Laughing out loud! I am slowly starting to look I swallowed a good size stone. Also getting introduced to the US approach around pregnancies has been very mind opening and teaches me new each day! It is not just the pregnancy but learning about being pregnant in US, which keeps me well occupied.
I will get back to notes along the journey soon but some key things, which I have really appreciated since the beginning:
Medical checks / Doctor's visits
Due to insurance and health care being an area, where competition is hard, the customer service is accordingly.
For first time pregnant the best part has been having each visit including appointment with my doctor. Yes, my doctor...not some random doctor, who has a free slot but the very same doctor each time.
Being in Houston - the medical mecca. One has luxury access to plenty of doctors, who are true professionals. It takes some efforts to check the client evaluations and check which one accepts the insurance you have...but all I can say, it is time investment, which pays itself back!
Also having received my doctor's mobile number for his clients, has been a jewel.
When I have been wondering about something I was able to send a text message and got answer back in no time....and I had one thing less to think about.
Have been positively surprised also by the insurance company following up once a month as well of how I am doing and giving good tips / links. The pregnancy case responsible have helped a lot in gaining understanding what my insurance benefits include and do not include.
Among many other good things, it covers (thanks to Obama care) the free breast pump and lactation consultation. Both of which I am planning to fully utilize :) My thinking is, since I am in US and have access to these wonderful services...yes, I do want to learn how life can be different when utilizing those aids.
Support / Knowledge sources available
One can really say that being born is business here. There are all kinds of different type pre-birthing classes available. Numerous books and videos, birthing centers and additional support and information sources available. If one wants to be prepared for the whole process, it is nearly a part time job to get first of clarity of all the options and then dive deeper to understand the pros and cons.
But as I am thirsty for data and prefer having access to data, I again appreciate it this way around.
So, I have read bunch of books and studied different topics in internet, watched videos. It helps to have few friends, who recently went through the experience in NYC (both originally outside of US). Their guidance has helped me and my husband a lot in getting the hang of what is important in the preparation.
Now with iPad/iPhone/Android etc. all the additional pregnancy apps, they are also adding to the fun. I will post later on list of my favorite books, links and apps.
Pregnancy is a topic & experience that bonds
The common rule at work is, nobody will ask you if you are pregnant. As it is violation of your privacy and not related to work. Of course, at some point you cannot pretend to be "just really gained a lot weight" once the bump starts to show.
In my case the little guy just pushed the abs wall straight out, so I really looked for a while like I had just gained weight. It took a while until the roundness came into picture. After I told my colleagues, it was amazing how colleagues approached me differently. It was like suddenly I was more one of them. I got e.g. from one colleague books, which she found useful when she went through pregnancy and the baby's first year. It was stunning to see how colleagues, who would not otherwise talk much on daily basis, were smiling each time they saw me. The fact that they were eager to share the joy melted my heart. Even male colleagues were glowing when they were sharing their experiences from their children's births.
It took me same way by surprise the amount of greetings I LINK). It felt really heart warming at the time, when otherwise the days were full of adventure.got from just my project team colleagues, when I had to make hospital visit few weeks back (see more about it here:
So, it does not bond just with family and friends...but also in work community and even with total strangers. I have not yet had any unpleasant discussions around the pregnancy but have read in magazines that some people may take their enthusiasm bit far. One example given was that total strangers would come and want to touch you baby bump. Have not luckily experienced any of that, as being a Finn after all, that would go over my preferred limit :)
Did I mention that American-grand-parents to-be can be really amazing? More about that joy later. Must say though, my heart jumps out of joy each time I see my in-laws happiness around preparing for their 1st grand-child.
Also the welcoming gestures from the rest of the family, both core and extended, has been joy to observe and receive. Makes me and my husband feel that when needed, help is there and loving arms in several directions to welcome the child.
So, there is lot to learn still before I feel like I am prepared to know the US process but so far the journey has been more positive than anything else.
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