Milestone: My Booking Appointment

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:

Maternity Book - it's huge!

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...