Hospital appointment one
Feeling slightly guilty that I’m leaving the three of them to unpack everything, I swan off to my first hospital outing. Armed with gossip mags (incase I’m kept waiting), apple juice, and my hospital letter with my unique number, I excitedly head to have a pee in a bottle!
As soon as I walk into the Women’s Unit, there are half a dozen women with bumps that make me feel like an imposter. I have no bump. They shuffle in their Uggs, rubbing their tums. Whereas I'm handed a test tube to pee in and then read all about how Cheryl Cole is too fat for America. I’m swiftly going off gossip mags. Although give me circled sweat rings any day.
I get through one-and-a-half columns until I’m called by a smiling lady who greets me with "congratulations." Just the word makes me feel like crying. Blame. The. Hormones.
Weight (kg): 59 (I can’t help but smile out of vanity. Terrible.)
Height (cm): Forgotten already, but I'm just over 5ft 9"
I’m told that I can have the combined test to find out whether the baby has Down's Syndrome, as everyone over 30 have the choice. I agree to have it.
The midwife is with a student, who’s studying midwifery. They’re both very nice and answer anything I’m worrying about. I mention the period pains I’m getting and they tell me it's normal. I ask them if I should stop taking my folic acid at 12 weeks (which is combined with my mum-to-be pregnancy vitamin), and they tell me to continue. It’s confusing – what about all these different reports about whether folic acid harms the baby after 12 weeks?!
My next appointment is the ultrasound scan – between 11 weeks and 13.6 weeks... Roll on! I want it NOW.
