In reviewing my blog this morning, I discovered that an entire post seems to have been eaten. Did anyone get a chance to read my post from the 26th about our trip to the doctor? Regardless, it is gone now. I do not have it archived anywhere, so all I can do is try to recreate it, stealing from emails I sent out that day. I've learned my lesson, I will try to remember to archive things from now on. I'm actually posting this on the 30th, but hopefully it will show up where the 26th should be.
Our trip to the doctor went fine, other than the fact that it was unusually cold that morning (-7 C, which is 19 F) and we had to walk to the station in the dark (it doesn't get light until 8:30 here this time of year!!). Sint Truiden is only a short train ride away, and the city is larger than Landen but smaller than Leuven. We took a cab from the station to the hospital.
We registered at the hospital, but we didn't sign up for any assistance I don't think. Apparently we can request reimbursement once my insurance kicks in. The doctor was really nice, and spoke excellent English. She went through the records I brought with me and transferred the information into the little booklet they use here. They seem to do the same sorts of tests and everything, as she didn't request any new tests and she kept nodding and saying, "Goed, goed."
They do ultrasounds every 4 weeks here, so we got one while we were there. The doctor does it herself, right there in the office. We still have a girl, thankfully! LOL I got one picture, but its really crappy so I won't bother to scan it - little Miss Luna had both her hands AND her feet covering her face! She really wasn't feeling photogenic after we made her get up so early. :) The doctor measured her head, legs, heart, kidneys, stomach, and bladder and said everything is growing as it should and she looks very healthy. That head looked awfully big to me!!! She has definitely grown ALOT since the last ultrasound, and her estimated weight now is 3.3 pounds. We will have another ultrasound at our next appointment in 4 weeks, hopefully next time she will show us her pretty face. They do have the 4D imaging they can turn on, but she only snapped it on briefly because we couldn't see anything anyway with her weird position.
They do not make me go to the doctor any more often than in the states, it is every 4 weeks up till 34 weeks, and then its 3
weeks, then 2, then weekly. Similar to at home. So our next appointment is 23 February.
After the doctor appointment they sent us to labor and delivery for a tour of the facilities, it seems very nice. They have a whirlpool bath you can labor in if you want. I said, "Oh look dear, I will finally get a hot bath!" LOL The baby gets to stay in the room with you, but there is also a little glassed in area right in the room you can put the baby bed in for extra quiet. They said I will have to stay in the hospital for 5 days after the delivery, which I think is a bit longer than at home.
The childbirth classes here are usually started around week 20, so I am very late starting, but they said we can go to the last 2 classes if we want to. The first one will be next Thursday at 8:30 AM, which means getting up by 5 AM. Ugh! We're not sure yet whether or not we will go, obviously it is optional, and it will be a lot of hassle to get there.
So anyway, both mama and baby are doing well, and I now have the doctor's card to carry with me and I know where to go and who to call if there is an emergency.
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