Ultrasound and Due Date

So yesterday was my first doctor visit. Finally! Actually, I didn't much sweat the first visit, I mean once you've done this before you basically know what to do... take a prenatal multi, don't take medicines, don't eat fish, don't sit in a hottub... anyway, I knew the drill, so I figured as long as I didn't have any issues, I'd just enjoy my very long visit to California and worry about seeing a doctor when I got back to Ottawa.

Well, for the first visit, I didn't see the OB, Paul McCarthy (who I am sure I'll accidently call by a familiar Beatle's name when I meet him:) I saw his associate Dr. Rangwalla. Dan came with me, which made me very happy. Dr. Rangwalla and his medical student shadow were very nice, he asked us all the standard questions... any diseases in the family, any bleeding, etc... then charged us a nice fee of $60 and sent us on our way. The receptionist, when I told her I didn't have OHIP (free health coverage for Canadian citizens) and that I was paying for all of these out of pocket then explained that most visits would only cost $30 dollars, that's not bad at all. She then scheduled a visit with a lab for an ultrasound and some blood work which happened to the very next day at 2:30.

So, today, Dan came home from work early and took me to the hospital lab. The ultrasound lady was pushy and when we checked in, called us in immediately, in a huge rush. In fact it was so fast that Dan didn't even know he was invited in, so I went in the room and she shut the door and I asked her to wait because he was coming and she was like "well he better hurry..." so I opened the door and go back to the waiting room and bring him in. Later, when I asked where he went, he said he just sat back down, he thought it was like an Xray and that he couldn't come in! lol. Sometimes, I forget he's unfamiliar with the whole process and gets lost easy. :) I told him as long as he comes with me to these appointments he's welcome to come in to all of them, no matter what.

Well after some cold lube spread around my belly, we saw the first pictures of the baby! They were fuzzy and staticy (as I'm sure most of you know how ultrasound pics go) and we opted not to get a picture as the place charged you $3 per pic, we figured we'd get them at the next ultrasound when things are more "defined." And just a side note, ugh at how much everything costs in the city, seriously. Anywho, after she took some measurements and confirmed an April 25th due date (I've adjusted the widget accordingly) she sent us on our way and the receptionist thanked us by handing us a bill for $182 bucks! ouch. Paying out of pocket is already killing us!!

After the ultrasound, we headed to the next lab to get all the blood work done, it was just downstairs. That ran us another $120 dollars and 8 huge vials of my blood. I think they should be paying me for all that blood. And that was about it. When we came out of the hospital, it was snowing!!

Well, all my appointments are scheduled with Paul McCartney up until May 2010. So, I don't have another baby appointment for 4 weeks, however on Monday I have a visit with a doctor for permanent residency, the one that tells the Canadian government that I don't have any diseases or issues as my reason for trying to immigrate, that's going to run us yet another $180 bucks and I have to get more blood drawn. But, we are glad most of the tests are out of the way, and after this Monday visit, I can send my perm residence paperwork in and hopefully by the next few OB visits I will have coverage, keeping my fingers crossed!