12 Week Doctor Appointment

Another doctor's appointment complete!!! Bright and early I arrived at the doctor's office and was told that from here on out, I would be asked to give a urine sample at the beginning of every appointment. "Okay" I said, and off I went to the bathroom. I came back out to the waiting room and was shocked to see all the other women sitting there. I was told they were running behind and to have a seat and be patient. Doug had to go to an unexpected meeting so I ventured to the doctor's appointment all by myself like a big girl!! However, after waiting for 30 minutes I was bummed I hadn't asked my mom to come with me. I wasn't feeling well and I could really have used the company. I was finally called back to a room and only sat there for a couple of minutes when my doctor poked her head in and said, "Did ya' get it all down?" I looked at her confused and asked her, "Get what all down?!?" She proceeded to tell me she wanted to give me the glucose tolerance test earlier than they normally do because Diabetes runs in my family. I remember this being discussed at an earlier visit with the doctor but I’ve been a little spacey lately, and of course blaming it on pregnancy and wasn't expecting it. Apparently the nurses weren't expecting it either because they didn't know to give me the very "yummy" glucose drink to guzzle when I first got there. So!! The doctor left and a nurse came in with a big bottle of bright orange fluid that I was instructed to drink...very quickly!!! The nurse told me she would be back in in exactly 5 minutes and when she returned I was to have all the liquid drank. She left and I took a sip, and instantly thought I was going to vomit!!! Talk about yucky! That stuff was so disgusting, but I managed to get it all down and even did it in the time limit, it's amazing how proud I can be of the small things accomplished!!! :-) When the nurse came back in she told me I now had to go back into the waiting room and sit for an hour, and then I would be called back in and they would draw blood. I thought to myself "AN HOUR!!!" Needless to say I wasn't thrilled, I certainly hadn't expected to spend most of my morning at the doctor's office and again wished I would have asked my mom to come with me. Oh well, what was I gonna do about it now, it really wasn't that big a deal, but again I can blame my silly overreacting on hormones!! A very long hour later I was called back in and saw the doctor for a few minutes, that’s when I got my lecture on not eating. I lost another 7 pounds and was told that even though I'm feeling really nauseous I have got to eat! I promised to do my best and then had a few questions of my own. After our little chat she said, "Let's hear the heart beat!" Finally something fun!!! She brought in a heart beat monitor and gelled my belly, she moved the wand around and I was getting nervous because I couldn't hear anything. After what seemed like forever she also seemed a little concerned and told me she wasn't finding a strong heartbeat but not to panic. Too late I thought but she explained that it’s still early and because I've got a couple of fibroids the baby might be hiding. She brought in an actual ultrasound machine with a screen and said she would try again but this time we wouldn't hear the heartbeat we would just make sure we could see it. I was so relieved when within seconds the baby was on screen and we could clearly see a strong heartbeat. My doctor assured me everything looked good and that things seemed to be moving along well. WHEW !!! Then I was taken to the lab where the technician drew 12 tubes of blood!!! Yep, I felt like she was gonna take it all! I even joked and told her to leave some for me! But I am happy to say I was a trooper and made it through and was even able to go to work after missing the previous two days because of severe nausea. I guess the short version would be, despite the surprise yucky glucose cocktail and the moment of fear waiting to hear (or see) the heartbeat, it was another successful doctor's appointment!! But when have I ever been into the short version of anything?!?!? :-) I'm reporting that mommy and baby are doing fine!! Daddy is also doing great! Hope all is well with all of you and we will of course keep you updated on any fun and exciting events that may, and probably will, happen. Next doctor's appointment....April 13th.