The air smells faintly antiseptic mixed with the soothing scent of lavender emanating from a diffuser in the corner. The walls are adorned with framed photos of smiling babies and thank you cards from countless families offering a semblance of warmth to the clinical setting.
This is my first real prenatal checkup. I was putting it off because the idea of being poked and prodded didn’t appeal to me. I made sure to take my vitamins, but I kept stalling about actually seeing the OBGYN. To be honest, I’m filled with a blend of emotions ? anticipation, fear, and a deep-seated hope that everything is going well with the baby.
Dr. Martin enters the room with a gentle knock on the door. She's probably in her early forties, with a demeanor that blends professionalism with a touch of maternal care. Her hair, a soft shade of chestnut, is pulled back into a neat bun, highlighting her keen, observant hazel eyes. She wears a warm smile that eases some of my anxiety. “Good morning, Alessio,” she greets me, and then glances down at her tablet. “How have you been feeling? Any concerns or symptoms you’d like to discuss?”
I take a deep breath, collecting my thoughts. “I’ve been okay, mostly. Just the usual, I guess? Mild nausea, tiredness. It’s all been manageable. I just figured it was probably time to make sure everything was going okay with the baby. I’ve been a bit anxious lately.”
Dr. Martin nods, her expression empathetic. “I’m glad you came in. You really probably should’ve come in sooner, but that’s water under the bridge. It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious, especially at this stage. Let's take a look and see how your little one is doing, shall we?" She motions for me to lie down on the examination table, helping me get comfortable before starting the ultrasound.
So far, Dario hasn’t said a word. He’s watching everything with a very serious expression. Dr. Martin greeted both of us, but he’s in one of his quiet moods. He merely acknowledged her arrival with a grunt.
Dr. Martin rolls the cart with the ultrasound machine on it closer to the examination table. She flicks the machine on, and the only sound in the room is the faint hum of the ultrasound machine. Dr. Martin squirts cool gel onto my stomach, and begins to move the wand over my belly. I hold my breath watching the screen, searching for a glimpse of the life inside of me. Unfortunately, it’s all just a blurry flickering mess to my untrained eyes. I certainly can’t see a baby.
“What are we looking at?” Dario asks, finally breaking his silence.
Dr. Martin points at a small flickering shape on the screen. “Right there. That’s your baby."
“Is it?” I murmur. “It’s difficult to see.”
“Yes.” Dr. Martin nods. “I’ll try to zoom in. The fetus is very small right now.” As she speaks, she zooms in, and the rhythmic sound of a beating heart fills the room.
“That’s the baby’s heartbeat?” Dario asks.
“It certainly is,” Dr. Martin says. “The heartbeat looks and sounds strong and healthy. That’s what we’re looking for at this stage.”
I meet Dario’s gaze. His cheeks are flushed and his eyes glitter with pride. I smile at him and he smiles back. “It’s real,” he says softly.
“Yes.” I reach out my hand and he grabs it. “Maybe we can’t really see it yet, but we can hear it. There’s definitely a baby in there.”
"Yes, there really is," Dr. Martin confirms with a smile. She wipes the gel off of my stomach before helping me to set up. “Do you have any questions about the coming weeks? Any concerns or anything you’re curious about?”
“Is it normal that I’m already really tired?” I cup my rounded belly. “I’m only three months along. If the baby is so small that we can hardly even see it with the naked eye, how come I’m so tired?”
Dr. Martin gives a sympathetic nod. “Well, while the baby is very small, you’re still making a life inside of you. There’s a lot that the body is doing to prepare itself. You have increased progesterone levels right now. High levels of progesterone are crucial for maintaining the pregnancy, but that can also promote sleepiness and make you feel more tired than usual. Progesterone has a natural sedative effect leading to increased fatigue.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize that.” I frown.
“There are other things going on too,” Dr. Martin explains. “There are metabolic changes as well. Increased blood volume is produced to help nourish you and to support the placenta and baby. That can put additional strain on the heart, leading to feelings of tiredness. By the way, how are you sleeping?”
“He’s not sleeping very well,” Dario says. “I give him back rubs to try and help him sleep, but he’s a ball of anxiety. I’m hoping that this doctor appointment will calm him down a little.”
Dr. Martin smiles at Dario. “That’s nice that you’re doing that for him.” She turns to address me. “You don’t need to be anxious though, Alessio. Everything seems to be normal. We’ll take some blood today, just to keep an eye on things, but as far as I can tell your pregnancy is progressing beautifully.”
I’m relieved to hear she thinks everything is going well. Just having a professional give their opinion does calm me a bit. “I should’ve come in here sooner. I probably wouldn’t have been half as stressed.”
Dario nods. “I did try to get you to come in. You’re very stubborn when you choose to be.”
I grimace. “I know. I don’t know what I was afraid of.”
“Anxiety is not unusual,” says Dr. Martin. “Especially with your first pregnancy. Many omegas are balls of nerves the first time around. Not that you don’t worry with the other pregnancies as well, but there’s just something about the first one. I suppose it’s because it’s all new. You don’t know what to expect yet. When you’ve been through it a few times, nothing surprises you.” She laughs. “I say this as a mother of three.”
We chat a bit more as Dr. Martin draws some blood. She promises to have the results in a few days, and Dario and I leave the office. Dario holds my hand as we walk to the SUV. It’s a beautiful, sunny day and I feel more optimistic about the pregnancy than I have in months.
“Want to grab lunch?” he asks.
I grin. “Do you think you’ll ever get a ‘no’ from me when you ask me about food?”
“Just checking.” He opens my door for me. “What shall we have? You love that noodle place, The Golden Wok.”