Organising…

It was only tuesday that I had my first positive test, but it seems like ages ago, what with all the emotional upheaval and busy-ness at work.

On Wednesday morning I tested again then went for a blood test. Friday morning I saw my gp.

Blood tests came back fine – no horrific diseases – but my blood type may be an issue (something I didn’t realise – I knew if I was a rhesus negative there may be a problem but I’m not, I’m AB+) and I may have to have an injection so I don’t become immune to any future babies. BUT they didn’t do a ‘are you pregnant test’ which was the whole freaking point, I thought. When I told the doctor I’d had two negative tests to start off with he suggested I have another one just to be sure. I was like – uh…didn’t the blood test come back? And he said that they didn’t test for that anymore. I accepted that but later it hit me and I got a bit upset because I’d been waiting for that official confirmation. So then my mum and my friend were saying things like ’so you don’t know if you’re pregnant?’ which upset me more because I do KNOW but everyone, including me, was expecting an official signed, stamped blood test.

Ah well. So I did another urine test when I got home – couldn’t go at the doctor’s so he said it didn’t matter. And of course positive and stronger than ever. I was upset with my doc and thought he was full of crap because this is the second time when he’s waved off stuff I’d read (pre preg tests being the first time), but then I re-read my Miriam Stoppard book and it does say that the test is only used in difficult cases and didn’t actually say a blood test was needed for the doctor to confirm pregnancy – I was just reading that into the ‘confirm pregnancy’ part. 

Anyway, I also got a referral from my doctor for an obstetrician, so when I got home (and after my next positive test) I called her to book in. She was booked up for October. The receptionist was lovely and so helpful, she offered to check for me even though she wasn’t hopeful, and gave me the names of some other good doctors I could try (she didn’t call back so I’d say that’s a no). I tried them. Booked up. I tried the other obstetricians my doctor had suggested, one’s office was closed until next week, the other – booked up.

At that point I had a little cry – the bit where I got upset about the non-test and also not being able to get into any obstetricians.

Then I called my health insurance and asked if the hospital nearest us (smaller but the doc had said it was good) was covered, and also checked on the two big ones as well. Yep, so that’s fine.

I had the phone book out to get the number of one of the suggested doctors and noticed an ad for a doctor at the smaller hospital so I called them – engaged. One of the receptionists I’d called had suggested that I pick the hospital I want and get a list from them. I’d floated that idea with the first receptionist and she’d sounded dubious but I thought it was worth a try. So I called the smaller closer one and the woman who answered rattled off a list of names at high pace (including one of the highly recommendeds who was full, and the one I saw in the phone book).

I called the first one and hallelujah, they weren’t booked up. So I have an obstetrician and my first appointment is in 3 weeks on the 28th of March.   Then I had to call my gp back and get a new referral letter and then had to drive back to the doctors to pick it up.  

Of course then I began to have doubts – why were there spaces, isn’t he any good (I’d given up on a femal obstetrician after the second phone call)? But yesterday while I was at work, thehusband did some research about both the hospital and the obstetrican – loads of good stuff about the hospital, not much about the doc but nothing negative so that’s a good sign. We figure he’s just not one of the ‘celebrity doctors’ which is a self feeding cycle – they get raves on the net, so they get more bookings from internet traffic and therefore more raves.

However I do need to book into my hospital asap. I will do that Monday morning.

Husband also found some pregnancy exercise classes nearby and read up on the hospital classes that I also need to book in for.

I told my parents and siblings on tuesday but was waiting for the blood test to tell my grandparents – so I told them yesterday too. One grandma has 11 other great-grandies and her three eldest granddaughters (myself included) are due to have babies this year – mine will be number 13, so she was pleased but the other grandma was more excited since she’s only got one great grandy so far.  It will be my parent’s first grandchild. They didn’t sound too excited and I mentioned it to my sister - she agreed and had called them on it and they said that they were trying not to get too excited too soon. My sister on the other hand is estatic and SOOOO excited. One brother made poor jokes about being the uncle. The other (the youngest) said exactly the right thing and congratulated me.   

Now it’s my turn to do some research so I’m ready to make some calls on Monday. 

Hmm just realised that the doc didn’t even take my blood pressure – isn’t that something that’s supposed to happen?