I thought I'd write a little about what goes on, mostly for my remembrance, but feel free to laugh along if you'd like.
Pre-natal's, for the most part, are pretty painless. The first one I had wasn't pleasant, but I don't know many women who would call a pap smear and internal exam something to enjoy. DEFINITELY NOT ME! However, all subsequent visits have been a harmless routine, and really something to look forward to because they mark the passage of each month of pregnancy.
To begin with, all exams start with a urine sample. I try to schedule all my appointments in the morning, partly because I hate waiting around a crowded doctor's office, and partly because I never seem to have trouble going on command in the morning. Now, peeing in a cup is not something that you easily master, at least not for me; rather, it has taken a few tries to finess the art of peeing without... ... ... ... dripping...eek... But, master it I have, and today was my most accurate round yet! Yay me! Plus, good news: No sugar or protein present! Double Yay Me!
After the, uh, sample, is most least favourite part: The Weigh In. I know that this is necessary, and the weight really doesn't bother me that much, but I'm sorry, stepping on the scale, and watching the bar meet, then exceed, then WAY exceed your normal mass is a little...hmmmm...unsettling. Especially when the nurse is doing it in KG, and the scale is different, and you about have a heart attack because your pretty sure you didn't weight THAT much on the scale at home. (She did inform me of this little tidbit, after I about jumped off the scale in tears and shock...the pound conversion was much more comfortable.)
After the scale--blood pressure. I have watched enough medical dramas to know that normal BP is 120/80, but the nurses never seem to want to let on where you're at. No, they like to keep you in suspense and let the doctor tell you, which is fine, but a little annoying. Plus, I think they have commented on the fact that I have goose bumps every time, whatever that means. Oh, and lesson #1 involving Blood Pressure: don't wear a shirt that you can't roll/push the sleeves up. They make you disrobe to gain access to the fleshy part of your arm.
Then the doctore usually comes in and you play a bit of Q&A with them. This is the part where if anything weird has happened, you get to tell them, and they get to explain. For instance, I had a little light headedness yesterday and almost passed out while teaching a class full of grade twelve history students...super fun...apparently in your second tri, your blood pressure, which is already low at this time, can plummet if you are on your feet for prolonged periods of time. Lesson learned.
Next, comes my favorite part--you get to hear the heartbeat. Our little Jelly Bean is one active fetus and moves around like crazy. But wow, when the doppler machine finally catches up to him/her, that little heartbeat comes through, and I'm pretty sure my heart bursts. Matt gets a really wondrous, proud, look on his face, and all is well in the world. This little moment definitely makes the visit, and suddenly, peeing in a cup, stepping on a scale, and all the other jazz takes a back seat.
You just have to marvel at the amazing thing that is growing and developing right there inside you. I know we do. :)
