The day finally came. My first doctor’s appointment. I have never been so excited for a doctor’s appointment in my life, especially when I knew I was going to get poked and prodded, but what I really couldn't wait to see what the baby and hear the baby’s heartbeat. It was like a matter or truth because up until last Friday, I had no visual proof that there was a baby growing inside me. Sure, I can’t fit into my clothes anymore and I have been acting like a crazy lady the last couple of months, but it’s not like it’s the first time I haven’t been able to fit into my clothes and I have been known to act a little crazy time to time.
I laid down on the table and the tech got the goo and put it on my tummy. The next thing I knew, I saw a little baby on the screen. She showed us the ears, legs, arms and of course the body and head. I don’t know how she could tell most of those things, because the only thing I could make out was the head. We saw it wave its arm and it was wiggling all over the place because one minute it would be facing us and the next it wouldn't. She then showed us the heart and let us hear the heartbeat. It was beating at 160 bpm, which is good. She said the baby and its environment looks great and healthy. This is what I needed to see and hear. There really is a baby in there. I immediately felt an instant bond between the baby and I now have another love of my life.
The second part of the appointment wasn't that exciting. I met my doctor, which she looked like she is my age. Can that even be possible? I guess I am not as young as I used to be and that people my age can really be doctors, yikes. She seemed really nice and she answered all of my questions. She confirmed that I was 14 weeks and that my due date isSeptember 4th, which we already knew, but it’s good to have a second opinion.
She also performed a women’s exam. My husband was traumatized by this as he had no clue what kind of devise doctors use for this particular exam. If he thought that was bad, just think about when I am in labor and delivery. It’s a good thing we have six months to prep him on this and it looks like going to some classes will do us some good since I will need all of his support and the last thing I need is for him to freak out.
After the exam, I got my blood taken. It was a lot and of course my veins didn't want to work properly, so I had to get poked twice. I haven’t gotten the blood results yet, but I hope they come back healthy and there is no problems, like anemia or something like that.
My next big appointment is on April 9th. We get to find out the gender of the baby, unless it decides not to reveal itself, but I have faith it will. We decided to keep the gender a secret until the baby shower. It will be hard to keep it a secret, but it’s going to be fun and I will get to experience at least one thing regarding the baby in person rather than the phone or internet.
I left the doctor’s office with a bag of goodies. It was mostly free samples of prenatal vitamins, brochures, magazines and coupons. I realize that I have a lot of work to do before the baby comes. Like next month I have to fill out the paperwork for the hospital and sometime in the next couple of months I have to find a pediatrician before I deliver the baby. I am sure that there will be other things that come up that I am unaware of, but still, it takes a lot to bring a child into this world.
Meanwhile, I try my best to keep this baby as healthy as I can. It’s hard sometimes, but I know in the end it will be worth it.
Below is baby Lehr. The bottom picture is the heart with the heartbeat.
