Women's Care Group - Blount Memorial Hospital

So yesterday, February 7th, I went to the Women's Care Group (WCG), the Obstetrician-Gynecologist Department of Blount Memorial Hospital for the first time to get my very first check up.

For everyone's 411,  WCG will be my 2nd home over the next several months as I go through my pregnancy with our little hamburger.  WCG is located at the Blount Memorial Hospital which I am happy to say is only a mile away from our house.  So it takes approximately 2-3 minutes (give or take running into several red light) to the hospital.

To start of, I went through a thorough medical history review with one of the head nurses and an OB named Dr. Melissa Biller.  Aside from the medical history review, I am impressed by the orientation given by the WCG on pregnancy and motherhood, which covers diet and nutrition, healthcare, medications, services offered, expectations, etc.  I got a good volume of literature to read about the orientation and several free prenatal vitamins. That medical review and orientation took almost an hour and a half.   I think the amount of literature that I got will keep me occupied until my due date hehe

There are several items we discussed about DOs and DONTs because I was very particular in mentioning about what happened with my first pregnancy.  So I appreciate that the OB is very attentive to the details too.  Things that I wanted to avoid this time around is fatigue, stress, excessive weight gain and swollen ankles haha.

After that, I went to get my pregancy test again through urinal exam and a transvaginal physical exam with Dr. Biller.  As confirmed, I am 17 weeks and 1 day pregnant!  They had me blood tested and i think this is the most vials of blood to ever be extracted from me (15 small tube/vials!!) since they want to get me tested on everything.  it was explained to me though that just because I am farther along in my pregnancy and this is the first time that i am getting my check up, will require this much thorough of a check.  Which I would rather have anyways.

Then the funnest part begins when I went for my pelvic ultrasound.  I was so nervous because the last time I had an ultrasound was not the most pleasant experience.  I am so wishing Ryan was with me yesterday when I saw the profile of our baby fetus and heard the heartbeat!!!  Heartbeat!!! The most wonderful sound in the whole wide world!

According to the sonologist, our little hamburger is looking really well.  She did confirmed that the baby is right on 17 weeks and 1 day and my due date is July 17, 2011. :)  The baby is now at 6 ounces (average for 17 weeks is 4-7 ounces so rock on!), my uterus and placenta is in great shape and the baby's heartbeat is normal.  I am so happy to hear all this.  I saw the ribs, the arms, legs.  She said she could tell me the gender but I would rather have Ryan on the next ultrasound with me so we can know together. :)


It was a great first visit.  First I am very impressed by the WCG, everyone is very polite, friendly, professional.  The system is superb, the facility is huge, clean and very modern.  Second, I am happy the ultrasound went well.  And third, it's not difficult to schedule/change/move appointments!  Today at 845AM, I will be back to meet for the very first time with an OB for full consultation / check up.  So I hope today goes well too!  Unfortunately, Ryan will not be able to come with me because of his work.  Hopefully starting next week when his schedule changes, we should be able to go to the OB together. :)

For more information about the Women's Care Group Obstetrician-Gynecologists practitioners, visit their website at http://www.blountmemorial.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=55&action=list

You have h******... oh and you are pregnant

So it was already 9PM of Feb 1st.  Ryan and I are chatting with Mom and Dad from Manila, then I left Ryan to go do my business in the bathroom.  Well, have been constipated for the last month and a half and only go do my business every 2 days (which sucks).  That night I was freaked out because I saw red in the toilet.  So we decided to immediately go to the hospital and get me checked. Went to the emergency of Blount Memorial Hospital, they got my vital stats and asked me my last menstruation.  I told them its October last year, and explained that I have a history of very irregular menstrual cycle.  The attending physician, Dr. Franz immediately told me you may be pregnant that's why you are always constipated.  PAUSE.

You see, Ryan has been speculating over the last several weeks that I maybe pregnant.  Stubborn me kept on pushing away the idea of getting a pregnancy test because 1) I lost weight (whoopeeee!) and 2) I kept on thinking that I am back to my old irregular cycle.

TO CONTINUE... Dr. Franz checked my behind and told me, "Mrs. Herron, you have a mild case of h***** (yeah for me to know and you to find out haha).  Just to be sure I am going to have you blood tested and going to give you medication that will help you with your constipation and your h*****.  I will give you a pregnancy test too, so I will be back."


So someone took my blood test and after almost an hour of waiting, Dr. Franz came in told me.  "So you are all good.  You just have mild external h*****.... oh and you are pregnant!  Congratulations!"

And that is that.  :)  If not for my h*****, we would not have known that we are expecting a little Hammy Herron! :)


P.S.  By the way, after 20 years, I am back to using suppository.  Not fun! bwahahaha

life is full of surprises

I do not even know how I would begin this but my husband, Ryan and I had the biggest surprise this year when we visited the doctor today due to a different emergency (that I will write about later).  We are pregnant!  I will leave it at that because it is 4:30 in the morning and a pregnant woman like me should be getting her sleep.  ha!  Emotions:  happy, excited, shocked, confused and unprepared (totally!)