The First Appointment

For those that know me, to say I am high strung is an understatement (and I know you are just being nice). So to say I was anxious for this appointment does not do the severity of my nervousness justice. We are talking butterflies, sweaty hands, verge of tears, talking too much nervousness. Good grief. Matt met me at my office and we headed over to St. Anthony Hospital (where Matt works and our new doctor is).

I've always wondered what happens at your first appointment, and I never felt reassured from what I read in a pregnancy book or online, so here is what I went through. Warning, this has a bit of personal details (all PG, I promise), but if you happen to not want to hear some lady details, skip to the pictures below.

Arrive at office 30 minutes early because you are a freak and cannot stand to be late
Fill out paperwork and lots of it (I was a first time patient, so I blame this on me)
Wait to be seen since you are so early
Meet nurse
Pee in a cup and place in little cubby
Get weight and blood pressure taken
Answer more questions about your health and then fill out more paperwork
Take off your pants (and cover with a sheet of course)
Make childish joke about the KY warmer on the counter (ha!)
Sit awkwardly with no pants on (even though you are fully covered) and get really worried about the ultrasound machine (more on that in a second)
Meet doctor who promptly lectures on why you shouldn't be undressed yet. Studies show you only retain 60% of what a doctor says if you are in any state of undress. Which cracks Matt and I up. But he is being serious. I find myself completely focused like a dream where you are naked in class.
Talk about how the doctor does things, like everything you hear (well I did anyway)
Get a lady exam (that is what I'll call it for blogging purposes)

Then the fun starts...

Well, wait....

The first ultrasound is not like you see on TV (hence the worried/where does that thing go feeling). It is internal. I'll let you connect the dots on that, but just call it awkward.

But then you see this...






And you hear the heartbeat, which you are too stunned to speak and trying really hard not to cry. And you forget to look at your husband because you're a bit...make that totally...in awe.


So this little picture confirms your actual due date of December 3rd, 2011







And the rest is a little fuzzy. Not really, we talked more about inducing, giving birth, prenatal vitamins, blah, bah....

So then you make your next appointment for four weeks later, then go get blood drawn (LOTS of blood) and wait for a call back (within about a week) that all your lab work is all ok.

The main thing I wish I would have done is write down questions, especially stuff that Matt and I had talked about before but then I got nervous. I didn't leave feeling like I missed out on anything and I loved Dr. Lane, I just felt like I should have been more prepared or should have tried to find out more stuff.

But besides that, it is seriously the coolest thing you will ever see (yet, I guess). After all of the anxiety waiting to see a doctor (and that little peanut on screen), it literally takes away all words.