Revelations from an OB

Today I was scheduled for my first OB appointment at the hospital. It was...interesting.

But first, again, I have lapsed with the updates and photos. In my defense, we really have been quite busy preparing to move into our house, James started his new job this week and I have been finishing up my time at work. Here is the yay for me part - tomorrow is my last day at work until after maternity leave. I couldn't be more excited. It does make me sound awfully lazy, but it couldn't have come at a better time. My sciatica is starting to cause me grief again, James is on long hours, my work schedule isn't fixed and we are spending a lot of time arranging appointments for contractors in the new house, looking at samples etc etc. It just is a lot more stress than necessary. Oh yes! And of course, the multitude of doctor's appointments involved in pregnancy. So I rejoice at being one short shift away from freedom! Freedom to focus on the other aspects of my life. Hopefully a positive side effect will be more regular workouts for me. I certainly need them!

I stepped on the scale at the doctor's office today and weighed in at a whopping 10lbs gained!! I know I am not a true 10lbs heavier - having just eaten lunch, consumed a litre of water etc before the appointment. The lovely petite nurse raised her eyebrows when the weight flashed up, my sentiments exactly. 

Dr Kanee was professional and quite friendly - which should have quelled my anxiety of having a male doctor, but didn't. After a brief discussion, he inquired about whether I'd felt the baby move - and I haven't. He told me not to feel concerned - which I didn't, until that moment. I've been instructed to visit the assessment unit at the hospital in 2 weeks time if I still haven't felt any movement. Concern - increased.

He then explained the results of my blood tests from the lab - which my awful, horrendously incapable, miserable, unprofessional, unkind doctor neglected to do. (Pregnancy rant: What kind of a doctor receives lab results which require a direct action of the patient in the very near future and does not feel the need to phone, write, email, send a pigeon carrier in order to convey the information?!!?) Where was I? The results: It turns out that my blood type is O negative. O.

Since only 15% of the population have a negative blood type, the chance that James is negative is quite slim. He will be getting his blood tested this week to confirm. This means that I am likely to have a RH positive baby while being RH negative myself. I asked if being RH negative was common, and was told that it was not, but again, that it was not a cause for concern. Concern - increasing in massive succession.

I will have some more testing done in 2 weeks, I will have to have medication at approximately 26weeks and again just before the birth. This will hopefully mean that James and I can have more children in the future. The revelation was followed by a pelvic exam. Joyous. I lay, ungraciously, on the examination table and tried to think on other things. Such as - being RH negative. My eyes welled up out of concern for Baby H, (or O, we haven't decided yet) and our plans for our family. I prayed for peace and God, in His love, answered instantly. It's going to be ok. It is going to be ok. He has known the path of my life all along and He knows the path our family will take. And the health of this baby, and the ability to have more, or the ability to accept not having more, is in His control. And that really does give me peace.

Needless to say, my first appointment with my OB was not a wonderful experience. It could've been worse, but I'm quite certain it could've been much more pleasant.

Stay tuned for Week 22 pics on Saturday. This belly is out of control!