Clean Bill of Health

Went to my final OB appt on June 26th, where she cleared me for ALL activities. :-) as long as I take it slow. I am already walking a lot more and up the hills now. I still have stomach pains and she says that's normal.

She also said my uterus seem to have shrunk normally so I can have more babies. She is already talking to me about giving birth vaginally next time. I can't believe it, but I guess it's good she thinks I can even though I had a C section. I am not sold though. Good thing, we don't need to decide for awhile - I hope. Perhaps about 3 years, if I had my say and the stars are aligned again for us to conceive easily. Keeping my fingers crossed :-)

- Lei

Another great OB visit - 16 days to go

My OB is so calming. I love seeing her and of course, it's always nice for her to tell us good news
- All is progressing normally
- my Group B strep is negative (which is good)
- my baby is medium size right now
- I gained a pound since last week
- I can still do yoga and other activities as usual
- I can return to yoga a month after birth as well as getting massages
- She can feel the head of my baby (wow)
- I am expected to deliver on time as nothing is happening too much down there yet
- She also told us CPMC pretty much provide us everything when we check in, so no need to bring a lot of stuff except Jaime's change of clothes, a set of pajama, a set of clothes to leave the hospital for baby and me + any entertainment stuff we want. The hospital will provide juices, popsicles, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, baby clothes/ blanket while she is there. No wonder everyone loves the CPMC for delivery

We cannot wait to meet out daughter. already dreaming about her :-)

More Q&A with my OB

1. When should I stop doing bikram yoga?
whenever I feel like it - no restriction. I can do them until I am 9 months if I want
2. Do you know how much my baby weighs now?
it's probably about 2 pounds
3. Do we file paternity benefit paperwork with you as well?
Yes. you can download form online
4. What is the position of the baby?
It's all over and rotating a lot
5. Are you 100% sure it's a girl? 99%. ultrasound technician usually will say if they are not sure
6. when is my next ultrasound?
no more until labor as I have a very normal pregnancy
7. can I still drive in my 9th month?
yes
8. when should we do tour of hospital?
last month of pregnancy
9. does drinking water help with contractions?
yes, especially false ones
10. when do you need to see my birth plan?
I don't ever need to see it. It's more of a guide for you, not a requirement
11. are foot massages safe until the 9th month?
yes
12. do I need to designate a pediatrician before birth?
yes, but you don't need to notify him of labor - we will contact him/her
13. travel restrictions?
can travel still in the 8th months fly or drive is ok - just take breaks
14. Am I AB+, AB- or AB?
AB+
15. I sweat a lot at night. is this normal?
yes
16. 100% cocoa butter - safe?
yes
17. 1000 yr old egg - safe to eat?
yes
18. chiro care - safe?
yes
19. If I overeat and sometimes food will come up - if this normal?
very normal

Q&A with my OB

This post is more for my notes, so I keep track of what I hear from my OB.

Warning: this post maybe a bit too detailed and graphic. Consider yourself warned and read at your own risk

Pregnancy

1. posterior placenta - normal? safe? what % of woman have it? why?
YES, IT'S NORMAL. 50% OF WOMEN HAVE IT.


2. I seem to look bigger than average for my pregnancy time? am I bigger than average? normal? chance of delivering early?
   THIS DEPENDS ON YOUR MOM - BEST PREDICTOR OF WHETHER YOU WILL DELIVER EARLY (MY MOM DELIVER ON THE DATE OF HER DUE DATE - WE WILL SEE)


3. Shellfish restriction? is shrimp ok and considered shellfish? your nurse said 12 oz shrimp is ok but no shellfish?
   ALL COOKED SHELLFISH AND FISH ARE OK EXCEPT MONKFISH, MACKEREL, SHARK, AND TILEFISH. NO MORE THAN 12 OZ OF ANY OF THE OTHER FISH OR SHELLFISH.
   
4. cheese like brie - is it safe and pasteurized?
   SOME ARE AND SOME ARE NOT. READ THE LABEL. ANYTHING MADE WITH PASTEURIZED CHEESE IS OK


5. I still sleep on my back and right side sometime in addition to left. is this ok?
   NO PROBLEM AS LONG AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE. YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU CANNOT DO IT ANYMORE
   
6. Golden gate mothers group - any good?
HEARD IT'S GOOD


7. can I go to a natural hot springs? what should I be careful of?
PROBABLY NOT. YOU CANNOT IMMERSE YOUR TUMMY SO IT WON'T BE WORTH IT


8. What about universal studios? what are restriction on the rides?
PROBABLY CANNOT GO ON A LOT OF THE RIDES.


9. sex: how much pressure is safe for my stomach? say if I am on top?
TOTALLY SAFE TO PUSH PRESSURE UNTIL YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE


10. I seem to have bumps around my nipple - is this normal?
TOTALLY NORMAL. YOUR BREAST ARE BUILDING MILK DUCTS


11. I get up several times a night to drink water. Is this normal?
YES


12. I also pee several times a night? normal? I gave you the sample from 6am today? is this ok? YES, AS LONG AS YOU GET WITH NO FOOD IN STOMACH


13. I had a muscle cramp last night from yoga - small cramp. normal?
YES, NORMAL


14. I used biofreeze to soothe it. is it safe? what about icy hot?
CAN USE IT SPARINGLY. DON'T USE IT ON A LARGE PART OF THE BODY AS IT CONTAINS ASPIRIN


15. I went to bikram yoga twice since the last visit. I like it. How could I tell if I am overdoing it? I like it, but it is hot in the room and I am sweating, although I don't feel faint or anything. Is it ok?
    OK. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T FEEL TOO TIRED AFTERWARDS, IT'S FINE.
    
16. How tight is too tight for my pants? WHATEVER FEEL COMFORTABLE. INDENTS FROM PANTS ARE FINE AND NORMAL

Labor and delivery

1. epidural vs spinal block? I react funny to vicadin - is epidural anything like vicadin? what's the difference between those too?
   ONLY EPIDURAL IS GIVEN. SPINAL BLOCK IS ONLY GIVEN IF YOU HAVE A C SECTION. DIFFERENT DRUG CAN BE FED THROUGH EPIDURAL - DOESN'T HAVE TO BE VICADIN
   
2. if my water breaks, how far am I from delivery? should I go to hospital right away?
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS IN LATER VISIT. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT NOW


3. if I have contraction in my 9th months, do I still have time to take a shower before heading to hospital? YES
   
4. I heard after you check into the hospital, you are not allowed to eat or drink except thru IV, is this true? if so, why? NO EATING, BUT DRINKING IS FINE. ALL THE NUTRIENTS YOU NEED WILL BE THROUGH YOUR IV. LABOR WILL LAST NO MORE THAN 12-16 HOURS


5. do a lot of people poop on the table? is it ok to go to the bathroom during labor?
   ABOUT 20% OF THE TIME. YOU CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM DURING LABOR AS LONG AS IT'S IN A BED PANE AND NOT AT THE TOILET

Baby

1. ss# registration at hospital? YES, THIS IS AVAILABLE


2. any recommended baby formula brand? THIS IS A QUESTION FOR A PEDIATRICIAN

I love my new doctor!

My mom and I was sitting in the exam room waiting for the Doctor. First the nurse came in and I excitedly told her I had my combined screen today and also an ultrasound. She kind of gave me a blank stare and didn't seem to know what I am talking about. I tried to explain that it's one of the genetic tests the last OB I saw in this office suggested. She gave me another blank stare. I gave up and she went out.

A few minutes later, the doctor came in. I was really looking forward to seeing her, Dr. Holly Holter. Her name is listed first in the list of doctors for the San Francisco Physician for Women group. She has a degree and internship from UCSF, so I was expecting a lot. She barely looked up from the charts she was carrying when she walked in. I told her the same thing I told the nurse. Amazingly enough, she too gave me kind of a blank stare and said isn't there another blood test before I get the results. I said no I took the combined screen and not the integrated one. That was the end of that conversation. She either was thinking about something else or she wasn't sure what I meant. Weird.

Mechanically, she proceeded to pull out the heart rate monitor and let me listen to the baby's heart beat. I was trying to make some conversation but she barely cracked a smile or looked at me. I then asked can she confirm my due date, she of course didn't know it, look at my chart, and then proceeded to calcuate it using the wheel thing doctors use. She said May 15th. I said the last doctor in this office said May 10th. Why didn't it change so much? She wasn't sure.

That was the end of that appt. I was fine and progressing well, but felt like I was going through a cattle call. Are all OBs like this, I wondered. This group was recommended by my primary doctor but I didn't know any friends who went to them. I was able to subtle for lukewarm experience, so I started checking with friends. Luckily, one of Jaime's good friends just gave gave birth two months ago and loves her OB. I decided to give her a try.

I just had my appt two days ago and loved her! Her name is Dr. Fang and she is part of the Golden Gate Obsterics group. Despite waiting for her for one hour because she had a delivery, she was wonderful once I saw her

- she was patient and listen carefully to me
- she didn't rush me out even though she was running behind
- she answered all my questions and look at me in a caring way the whole time
- her nurse raved about her when I saw her and the nurse was pretty sharp as well
- she also told me the last blood test my previous doctor ordered was unnecessary (I wasted 2 hours doing that one)
- I heard in general she has mostly OB patients and the nurses in the hospital love her!

Overall, I am so glad I switched. Simple morale of the story: ask a friend to find a good OB and it is worth the hassle to switch. I left the office smiling and am looking forward to my next visit in January! :-)

- Lei