I LOVE MY NEW OB!!!! (Plus, some great advice for pregnant infertiles)

Today I went for my post-ultrasound appointment with my OB.  Except, since my OB is leaving, I got to meet the doctor I will be transferring over to.  I hadn't realized how stressful this issue with not liking my OB was until the new doctor walked into a room to say hello and I burst into tears!  I guess I had been holding in a lot waiting for this last ultrasound and this appointment.  And she was just perfect!

I was the last appointment of the day and she was running late, but rather than rushing through me, she gave me her undivided attention!  Every question I had she answered in such depth.  When I asked her about shared care with the midwives, she said, "Well I'll tell you the political answer, and then I'll tell you that I don't really mind whatever you decide."  She proceeded to take a good 10 minutes just describing all that is going on, and all my options, and then she told me that she will actually call the midwives for me and sort it all out!  I was just blown away by her involvement and commitment to my care. 

The best moment, though, was when I made a comment about how long we have been waiting for this.  She pulled up a chair, sat down, looked me in the eye, and asked me if I had heard of "The Trap."  When I said no, she proceeded to give me the greatest pep talk that had me flowing with tears.  She said that women who have faced infertility often face a self-imposed pressure that everything has to be "great" once they become pregnant.  They feel like they can't complain about their pregnancy, they can't mourn the freedom they will be giving up, and they most definitely can't express any frustration about the difficulties in caring for a newborn.  They feel like they have to smile all the time, or else they will be being ungrateful.  This causes them to isolate themselves when they are struggling, and that makes things even harder!  With twins, she said this causes a double-whammy for being at risk for post-partum depression.  Often, women have expectations that are up so high, that she said now is the time to start to lowering them down to reality.  She said that if she could pass anything on to me, it would be to plant the seed that I am a normal pregnant woman.  Despite what the past has brought, I am just as entitled to express the bad with the good.  There will be wonderful days full of love for my children, and there will be days I feel like I can't go on.  And that makes me normal. 

I know all of that in my head, and through what I've read from other bloggers, but hearing MY doctor say it was so incredibly reassuring!  I felt like she truly understood me.  I am so excited to be working with her!  She said she would gladly take me as a patient, and as I left she gave me a huge hug!  I got in the car, and just let out all the rest of the tears I had been holding in.  Then I came home and indulged in pizza, movies, brownies with ice cream!  DH is away so I just splurged for myself!  I feel like a huge weight has been lifted, and I'm excited about the future.  So, there you go!  It really showed me how important it is to seek out and fight for care that is right for you.

Anyways, if you're still reading, here are the updates about the babies from my visit!

• According to the ultrasound, the twins look great!  Both are head down.  Baby A is on the lower right side, and Baby B is on the left side.
• Both are measuring 19 week, 1 day (right on track), and had great heartbeats of 135/136.
• The placenta of Twin A may have an extra lobe on the placenta.  This is just an extra piece of placenta that is important to know about when I give birth, but doesn't affect the baby.  It's not even confirmed... we will wait till they are bigger to see.
• The hardening of my stomach after walking/exercising, and the episode I had a few weeks ago are likely due to an irritable uterus.  There is nothing wrong...it just means I may be more sensitive to the pains of a growing uterus.  The doctor was great in explaining to me what to be aware of, and how to take care of myself.  
• My cervix is measuring 4cm, which is great!
• My belly is measuring 26 WEEKS!  Can you believe that?  The doctor said it looks fine though, and not to worry about it.  I'll post an updated pic too!
• Next OB appointment is in about 4 weeks.  Until then, I'll just carry on!