I asked my doctor if she could stay around during the blood draw and she said "no". I said "why" and she said "because I have to see other patients". I gave her the benefit of the doubt. After that traumatic tearful experience, I was happy it was over and waited to speak to my doctor. She was a doctor that I saw as a gynae for the past 2 years. She was always nice and patient. but this time...I don't know what happened... I was asking questions as a newly pregnant mother and her answers seemed to ridicule me. Maybe it was because nobody ever asked her to stay while drawing blood. I was hoping for compassion, after all she would be the lady delivering my child. For example, when I told her that I feel nausea and sour foods seemed to help she said "My, that's counter-intuitive. Most mothers would stuff themselves with carbohydrates instead." I'm like WHAT?! o_O" Wouldn't that make them puke more instead? (And I've seen preggie pops sold in Motherhood and Pea in a Pod maternity shops, and these are sour candy to help with morning sickness. Well calling me counter-intuitive is one thing (but not a nice thing). But telling me that "look, I don't have time for you like this" and telling me to do some "soul-searching" when I asked her about the differences between an Obstetrician and a mid-wife was just alarming. I felt like I was treated like a troublesome person and was subtly insulted during the entire consultation. I felt like I could not have a trusting relationship with her, and I feel frightened to ask her any more questions in the future.
Something like that never happened to me before. I spoke to my sis-in-law Jess, and some details of my encounter stunned her as well. She gave me great advise - advise mainly to switch a doctor. Find a good, kind and highly recommended one. "You have to be confident that you can ask your doctor questions because there will surely be a lot along the way. You have to choose one you have a comfortable relationship with to deliver your baby." And she was right. If anybody ever had an experience like me, please don't feel helpless (my husband and I did for a while). It is actually really easy to switch doctors, and you only need to sign 1 form to get your medical records transferred. :-)
At 8 weeks I found Village Obstetricians, and there every patient is under the care of 2 doctors, one male Dr. Mussali and one female Dr. Worth. They are both very warm, very kind, and were recommended by a highly experienced doula. Their expertise seems top notch and Dr. Mussali is even on the board of medical advisers for Johnson&Johnson's
babycenter.com!!!
I was very happy to be there...but trouble (most anxiousness from my husband) loomed. It turned out that Village Obstetricians are not in my Health Insurance's Network. Still, I have out-of-network benefits, and the total I have to pay for such high quality care from my first visit all the way till my baby's birth is $1250 max, and the health insurance will pay the rest of the customary billing. Very worth it if you ask me! This totally freaked my husband out, and in order to appease him, I spend numerous days over the next few weeks calling and talking to the health insurance company, Village Obstetrics, the other imaging centers that I will be referred to, and the hospital I would be delivering in. I was very sad that my first trimester was filled with such stress.
A finger-prick test at 9 weeks. This is for trisomy 13, 18 and 21 testing.
At 11 weeks, all the insurance drama with hubby has ended. Once my husband was satisfied with all the terms and conditions possible, I had a happy peaceful time, no longer worried I have to switch away from the excellent care of Village Obstetrics. Can't blame him, he wants to make sure of our financial situation, and I just want the best care for my child.
I had my genetic sonogram and Carnegie Imaging Center (referred from Village Obstetrics). And this is one of the best times I've had.
Can you see my baby? The foetus was so active throughout the screening! So cute.
And this was my genetic screening result! Counting in my age, my finger-prick hormones and my sonogram measurements, the risk after screening for Trisomy 13, 18, or 21 has decreased to 1 in 10,000. That's the best possible result. Doctor says that my result is equivilent to a 20 year old. lol so glad.
Finally I have arrived at the end of my first trimester. Here's a picture of me and my funny looking bump at 12 weeks.
I was hoping that it would look nice and round...but don't you feel it looks like a little mountain? Hehe
I'll try to take pictures of myself every 4 weeks from now on and update you all.
With lots of love.
This is six vials of blood.
