[MissingInAction]

This afternoon I am headed to our GP to tell him, yep, we're keen to TTC and find out exactly what needs to be done between now and TTC. A bit of background: i'm terrified of needles & blood tests & medication (so, pregnancy dr appointments are going to be an amusement park load of fun for me unless i hurry up and grow a pair about it all). I really dont do well with tablets (pills are okay... if i HAVE to) and have never taken vitamins for this reason even though everyone recommends i do cos i'm always catching bugs off the kids at work. I pretty much tend to avoid all medication at all costs and have been this way for several years (As a child, my mum was a bit of a hyperchondriac and i was always on antibiotics for a simple common cold... i swear, the year when i was 7 is just a blur of being on medicine that came with cute bug stickers OVER and OVER again)

I suspect he'll suggest I do something about my low calcium ? (I can't drink milk and flat out don't like/tolerate the alternatives so i get all my calcium from cheese and um.. chocolate?)

I have had bouts of low iron over the years but pretty sure I've got that under control now (i do love my red meat!) as I don't feel as yuck as I did when it was really badly low.

I have no idea what immunisations i need to update... help?! I always thought that MMR was done as a child and that was it but lately i've heard otherwise and that you're meant to boost it as an adult?! True?!

I should probably give up drinking. I don't smoke; never have.

Andd i'm only about 5kg underweight now so nearly there. Never had an eating disorder or anything just struggle to put on weight and have always been this way.

[Leggy]

Good luck MiaMoo! You're being very responsible by going to the dr to find out what to do before TTC - a surprising number of people don't really think of it.

I'm afraid there are a few immunisations you should have boosters for. Perhaps you can schedule them all for one day and have it over with? Can't help you with the repeated blood tests, though. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a counsellor who can help you with coping strategies, however.

[PatG]

The doctor will probably recommend you have a blood test to check for things like iron levels and immunities and I think some STDs too. You may or may not need MMR booster but you should be considering a whooping cough vaccination if you haven't had that done recently. I'm pretty sure you can get chewable vitamin tablets that contain folate. Take it one step at a time, get through having blood taken and go from there. The pathology clinics are usually pretty good because the phlebotomists are experts, let them know you are not good with needles, they see people just like you all the time and will have ways of helping you cope.

The doctor will probably recommend you have a blood test to check for things like iron levels and immunities and I think some STDs too. You may or may not need MMR booster but you should be considering a whooping cough vaccination if you haven't had that done recently. I'm pretty sure you can get chewable vitamin tablets that contain folate. Take it one step at a time, get through having blood taken and go from there. The pathology clinics are usually pretty good because the phlebotomists are experts, let them know you are not good with needles, they see people just like you all the time and will have ways of helping you cope.

[FaithHopeLove]

Hope your appt goes well. there will likely be blood tests - checking for stds and also that those immunisations you had as a child still have enough antibodies left. as for pregnancy vitamins many doctor just recommend folate (which you also get through dark green leafy veg and other natural sources - just google. i think i also saw one of the pregnancy/conceive vitamins in powder form so you might want to look into that. it is recommended to start those extra vitamins like folate at least a month before ttc.

No advice on your needle aversion but you shouldnt need too many!

Best of luck on your journey.

[MissingInAction]

Thanks

The pathology clinics are usually pretty good because the phlebotomists are experts, let them know you are not good with needles, they see people just like you all the time and will have ways of helping you cope.

Haha yeah they're pretty good hey. When I go in they're like, "please sit down" and I always respond with something along the lines of, "oh no, I think i'll just set myself up over here" and lie down on the bed. I know I can't hack it, why waste their time?! Then there's all the distraction techniques which are so blatantly obvious but they kind of work. I take my hat off to them. I could not do their job. *shudders*

[Mumma_G]

My doctor ran bloods to see what boosters i needed, fortunately for me none. My Vit D and calcium were ridiculously low but that goes hand in hand apparently.

[becstarr79]

I was absolutely phobic of having my heart monitored and blood pressure taken and I've got through two pregnancies unscathed so you'll be fine - doctors and nurses come across a variety of situations all the time and know how to handle things, you might find that after a while your anxieties will have lessened as well like mine have!

[ubermum]

....and you will be told to start taking folate (folic acid) to guard against neural tube defects. I wouldn't worry about not being a huge dairy food addict. Many people around the world don't eat much dairy. How many cows do you think the nomadic Australian indigenous people were milking? Plenty of lean meats, fish (particularly oily fish with bones) nuts, fruit and vegetables should give you all you need. The dairy industry has succeeded really well in convincing us we need milk intended for a baby cow to be healthy. You may need a vitamin D supplement too.

[Corella]

How much prenatal and antenatal care you get is up to you. Lots of pregnancies aren't planned in that no prenatal care is done and it's not ideal but does happen.
I'd get folate and vitamin D checked as these can impact on baby's health. See how much one test can cover?

[kez71]

I used to be scared of needles and pills too..but after 7 years TTC and 3 rounds of IVF Ive had so many needles and taken so many pills that im over it. Im currently 27 weeks preg and have been having daily injections throughout my pregnancy and that will continue for 6 weeks after birth. My advice is this:

for pills..i could never swallow them and would gag every time..my trick is to take them with food in your mouth. first chew the food then just before swallowing, stick the pill in and mush it into the food. then swallow. it tricks your mind into thinking its just food. gradually i changed to taking them with orange juice, though there are still some i use the food technique with. It helped me, so I hope it helps you!

for the needles..for starters don't look. I use a distraction technique for myself where I will stab my thumb with my nail (on the opposite hand to where the blood is being drawn) and also wiggle my toes. concentrating on these things distracts from the sting of the needle. Most pathology people are good at taking blood so you don't feel anything, but every now and then you do feel it. If you do, just remind yourself that its just a bit of pain and you won't die from it. it tends to be over with pretty fast.

I also recommend that you drink a lot of water before you go so your blood will be easier to get if its a blood test.

One of my friends still got given a numbing cream until recently. She's also pregnant and the nurse said that she couldn't have it as she needs to harden up if shes going to have a baby! good luck..you can do it!!