My first prenatal appointment

I was 32 weeks pregnant, and I hadn't yet seen a doctor. Today was the day! Terrified of the day ahead, I begged Leo to let me stay home...
"Honey, no! I don't want to go! It's a male doctor! Please let me stay home baby!"
"No, baby. It's important. This is for the baby. You have to go."

When 10:30 a.m. rolls around, and it's time to leave, I grab my birth certificate, social security card, and I.D. card, and we head out. The doctor's office is about a 15 minute drive away. We pull into the parking lot, and walk inside. The receptionist scowls at me while I write my name on the sign-in sheet.

Leo and I take our seats in the cold office waiting room. The minutes ticked by slowly, as we waited to be called.

"Katrina?" -- "Please fill out this paperwork for your insurance."

I walk back to my seat and Leo and I begin filling out the never ending paperwork. After I finish, I take it back to the counter, and the receptionist tells me that a nurse will be seeing me shortly.

Waiting to be seen seemed to take hours, when in reality, it was only about 20 minutes. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my mind was racing.

"Katrina?" -- "Hi! How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing good."
"Please take a step onto this scale." -- "163 pounds. What did you weigh before you got pregnant?"
"152."
"Okay, good. You're gaining well." -- "Please follow me into the office."

We arrive into the office room and she haves me pee in a cup and change into the paper gown. I sit and wait for the doctor while she describes to me what a speculum is. Now I'm terrified and want to leave more than ever.

Dr. Rubin comes in and measures my belly. He said its growing accordingly. Then he takes the doppler machine and places it to my tummy.
"Thump, thump, thump, thump"
The nurse says "Do you hear that? That's the baby's heartbeat."

I got chills throughout my body, as if ice were running through my veins.
Thats my baby's heartbeat.

Finally the appointment is over and I can go home. I check out with the receptionist and she gives me a goody bag of formula samples and a couple of magazines.

I walk out of the office ecstatic. It was finally real, today. I have an OBGYN... and I heard the heartbeat, finally.

Now to get an ultrasound...