Major milestone today, in the form of my booking appointment!
At 12:45pm everything became a little more real!
I went on my own - that's another story for another time - and actually it was fine, any questions I could answer.
Quick run down of what happened :
Met a sourly and vague receptionist - it wasn't personal, i witnessed her unique brand of customer service with several people! Good for her keeping the hospital / doctor receptionist stereotype alive(!)
Had to provide evidence that I'm a UK citizen and live in the borough- passport and ID plus bills etc
(I'm not sure what would have happened if I didn't have it.....?)
Met a midwife assistant Vanessa- not at all like Debbie McGee but equally smiley.
She weighed me. I asked not to be told and she stopped smiling very quickly and barked "you have to know", OK thank you ma'am(!)
Oh by the way did I mention that Vanessa is as short as me and 3 dress sizes smaller...no? Hmm.
It's official - I'm still short - 5' 2" and have turned into a porker BMI 32, yes thirty flipping two!
I did a urine test and was told I need to eat more...hey?! I thought I was too fat?! I had eaten only an hour before the appointment, but was told I have ketones in my urine. Little and often snacking I;m told is the way forward.
I need to get back into exercising. i stopped a year ago...bad move.
I'm told I should walk for an hour every day...every day. I will have to see a consultant because of my fibroids. We went through a long questionnaire asked about my health, family history both sides.... She took
several gallons five little vials of blood.
I was told I'm High Risk due to my fibroids. I may have to see a specialist team due to previous depression.
What I walked away with:
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| Maternity Book - it's huge! |
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| My first Bounty Pack |
- Maternity Book - massive yellow folder with all your medical notes
- Bounty Pack with some money off leaflets
- Leaflet on breastfeeding as I said it was my intention to bf
- Information on antenatal classes
- Maternity guide for my hospital
Tips -
- Write questions before you go - there's so much info you may be overwhelmed and forget.
- when she asks if you have any social problems she means social service type issues, not whether you have a fear of public speaking or are shy at parties!
- You will be asked about previous pregnancies and the outcome, so be prepared.
- Bring a big plastic bag if you tend to have small handbags, as you'll be given a ginormous Yellow Folder which contains all your hospital notes, plus you'll get a Bounty Pack.
- Bring some reading material - you may be sitting around a while, although to be fair i sat for no more than 5 minutes at a time before the next stage.
- Eat before you get there as the whole thing for me from beginning to end took two hours.
So, next step; scan and consultant appointment - 24th April, all booked today :)
Oh and apparently it's OK for me to get my hair relaxed, after the first trimester,phew...
