Testimonial: Pregnancy follow-up when you have CF... and twins!

For my first follow-up, the secretary managed to coordinate the day so that I could meet all the professionals who will follow me. And then I realized that I would be costing the health system a lot! But I am still entitled to my situation, right?!

I arrive at this meeting really excited: I'm going to see my babies again, and I'll be able to ask my millions of questions about my pregnancy!

First, the endocrinologist, his horde of students and the pregnancy diabetes nurse. As I was already intolerant to glucose (the stage that precedes diabetes), I am informed that pregnant I am at risk of developing diabetes, and I am asked to check my blood sugar levels after each meal (this involves pricking my fingertip and putting a drop of blood on a strip that will be read by a glucometer). No problem, I already did it on occasion.

Ha, and sir, for my questions about my pregnancy? It's not me, but the next professional you'll meet... ok!

There comes the ultrasound: wow, what a great moment! The technician takes a lot of measurements, including the claritenucal exam. The whole thing lasts one hour. Chéri and I are in love with these 2 shrimps that each splash around in their amniotic pouch. (I'll explain the differences between twin types in the next post, but mine each has its own pool, which is good news.) Then comes another lady who does not identify herself (I conclude that she is a nurse), she tells me a little more about the pregnancy and explains to me that the doctor who will come is part of the high-risk pregnancy team that will follow me during my pregnancy. It is to this doctor that I can address my questions. To allow you to properly identify the different doctors I will meet, I am calling her Dr. Zen! So Dr. Zen comes in and goes through the ultrasound again, she confirms to me that the clartenucal is beautiful (no trisomy!!) but briefly tells me about the risks involved in a twin pregnancy, including transfusion transfusion syndrome. She explains to me that we will follow this closely in the coming weeks.

That's when a resident comes into the room and tells us that the next doctor who is due to meet with me today is in a hurry and that I need to see him now. Ok, but... when do I ask my questions? I am reassured that Dr. Zen will be available after this other meeting.

Next medical team: the internal medicine team. The team consists of a few doctors with very diverse specialties. They are in charge of following me (me, not the babies), as I have a chronic illness that is combined with pregnancy. The resident asks me lots of questions, then we wait for the doctor, Dr. Pressée, the one who made me leave Dr. Zen... I ask the resident if I can go back with the other medical team, because I always have my questions to ask (and he, obviously, cannot answer them). No, the doctor you need to see is in a hurry. Well... In the meantime, as time flies, a nurse comes to take my blood. Then, the lady who did not identify herself during the echo came to inform me that Dr. Zen had left, but that she herself could answer my questions. Well, ok, but since I think she's a nurse, I pick my questions and leave some of them out. It was at the very end, when she gave me a PAP test, that I had doubts about her profession. After she leaves, I ask a nurse (well identified) who this person was: “She is a very competent resident who is finishing her residency in a few weeks, you can trust her.” (Grrrr, I could have asked her all my questions... Between you and me, between you and me, all the residents I meet seem to have a problem identifying themselves as such...)

Then comes the nutritionist, who stays with me for five short minutes while waiting for Dr. Pressée. We talk a bit about my habits, and she tells me to be sure to include protein in every meal and snack.

Well, Dr. Pressée, who in the end is very late, finally arrives, and she does not ask me any more questions than the resident who came before her.

I came out of my first pregnancy follow-up completely exhausted by this whirlwind of professionals, and frustrated on the impersonal side of the thing. I will have to get used to...

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