First* Doctor's Appointment

*Okay, so you might notice the asterisk after "First" in the title.  I should clarify.  This entry is about the first doctor's appointment that I think really counts.  I had an appointment before this one, but I went by myself because it was mainly just filling out paperwork and getting a tour of North Florida Women's Care.  I didn't even meet my obstetrician at that appointment.

Our first appointment with the obstetrician was at 8 weeks, 6 days.  The purpose of the appointment was to meet Dr. Dixon, who I chose based on the recommendations of a nurse at my primary physician's office and of several other women I've talked to over the years who all really liked him, and to check on the baby.  Ray came with me to this appointment because it's very important to me that he be there for appointments.  This appointment in particular was important because I knew I'd be getting an ultrasound, and I wanted him to be there for that.

I was feeling all kinds of nervous about this appointment.  I have spent the better part of my pregnancy worried about one thing or another concerning the baby.  I think that a lot of where the worry comes from is the fact that we were in session, and I knew I'm wasn't taking care of myself like I would out of session.  I spent all day every day at a desk.  I had no time to get to the gym, and as it was dark when I left for work and dark when I got home, I couldn't even go for a run/walk.  Add to that I was eating three meals a day at my desk.  And the food I did eat wasn't as good as it could have been were I able to get home and prepare a home-cooked meal.  Finally, I didn't feel like I was getting enough sleep.  So my mind translated all of these things into me not taking care of myself and, therefore, not taking care of the baby.  I was worried that something would be wrong at this appointment.

When Dr. Dixon made it to the exam room to meet us, I liked him pretty much immediately.  He has a very relaxed manner, and he's also very straightforward.  We chatted just a little bit about what he read on my chart, about how long Ray and I had been together, about what I did for work, and then he said, "Well, let's go ahead and do to the ultrasound.  We do this to confirm your estimated due date and make sure we're guessing correctly on that, and we also do it to check viability of the pregnancy.  After we do that, we'll talk some more."

I appreciated that so much!  Yes, let's go ahead and make sure everything's like it should be before we spend any more time talking about where to go from here.  

So, he began the ultrasound.  I have no idea what I was expecting, but whatever it was, it was nothing like what I saw/felt/thought.  I just remember being amazed that this thing inside me was already so identifiably a baby.  It looked just like a tiny version of a baby.  (And I do mean tiny.  The baby was only about an inch long.)  We could see the head and the body and even feet and hands.  After letting us marvel for a moment, Dr. Dixon noted, "There's the heart - you can see it moving.  We should be able to hear that."  And then he turned on a microphone that allowed us to hear the baby's heart pounding away at about 160 beats a minute.  I still can't decide what was more amazing: hearing the heartbeat or watching the fluttering of the heart.

Here's a picture of the baby:

Dr. Dixon zoomed in so that we could get a better look since it was still so tiny.

Also, this baby is a squirmy worm!  It was moving all over the place.  Of course, I couldn't feel a thing, but we watched as it moved its hands and feet and basically just squirmed a bunch.  At one point, the baby held out its hand, and we could see what will eventually be the hand bones.  I started laughing and said, "It looks like Wolverine!" 

Wolverine claw:

I have stared at these pictures and the others Dr. Dixon took for what probably amounts to hours.  I'm just amazed.

After the ultrasound, we spent some time talking about what to expect over the next several months, and he did confirm the September 26, 2012, due date.  The only truly disappointing thing happened when we were discussing diet.  Dr. Dixon said he didn't put a lot of stock in much of the "You can't eat that!" warnings.  He specifically okayed sandwich meat later on in the pregnancy and said I was also good to eat most cheeses.  I got really excited and asked, "Do I really have to eat my steaks well done?? I love a steak medium rare, and to cook it well ruins it!"  He laughed and said, "I'm sitting here telling you to ignore all the stuff you've read about what you can't eat, and you ask about the one thing you really have to listen to.  Yes, you have to eat your steak well done.  All meat needs to be well done.  I'm sorry about that one!"  Bummer.

Dr. Dixon ended the appointment by reassuring us that everything was just like it was supposed to be.  After we left, Ray and I agreed that we both really liked him and felt comfortable with him.  As Martha would say, "And that is a good thing."