Your First Doctor’s visit, what you need to know

This first visit, and every visit from now on, you WILL pee in a cup. They will also do some blood work but that’s mostly the first visit.

Next they will ask a lot of question about your family health history as well as the baby’s dad’s family history.  So it is best if both of you can come to answer all of these questions.  They will also give you a due date as well as tell you how far along you are!!! (This was the best part for me! It made it so real for us!)  They will go over what to expect in the next couple of weeks and how often you will be visiting the doctor for the next 9 months or less. (see below for timeline)

Prenatal Doctor visits:

*First one to confirm!

*Next in 5 weeks  (when you are at 10-11 weeks to check your pelvic for birthing and possibly here the heart beat! I teared up for a moment thinking about that! So precious! (First Sonogram and first PICTURE!)

*After that will be a visit 1 per month until your 28^th week (when they test for diabetes)

* Then you go to visit every 2 weeks

*The last month, you go to visit every week until you go into LABOR

Insurance and finance plan. Then someone there comes to talk to you about your insurance, what it covers and what you will be left with to pay for (FYI: this person has called your insurance Provider and asked all the questions needed to know what all you can get out of your policy.  So great!)  This amount covers (at least for us) pretty much all of the prenatal stuff and the delivery.  There are still some other bills you will occur while you are in the hospital such as for Anesthesiology, pathology and Baby Bills. 

(Baby Bills: after you give birth, there is a nurse that is assigned to your baby to take care of and examine.  You can actually request this person to be your family doctor if you so chose.  I don’t know which is cheaper.  Nevertheless, this bill covers this persons expenses charged)

NOW, Before you Get Pregnant!

Here are a couple of things I have figured out within the first couple of months of this Pregnancy.  Hope they help out other women as they begin their journey through becoming a mommy!

A.) Take a prenatal vitamin now! 

And If you can, take a fish oil supplement as well.  You never know when you are going to get pregnant or if you going to have an “Opp’s” and you want your baby getting that nutrition ASAC (as soon as conceived).

B.) Starting asking questions now!

You might have friends that are having babies so ask them questions about what books they read, who is their doctor and how do they like them, what were the expenses like and how much did insurance cover? 

This helps you learn more about the process now (while you have time) and start to see what are the important questions to ask when it’s your turn.  Plus this might help you find the right doctor for you,  your husband and your baby. 

C.) Read Now!

Again, you have time now!  When we found out I was pregnant we were thinking “YAY! in 9 months we are having a baby!”  Then we go to the doctor a couple of days later to find out I am 5 weeks and 3 days.  So now all the sudden we are 7 months 2 weeks.”  IN OTHER WORDS, 9 months turns into 7 months like that; it goes quicker than you think!  Having as much knowledge now, while you have time, is a good idea!

D.) Workout  NOW!

I am currently in the “overweight” category so my weight is not ideal.  And Now that I am pregnant I can’t over do it by any means NOR can I try losing weight right now. 

So if you wanting to be in good shape (because you bounce back better after giving birth AND it’s safer for you and the baby) and you don’t want to be huge during the pregnancy…..start trying to lose weight and get in shape NOW!

E.) Save NOW!

For us, the first Doctors appt we were told, the  charge would be $100 to cover what the insurance didn’t cover or go to your payments for the prenatal – labor charges. 

Also at that first appt they go over what your insurance does cover and what you will be liable for after that. (Monthly payments and such). 

Most offices will sit down with you about what your insurance will cover and talk numbers with you from now until you give birth

We are Pregnant!!!

Earlier this December I started a series of blogs where I would write where I found God in each day until until Christmas.  However I stopped writing where I found my Savior after December 12th. The reason being was everywhere I found God was in this great news that Alex and I got on December 10th.

Alex and I stopped not trying (taking birthcontrol) back in October.  We were not trying but not "not trying" either.  Early December, I started to feel different. I was due to start my monthly cycle around December 5th.  My Chest was more tender and swollen than usual.  My stomach felt tight but now from the working out.

December 5th came and went.  Before I knew it, it was Thursday, December 9th.  While I was googling the symptoms of pregnancy, Alex walked up to me and said, "o.k., I have to say this but I think your pregnant."  I said, "I think you might be right!"

So the next day, we had already planned to go to Walgreens to get "as seen on T.V." gifts for a Christmas party.  We were pointed to this aisle where most of these gifts were.  What else should be on that aisle were the Home Pregnancy Tests.  Next think I know I see Alex is asking me which one is a good one and he is picking one out for us.

We went home and I took both test.
Directions:
Urinate for 10 seconds on the stick, lay down on the counter for the test to do it's job for the next 30 seconds to a minute.
By the time I was done, laid the sick down and go to flush the toilet, the stick was done blinking and now showed a result,

I couldn't believe how quick that was, so I had to go for round two.  This time I let it sit in a cup for 20 seconds and again didn't take the whole time needed to again have the same results,

TWO FOR TWO

So then wanted it to be official so we ran to my family doctor (since my OBGYN was closed already for the day).  The did an official Lab work up on me and within 20 minutes we were 3 for 3!  We were Officially PREGNANT!

We just couldn't believe it!

So needless to say, where I have found God in my life since December 12th is in me!

We have to keep this to ourselves since December 10th, finally telling Alex's family the weekend before Christmas when they were all together and then Christmas Day, we told my family!  I'll post a blog in a couple of days with pictures and stories for each.  

We had a doctors appointment with my Gyno on December 15th which is when they told us (at that time) I was 5 weeks 3 days along (which is about the size of an Orange Seed).

Due Date is August 15th!

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas From us to you!  Thank you to all of you that read my blog, add comments and make requests for future Blogs!  I enjoy all of your company and insight as well as your own blogs!  I wish you all, and your loved ones, a Very Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Canton

I realized I haven't posted pictures from the trip to Canton with my mom and sis.  I loved being with them.  It was the first time since I got married (July 2008) that it was just the girls for a road trip.  Mom and Rachael had never been so we decided we go primarily for the experience.

Here are some crafts we saw, admired, wondered if we could make or just thought were fun/pretty!

Here are so fun pictures we took...just because:

And Here is what we bought:

{Sorry they were saved for Christmas and as we all know...}

Marriage Tip #7: Communication, KEEP Trying

My last tip started with the top reasons Relationships fail: one was COMMUNICATION.

For years we have tried new forms of communications, there are countless languages out there to learn and none of that is including our body language, tone, cultural influences.  COMMUNICATION is one of the most complicated things you will learn to do.  Even if you speak the same language as someone, live with them for years...you are still bound to has some form of MIS-COMMUNICATION.

So 1st thing to LEARN for your marriage (or any relationship you have) there WILL be a time you mis-communicate something to someone.
If you go back to my post on Marriage Tip #6, I gave an example of how Alex and I had different definitions in our heads of what "SAVINGS" is causing us to mis-understand each other.

#2, is know Communication takes time, patiences and TALKING.  You CANNOT stop talking to each other or you'll never learn how each other's minds work. This helps you learn how to talk to each other.

#3 the more you talk, the more you know.

So don't be completely discouraged when this happens. Don't start thinking "He/She doesn't get me!"  My Parents are celebrating their 34th Wedding Anniversary December 23rd and they still have moments of Miscommunication.  But they know it happens, they work through it, learn something about each other/themselves and move on.  They are more in love today then yesterday!

Michael Buble Concert

I'm finally posting pictures from the Michael Buble Concert we went to on December 7th in Little Rock, AR, at the Verizon Arena!  It was a wonderful night and one of the best concerts I have ever been too!  He was so funny, entertaining, personal and talented all at the same time.  If we had not won the tickets and if we had the money to buy tickets it would have been worth it for the experience.

The Opening act was Natural 7, who where these 7 men vocally sang accapella all the songs while using their voices to make the instrument sounds as well (cello, bass, drums, screaming guitar...which was the best)!  I included those pics as well.

Sorry this slide show is a little long. I tired cutting down the amount of pictures to about 1/3 of what I took.  ENJOY!