One of the silliest things I have done while being pregnant is up sticks and move house. Not just down the road but to a new county, two hours from my previous hospital. Clever move. Not.
If any of you are thinking about doing this, I’d suggest you don’t, but if it can’t be avoided, I recommend you draft in anyone you can to help!
With my various ‘ailments’ I was told to register at my new doctor’s surgery asap. Following this instruction I trundled off to do so, only to be told by a lovely receptionist that I needed further ID. Fair enough, home again. When I returned the lovely receptionist had been replaced by a demon woman. This lady made me feel two inches tall nd like I was being pushy in asking to be registered quickly. I explained my situation, but no.
Cut forward a few days and I’m concerned to have not heard from the midwife yet so I phone. Return of the lovely receptionist who says that I should have been given forms to complete – I wasn’t – so time to shuffle back in.
This is when my luck changed. As I was completing the forms, in walks the midwife who spots my maternity folder and heads over for a chat. What a nice lady! She introduced herself and then made an immediate ‘out of clinic’ appointment to book me in.
That brings me up-to-now. This morning I spent 90 minutes chatting to the midwife and a trainee midwife. They put me completely at ease and even had me laughing a bit – a rare thing at the moment. I was also slightly relieved to hear the words Hyperemesis Gravidarum used for the first time. I’d been wondering and people had asked but I don’t like to diagnose myself without professional input. Now it’s out there – Kate Middleton Disease (as I’m calling it) – I don’t have to pretend any more or feel like I’m over-hamming how sick I feel.
So, in conclusion, I’m feeling positive about my new midwife and care team. I have a lot of appointments ahead of me – I need to see the cardiologist and anaesthetist to make some plans – but things are moving forward now. I feel looked after which, in a time when I’m living a slightly lonely life, is so necessary.
The Honest Parent 