What Is Done At Each Doctor's Appointment

This was originally written on Tuesday, April 8, 2008:

Yesterday I talked about my last doctor's appointment, so today I thought I'd write out what each appt. entails.

Week 8 to 12 w/ nurse: This visit will include your complete medical history and you and baby's father's genetic history. Lab work includes:
OB Profile--CBC (complete blood count), Blood Type & RH Factor, Rubella Screen, Hepatitis Screening, Serology, and CCUA (clean catch urine).

Week 8 to 12 w/ doctor: This visit will be a complete female exam and will include a pap smear. You also might have an ultrasound to rule out an eptopic pregnancy.

Week 16: This visit will be to check the baby's heartbeat, which is also done at all of the other appointments as well.

Week 18-20: Routine OB Ultrasound--this will be for size, dates, and anatomy and Lab test--Quad Screen will be discussed and offered.

Week 24-28: Lab work includes:
1 hr Glucose Tolerance--screening for gestational diabetes. You will be asked to drink a glucose drink and then have your blood drawn an hour after. Also, Hemaglobin--screening for iron levels to make sure that you have not become anemic.

Week 32-36: You will go from being seen once a month to every two weeks.

Week 36 to delivery: You will be seen weekly; each visit will include an internal exam to check your cervix. Lab work includes: Group B Vaginal Strep.

At every visit you will provide a urine sample, weight, and blood pressure, and the doctor will check the baby's heartbeat and measure the growth of your uterus.
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Well, I am spending very few minutes at the computer these days since my stomach cramps up harder when I'm sitting, so this blog will be short. My nights have started to get painful from my heavy abdomen sinking into the bed, and when I have to pee I can't just step out of bed so I have to ROLL off and then hobble to the bathroom like I'm 100 years old. I can't wait until my next doctor's appt. on Tuesday to find out if I'm dilated! (My doctor's schedule was full for this Friday already.) Lately, my hands and feet have also been sore when I get up in the morning. It's hard to walk or grasp things for awhile after I get up. (Update: I now know this was de Quervain's disease. I blogged about my experience here--Part One. Part Two.)

While I was in the waiting room at my doctor's office last week, I heard a mother of a newborn talking to another mother about her problem breastfeeding. I forgot to mention in my "breastfeeding blog" that her particular frustation is common--but as with the other breastfeeding problems, this difficulty usually can be helped: Sometimes a baby develops gastrointestinal problems which makes for a fussy and sick baby. Doctors often recommend mothers change their diet--doing things like eliminating spicy foods, dairy or sugar and sometimes wheat. I hope I don't have trouble breastfeeding. . .only four more weeks until I find out!