Back from today's doctor visit. Once again, I really liked this new doctor. In fact, he's been my favorite so far in the practice, but from what I hear about the next doctor I'll see (two weeks from today), the best is yet to come. Apparently there are only two doctors in this practice (which has 7 doctors and one nurse practitioner) whom I dislike. They just happen to unfortunately be the first two I saw. Here's hoping I go into labor at 4am and those two aren't on call...
Ok, the good news about today's visit: only one pound weight gain since my last appt two weeks ago. This is much better news than the 14 pound gain before, AND apparently this baby is (yet another) whopper. That means more of this weight is her than I'd thought...maybe. More on that in a minute.
Now moving away from good news...Ok, I have not been a hypochondriac since the day Jake was born. I will admit I was one before that, finding any excuse to miss class in college or work after I graduated. When Jake was born, I discovered a harsh reality no one tells new mothers: Mama can't be sick. Ever. No calling in sick to the baby, no sick pay. No sleeping in. So, goodbye hypochondria, by force basically.
However, I find myself suddenly filled with paranoia (okay, that's been around the whole pregnancy really, but mostly about what people think of me) and hypochondria.
Today the nurse took my blood pressure. "Hmm...it's higher than normal," she mused. I jokingly said, "Does this mean I can go on bedrest?" What scared me was her response to my joke: blank (or stern, depending on your take on it) stare and rapid-fire questions. "Do you feel pain here? Have you been having headaches? Dizzy spells? Seeing spots before your eyes?" Aaack!! No, lady, no! Leave me alone, I'm kidding. I have to finish Christmas shopping before we can even discuss these things!
When I got home, I looked up blood pressure on webMD, and I don't see that I have anything to worry about. Mine is 124/74, so that seems fine. (Mary Lou, if you read this and disagree, please let me know.) I'm sure Ike is screaming right now, "If you'd walk like I've been telling you to, this wouldn't be an issue!" Well, Mr. Smarty-Pants, I did walk today--30 minutes. And look what it did to my blood pressure. ;)
So, moving on. Nice Dr. Tomlin talked to me longer than any other doctor I've met there before. Still doesn't compare to Dr. Patel in High Point, but I'll take it... We listened to the baby's heartbeat (I could listen to her heartbeat all day long...it's so beautiful), and he measured my ever-increasing belly. "Hmmm," he says, "How large was your first baby?"
"8 lbs, 9 oz," I reply.
"Well, this one won't be a small one either. Let's just say your abdomen is measuring on the healthy side of normal at 34"." Now let's be honest, doctor. By healthy, you mean hefty, right? Because I would still feel pretty healthy if you'd just please tell me this kid is coming out 7 lbs, 4 oz. Or even 8 lbs, 2 oz. Or hey, I know I can birth 8 lbs, 9 oz; I've done it! But please please please don't let this baby be bigger than that.
So we talked about my concerns over the fact that with Jake, the doctors thought I'd need a c-section. I'd really like a heads-up if that's going to be an issue this time. Dr. Tomlin scheduled an ultrasound appointment for me at 39 weeks, so we (as he put it) "can see if we're having a 10-pounder here."
Um...God? Have you noticed that I'm a small woman??
Ok, the good news about today's visit: only one pound weight gain since my last appt two weeks ago. This is much better news than the 14 pound gain before, AND apparently this baby is (yet another) whopper. That means more of this weight is her than I'd thought...maybe. More on that in a minute.
Now moving away from good news...Ok, I have not been a hypochondriac since the day Jake was born. I will admit I was one before that, finding any excuse to miss class in college or work after I graduated. When Jake was born, I discovered a harsh reality no one tells new mothers: Mama can't be sick. Ever. No calling in sick to the baby, no sick pay. No sleeping in. So, goodbye hypochondria, by force basically.
However, I find myself suddenly filled with paranoia (okay, that's been around the whole pregnancy really, but mostly about what people think of me) and hypochondria.
Today the nurse took my blood pressure. "Hmm...it's higher than normal," she mused. I jokingly said, "Does this mean I can go on bedrest?" What scared me was her response to my joke: blank (or stern, depending on your take on it) stare and rapid-fire questions. "Do you feel pain here? Have you been having headaches? Dizzy spells? Seeing spots before your eyes?" Aaack!! No, lady, no! Leave me alone, I'm kidding. I have to finish Christmas shopping before we can even discuss these things!
When I got home, I looked up blood pressure on webMD, and I don't see that I have anything to worry about. Mine is 124/74, so that seems fine. (Mary Lou, if you read this and disagree, please let me know.) I'm sure Ike is screaming right now, "If you'd walk like I've been telling you to, this wouldn't be an issue!" Well, Mr. Smarty-Pants, I did walk today--30 minutes. And look what it did to my blood pressure. ;)
So, moving on. Nice Dr. Tomlin talked to me longer than any other doctor I've met there before. Still doesn't compare to Dr. Patel in High Point, but I'll take it... We listened to the baby's heartbeat (I could listen to her heartbeat all day long...it's so beautiful), and he measured my ever-increasing belly. "Hmmm," he says, "How large was your first baby?"
"8 lbs, 9 oz," I reply.
"Well, this one won't be a small one either. Let's just say your abdomen is measuring on the healthy side of normal at 34"." Now let's be honest, doctor. By healthy, you mean hefty, right? Because I would still feel pretty healthy if you'd just please tell me this kid is coming out 7 lbs, 4 oz. Or even 8 lbs, 2 oz. Or hey, I know I can birth 8 lbs, 9 oz; I've done it! But please please please don't let this baby be bigger than that.
So we talked about my concerns over the fact that with Jake, the doctors thought I'd need a c-section. I'd really like a heads-up if that's going to be an issue this time. Dr. Tomlin scheduled an ultrasound appointment for me at 39 weeks, so we (as he put it) "can see if we're having a 10-pounder here."
Um...God? Have you noticed that I'm a small woman??
2 Comments:
Well congrats for finding another dr. that you like! I wouldn't worry much about the BP. That isn't that bad. As for the whopper baby, we'll be keeping our fingers crossed for a little smaller baby, cause I know how it feels to be less than 5ft. tall and trying to carry a whopper baby! BTW, if you ever wanna meet someplace and walk together then let me know. I need to be doing that myself.
I liked Dr. Tomblin also....Lowe is still my fav. but if I ever had to change I would go to Tomblin.
Post a Comment
<< Home