Dr Dr, give me the news....

Can I just start by saying "3 cheers for C-chan!!"? What a lovely person he is. While he has more than enough on his plate at present, he is also doing much of the meal cooking in this household as my temperamental appetite tries out different eating regimes. I always knew he was a good sort, but I appreciate it all the same. Currently (ie last few days), I am waking up feeling fine, but feeling queasy mid-afternoon/evening.

Thought I might have a chat about the 3 Drs I have seen in the past few weeks. Booked in at my usual Dr's first, but she was on leave, so got another Dr for the first appointment. Sat in her room and looked around. Lots of certificates on her wall. Nice. Appointment progresses, Dr seems OK. Had a read of what was actually on the certificates "Graduate certificate of Aesthetic something or other". Ads for Botox. Start to feel uncomfortable. This Dr is clearly specialising in cosmetic surgery-type GP. Start to doubt her credibility, although she took my blood samples just fine and answered most of my questions without a problem. Thought "Will stick to my usual Dr for next visit".

Second visit - usual Dr. Ah that's better. Veteran mother of 3, been there, done that. Lots of helpful hints, and useful info about Obstetricians, but very vague about what I do if I want to just go through my local public hospital.

After investigating the public health system* - I do live near a very good public hospital with a recently done up Mothers and Babies ward - I have to go see another Dr who is accredited to participate in the "Shared Care" program. This means I go to see accredited Dr and also check in at the clinic at the hospital to meet with Midwives etc. This Dr rocked! He asked me detailed questions about my health, medical history, and family health history. Asked me questions about how I felt about important issues that I need to consider. Answered my many questions about what to do,when over the next few months. Feeling more confident now that I kind of have someone appointed to oversee my pregnancy.

Glad to have part of the complex medical maze in front of me clarified. Next step... ultrasound.

(*the route one takes if one doesn't opt to see an Obstetrician and pay >$4000 with only a $2000 rebate from Medicare - ever wondered what you'd do with the baby bonus? )

NOW I get it....

I used to occasionally see these ginger gummy bear lollies in shops and wonder who in their right mind would buy them. Now I am their greatest fan!! That's right. Ginger gummy bears rock. This is because they are so hot in your mouth that you forget that you are feeling motion/morning sickness in the car/bus/train/couch. And something about ginger being good for nausea.

So I'm doing the pregnant and holding down a full time job thing, with all the obstacles that entails. There are so many potentially awkward situations there I wonder why noone has made a movie about the comical side of morning sickness before....

1) "Good morning, honey, how are you today?"
"Please don't touch my stomach... oh no... BLAAAARGH!!" (insert canned laughter)...

2) "Want some cheese and crackers?"
"I don't ever want to eat or hear about cheese again!!"
"But I thought you were hanging out for cheese yesterday??"
"Oh no... BLAAAARGH! I said don't mention that word!! And I meant it!!" (insert canned laughter)...

3) 9am meeting - why the hell did it have to be so early? Preparation with breakfast consisting only of dry foods (pretzels, crackers, nuts, tiny teddys) eaten in sparrow-sized portions. Nightmare scenario in back of mind involving having to dash out of meeting (where I am the only woman) suddenly but not make it to the bathroom in time, or worse, being sick at the meeting. In reality, all was clear. Phew.

I'm wondering about the dim darker ages, when knowledge about babies would have been conveyed largely by word of mouth... How would one have coped if one didn't have a mother, mother-in-law, sister, friend, auntie etc who could have "diagnosed" your condition and helped you through? I would be freaking out right now if I didn't know what was going on. I'd probably be almost anorexic if I didn't tell myself I should eat.

But right now, I'm greatful for my mother, mother-in-law, Nanna (even tho' she already has 5 great-grandkids) for sharing, caring, telling me stories of "way back when" and friends for sending me useful hints and web links!! You know in the 70's , you had to sew your own maternity clothes? and you had to quit work the moment everyone found out you were obviously up the duff?

mini-meme + post

listening to: ABC AM Radio
Vinyl classics such as -
Arrival, ABBA (includes "Fernando" and "Dancing Queen" and many more);
Tapestry, Carole King ("I feel the earth move", "A Natural Woman", and "It's too late");
Paul Mauriat's freaky moog 70's dinner/elevator music with interestingly (read: barely) clad chick on cover, and orchestrated versions of "Mrs Robinson", "Penny Lane" and "Lara's theme" from Dr Zhivago.... this is the result of my parents being in a record club in the 70's
eating: whatever I can stomach, whenever I can stomach it
feeling: nauseous, hungry, hunger tinged with nausea, nausea tinged with hunger, occasionally very tired, occasionally very emotional (can't handle anyone dying or breaking up on television), and a little bit like I'm keeping a naughty secret.

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Food is one of the things I love. How wierd to be ambivalent about it now? Now it's like - is the coast clear? Right, eat..... now! b.t.w. - secret to subduing morning sickness seems to be grabbing a little something dry to eat (nuts, crackers) before you feel sick. Strangely, I have been waking between 3-4 every morning sans alarm, stuffing a couple of almonds in my mouth even though not hungry and going back to sleep. Seems to be working most days.

I have been fond of the idea of Udon noodle soup, avocados with salt and pepper, mature cheese and hard boiled eggs lately. Most foods seem like a good idea, but when they are in front of me, my enthusiasm wanes drastically. Appetite also smaller. Very strange thing to go through.

My God, I am a walking talking pregnancy cliché. Morning sickness with a vengeance. Whatever I did wrong, dear Gods, that I must be punished for, please forgive me. I have suffered enough (1 week!), and I repent fully for the time I teased Callum Brown (not his real surname) in Year 7 for having a name that sounded like “Gollum”. Pretty witty for an 11-year-old, eh? But still terrible of me, and I’m truly sorry.

My mother never had it, but I had been forewarned that your mother’s experience has no bearing on your own. My poor work collegue had it from the second month right up to the birth. Fingers crossed that mine will be more fleeting.

It started last week, with general queasiness most of the time, but nothing more. “pff! Morning sickness? Should be more like mild motion sickness, not related to mornings or being in motion. I can handle this…” I thought.

But yesterday, sadly, that changed. Yes, I had my first true episode of being ill in the morning. But then I felt better the rest of the day. Still seemed manageable.

BUT THEN, things got worse this morning. I was ill again this morning, but thought that would be the end of it, as per yesterday. However, my drive to work was never comfortable. Alas, things felt a little more desperate as my car was not 10 minutes from work… Pulled over as soon as was practical, but not soon enough. Oh yes, imagine almost the worst thing that can happen… projectile vomiting out the car door, but not before getting some on your pants!! Luckily, I hadn’t eaten anything yet. Must investigate my options for management of my condition.

Now I have a few worries:
- Someone at work may have been driving past at that moment… Please no!!
- It may happen at a painfully obvious time at work
- If it gets worse, I may have trouble covering my tracks pre-announcement. A guy that sits next to me is a father of 4 and his wife is a midwife. He can smell a pregnancy a mile off.

Note later on in day: eating potato crisps helped a lot!

phew I'm back

Finally sorted out my cookie problem.

Most significant news since I last blogged: I'm pregnant!

Not telling everyone yet, as not reached end of magical first 3 months for a little while yet, and certainly not ready to tell work about it, so Mum's the word until I give the formal go-ahead. However, how can one not tell one's webdiary such big news?

So here's what I know so far:
- if things go full term, I'll have a Gemini. Anyone care to analyse the Scorpio/Gemini relationship for me? Or the Aries/Gemini relationship for it's Dad?
- Morning sickness is a *very real* condition
- I face an alcohol-free 30th birthday in a couple of weeks time... time to break out the soda and lime!!