I’ve never been excited to go to the doctor before, and it’s a very welcome change. Before, my yearly exams were preceded by dread and anxiety, hoping that I didn’t get any bad news. And then I’d always have relief afterwards that would last for most of the year…rinse and repeat.
But now…everything’s different. I couldn’t wait to get back there and get more information about my little developing fetus. Not only that, but I’ve never had a partner to experience these medical procedures with me before. Having Brian there with me is incredibly comforting and a fun bonding experience. For instance, I’ve had tons of ultrasounds and blood draws and pelvic exams, but Brian’s never seen any of that. He’s never had the opportunity to really know what it’s like, to be able to support me and distract me and joke with me and celebrate with me. I guess I never realized just how lonely it was walking through my cancer checkups by myself until my whole medical experience was turned upside down.
First up for this appointment – a blood draw. Ug. I asked Brian to come in with me, for all the above reasons and because why not? I mean, he did this to me, so he might as well feel my pain vicariously.
Fortunately, I got the same lovely phlebotomist I had had for my previous blood draws. She recognized me, and I could tell she was trying to place me. When we got into the room, she said, “Now I feel like you were…different somehow…?” And I reminded her about the horror we shared during my last blood draw, where she ran into scar tissue from all my previous blood draws and had to stick me three times. Together, we figured out that it’s best when she uses the kid-sized needle on my dainty little scar-riddled veins, and then I get juice and Goldfish crackers afterwards and everyone’s happy.
Thankfully, this blood draw went perfectly with one clean stick. Boo-yah.
As Brian and I sat in the waiting room, sharing our celebratory juice and crackers and getting jealous looks from the two year old across the way, I couldn’t help but wonder if she treated all her patients that way, or if she babied me as the only adult who got the kid snacks. Then I realized I didn’t care because yum.
Then we got to go see the midwife and we got to hear the baby’s heartbeat for the first time. I think that strong little whoosh, whoosh sound is one of the most amazing sounds in the whole world. Incredible.
She asked if we had any questions or concerns, and just like I thought, the responses were all, yup, that’s normal, nothing we can do, just gotta power through it.
Awesome.
Then she felt my uterus, and everything felt good. I like having more information about my body, so I asked her to show me how to find it on my own. So start down here, and work your way up…oop, and there’s your full bladder, so your uterus is….here, off to the side because of all that pee.
The phlebotomist gave me juice, what do you expect?! But thanks for the extra info, really. At least we’re all friends here.
In conclusion, it was a successful and fun week 16 checkup! Thankfully, I got to pee again before we left. And by ‘got to,’ I mean I insisted on it.
I’m looking forward to the next one when we get to have the big 20 week ultrasound. Squee!
Psychobabble 