Posted by Week 5 started out pretty well. My blood test came back good. HCG levels had jumped big time, which was great. Sitting at 5832 on week 5, day 1.
Then comes Tuesday. We are in lockdown already due to a growing number of cases in Canberra, but then we find out that our entire workplace campus, something like 20+ buildings and so many staff and students, was a hot spot. 1 case there for 2 days. So if we were there on that same day (which we were), we needed to go into 2 weeks quarantine and get tested twice.
This hit me harder than it really should have. Stress, tears, worry. I didn’t want to get sick with Covid just when I found out my dream was coming true.
And how was I meant to get tested? Lines and lines of people. Literally hours and hours in queues. We are lucky we have a couple of drive-through testing spots, but everyone was going to them. And we were all required to get a test as soon as possible, then another one on day 12/13.
We were keeping up with the feedback online on how many cases there were and how long people had to wait in line. I had colleagues who sat in their car for 6+ hours waiting for a test.
Now, this is what it is. It wouldn’t have usually bothered me too much. A waste of time, yes, but doable. Do you know what I was most worried about? My bladder. Already I had been starting to feel the effects of an early pregnancy bladder. And I really did not want to use a public toilet where thousands of people could have been using it and possibly have Covid.
I kept my eye on the wait times and got up early to go to the drive-through, hearing that the one near the airport was a little quicker than the one close to me. I took the advice of those online to pack snacks and drinks. Even had a cuppa with me. Regretted that let me tell you. So I ate, but I didn’t drink much. 5 hours it took to get through.
I feel so much for those staff and nurses doing the intake and testing. They were amazing. Getting through so many tests and so quickly. While I say 5 hours is a long time, you should have seen the number of people that day. Think that week, they were doing 7 – 8 thousand tests a day! Doesn’t sound like much, but given a population of 461K in Canberra, I think 8 thousand people a day is pretty decent. I wish I could remember all the numbers, but I remember them saying something like 30-40K in quarantine as close contacts that first week. So to the nurses and workers still going at the covid testing centres, well done to you!
Anyway, the test was negative, and I didn’t burst my bladder! But even with a negative, I was still in quarantine. Which also meant all upcoming blood tests were postponed. Again, just another thing to stress me some more. I wanted to know my number and make sure my little bubba was still growing.
Work also became a bit of stress during this time. I admit I did lose it a little. Got snapped at by a client. But had a long chat with my boss, and she calmed me down a little. I just needed to remember that it wasn’t the end of the world. And I needed to remain calm for my baby. It’s tough, though. Lockdown and quarantine was affecting us all.
Anyway, I got the 2nd test done (no wait this time, thank goodness!), and all clear. So this, you would think, would mean I was free as of the 14 days. So I had booked in for my bloods on day 15. But noooo! In addition to our negative tests, we also had to wait upon a “free from quarantine” email from the government. Which was not coming for a large number of people! What a nightmare.
I postponed my bloods, again! And called the hotline. 6 hours on hold, with 3 disconnections on 1 day. 3 hours on hold the next! I hung up, though, as, at about 12.30, I got my all clear. Too late for bloods that day, but it was okay for them the next day.
I did my shopping, masked up, and distancing from everyone, at 8.30 that night. 2 people in Aldi, plus staff, and very few in the other supermarket. But the shelves were still looking a little bare.
Got my bloods the next day. HCG skyrocketed in that 2 weeks. Week 6, day 6, sitting at 67,751! Very, very happy with this. And so was the FS. It also meant I was ready for my first ultrasound!
Symptoms over the last 2 weeks (these may be a mix of pregnancy and quarantine!):
- Nausea: over a couple of days, but one main day in which I realised I didn’t have any dry crackers to eat. Even plain toast was turning me off. Queue Uber Eats with the delivery of Salada’s (Australia’s version of Saltines).
- Depression, stress, anxiety: Combo of hormones, work and covid, I think! Had a couple of terrible days there. But post quarantine, I had my single bubble catch up with my bestie. I needed it. She was on the phone to me a few times for the night of tears!
- Bloating: OMG, the bloating. When does it end?
- Gas: TMI, but both ends. Thank god I’m working from home.
- Heartburn: Yet another constant for these 2 weeks.
My Single Mum by Choice Journey 