Information overload

Today was my first appt with the high-risk OB and all I can say is 'ohmigoodness.' Really, the amount of info and such that I left there with was completely overwhelming.

First things first, all measured right on. The seahorse is still thriving, now measuring 3.2 cm (1 1/4 inches) and had its arm/hand up to its face and was moving all around. "Himorshe," as my SIL has christened the seahorse, is measuring slightly ahead at 10w1d. My cervix was long and closed, and everything else was good. Now for the not-as-good.

Because of my insulin resistance, I'm at a higher risk for developing gestational diabetes and given my mild hypertension, and I'm also at a higher risk for pre-eclampsia. So...I'm going to be monitored very closely--in conjunction with a regular OB in the practice who I'll see for the first time on the 20th. I will alternate seeing him every 4 weeks and the high-risk OB every 4 weeks so, essentially, the visits will be staggered between them. That means I'll be visiting an OB every two weeks up until my third trimester (given that I get that far) and then weekly from there.

This Sunday, I will begin a 24 hour urine test to check me for sugars, proteins, you name it. Monday finds me at the lab for multiple blood draws (to be done when I deliver my--no lie--big orange sealed 'vat' of 24 hour urine--that must be kept chilled during said 24 hours and delivered promptly at the end of time period). I can do that, no problem. It's the rest of it that gets tricky.

Now I'm not complaining but...wow, get a load of this:

Monday I am to begin a 2,000 calorie a day diabetic diet--even though I'm not diabetic (um, not yet is their thinking). I was given a plethora of papers, food guidelines, etc., to help guide me as I make bold steps into this new world. Oh joy.

But wait, there's more. Come Monday, I am also to begin checking my blood sugar (glucose) level with a glucometer four times a day--even though I am not (yet) diabetic. I will check it first thing in the morning and then 2 hours after breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. So I then got a lesson in how to do the whole finger prick blood draw with the OneTouch meter. And I'm to fax my daily glucose levels to the diabetes coordinator at the OB's office on a weekly basis. My insurance company was called, notified of this development (meaning the doc told a little white lie that I have diabetes), and they are sending me my own OneTouch glucometer, EDA=Friday.

Oh, and because of our mc back in August, we get to meet with the genetic counselor in three weeks to go over our odds for potential anomalies in this pg. And help us determine if amnio, CVS, or whatever else will be right for us.

They're not fuckin' around at this practice, nosirree. And so come Monday, I'm not fuckin' around either. Diabetic diet--check; finger prick blood levels--check; doing whatever else I will need to do to help see this pg to term--check.

It's going to be a very long 8 months until July 8th. Here's hoping I make it that far.