The Best Kind Of Announcement

I still have a hard time believing this little miracle is happening to us.

We are 11 weeks tomorrow.

We had an ultrasound yesterday and the baby's heartbeat was 169 bpm. Praise God!

So far, this pregnancy is exactly the same as my pregnancy with JB. I am not sick, my breasts aren't sore, I have no symptoms...except going to the bathroom constantly.

This pregnancy hasn't been without any drama though. Since we practice Creighton, I knew when I ovulated (this was my first cycle since JB was born - 8 months). Since I still have my PCOD and long cycles, I ovulated late, so when I called in to the doctor to tell them I was pregnant, they dated me off of CD1 even though I told them I ovulated weeks afterwards. They still had me come in for an early ultrasound, which is great, only I was only 5 weeks along and knew there was a chance we wouldn't have a heartbeat yet. Still, we went in and we did have a heartbeat: 85 bpm...which I knew was low if we were at 7 weeks and normal at 5 1/2, but the mind reels. We went back in a week later, I was soo scared! But we had a heartbeat of 133 - Thank You Jesus! It kind of upset me that they told me the number because then I over-analyzed it and obsessed over it all week. I would have much rather they didn't tell me and then just had me come back in. It would have saved all that worry! Anyway, the baby is fine, growing...our baby.

Yesterday, I am sure I was dubbed "the difficult patient"  while at the doctors office. When we finally left, I felt I just finished a battle - because I was in a fight, just not physical. First of all, DH and I took JB with us. At 10 months, he did a very good job for being there for two hours! Poor baby! But the worst part of it was that they wanted me to have a pap smear and do an STD test. The conversation was something like this:

Me:  Umm...I'm not doing that.

Nurse: Why not?

Me: Because I was told that if you haven't had a positive HPV test or abnormal pap that you only need a pap every three years. Plus, I am afraid of having another miscarriage and I don't feel we need to introduce anything into this environment unnecessarily. With my first pregnancy, I had a pap before I knew I was pregnant and I miscarried and I always wondered if the pap played a part in that. In addition, I don't have gonorrhea or syphilis, I didn't have it a year ago and I don't have it now.

Nurse: The std test is a federal mandate.

Me: I am married and don't have an std. This is ridiculous.

Nurse: Ok...excuse me.

My husband didn't know I was going to do that, but he was in full support of my decision. He pulled out his phone and started googling all that was said. Yes, it is a federal law. Some doctors say you don't need a pap for three years....yada, yada, yada....

How is it that if I wanted to kill my baby, I wouldn't be forced to have an ultrasound or talk to anyone, but if I want to protect my baby and keep him/her safe, the federal government can force me to take a flippin' std test!

When the nurse came back in, I said that if I had to take the test I will, but I am not happy about it...and I better not miscarry. She said, "Since we are referring you to Maternal Fetal Medicine at the hospital (because of my diabetes), we'll defer it and they can figure it out." Whatever. She still wanted to go over their little book with me...the one where it explains the quad test which we are not going to do. Good grief! Get me out of here!!!

Nope...I had to do a physical...of which she found a heart murmur. Grade 2. Not a big deal. They had me give blood (for my HIV test) and then I was able to leave. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't take me back as a patient next year.

But the more I thought about the entire situation, the more upset I became. Maybe I was being difficult to deal with, probably most people don't refuse services, but I really felt that my rights to protect my child were being violated. I don't like that the law is forcing me to do things that I am not at risk for. Where are my rights? Who is looking out for my baby besides DH and I? And this office is the "christian" office. Grrr!!! I wonder what MFM is going to do? Am I going to get out of this or forced by law to take these tests? GRRRR!!!!!!

So after we got into the car and processed what happened, DH reminded me that the visit was actually a good one. One where we saw our little baby with a strong heartbeat. Kicking their legs. Jumping around. Awww...we are pregnant again. JB will have a sibling. We are soo blessed!

Regarding everything else, I'll keep you updated ;)  I can only imagine what the government is going to force me to do! St. Michael, protect us!