A mozzie’s cozzie?
Today I had my last “monthly” midwife appointment- from here on out, they’re every two weeks.
My appointment was with the first midwife I met at the practice, and I adore her. She walks into the room, sits in her chair and looks at me, ready to answer questions and takes all the sweet time in the world. It’s pretty much amazing. I asked her about some concerns I had [what happens if my baby is breech? What are the policies on induction? Does what I eat for breakfast affect my gestational diabetes test results? Etc. Etc] and we listened to the baby and she measured my belly.
I can’t get over how STRONG the heartbeat sounds. Every time I hear it, it makes me a little emotional, and so happy to hear her heart galloping away in there.
And then the kicker of the day:
I had to get a flu shot :/
Usually I avoid needles like the plague, but since getting knocked up, everyone wants to inject me with something or take my blood. I haven’t had a flu shot in at least 4 years, mostly because I seem to *knock on wood* avoid the flu and prefer not to inject something into my bloodstream that I wouldn’t ingest (like gelatin). The midwife told me the flu wasn’t something to mess around with –she said that viruses can cause brain damage in a growing fetus- so I went for it.
The nurse who gave me the shot was an absolutely lovely lady from Australia. I was asking her about where she was from, her family, if she enjoyed Gurrumul, and she was telling me that Australian’s like to make short words long and long words short. For example, mosquito = mozzie. Costume = cozzie. She said that they always used to say “What’s smaller than an ant’s pants? A mozzie’s cozzie.”
So I learned something new as she gave me the shot, which didn’t hurt nearly as much as I remembered it hurting 😉 I’ve be sure to drink lots of juice and rest today, just in case I don’t get a little blah from the shot.
In two weeks I have the dreaded gestational diabetes test. I’m actually not too worried about it. The midwife said to have a high protein diet (no simple sugars, cereals or juices), like an omelet or peanut butter toast, and she thinks I’ll be fine. They’ll give me the 50g of sugar drink to drink in 5 minutes (bzzzzzz) and I’ll wait an hour, then they’ll take my blood. The only bonus is that I have another midwife appointment after the test and will get to hear the baby’s heartbeat again 🙂
I’m done with ultrasounds [I had the initial one, nuchal translucency test, and 20 week], unless there’s a reason later to check the fluid levels or the baby’s size. It’s so crazy to think that the next time I *see* her, will be in person instead of on a screen <3
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If you get a choice of sugar drink at your test, get the orange and make sure it is cold….tastes like a thick flat orange soda.
they said the only flavor they have there is orange, which works for me- orange is my favorite artificial flavor 🙂
flu shots are definitely nothing to mess with. i always got them when i was little because i have pretty bad asthma, but i missed it ONE time and i ended up with H1N1 (swine flu!) in 2008. to be honest, it wasnt much different than regular flu, but i felt absolutely terrible. woke up in the middle of the night and couldnt read the numbers on my alarm clock (104º fever, which – to be honest – is my norm) and just awful for an entire week. good thing you got it!
Flu shot…. ugh. 🙁
I thought the sugar drink was pretty good! It really does taste like flat orange soda. 🙂
This is soooo interesting to me that a flu shot was in order! I would have thought a 100% natural way would always be the way to go…but I guess when your dealing with growing babies its different!! Interesting. I never had a flu shot…I always wash my hands 😉 ALWAYS!
xxoo
yeah that’s what i thought, too! and the midwife i saw today is 100% about doing things as naturally as possible, so when she said it was a good idea to get one, i totally trusted her.
But flu can be airborne not just on hands and such! I’ve seen lots of sick preggo mamas! It’s never good!
Ugh – hated the gestational diabetes test. But I am sure you will pass with flying colors! Just make sure you bring something to eat for right after – I was almost dead. Mine was 2 hours long I think. Little baby was very angry about the delay in his breakfast!
Don’t worry about the GD test, you will pass w/flying colors! The drink is NBD either, gave me a little ‘buzz’ like ya said, but other than that a big ‘ole NBD.
Ah, i have elected not to get the flu shot…my midwife didn’t push it. Always amazes me the different mentalities on these types of things. Makes me wonder sometimes:=
I love how it didn’t hurt, distractions are the key:) i hate shots too!
Yeah, the orange stuff isn’t so bad. Very very sweet, but ok.
The G.D. test really wasn’t a big deal at all for me. Just drink the sugary syrup, wait, and get your blood drawn and I was outta there 🙂 It’s sweet, yes, but hey, there are worse things for me at least.
So glad you had such a great appt w/ the midwife and she is so chill and attentive and you felt great and warm and fuzzy afterward. That’s the sign of knowing you’re at the right practice.
Wow..already moving to the every 2 weeks appointments. Time flies…before you know it, she’ll be here!
I was told to get a flu shot too, but so far haven’t done it. I typically don’t like putting things into my body I don’t absolutely need, so I’m still undecided if I’ll get one or not. Good luck with your GD test, I’m sure you’ll pass with flying colors with all the healthy foods you eat!!!
I craved sugar so much during my pregnancy that I actually liked the drink they give you for the GD test. I also thought I’d fail it for sure, but I passed 🙂
haha in a weird way, i think the drink sounds delicious
I’m surprised with a practitioner that supports a natural birth would suggest a flu shot. It is rare but I have heard of the h1n1 variable in the shot causing pre-term labor and miscarriages. I have a friend who is a total no vaccine hippie and she is always posting stuff against vaccines.
Maybe not really so sensitive to mention that to someone that just had a flu shot?
If a woman is healthy then her immune system should be able to handle a vaccination like a pro.
She approved my comment so obviously she doesn’t have a problem with it. I’m sure she has researched it and didn’t take the decision lightly, however I thought I would input the information I have received from others to see what her take on the situation was.
If one is putting this information out into the world then a bit of information that is not palatable will come through. I’d rather not butt-kiss and sugar coat.
yeah i have no prob with your comment. i definitely had to think about it for a while, but after talking with my midwife, since i trust her and she backed up what she was saying with studies, it was enough to convince me to go for it. i’ve never *knock on wood* gotten the flu, sans shot, but i was so scared that this year would be the year it happened. viruses can damage developing babies’ brains, and the thought of that happening wasn’t worth it to me, especially since i’m surrounded by people from all over the world, with many different germs, every day i work at the resort.
i was always really weird about flu shots too (NEVER EVER got one growing up and i survived just fine). i even somehow avoided having to get one (it was hiiighly suggested) during nursing school and working at st. joe’s. when we moved to phoenix, the hospital i got a job with made it mandatory. hence my first ever flu shot. now i’m teaching pregnant mamas, but i decided to get another one this year. i’m handling their babies all the time and while i have my own personal beliefs on how “necessary” it is versus other vaccines (i’m NOT anti-vaccine, don’t get me wrong), research shows it certainly won’t hurt me to get it. and even if my body could kick the flu’s butt on its own, i can help prevent spreading it to my clients and their tiny babes. because i hand infants, i think i’m going in to get a pertussis booster as well.
That’s too funny aboit your Australian nurse, she’s way more “Aussie” than me – I’ve never even heard someone say “What’s smaller than an ant’s pants? A mozzie’s cozzie” and I hadn’t a clue who Gurrumul was/is 😛
You learn something new every day!
Good luck with the GD test, don’t stress!
aww hahaha i lived in australia for 6 months and my favorite saying was “brekky” instead of breakfast 🙂 i love their sayings and accent!
Congrats! I actually skipped the flu shot (though they did recommend it to me), but my LO is coming this October, so I’m also skipping the flu season, haha.
The GD test wasn’t so bad – the drink was pretty gross and my midwives recommend doing it on an empty stomach (I had a 9am appointment and I’m not the biggest fan of breakfast, so it wasn’t torture) and I passed with flying colors even though I’m usually a carb machine. They also double check your iron levels when they do the GD test, so they actually put me on a higher supplement for that.
I just graduated to weekly check-ups. 😀 The bi-weekly ones went by real fast! Do your midwives check for dilation in the later stages of the third trimester? I don’t think mine do, which is probably fairly standard midwife practice, but I wonder how other midwives handle it.
Make sure that glucola is COLD, it’s pretty sweet. You shouldn’t have any problems: you’re active & have a fantastic diet already!
I got a flu shot last week… it HURT. It’s never hurt that much before (I know its the technique).
They asked me to come without breakfast for my 8 a.m. GD test. Apart from the drink it was pretty fun because after all that sugar baby went nutso in my belly and I had a lot of fun feeling him swim and kick around for that hour! It was like a circus in my belly, I could see the pokes and kicks through my shirt in all directions 🙂
Yay for Aussies! My husband is Canadian and he always jokes that there’s a language barrier between us: “Sorry, I don’t speak Australian!” He can’t over the fact that everything is abbreviated. What can I say – we’re a lazy bunch!
I’m 30 weeks pregnant and was forced to get the flu shot yesterday! I have never got one. I agree with you, I don’t like to put things like that into my body but they lectured me until I caved 🙁 I was mad at myself all day but I do want what is best for my baby. Thanks for sharing that you went through this also!
A mozzie’s cozzie…I love it! I’m gonna start saying it and see if anyone catches on. I get the flu shot every year because the one year I didn’t, I got pneumonia. I was out of classes and work for three weeks. I’m just lucky that my university did 3 hours a week per class so I only missed 3 classes of each, instead of a lot more. It was probably a fluke that I happened to get pneumonia but it was so horrible that I’ve gotten the flu shot every year since then.
With all due respect for your choice to not get a flu shot, let’s not forget the reason why the vaccine was developed. We are lucky that we are at the point where getting the flu isn’t really that big of a deal, but less than a century ago, people in the United States were dying in large numbers during the influenza pandemic.
Like you, I see the need to incorporate more homeopathic/Eastern practices in our health care system, but despite its flaws, Western medicine has some fantastic things to offer as well– including vaccines!
Once your baby is born, are you planning on getting her the recommended vaccines? No need to respond if you find this question too personal.
i totally agree- western medicine is there for a reason! and we’re lucky to be able to take advantage of it
we do plan on getting the baby all of the recommended vaccines, but i’d like to split them up a little more than they do it. taking to her to the doc for 10 shots at once seems like a little much to me
I have never gotten the regular yearly Flu shot! (I should) But when the H1N1 was an issue a few years back I told my Dr I was not planning on getting it, he told me I was getting it and handed me the paper for where they were being issued! There was a shortage at first and it was only being given to higher risk people! He told me in no uncertain terms that I was to go and get one! (I have a poor immune system due to cancer and chemo and no spleen)! And I did great with that one!
Aww I love how Australians talk. I lived and travelled over there for a year and it was amazing! They’d make me laugh with their little sayings 🙂
The GD test isn’t nearly as bad as people make it out to be. If you can, make sure the drink is nice and cold. That makes it go down better. I also had the orange and it just tasted like flat orange soda.
I got the flu shot while preg last year and had NO problems. another benefit of it is some of your immunity is passed on to the baby even after they are born. a good thing for winter babies who aren’t old enough to be vaccinated.
that’s fantastic- flu season can be pretty nasty here, too, so hopefully it will help keep the little one from picking up anything