Pink sway graduates - how are you all?!

[Sassy]

So lovely to hear the updates!

I'm also feeling incredibly tired...exhausted! I'm hanging out for my maternity leave which will start in 5 weeks - super early but as a teacher its a bit neater for the school to find me a replacement at the end of term. I'm also looking forward to being a mum, not a working mum!

My boys are getting more excited as my belly grows and the kicks get stronger!

[fresas]

I saw my PCP yesterday. She was very supportive and told me to get a hold of the high risk doctors I saw last time. I won't have any blood drawn, pelvic exam, or an ultrasound until March 22 unless I start miscarrying or something. I will be about 7 weeks at my first exam.

That's about all that is going on. DH was sad we didn't get to do a sway like how we wanted, but we're still ultimately hoping for a healthy baby.

[zanacal]

What's a PCP fresas? I find it interesting how things are done differently in other countries - we don't have pelvic exams at all during pregnancy!

I hit my third trimester tomorrow - thank goodness! I'm working until around 36 weeks which is possibly a mistake as I'm finding driving difficult already. I might have to rethink that actually!

[atomic sagebrush]

In case fresas does not see this, Primary Care Provider = family doctor

[fresas]

Sorry, yes, PCP is primary care physician. That's like the main doctor or family doctor, though my kids see someone different (their pediatrician). Adult medicine and pediatrics can be combined here to be family medicine, but they tend to be separate, at least where I live since they can be very different types of practices.

I could see a midwife for the pregnancy, but with my high risk history, it is better to see doctors.

Do the doctors in the UK not check cervix, do a pap smear, and feel uterus position at the beginning?

Good luck in your 3rd trimester! I know it's getting hard and tiring. I'm thrilled for you, though!

[zanacal]

Nope, none of those things! My cervix won't be checked until I arrive at the hospital in labour (unless I'm overdue in which case a midwife might offer to do a 'stretch and sweep'!). We 'book in' with the midwives affiliated to our local doctors' surgery at the beginning of pregnancy and if there's a need a lady will also be appointed a consultant at the hospital, but in low risk/uncomplicated pregnancies no doctor/consultant will be seen alongside the midwives. The maternity unit will be run by midwives also, supported by consultants/doctors where necessary.

[fresas]

Wow, that is so interesting.

Do they do something later to test for things like strep or anything else abnormal?

The pelvic exam here checks to make sure the cervix is closed, there are no abnormal cells on the cervix, no undiagnosed STDs, and to make sure the uterus is in a good position and measuring correctly for size.

I had some spotting yesterday. I haven't had spotting with my pregnancies before, but am taking it easy today. I didn't call the doctor since the spotting was light pink, light brown, and some old/darkish red looking blood, but the quantity was pretty light. I didn't do anything that would upset the cervix (like sex or vigorous exercise) so I have no idea what it was, but today, so far no spotting.

[rainbowflower]

not posted in here before... I guess I don't feel like a "graduate" because I don't know what we're having yet!

they don't, as a matter of course, check you for strep here (unless that's what our 26-wk blood test is for). But I think if they do it's done by blood tests.

they're reluctant to even check you before you're 40 weeks because they don't want to risk giving you an infection unnecessarily so they're very cautious about examining you. I'll be asking for examinations from 37 weeks this time, though, because I had a silent labour last time so will want to know if I'm dilating or not. Not sure if they'll agree to do it, but I can still ask because I'll want some time to get either home or to the birth centre if I'm in labour and because my BP rose dramatically in later labour!

in general it's the MWs who help you give birth here not doctors too - I notice from watching lots of birth shows on TV that in the USA it seems to be mainly doctors who do the actual delivery. Here they try not to intervene at all as that reduces the risk of complications and needing additional intervention. On that subject... most of the birth shows from over there seem to show bed-births on their back with an epidural, and that doesn't happen as frequently over here as active birth is encouraged instead unless the woman really wants the epidural. I suppose the main difference is because we don't pay for our care so they want to limit more expensive drugs ultimately, but it also seems to be better for the women to go without too.

[fresas]

That is really interesting

I have had abnormal pap smears in the past so I always like having one done during pregnancy. Plus, if I end up with an STD, I know my husband has been fooling around. The STDs can cause complications during the pregnancy so I guess that is why they're done here.

I decided to call the doctor today to see what they recommended since the spotting hasn't really stopped.

They did a transvaginal ultrasound, but they could not find a gestational sac. I am 4 weeks 2 days today so it may be too early.

The urine test is still positive and my cervix is closed. The PA (physician's assistant) did a pap smear and pelvic exam. She also ordered blood work for hCG and other stuff (like CBC, progesterone, and I think TSH).

She said she thinks either the baby is too small to detect still, I will miscarry soon, or the pregnancy is eptopic. We will see.

[zanacal]

{hugs} fresas, I really hope it's just too early x

Hi Rainbow - it makes no odds whether you're having a girl or a boy, you're still in this gang