My First Ultrasound Experience

Going in for my very first ultrasound wasn't how I had imagined it.  In my mind, I would have a growing bump for a belly, my husband would be right beside me, and we would be peering up at the monitor listening for a heartbeat and looking for a little bean nestled inside me.  That was very much not the case.  There were no warm feelings of joy and happiness, only feelings of fear.  I was afraid of what she would see on the screen and if I would have something ominous brewing inside me.  Would it hurt?  Would I pee my pants?  I only had questions on that day.

So, when the day for my transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound came, I was jittery.  I was supposed to begin drinking 32 ounces of fluids 1 1/2 hours before my appointment and finish drinking them 1 hour before.  Summed up, I had to drink a ton of fluids in a half hours time.  My belly was full as well as my bladder.  Mission accomplished.

When the technician led me to the exam room it was nearly completely dark.  The only lights were coming from a soft glowing light, the monitor, and the hallway outside.  She had me lay down and tuck a towel under my pants so jelly didn't get my pants gross.  Without warning she said "warm jelly" then squirted a bunch on my belly.  I caught a sniffle in my throat as I thought It isn't supposed to be like this.  The first time is supposed to be special.  I let the thought go as she began pressing on my bladder making me feel like I had to pee really really bad.  And she would push on it over and over again for the next few minutes.  Then she had me get up and go pee (finally!) then come back in and get ready put my feet in the stirrups.

This is the part I was super nervous about.  I saw the wand covered and sitting in a little holster next to the monitor.  Panic tried to take control, so I didn't look at it as I waited for the tech to come back in.  She took a while in my opinion, or I just got ready really fast because I was ready to have the exam over with.  When she came back in, she had me put my hand between my legs and insert the wand myself.  I was relieved she didn't do it.  Awkward ultrasound tech looking at my coochie?  No thanks.

It felt uncomfortable at moments because she had to press on my cervix to find my ovaries.  Thankfully it did not hurt like I was expecting.  She would move it around a bit and the monitor would beep.  At one point, I asked her if my ovaries looked healthy.  All she said was "So far so good".  That's it?  Gee thanks.  At the end she gave me a lecture about how I shouldn't take anything she said for medical advice, she is just a technician, and my doctor is the one to talk to about the results.  How could I use anything she said?  She hardly said a thing!

I left feeling very moist and slightly disappointed she didn't tell me more.  Now I have to wait two weeks to see my doctor.  The joys of military clinics.