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A 5 Hour Tour March 22nd, 2006

Today we had our first doctor’s appointment and expected it to be a long one…but not this long. 

Our appointment was at 10:40am.  At first everything was as expected. Checking in at the desk - check.  Finding out you need to check-in at a different desk – check.  Insurance processing – check.  More forms – check.  Waiting in the main waiting room – check.  More waiting – check. 

“Ashley.”

Finally the moment we have been waiting for… my wife’s name was called out!  It was our time. Since this was our first visit, it was time for our intense question and answer session.  Basically, just more forms with the OB nurse writing in answers for us.  It’s important for the medical staff to know all of the family medical history possible.  After several rounds of questions, we were given a preview of the months ahead, including the food and medication “dos and don’ts” and the mile-long list of upcoming appointments.

Going over the appointments we were disappointed to find out we were not to receive an ultrasound today.  No heartbeat.  No baby picture.  Just forms.  :-(  The ultrasound would be the next visit.

After the information session, the next stop on the tour… another waiting room!

(ASHLEY’S NOTE: This was one of many small secondary waiting rooms. Doctors’ offices have clearly picked up a thing or two from Walt Disney World in terms of providing the illusion of progress in a queue. If you’ve made it from one waiting room to another with closer proximity to the rooms, you must be almost there, right? Unfortunately, no Fast Passes.)

We waited there for the obstetrician for the physical exam. The waiting went on so long, in fact, that Ashley sent me out for provisions. While she continued to wait, I headed off to Honey Baked Ham to pick up sandwiches.   In keeping with the day’s theme, my lunch trip took longer than I expected (as any trip around Dunwoody at lunch-time can).  I returned an hour later, just in time to learn the twist for today’s visit.

When I returned – Ashley was still not back in the waiting room from her exam! It was about 1:40pm… the point where a “3 hour tour” would have ended.

I sent a text message to let her know I was back.  I glanced up at the check-in desk. The nurse who gave us the information session was surprised to see me still here.  I met her at the desk and let her know I went to grab lunch for Ashley and was back.  She led me back through the labyrinth of secondary waiting rooms to find her.

We located Ashley as she was about to get some blood tests in the lab.  That’s when Ashley gave me the news: During the physical exam, the doctor mentioned that – while by the dates we were currently at just over 9 weeks – we were “measuring more like 11 weeks.” It could be a benign growth, but they had ordered an ultrasound to be done today at 2:45pm. 

Well… what to do with that information?  Could it be it twins?  Is there a benign growth?  Do we have our dates wrong?  We left the doctors office to finish lunch and reschedule any afternoon meetings, then returned at 2:45pm sharp for our ultrasound.

Check in… again – desk on the right? Nope.  Desk at left.  Sit in waiting room.  Wait. 

More waiting.

Another 30 min of waiting.  Finally – again, Ashley’s name was called and we were headed back for the ultrasound. It all went by very quickly.  The nurse doing the ultrasound did not see anything of concern. (…phew)  ”Everything looks good and we are on schedule.” The ultrasound even guessed October 24 as the due date – very close to the October 22 due date calculated the old-fashioned way. We were able to see the baby very easily. 

At this point schmoopie-beta is only 2.2 centimeters in length.  NewDadtobe had informed me that the first ultrasound is one you don’t want to miss.  We were able to hear the baby’s heartbeat (159 beats/minute).  Amazing.  Actually seeing the baby was the best experience I have ever had.  It seems very dream-like.  You can imagine it, but when its happening it’s simply amazing.  

Just when we thought we were going to escape…one last stop on the tour: the money person. The money person had checked with the insurance company, and now her job was to deliver the news of how much 15 office visits, myriad tests and procedures, plus the actual delivery would cost us. The verdict: twenty-five dollars. Wow, thank goodness for medical insurance! Now we should have money for the crib, carseat, clothes, diapers, blankets, booties, toys, etc.

So at the end of our 5 hour tour – complete success.  An ultrasound – check.  Baby heartbeat – check.  Baby picture – check.  Happy mom and dad – check.  More – in the days ahead.

Posted in Doctor's Visits |