Everybody must get stoned!

Finally the day is here. No change of appointments with the doctor.  However, whilst entering Starcare,  I was expecting the receptionist to say something like,

'Oh we are sorry, we have to reschedule your appointment. Dr.B.K had an emergency.  A desert Sand Boa came in for a Cesarean section delivery'

Thank goodness, nothing of that sort.

Today was like one of those, spend the day at Disney kind of days.  Nearly the entire day was spent at the hospital. But we did leave happy and gay.  

We are very courteously shown our way to the Gynecology section.  In a few moments, we are called into this room by a pleasant lady. Jordanian we are told.  Her first question is,

'So…what is the problem?'

'I am pregnant!  Hope that is not a problem? Ingrid says.

'Oh..congratulations', she says with a genuine smile.

'Have you done the test to confirm?'

I butt in, and give her a whole presentation on the history of this project. I had even made a Event History Summary, where I had everything neatly printed in a table.  She was not impressed! 

Once updated, she wanted to check Ingrids pressure. All is well.

'Can I check my pressure too? ' I ask. 

 

'Yes, of course!' She says

All is well on that front too.

If you are wondering why I checked my pressure. The last few weeks, I have been experiencing this band of pain on the rear of my head.  Apparently, some people call it a headache. 

A week ago we dropped in to the GP to check. This wannabe  male nurse, did some preliminary checks on me, and said my pressure was very high, and went on to tell me that it could be because I have some problem with my kidneys, or might be having some heart problem.  He basically told me everything that could be wrong. Making it sound like it was an absolute miracle that I am conscious or alive as I can collapse at any instant!   I did not. Here I am.  

The headache is still there, and it is due to stress and my pressure is normal.  Prognosis: I am not heading for a stroke. 

We are now guided by this lady to the doctor. A wonderfully pleasant lady she is. I like her. So does Ingrid. Listens to every little detail we have for her.   She wants to do another ultrasound.  Wonderful. I love watching these movies. They are the best thrillers. 

Ah...and there we see little ET.  Yes! head is a little smaller, or more in proportion to the body.  The tadpole character is fading away.  We see little hands and leg. And see the heart beating.  Amazing it is.  Oh..I just saw something else moving around the region. I did not have the courage to ask her what it was. Maybe, a satellite.  You know, like the moon doing its rounds on the earth.  I will look more intently the next time.   The statistic are fine. But…

Just when I thought I had got all the calculation right on the days and weeks.  According to my calculation the fetus is 11 weeks and 3 days.  But, now it shows to be 10 weeks and 6 days.  4 days are missing!!!!!   

Did ET go into some time-freeze, like in Star Trek?  It just does not make sense.  Or is it that ET works on a different duration for a day. I am utterly confused and lost here.

ET is now 3.91cm.  Which is, 1.539370078742 inches. That is the CRL.   It is within the size of normality.

Oh..and now they have a new variable in the chart. EDC. Estimated Date of Confinement.  The last scan report said EDD. Which is Expected Date of Delivery.  Why on earth can’t they stick to one term. And since ET did some trick, 4 days are unaccounted for, and now the EDC or EDD is 19/09/2012.  Again, a 4 day difference from the last time.  Very mysterious.  

The Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) is 158 beats per minute and has a 0.762 second gap between beats (peak to peak). How enlightening. That just what I needed to know. 

Oh, the good news is that the sign of blood (seen in the last ultrasound of 8th Feb)  has reduced a lot. Even I could see that.  And now, Ingrid has been prescribed just Multivitmins.  It is called Pronatal.  One capsule a day. Pretty straight forward. All seems well.  But she wants to do some routine tests.  

Sickle Cell Test:  It is test that looks for abnormal hemoglobins in the blood that causes sickle cell anemia (No idea what that is!)

Indirect Coombs Test: Is a test for autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

HIV (Elisa): We know what that is about!

HBsag (Elisa): It is for Hepatitis.  The dangerous kind.

TSH: This is for Thyroid Stimulating Hormones

Urine Routine: Colour, Density, Blood cells present, pus cells etc

VDRL: For Venereal disease especially syphilis.

Rubella Igg Antibody: That is a dangerous form of measles.  Also known as german measles.

She also did see Ingrids right eye. Which now looks more like a tiny shriveled grape.  Or more like a sultana!  She suggest that we  see the Ophthalmologist. Why not?  Since we are at the hospital, might as well spread some love around to all the doctors!

Before leaving, I tell the doctor, that I have a list of questions that I must ask. She did not look at me strangely.  I proudly whip out my list. You can see that on the left. And you know what? She went through them in detail. Now that is what I call a real doctor.  They were normal questions... 

In what position must Ingrid sleep? Any particular food she must not take? How much exercise is too much?  etc..

She is supposed to drink something like 15 glasses of water a day.  That is a lot of water.  We need to hire a bowser and place it in our hall.  She can do some mild exercising, but no to running and cycling etc.  Swimming?  Yes!  Wonderful.

All is well….

Next Stop:  Blood Test and Urine Test.  That went smooth.  Not too much blood lost and no accidents with the Urine Test! 

Ophthalmologist time now!  Interesting man he was.  He even had the bindi or pottu on his forehead. You know, the  ‘you are here’ dot. They have one for men too in India.  It is more like the Adidas 3 stripes.  Just that it runs lateral on the forehead which makes one forehead look like a track and field ground!

Anyway.  He had a good look at the stye.  Or do I say,  the stye that was!  After some serious examination, he concluded, that it is dead!  Yes.  That means, it will not reduce in size anymore.  Like a dead volcano.  Solution is simple. Just cut it off. Just like that. 

Hmm…But he advices that it is best done after the delivery of ET. We do not want ET to be intoxicated by some locally brewed local anesthesia.  Imagine, ET coming out   singing Dylan, Everybody must get stoned!. 

Ingrid is prescribed some ointment that must be applied at night.   That might reduce the stye slightly.  All has been well today, and we head for Costa Café at The Wave.  Nice place with a pier by the Indian Ocean. 

ET is doing fine so far. I am excited to bit about this now.

Next visit to the doctors, on the 15th of March at 9.40am.  At 9 AM an ultrasound will be done.

Well done ET!