Posts tagged doctor

I’m sorry to say that my doctor’s appointment did not go as I had planned.  In fact this entire day has not been very great.  Actually, the only thing that was remotely great was that Tim made me breakfast in bed.  I love you, Tim!

To start with, the cervical exam was painful.  I suppose most you moms probably saw that coming.  My cervix is doing what its supposed to, in the sense that it is thinning its last layer.  BUT, its not dilating at all yet, so it isn’t ahead of the game.  This means that my original due date, May 8th, still stands.  Boo.  I also didn’t realize that I would need a cervical exam every visit until Mr. Bun-In-The-Oven goes “Ding!”  I prefer the ultrasound visits.

I was tested for Group B Strep (GBS- a vaginal bacteria that commonly shows up in pregnant women) last week and I received the results of that test today while at the doctor’s office.  Unfortunately the test came back positive.  This bacteria is harmless to me, but can be fatal in infants.  This means that upon going into labor, I will need to be given antibiotics that will pass through me to Levi, so he may be protected from the GBS when he is coming out.  Some infants still get the GBS, but very few whom are treated die from it.  While that number factor is comforting, this is the first complication in my pregnancy, and I am worried about my little baby a bit.  I will need to go into the hospital a little earlier, to ensure the antibiotics can go through my system to his in enough time, and I will need to stay at the hospital a MINIMUM of 48 hours (NO FUN).  My doctor was very good about explaining all of this to Tim and I (my mom came too, which was very nice), and I was therefore comforted by the knowledge of our situation that he’d given.  Which really means, I understand our situation and am not crying about it although I feel like it.  Please pray that everything goes well!  If any of the moms reading this have had GBS during a pregnancy, I would REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate hearing what you have to say about it!

We also talked to our doctor about pain medications during labor.  I am not one to be willing to take anything of possible high risk to me or more importantly, my son.  This being said, I think I am set on taking something through IV.  I’m pretty sure that given what a physically tense person I am, I will not be able to go natural.  I know its best for me to just acknowledge that now and make a plan vs. lying to myself, breaking down, and taking something half way through labor.  This could be riskier any way.  My doctor recommended the epidural (as many many many people have) and he explained to me why he recommends it.  I realize that this has proven, in most people, to be the best relief drug but I still can’t bring myself to do something that could cause me to be paralyzed.  While I trust my doctor with my life (he is very trustworthy and has shown his interest is in the best interest of his patient), I don’t trust the hospital staff that I will be dealing with.

So it already sounds as though it was a long appointment, right?  Believe or not, in the middle of all this, our doctor had to leave to go deliver a baby!  My mom, Tim, and I thought we’d be waiting a while, but the hospital is across the street from my doctor’s office and he was only gone about 20 minutes I think!  I’m not very sure though, because we were all talking and therefore entertained enough not to be impatient.  Still, I was surprised by how quick he was!

After we got home from our appointment, we received a call from a friend of ours.  A guy that Tim and I knew from high school (and through other friends of ours) committed suicide this morning.  We went on his facebook and he had even said last night that he loved everyone and was going somewhere no one else could go.  We were both very shocked because we saw him just last Friday (for the first time since he graduated) and he seemed very happy.  Also, people who threaten suicide don’t often follow through (I thought).  A lot of our friends are upset right now, and reasonably so.  Since Tim and I were not close with him, I am more concerned about our friends.  It feels weird having just seen him the other night.  Tim and I wonder if we missed an opportunity to witness to him.  So often, people die unexpectedly.  Some times it makes me wonder about the difference I could have possibly made if I had tried to talk to them about God when I had the opportunity.  I know that their acceptance of God must be there choice, but I could at least say that I tried.  I don’t feel responsible for this man’s suicide.  How could I know then what he was planning?  Still, I do have to wonder if it was a coincidence that we saw him so shortly before he made this decision and if I was meant to speak God’s healing words.  Don’t miss a chance and live like every day was the last.  What great advice that we so often speak and do not follow.

Hopefully I will have something cheerier to say next time- hope I didn’t depress my audience…