Visiting the doctor...In a whole new country!

Going to the doctor back home can be a bit scary, but going in a whole new country is 100x worse!  My journey started by doing internet research regarding fees I should expect to pay and as well as where I needed to go. That turned up nothing! I asked around a few places, but no one knew much to tell me. Ugh, am I just going to have to wait until I get home to get my next check-up?

The reception area at the doctors office- The lady is getting a number, it's a requirement to get called up.

My last option was asking the chef at our lunch place (which I discussed in an earlier post) for advice. He didn't have much info, however he pointed me in the direction of a local doctors office and that was a great start!  I found a nurse that spoke perfect English. She stated that they didn't do prenatal care at that office, but got me the address to the nearest office that did. Oh great, this is good news but now I have to find ANOTHER place and that's easier said than done.  So back to internet researching I went. I map quested the address from our apartment and realized I was only 2 miles away and the bus right outside our house was the bus that dropped off right in front of the doctors office. Thank God. Things were going well. I was staying optimistic.

Jayden loved the toys in the waiting area :)

The next day, after lunch we caught bus 26 and journeyed over to  Tybble Vårdcentral  (the name of the place) and was in for whatever was about to come my way. First off, I was informed the midwives were gone for the day. I'd have to call back Monday and see what time they could get me in- kinda hard to do when you don't have a phone, right? So the receptionist stated she'd inform the midwife of my situation and to come back Monday morning (it was Friday) between 8-10am. She then asked for my personal number. What is that? Oh no another issue. That is like our social security number back home, you need it for everything. I don't have a Swedish personal number because I am American so I have to have them make a temporary one, and that could take time. That also complicates how to charge me. In Sweden, prenatal care is free. From the first prenatal appointment to the delivery, you don't pay a single krona.  If you are not Swedish, but a citizen of a country within European Union, you pay a small fee of 20:- ($3.05) to see a nurse and 80:- ($12.18) to see a doctor. Well neither of those options are me, so my fee was 504:- ($76.76) to see a nurse and 2074:- ($315.87) to see a doctor. They seemed to feel really bad having to charge me that much but rules are rules and I was willing to pay what I needed to to make sure my growing baby was ok. 

Not cheap, but so worth it!

The following Monday I returned to the office. I got my personal number, I paid my fee of 504:- and patiently waited for the midwife. Then...I found out I couldn't be seen. Another day, another issue. However, they say they can definitely see me tomorrow at 11:00.  So I packed up myself, Jayden and hopped back on the bus.  Kinda irritating, but I couldn't get upset. Tuesday morning I went back.  Once I arrived a sweet blond, young lady popped out from around the corner and called my name. Her name was Alliana and she was my midwife.

My appointment was a lot like a visit back home. She asked all the same questions and did all the same tests. She stated that they don't usually listen to the baby until after 24 weeks, but after I told her I heard the heartbeat during week 12 back home, she said she would try. Bad idea! She couldn't find a heartbeat and I freaked out. She didn't seem to concerned but I was. She scheduled my 18-20 week ultrasound at the hospital for 3 weeks later, then sent me on my way. I went home and instantly started googling "16 weeks pregnant and couldn't hear heartbeat with doppler" in every way I could arrange the words. I found some scary information and realized  I should have just avoided the internet all together. I called the hospital to see if I could get in for an ultrasound. The lady that answered the line in the maternity department stated that if she couldn't hear the heart I couldn't do anything to speed up the miscarriage and just wait it out! WHAT? That is not what I wanted to hear. She said I could call back tomorrow to talk to a doctor if I wanted another opinion so that is what I did. 

The Hospital

I didn't sleep at all that night and I called the doctor as early as I could the next morning. I believe God was looking down on me at this time.  A wonderful lady named Sophia answered. She could tell I was concerned. She said it was going to cost a lot for an ultrasound. I told her I knew being that I had just paid the day before as well.  Then, she told me, "just hurry and get here, ask for Sophia, and I will help you." So that is just what I did. When I arrived she took me back to the ultrasound room and conducted a quick check up, no questions asked.  First things first, she showed me a beating heart. THANK GOD! Then she showed me the head and checked the fluid levels.  All was perfect. She said that was all she could do,  she had to keep it quick, which was more than ok with me. Best part, there was no fee. She did it out of the goodness of her heart.  There are still good people in this world.