On a hunt

We are on a 'hunt' for a paediatrician.

The current GP Medical Centre is very bad even for a general use, unfortunately. There are a bunch of GPs (or should I say a bunch of pansies) practising and I tried most of them. One used Google image search to diagnose my itching chicken pox skin rash. One forced me to have a flu jab at 4+5!! One diagnosed my peeling skin condition as dermatitis even pointed out a picture of fluid filled red pimples on the palm (it wasn't the case, in fact it wasn't even close to that picture). The same one diagnosed me with tender breast when my backbone (thus rib) was twisted and locked. Another one prescribed antibiotics for a vital infection. I won't let them near my baby. Time for a change? Maybe, but GPs are just general practitioners not doctors of infants and children.

We are looking to find a properly trained and qualified paediatrician, an experienced one. Who can provide the quality of medical care. Whom we can develop a close relationship. Who has the ability to listen, and the openness to questions, and the willingness to respond to them fully and clearly. Who believes in preventive medicine, and last but not least, who has genuine fondness for children. In one sentence, we are searching for Dr Right.

GP visit

37+6 today. Another scheduled GP visit this morning. Urine is clean, no sugar, no protein detected. Blood pressure is okay (126/85). Fetal heartbeat is fine. Weight: 66.6 kg.

Symptoms/questions and comments/answers on this week's visit:

Generally feeling well. Looking nice and round (very big bump she said). Slightly puffed up feet, still stiff fingers but blood pressure is fine so not to worry.

The sharp pain down in the lower abdomen is getting more frequent. I had to jump up from the dinner table yesterday because it was so painful that I could not bear sitting with it. Baby is getting ready, she commented.

Itching L nipple, and some itchiness around the belly-button.

Accidentally ate some unpasteurized feta cheese last week. Not to worry, she said.

More (migrating) numb spots on tummy. Stretching on nerves.

Q: Baby medicine cabinet essentials?

A: Nothing in the first 2 months. Calling and visiting the GP ONLY.

Not that I want to drug my baby just I do not want to be caught in the middle of the night having nothing to bring high temperature down with...

GP visit

35+6 today. Another scheduled GP visit this morning. The nicer, kinder midwife is back. Good news, I can ask questions! Urine is clean, no sugar, no protein. Blood pressure is within normal limits (124/80). Fetal heartbeat is nice and loud. Weight: 64 kg.

Generally feeling well. Slightly puffed up feet, slightly stiff fingers but the blood pressure is fine so just a bit of water retention which is normal, she said. Some change in vaginal discharge: slight increase and more yellowish but the urine sample is clean so not to worry, she said. For the occasional sharp pain down in the lower abdomen also normal, and the strong, frequent Braxton Hicks' do not effect the baby (which I still doubt), she said.

Bunny received some extra vitamin D today as the sun was scorching on the way to and back.

Midwife visit (GP)

11+6 today and I had my first midwife visit this morning at my GP. She checked the urine sample (clear), took my blood pressure (normal, 120/80), measured my weigh (51.1 kg, and this is more likely than the 54.5 kg), but she did not listen to BabyBunny's heartbeat with the Fetal Doppler because she said that it is too early for that. Is it??

I do not believe it!

7+6 today. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is back!! Just what I needed to cheer up my nausea!

Yesterday evening I started to feel that tingling sensation on my bottom lip and a tiny blister came out just before bed. This morning I woke up with a burning, itching, swelled, giant blister almost in the middle of the bottom lip. Unbelievable! It was only in July that I had cold sores. I did not expect it so soon as I thought the antibodies are doing their job. It's not even four months since the last outbreak which lasted more than two weeks!!

I was so worried all night. I couldn't sleep much and woke up at 4am. I hope Bunny is safe. He should be safe. Must be safe!! I do not want to loose him, again.

I called my GP first thing this morning. She said that it does not effect my pregnancy and there is oral medication for it. Is that safe I asked. She said that they usually do not give it to pregnant women. Why to mention then?? She said that I can use Zovirax as the absorption through the skin is minimum, plus the book says there is not known harmful effect. It wasn't really convincing so I decided not to put anything on it (just to ease any discomfort). Not even salt paste!!

Some forum mentioned that Abreva, Valtrex, or Blistex is safe. Who knows really!?! There is not enough research when it comes to pregnancy and the first trimester is so vulnerable. I will just wait it out as it will start to heal on its own within a few days. Not sure about lysine (an amino acid) supplement either. I may try to apply ice to the sore. Frequent hand washing, plenty of water, vitamin C rich fruits.

The virus stays in my body for life and there is no cure. Hormonal changes like pregnancy trigger a cold sore...

GP for confirmation

We went to the GP this morning. No, not to the previous one, I have chosen a new one, a younger, a more sympathetic one. She could be around my age.

She wanted to sign me to a different hospital because all her patients go there but I said the old one from my January pregnancy will do. They know my history. I hope for an earlier scan around week 8.

I showed the supplements what I took in pre-conception (Pregnacare and MorDHA) and what I am taking now (Prenatal Nutrients from Solgar and MumOmega). No vitamin C or Prebio7 this time, I was afraid to take. She said no extra vitamin C but she gave a green light to the probiotics.

I also asked about herbal teas. She said that camomile and peppermint are OK. When I asked about exercise she said no need for it. I was surprised as all I hear how positive to exercise during pregnancy for mummy and baby alike.

I peed in a container. She checked it but did not say a thing about it so I presume all is good. I am officially pregnant!

Today's measures were weight: 54.5 kg, blood pressure: 134/80 (systolic/diastolic). She did not measure my BMI. My new EDD: 21/06/2012. 21st of June just days away from my BD ;-))

What are the symptoms? Some breast pain and since yesterday morning lost appetite and all day lasting mild nausea.

The blister unleashed and strikes back

Tuesday morning - Small blister on the lower lip. Salt paste (I found on the NET that this is an effective way to fight back, as I did not wanted to use strong medicine like Zovirax because of the baby-making-process we are in).

Tuesday afternoon - A second blister appears next to the first one. More salt paste!

Wednesday morning - Two blisters. Ugly and red as hell! Local pharmacy. Cymex cream (pharmacist's recommendation).

Wednesday afternoon - Two blisters. No improvement. Sore, itchy.

Thursday morning - GP. Viralief cream (Aciclovir, the active ingredient, works by slowing down the virus. If used early enough, it has been shown to stop cold sores developing and speed up the healing of cold sore blisters. To be used for 5 days.

My advice, never try the salt paste!!

12 weeks in a nutshell

05 Jan - LMP
17/18 Jan - ovulation (?)
27 Jan - smear test
31 Jan - period due
01 Fed - two positive home pregnancy tests
07 Feb - GP confirmation (EDD: 11.10.2011), Flu Vaccine;
12 Feb - 51.3 kg (no boots, no jacket)
21 Feb - skin start to get loose on both thumbs
23 Feb - appetite loss, queasiness, nausea starts;
07 Mar - GP (loose skin, peeling fingertips on all of them), Emollient cream & wash;
13 Mar - toes start to peel
17 Mar - loose skin on both heels (where they touch the floor);
18 Mar - 1 am fresh blood, 8 am ER scan, empty sac;
21 Mar - EPAU scan, empty sac;
24 Mar - pm brown discharge
25 Mar - from 2 am to 4 am period like cramping
27 Mar - 54.7 kg (but with shoes and jacket on)
25/30 Mar - dark brown discharge (my period would due now for this month);
31 Mar - EPAU second scan, empty sac, anembryonic pregnancy;
01 Apr - waiting to miscarry naturally

Emollient

I went to the GP (different one) today with my peeling skin. She examined it and said dermatitis, then she dug out a book and showed me a picture. It was red blisters on a palm filled with yellowish fluid. Shocking. I said mine looks nothing like it. No redness, no fluid, mine not a blister at all. Skin gets loose then dries out and peel. However, this is it, she said. No, it isn't, just look at it!! She did not bother further, and sent me to the pharmacy for a DiproBase Emollient cream and E45 Emollient Wash Cream to use it at least 5 times a day. Although it is pregnancy related (probably the hormones are likely to playing their weird part) and pregnancy related problems are not to be charged, she charged me for the visit. Nice! At least she did not googled it while I was there like the one last year when I went there with chicken pox. Yeah, chicken pox over thirty years of age ;-)

The confirmation

I was smiling over the week and the weekend, being happy and light. Today I went to the GP for my pregnancy confirmation. Same GP as for the smear test. She asked my LMP, measured my blood pressure (116/60 - systolic/diastolic), listened to my chest. She asked me to pee in a little container but my bladder was empty so I just showed her the two positive tests. I also showed her the supplements I take: Prenatal Nutrients (Solgar), Mum Omega pregnancy (Equazen), vitamin-C 500 mg (Sona) and Prebio7 probiotics. She said that the probiotics are fine, wasn't sure about the Omega-3-6, but definitely said to stop the vitamin-C, immediately! She didn't say why though. She didn't make any statement about the prenatal vitamin formula.

She put my EDD (Estimated Date of Delivery), i.e. my due date on the 11th of October (I calculated the 12th - subtract 3 months and add 7 days to your LMP). She wrote a letter for me to take to the hospital of my choice. Well, it was her choice really. When I asked which one to pick as I have 3 approximately in the same distance from where I live, she chose the University Hospital for Women & Infants. The care is good, she said. When she asked about how would we (DH was there too) proceed if there is any problem with the baby, would we want to terminate the pregnancy in bad outcome, we said yes. So she wrote another letter to take with me to the prenatal diagnosis clinic, for a blood test and Nuchal thickness scan, around week 12.

There was another choice to make, whatever I want to go private, semi-private or public. She said if I choose private, semi-private it will cost me, a lot, but the service basically the same and even in private the bed, the care, the same obstetrician cannot be guaranteed as it operates on a first come first serve. I chose public (going combined care) and Midwifery Led Unit. Midwifery because I want a natural birth as possible. I dare not take a home birth but no needles, no cuts, no drugs, please.

Finally I got a flu jab. First she presented it as a choice, a highly recommended one. I said we will think about it and come back if I want to have it. She said we have 5 minutes to decide! She pushed us hard so we gave in.

Smear test

Today I went to the GP for a smear test as I haven't done any in the past 6 years. I drew the doctor's attention to that I may be pregnant. She said it is safe to do the test anyway. When she asked for my LMP (last menstrual period) she said that we do not know yet. Yeah, that is why I am saying it. I can be 10 days pregnant!