy, with Jonah
  •    Didn't drink coffee, except a couple times maybe. 
  •    Didn't have many cravings, but craved carbs a bit
  •    I remember wanting french fries and potatoes. 
  •    Ate a lot of chocolate
  •    Drank hot chocolate in the mornings.
  •    Brought snacks with me everywhere (homemade crackers, popcorn, fruit)
  •    Started getting morning sickness around 8 weeks ( I think).
  •    Threw up quite a few times, but I can't remember how many 
  •    Would throw up, and then usually feel much better.
  •    Threw up at lunch time once.
  •    Felt sick in the evenings sometimes.
  •    Had food aversions (to healthy foods, salads, and chicken)
  •   Continued running, walking and working out with weights frequently.
  •   Was super-tired during the first trimester!  I would take naps almost every day after school and still      be exhausted and ready for bed at 8:30 or 9 pm.     
  •    Took my prenatal vitamins, cod liver oil and calcium/mag pills every day.
  •    Took Tylenol maybe one time.  
  •    Frequently fell asleep watching television
  •    After the morning sickness ended, I had a season where I had headaches every day
  •    Never had heartburn.
  •    Never gagged (that I can remember) while brushing my teeth

2nd Pregnancy, with "Peanut"

  •  Drank coffee until about 6 weeks.
  • Crave salty foods (like french fries, potato chips, popcorn and pickles!)
  • Haven't really craved carbs, but pasta is my favorite thing to eat.  
  •  Haven't wanted to eat chocolate much
  •  Haven't drank hot chocolate, but drank chamomile tea some.
  • Haven't needed snacks, but have eaten crackers in the middle of the night to stave off morning sickness
  • Started getting morning sickness around 6 weeks.
  • Thrown up a few more times than last time. 
  • Would throw up and then usually feel much better.
  • Threw up at lunch time once.
  • Haven't worked out, at all.
  • Been pretty tired, but not nearly as bad as last time.
  • No food aversions really.  (Except eggs in the morning time)
  • Haven't felt sick in the evenings (except around week 6-7)
  • Have only had a few headaches (caffeine usually makes them go away)
  • Haven't taken ANY pills. 
  • Couldn't stomach my prenatal vitamins for awhile.  (2nd trimester, I've been taking them)
  • So far, haven't had heartburn.
  • Gag when brushing teeth sometimes.  (Twice, it has made me throw up!)
  • Starting around the end of November, I started craving OLIVES.  I don't even like olives!

Friday, November 1, 2013

2nd Doctor Appointment


My 2nd Doctor appointment was on Monday Oct. 7th at 4:45pm with Dr. Chamberlain.  This appointment was 1000 times better than the first! I was still overwhelmed with the size and impersonal-ness of the place, but once I met Dr. Chamberlain I felt so much better.   He was so nice.  He was so friendly.  He talked to me like I was an intelligent human being.  He was funny!    I told him that I was very interested in having a VBAC.  He said that they don't normally do VBAC's for patients who haven't have a previous vaginal birth.  He said it was due mostly to staffing issues.  (Apparently, the doctor has to be at the hospital the whole time a VBAC patient is in labor, or something like that).

However, I gave him my paperwork from my first labor at Women's & Children's.  He looked over it and said he thought I would be an excellent candidate for a VBAC!  I was thrilled! He said he would need to discuss my case with the other OB/GYN's in his office (because depending on the timing of my labor they could end up being with me), but that he thought they could make it work!

Hopefully, I will know for sure the next time I go back!  My next appointment is November 13th.  I'm also very excited because he said that since I didn't have an 8 week ultrasound that he wanted me to have one at 18 weeks.  Only about 6 more weeks or so and I can find out the gender!!

The Morning Yuck



I can't remember all the details with my 1st pregnancy.  I just know that I was sick in the mornings  sometimes.  I can't really remember how often I threw up.  I do remember feeling yucky even in the evenings sometimes.  I wouldn't want to eat dinner and it would take me FOREVER to get it down.  Chicken was unbearable, but some foods were much better (usually unhealthy foods!).  I craved carbs mostly.  I wanted french fries (homemade) and stuff like that.  I can't remember exactly when the morning sickness started, but I think it was around week 8.  I remember that I carried crackers and popcorn around with me everywhere I went to make sure my blood sugar never dropped.  

This time, I started getting sick at week 6.  It seems like I've throw up more. (but again, I can't remember!).  I will usually throw up in the morning, and then I'll feel fine the rest of the day).  It lasted a little while longer at first, but now it is just in the morning.  (I did throw up at school at lunch one day, but that is the only time I've been sick later in the day.  I hadn't eaten enough for breakfast.)  

Anyway, for the past few weeks, I have kept track of when I've thrown up.  Here are the dates that I've recorded: Oct 12th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 25th and 31st.   Before the 12th, I don't have it written down. 

I'm hoping that it is coming to an end as I am now 12 weeks pregnant.   

My belly is already showing.  Last time I didn't show until 18 weeks or so.  It was around thanksgiving before I had a belly.  Now, some of my pants are already too tight!  I guess this is normal for the 2nd baby. 

First Doctor Appointment

For this pregnancy, I decided to try a different provider.  I heard that my best chance for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) was with Dr. Chamberlain and Dr. Kuhl in Barboursville.  So, I made my first appointment when I was 8 weeks pregnant.  I was told that my first appointment would be with a nurse and not with a midwife or a doctor.  I was okay with this.  They called it an "education appointment."  

My first impression of the office wasn't great.  The receptionist was not very friendly.  The building felt HUGE and impersonal (after going to the birth center in Hurricane last time).

I had to wait a while.  I don't remember how long but it must have been awhile because when I saw the nurse she actually apologized for the wait.  She was nice and friendly.  Basically the whole appointment consisted of her asking me questions.  There were a LOT of questions!  I don't remember much from the appointment, except I remember when I mentioned that I was interested in having a VBAC she told me that there was no way I could have one.  She said it was because I hadn't had a prior vaginal birth before Jonah and because of that I wouldn't be able to find ANY doctor that would take on that "risk." I tried to hold it together, but I was hormonal, and I teared up immediately.  I was so upset!  Luckily, she had to leave the room for a minute and I was able to get a tissue and pull myself together.  I don't think she even realized how upset I was.

They wanted to schedule me for an 8 week ultrasound.  I don't feel like 8 week ultrasounds should be mandatory, so I told them I didn't want one.  She didn't like this and told me that I would need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Chamberlain to discuss it.  So, we tried to schedule an appointment, but it took forever!  I was hoping that this wasn't a sign of what scheduling would be like every time! I really wanted a time after school so I wouldn't have to take a day off.  Finally, I was scheduled an appointment on Monday Oct. 7th at 4:45pm.   Yay!

Then they sent me to the finance department to talk about what I would have to pay.  That part wasn't bad, but I was still emotional and not sure if I was going to go through with having my baby with these people.  

Then, they wanted me to have blood work.  Because I wasn't sure if I was going to stay with them, I wasn't sure if I should have the blood work done there or not.  I went ahead and decided to do it, because they told me that they could forward the results on to another provider, if needed.   The lady couldn't get blood out of my left arm.  Ugh.  She tried the right and was much more successful.

I left feeling very upset.  I immediately called Carrie-Meghan (my doula with Jonah) to vent.  She gave me excellent advice.  She said that I shouldn't get all worked up about what a NURSE told me.  She said I should speak with Dr. Chamberlain before I made my mind up.  I still wasn't convinced, but I decided to keep my appointment with him.


Finding Out

Jesse and I decided that we had a small window of opportunity to get pregnant when it would be a good time for us.  We wanted to have the same time frame this time as last time with Jonah.  Having the baby at the very end of the school year works out so much better for teachers!  So, we decided to go ahead and try. We tried one month with no luck.  The second month, I was actually pretty certain that I was pregnant.  I didn't have any symptoms, but I just had a hunch.  So, I took a pregnancy test on the evening of Wednesday September 4th, but it was negative.  I was sad.

Then, four days later, I still hadn't got my period.  So, I bought another test.  This time I tested first thing in the morning.  It was Sunday the 8th.  There were 2 pink lines! The second line was faint, but it was there!
Eating dinner with my mom and dad that day, I didn't drink tea.  (I had already drank coffee with breakfast and I didn't want to drink too much caffeine while pregnant) which is unusual.  My mom says, "What are you pregnant or something?"   Ha!  So, that is how they found out this time!  

    

Getting Caught Up

I really wish I would have posted more on this blog when I pregnant with Jonah.  I can't remember all the details and I would really like to compare this pregnancy with my first.   However, I am super-glad that I posted at least sometimes!! So, I'm going to try to post about this pregnancy more.  Hopefully, these next few posts will serve to catch-up on all the stuff that I have missed, so far.   So, it's going to be a long one!  You've been warned.   This blog is mostly for my personal use, but I will share it, in case anyone else out there is slightly interested.   I suppose it is possible that I could have a third pregnancy one of these days, so I might want to compare this one with the others in the future.