Elevate Your Health Colorado Good News

I was at our local pool a few days ago, and one of the lifeguards who has been working there for many years is talking with my husband.  

He was walking past and happened to overhear something about Kaiser Permanente. He is a big Kaiser Permanente fan, and so of course, immediately joined her conversation.  

We have known this lifeguard for many years, and though we have said a lot “ Hi, how ya doin’?” to each other, I don’t think either of us had really ever had an actual conversation with her (although I know she has scowled at us a time or two when we were too busy chatting and not keeping a close enough eye on our kids).  

So I wander over to see what is going on, what this conversation is about. As it turns out, she is newly pregnant and has Kaiser Permanente.

Here we go—I can tell her a few things about this!  

Well, she is fairly young, and it sounds like this pregnancy was a bit of a surprise.  But she is very happy and excited and wants a doctor at Kaiser Permanente who is going to be happy along with her.  

Although I am feeling very happy for her, I think maybe she has seen me too often in, how shall I say it-a “non-professional” environment, for me to be her doctor.  

We talk for a while and she really is so excited to be pregnant.  It’s very early, but she is already nauseous and wants to know when that feeling will pass.  

I tell her it may be another 6 weeks, she may feel better around 12 weeks (3 months) of pregnancy.  Another mom passes us by and says with a knowing smile, “Or 16 weeks…”

We talk some more and I recommend one of my partners for her to see.

Early pregnancy is such an exciting, mysterious time.  But it is also scary—there is uncertainty.  Many are worried about miscarriage.  They are worried if their baby is getting off to a good start, if it is “normal.”  

But mostly, it is excitement. As soon as a woman sees that “+” sign on the pregnancy test, she is pregnant, and that is her baby.  Some choose to share their excitement. Others keep their secret until they are further along.  Rarely, that “+” sign is not good news.  No matter the situation, it is a time of high emotion.

It is a gift, for me, as a doctor, to be able to share in this incredible time in a woman’s life. So today, I say to our lifeguard, thanks for keeping an eye on my kids all these years and I am so EXCITED for YOU!!!  

Thank you so much for sharing your good news with me!