Here we go into my pregnancy journey now. It was quite a ride, much different from my previous pregnancies. I was nauseous much more frequently. Never threw up, however, did come close to it. Many smells got the nauseous to start up and I was extremely tired.
Once the first trimester was over though, this all seemed to fade away, except the tiredness. I had found out I was pregnant around 10 weeks.
Now the headache of finding an OBGYN for prenatal care. I started to search around and found a place nearby.
When I arrived for my appointment and was waiting, I sat there for almost an hour waiting. I was getting frustrated and annoyed that they would have us sitting here for a hour waiting. Then, to top it off, when I finally went back to see the doctor, I waited another 20 or so minutes. I was even more annoyed and decided to not come back to this place. I did have an ultrasound that day and it determined how many weeks I was and so on, since I wasn’t really shore because of my periods previously. They determined I was around 9 weeks and instead of my due date being January 18, I would be February 7.
With that done, I went in search of another OBGYN. Found one, went to see them and the same issue. I did not wait very long in the waiting room, however, in the room for the doctor I waited almost an hour. I was about to leave when the doctor came in and said that she was checking on my chart and confirming some things before coming in. I said I am about to leave and why didn’t you at least tell me, I was waiting for almost a hour.
In any case, saw her and decided not to again. 😀 In search of a different OBGYN. She did schedule my 20 week ultrasound and I decided to keep that to see what happens, even though it was at a totally different place.
Now a few things before I proceed. I had many doctors tell me I am high risk due to being HIV positive. However, I have dealt with this since my first pregnancy and told them, no, I am not high risk, my viral load and blood counts are all good and I am undetectable, which is the major factor in this.
This OBGYN said ok, however, later on I saw she had referred me to a high-risk specialist anyway, without notifying me or talking with me about this.
Fast forward to my 20-week ultrasound at Doctor G’s office. The wait here was aggravating, waiting for an hour and at this office no children were allowed inside. I go into the room for the ultrasound and the ultrasound tech was super quiet and wouldn’t really tell me anything. She said she couldn’t say anything and I needed to wait for the doctor to call me later on. She did tell me though I am having a girl.
Again, not happy with this place and I said I am not coming back. The doctor calls later on and says that there are some concerns about my baby and more tests needed to be done, the genetic testing for down syndrome and all that other stuff. Of course, when someone hears this, they probably go into worried mode. I started to research these chromosome abnormalities and tried to figure out if it was worth it or not to do the tests.
I decided not to at the end. If my baby has something, we will find out and treat when and if necessary.
In search for another OBYN. At this point, I was so tired of looking, I said I rather go back to the first place, even though I wasn’t thrilled with the doctors, the ultrasound guy was superb and I was planning a homebirth anyway, so the doctors aren’t my biggest interest.
I tried contacting a midwife service in the area, however, due to my HIV status they said they would not take me. Fine. Another freebirth I will have, which is perfectly dandy with me. My second child I had at home, unassisted as well.
My 20 week appointment came with an ultrasound from the first doctor’s office and I decided to get a second opinion on baby and what they thought.
Baby looked perfectly fine, no concerns or issues that were noticed. I decided to stay with them until I gave birth. Then I will go through the headache of finding a new OBGYN.
The Dappled Odysseys 