just got BFP - what next?

[tenar]

I just got a BFP from two different tests today. Totally excited, but also I know its early days yet and I probably shouldn't get too excited yet, in case things don't work out.

But I have some questions that hopefully someone can answer for me:

- I'm seeing my GP tomorrow. What should I expect? Are there particular questions I should ask about?

- I am confused about from when you count your pregnancy. When they say that after the first trimester the risk of miscarriage drops do they mean 3 months after the LMP, or 3 months after conception, or 3 months after you realised you were pregnant?

- I'm going to Japan in a couple of weeks, for a work conference. It's going to be really hot, and I have no idea how I'm going to know if what I'm eating there is safe or not, especially so given that I'm not very familiar with Japanese food and there is lots of it that I don't much like. Avoiding raw fish seems obvious, but does anyone have suggestions for how to avoid anything else that's a worry. And do you know whether having a relatively unbalanced diet for a couple of weeks in a couple of weeks would harm my developing baby, because it can be hard to eat your usual balanced things in a foreign country.

Any comments would be very welcome, thanks.

[Ellie]

Congratulations! Your GP may send you for a blood test to confirm...everything is counted from LMP...so yes, 3 months from LMP...I'd talk to your GP about your trip as for what to do next...enjoy!!!

[BellyBelly]

Are you in Melbourne? Then if so the first thing you need to do is book yourself into Birth Options in Canterbury so you know your full range of options NOW, and not when it's too late!!!

[2CheekyMonkeys]

GP will probably give you your due date (worked out from first day of your last period) and may do a urine hpt and will probably order a set of blood tests. my GP faxed off my registration form to the hospital so yours might too.

you should start taking a prenatal vitamin that contains folate (thats if you havent started it already). something like blackmores prgnancy and breastfeeding gold is great.

i'm not sure about the international travel thing, you should probably ask your GP about that and/or find a pregnancy book that has such info in it?

congrats too!

[Mumma2three]

I would think it will be fine eating in Japan, they are very healthy people! Just go for cooked foods. I would think your Dr can advise you further, but also googling would be helpful to see what food they have. I know they do a dinner where there's a pot of boiling water, and you dip the meats and vegies in and cook them, and then use the sauces they have. That would be awesome! And you know it's cooked and fresh!
Congrats, and enjoy your conference!! xo

[OceanPrincess]

First of all, congrats!!!! How exciting for you!

Secondly, I have to agree with webmeg - the Japanese are very healthy people. As long as you steer clear of raw fish, anything cooked on the side of a street or things that you generally don't trust, you should be fine! The main thing I've learned about what to eat while pg is that if you can guarantee it has been cooked/cleaned correctly, most food is ok (except for the soft cheeses, deli meats and too much big fish).

So if you go somewhere where they do noodle soup, yummm! Fresh cooked = all good!

Just because it is a change to your normal diet doesn't mean it has to be unhealthy or unbalanced

Also, teppanyaki is Japanese I think? And anything cooked teppanyaki style would be fine! Yumm, time for lunch for me I think!

[tenar]

Thanks everyone,

I just got back from seeing the doctor and she's booked me in for pre-natal care at the hospital, but not done any blood tests right now as apparently that isn't needed. So I'm seeing the hospital doctor in a few weeks (about week 10 of the pregnancy, I think it is), but they said nothing else is needed at the moment. This surprised me, but then I guess that if there's anything I am worried about I can always go see the GP again, and trust my body to take care of the rest of it.

GP gave me a bunch of advice about what to eat and so on, though I think I'm fairly well read up on that anyway. Otherwise, she seemed a lot more relaxed about it than I am. I guess that's understandable.

[puppies]

tenar,
Congratulations mummy!
My Dr ordered heaps of blood tests when I went to him. There was the usual to confirm pregnancy, progesterone levels, Hepititis, HIV, Cystic Fybrosis, Toxoplasmis, Rubella and may some others. Turns out the only thing I had to worry about what the toxoplasmis. Turns out I wasn't immune even though I had a cat for years. Just as well I re-homed my cat about a few months before we decided to TTC.

As for Japan, yeah I think you will be pretty safe there as long as you make sure everything you choose is cooked and served hot. Not cold chicken or deli meats. Nothing raw and no uncooked fish... If your like me I would be getting into the rice. Chances are you might end up starting to feel the effects of morning sickness and wont feel much like eating anything exciting. But cross fingers that side effect will not come knocking at your door, especially while your away. Cause it will be the smells that will most likely get you started.

[tenar]

I've had the usual ones to check my rubella antibody levels, blood type and a bunch of other things months ago when I first chatted to the doc about TTC. She evidently doesn't seem to think the progesterone etc are necessary, but I guess I'll ask about that someday soon, just in case.

I do have great faith in this GP and she's provided sound advice before, so not too worried, but it does seem a bit strange that some GPs routinely test for things that others don't.