28 week appt

Today we headed to the doctor over lunch for our 28 week appointment. Originally scheduled for Friday afternoon, it was moved up to today given the doctor wanted Friday afternoon off to do some Halloween stuff with her kids (I think she has 4). We did the normal routine.

I peed in my cup and stepped on the scale. The scale said 197lbs. (GEEZ, do I look that big?) Then blood pressure. It was 100/66. Nice and normal for me. Then the doctor came in. We talked about the hospital trip in MO for a minute and my hip pain. Then we got to hear the baby's heartbeat again ;o) The doctor put it at 162 beats per minute and I got measured again. She didn't say what the measurement was but she said I was right on track. I did have some tenderness when she was pushing on my abdomen and said it could be a sore diaphragm from the growth over the past few weeks and the pressure pushing everything up. We also talked about my labs I had last done last Friday. First she talked about the Glucose screening test. My result was 134mg/dL. The low cut off for retesting and potential gestational diabetes is 135mg/dL, so I snuck under the radar. She said even 135 is the low end so she considered me safe and didn't see the need for me to do the 3 hour test or go on the restrictive diet. WHEW!! Then we talked about my Hemoglobin test. This checked to make sure I wasn't anemic. My baseline level was 13.6g/dL. My level from last Friday's test was 12.86g/dL. So it had gone down a bit which she said was expected in pregnancy but still within the normal range of 12-18g/dL. More good news! And at the end, I got my RhoGAM shot. All set!

One of the biggest discussions at the doctor's office has carried itself home with us tonight. (It actually followed us back to work and frustrated us both). It is in regards to the H1N1 shot. I am leery to get it since it contains Thimerosal, a mercury derivative that is added for a preservative. After my doctor was so adamant that my REGULAR flu shot be preservative free specifically of Thimerosal, she is actually recommending that we get the H1N1 shot. Very confusing. Clay (who likes to follow the book) wants me to get one but I'm just not sure. Another factor, is that they are only available at public clinics so far and will require me to miss work and stand in line for HOURS (at least 2) to get the shot. Plus who is to say this isn't bad with all those people there and the potential they are already sick and going to be hacking.. ugh! So its still in discussion here for now.......

Oh we also discussed pediatricians, contraception options after birth while breastfeeding, and the on-call doctor rotation. There are 4 doctors in her rotation. She and the other doctor in the office and then 2 others. One of the others is a Dr. Emm. I went to school with a Dr. Emm but this is HIS wife and NOT him, which I feel better about just in case I have to deliver with the Dr. Emm.

Finally, we go back in 2 weeks for our 3o week appointment. We will be on the every 2 week schedule then. I know I have said this so many times but I can not believe how fast time is just FLYING BY!!! 8 more appointments and we will be at the 40 week mark if Little Bean stays in his/her comfortable home until then. (Side note: Christmas is 59 days away. Really? That's less than 9 weeks. By the time Christmas is here this pregnancy will be on the final lap. It's right around the corner.)