And it’s contagious.

Today I had another OB appointment.  The first one since we started going every two weeks.  I had my glucose test, which I knew was coming.  On the way there, I asked Pete…wasn’t I told to to tell someone that I was going to be having it done and I would need the drink?  But who was I supposed to tell?  Neither of us really remembered, and I decided I was supposed to tell the nurse.

Ehhhh (imagine buzzer sound here), WRONG!  I was supposed to tell the receptionist so I could go ahead and get started on the drink and not have to be there as long.  This thought had actually crossed my mind, but I ruled it out as a possibility.  Of course this was the ONE time the doctor was running late (by about half an hour).  Not that I really had anywhere else to be, I was just a spaz.  It was embarrassing, and I felt pretty dumb.

So I weighed (I was too out of it to really notice the weight; I want to say I’ve now gained 16 lbs or so), then we went into the exam room where the nurse checked my blood pressure.  It was fine.  Then I got my glucola drink.  It was orange-flavored.  I thought they were always orange-flavored, but apparently some folks get fruit punch or some kind of lemon-lime thing.  I didn’t really care.  It wasn’t too bad, maybe better since it was cold.  A lot like a flat orange soda.  I managed to get it down in 5 minutes.

I remembered the nurse telling me that, while I waited an hour to have my blood drawn, I’d just go back out to the waiting room.  I couldn’t remember if she said I was supposed to do anything in between.  I asked Pete, and he said he wasn’t really paying attention.  I wasn’t sure how they’d know I finished the drink in 5 minutes, so I handed it to the nurse on the way out and went back out to the waiting room.  I sat down and started to pick up a magazine while Pete went out to call his dad back.  Before I could even look at the magazine, the nurse was calling me again.  Oops, I was supposed to wait for the doctor to come in first, then go out to the waiting room.  Listening comprehension fail.  They were afraid I left or something.  I was so embarrassed, I really wanted to cry.  (I get embarrassed easily…weird things, too.  Like answering a question in class and answering incorrectly, to me, sounds at least a hundred times more embarrassing than accidentally flashing my panties to a crowd of people.)  Anyway, I tried to tell myself, no harm, no foul.  But I was still too flustered to think straight.

The rest of the afternoon was like a memory from a dream.  Not in a good way.  Just in a why-am-I-so-delirious? kind of way.  I can’t even blame the glucola because the stupid started before I even finished drinking it.  But I do remember that the Dr measured my uterus.  Didn’t hear her say the cm, if she said.  As she was measuring, she thought she felt a foot just under my left rib cage.  Then she palpated to find the head, which was definitely down this time.  (Good girl.)  Heart rate was around 142-147ish.  Glad little girl behaves even when mommy is a total space cadet.

I was too flustered to really remember any of my questions, even though I wrote at least some of them down.  I did ask if VVS could have any impact on how I’d handle childbirth, and she didn’t think so.  Pete remembered to ask about the pudendal block, which I willingly forgot after I read more about it.  For some reason, since I didn’t want to ask about it, I just played dumb like I didn’t remember what it was called (well, that, and I was afraid of mispronouncing pudendal).  I think, if I’m going to use something that crosses the placenta anyway, I might as well just go for the epidural.  For the record, though, the Dr. didn’t seem opposed to a pudendal block, she just said they’re hardly ever done anymore since almost everyone has the epidural.  I don’t really care anymore.

Later, I remembered the other questions I forgot: 1) May I have another information sheet?, 2) What’s your take on episiotomies?, 3) In the event I need to have a c-section, will I still have the opportunity for skin-to-skin contact after birth?  Rawr.

After the Dr. stepped out, I scheduled my next appointment, made my last payment for Dr. fees, and THEN went out to the waiting room.  Played a puzzle game with Pete until it was time to have my blood drawn.  That was fine…only two vials this time. =)  I’ll hear something back only if the tests raise any red flags.

Last night’s visit with the doula was very interesting.  She can do a lot of cool things.  I think we’re pretty much decided, but I’m too brain-dead to do anything about that right now.

Kinda like I’m too brain-dead to research car seats and strollers, but I must….

Next appointment: Wednesday the 22nd at 3:30 (Tuesday afternoon had already filled up).  Better luck next time.  (As far as I know, there were no special instructions for the next visit!)