Hello Bangaru Konda,
Before I get into hospital stuff, let me tell you that your Amma felt kicking in her stomach for the first time yesterday and she was super excited. So far, she was conscious of your movements inside her stomach but this time around she could feel it on the surface, on the bump to be precise. Sadly I had gone out to bring something and your Amma too was disappointed for not being able to share the moment. Well many more firsts to come, is all I say and I know my cutest dumpling wouldn't wait too long for the second kick. With world cup in 11 days, I can feel the excitement building in you. I am waiting my sweet chap.
Getting back to things at hand, last Friday we had been to the hospital for TIFFA scan. This is used to check that all the parts of your body are well formed and to photograph each part. Like all the previous scan, this too had a adventure waiting to happen. To start with, 2-3 weeks prior to your scan, I had been literally slogging in the office coming quite late and going early. That week when scan was planned, my work was relatively low and I had good amount of breather time. I desperately was looking to take a break for myself, you know, like people do in college, bunk, I mean. Your Amma wasn't planning to join in though as she was saving up her leaves for maternity.
A day before the scan I started my jogging routine again. I vowed to increase my tempo and to scale down much faster by putting some extra stride in my jog for a km at the start and another half a km during the end of the 3 KM track. Even before I started my jog at the park, I could feel acute pain in the back right at the spot where the backbone ends. It was giving me pain when I twist my body in one angle, otherwise I was good and sturdy. I felt it was a test of my perseverance and resolve. I didn't want to give up, not that day. I had stopped my routine for almost, give or take, 2 months and have put on lot of weight. The worst of the part was my favorite Iron Man T-shirt was fitting me like a 2 month pregnant dad. Horrendous to say the least. I didn't want to get bogged down. No pain, no gain right.
Same thing happened on the next day too. I remember reading somewhere, if one feels ache in the body when exercising, then exercising is being done properly. I brushed it off and did my rounds. I was perfectly good except in one angle. We finished our chores early as our appointment was fixed for 9:30 A.M. Reaching there on time, we completed the formalities and were asked to wait for the name to be called up. There was considerable rush on a week day which was bit surprising actually. The only thing that wasn't normal in this setting was my condition. From the time we parked the vehicle and gave it for Valet at the hospital, the pain at the back shot up, causing me to push my back with one hand and continue walking to the lift, resulting in me walking like a guy with a limp or a 9 month fully pregnant lady who was being rushed to labor. It was that bad.
It was your Amma who fixed up the appointment, paying the money and helping me settle down. First thing I had to do was call up my office and tell them I can't make it. Funny thing ain't it? I wanted to bunk by citing false pretense and it turned out to be a real sick leave. Another mental note I took to my brain is - health is MOST important, no matter what cost. You have a back pain, don't do jogging. As simple as that. In retrospect it may be bad sleeping posture in bed or me going over bumps on the road or me getting up in a haphazard manner that has caused it but jogging just aggravated it. Jogging demands quite a load on your back.
Anyway coming back to hospital, Amma's name was called up around 10, half an hour later than the scheduled time. We went in and there was another new doctor this time around. She was middle aged, very cheerful, well adorned with bangles, large earrings and along with her there was one more rotund male doctor who had distinctive Asian features, bald head and french goatee, small eyes. If someone points to him and would say he is a doctor, you would believe it without a single thought. We made our way in and took up our positions - Amma lying on the make-shift bed, me at her side having a nice view of LCD screen that was placed opposite to our bed , near the top of the ceiling.
As soon as she started scanning your Amma, she said this may take 2-3 sittings as you were not in a proper position. You see, the objective being to get feel of all parts of your body, you were needed to be in a sleeping posture with your back at the bottom, legs stretched out, and arms at your side. You, though were in a fetal position, all curled up and unwilling to show any of your features. As the scanner moved around the stomach we could only your hands and legs tightly placed over your face. Only few pics were taken, your head, each of your hand and that's it. Doctor told us, this is quite common and that we had to come back after 30-45 minutes again to give sometime for you to do some morning sommersaults if you can. She wanted you in both supine position as well as position where your back was on the top, with your head pointing down. A very difficult task indeed.
We came out, made our calls to Dadi. Jeyjayya and Dadi were in Chennai that day as Jeyjayya too had a crucial interview scheduled for his last stage of promotion i.e. for GM post. Two big days. On talking with Dadi, we got to know that interview didn't start yet and from our end we told her whatever doctor said. Added to the discussion was also my condition and your Amma's fury for my stubbornness in going to jog. With the prominence now being on your Amma, the hearing was considerably less.We also explained to Dadi that there was no cause of worry and this repeat procedure was being advised for several patients too for the same reason.
45 minutes passed and still there was no call. It was your Amma who was moving around, speaking with the receptionist to let us know our turn. With my condition, the only thing I was able to do, without any pain was to sit erect in the chair. In another 15 minutes, we were called up. Same doctor, same another rotund doctor, same place , everything same same. The doctor started the scan and this time around she captured the legs, the hands, your position too was slightly better. She was saying some encouraging things like your baby is now fully focused, the scan is going smoothly and that it may well be over. I don't know what came over me or what prompted me to ask - Is the back captured too ? She looked at me as if I just cracked one of the most important cases ever in history of mankind. She was pumped up, reivigorated as if the case has just got interesting and with all smiles, she told me - Yes, that's necessary, the last time I didn't capture, this time around too baby isn't the position I wanted. I mean it was like watching a Nutty Professor movie real-time. Here was a doctor, playing the role of absent-minded professor to the tilt. Only an hour back when we first came in, she was stressing that back wasn't captured and now it was only when we asked she tells us the same thing. Unbelievable, I tell you. The output was the same, she asked us to come back after an hour or more. It was already nearing lunch time i.e. around 1 P.M.
We proceeded to the lift, me limping with a hand at my back and your Amma calmly walking beside me. By that time, your Amma only had gone down and got the tiffin boxes up. The other people were staring at us. People must be wondering who exactly is pregnant among us. We went up to the cafeteria and had our literally hot food. The car was parked in a lot without any shed and our lunch boxes were cooked up to say the least.
Your Amma had rice, dal, pickle and fruits, myself roti, cabbage curry. We ate our lunches calmly with little talks on the happenings with only one thing one my mind- how much more longer we need to endure this ordeal. Amma couldn't eat the pomegranate that was packed as it was literally hot. We came down and around 2-2:30 we were called again. This time you were in the best of forms and the posture she wanted. She showed us your ears, nose, whole face in fact but slightly covered with hands, heart, legs. Everything. The only thing wasn't satisfying to her was the picture wasn't fully perfect as in the hands not on your face. She was suggesting to make another appointment and your Amma too was like if it isn't perfect, let's do it again kind. I was having none of that. Completely restraining myself, I asked the doctor if the purpose of the scan was served, she said yes. I then told her, we are also satisfied and we are good with the progress. I think this time she got the message and agreed that scan is done.
Trust me baby, it isn't because I didn't want to see you further, it is just that I was having very bad pain that I wanted to end this and go back home to sleep.
That's how the day ended and we were back with our jobs for the week to come. Your Jeyjayya too got promoted and there was good news all around.
More to follow, my sweet munchkin.
With Hugs and Kisses,
Nanna.
Before I get into hospital stuff, let me tell you that your Amma felt kicking in her stomach for the first time yesterday and she was super excited. So far, she was conscious of your movements inside her stomach but this time around she could feel it on the surface, on the bump to be precise. Sadly I had gone out to bring something and your Amma too was disappointed for not being able to share the moment. Well many more firsts to come, is all I say and I know my cutest dumpling wouldn't wait too long for the second kick. With world cup in 11 days, I can feel the excitement building in you. I am waiting my sweet chap.
Getting back to things at hand, last Friday we had been to the hospital for TIFFA scan. This is used to check that all the parts of your body are well formed and to photograph each part. Like all the previous scan, this too had a adventure waiting to happen. To start with, 2-3 weeks prior to your scan, I had been literally slogging in the office coming quite late and going early. That week when scan was planned, my work was relatively low and I had good amount of breather time. I desperately was looking to take a break for myself, you know, like people do in college, bunk, I mean. Your Amma wasn't planning to join in though as she was saving up her leaves for maternity.
A day before the scan I started my jogging routine again. I vowed to increase my tempo and to scale down much faster by putting some extra stride in my jog for a km at the start and another half a km during the end of the 3 KM track. Even before I started my jog at the park, I could feel acute pain in the back right at the spot where the backbone ends. It was giving me pain when I twist my body in one angle, otherwise I was good and sturdy. I felt it was a test of my perseverance and resolve. I didn't want to give up, not that day. I had stopped my routine for almost, give or take, 2 months and have put on lot of weight. The worst of the part was my favorite Iron Man T-shirt was fitting me like a 2 month pregnant dad. Horrendous to say the least. I didn't want to get bogged down. No pain, no gain right.
Same thing happened on the next day too. I remember reading somewhere, if one feels ache in the body when exercising, then exercising is being done properly. I brushed it off and did my rounds. I was perfectly good except in one angle. We finished our chores early as our appointment was fixed for 9:30 A.M. Reaching there on time, we completed the formalities and were asked to wait for the name to be called up. There was considerable rush on a week day which was bit surprising actually. The only thing that wasn't normal in this setting was my condition. From the time we parked the vehicle and gave it for Valet at the hospital, the pain at the back shot up, causing me to push my back with one hand and continue walking to the lift, resulting in me walking like a guy with a limp or a 9 month fully pregnant lady who was being rushed to labor. It was that bad.
It was your Amma who fixed up the appointment, paying the money and helping me settle down. First thing I had to do was call up my office and tell them I can't make it. Funny thing ain't it? I wanted to bunk by citing false pretense and it turned out to be a real sick leave. Another mental note I took to my brain is - health is MOST important, no matter what cost. You have a back pain, don't do jogging. As simple as that. In retrospect it may be bad sleeping posture in bed or me going over bumps on the road or me getting up in a haphazard manner that has caused it but jogging just aggravated it. Jogging demands quite a load on your back.
Anyway coming back to hospital, Amma's name was called up around 10, half an hour later than the scheduled time. We went in and there was another new doctor this time around. She was middle aged, very cheerful, well adorned with bangles, large earrings and along with her there was one more rotund male doctor who had distinctive Asian features, bald head and french goatee, small eyes. If someone points to him and would say he is a doctor, you would believe it without a single thought. We made our way in and took up our positions - Amma lying on the make-shift bed, me at her side having a nice view of LCD screen that was placed opposite to our bed , near the top of the ceiling.
As soon as she started scanning your Amma, she said this may take 2-3 sittings as you were not in a proper position. You see, the objective being to get feel of all parts of your body, you were needed to be in a sleeping posture with your back at the bottom, legs stretched out, and arms at your side. You, though were in a fetal position, all curled up and unwilling to show any of your features. As the scanner moved around the stomach we could only your hands and legs tightly placed over your face. Only few pics were taken, your head, each of your hand and that's it. Doctor told us, this is quite common and that we had to come back after 30-45 minutes again to give sometime for you to do some morning sommersaults if you can. She wanted you in both supine position as well as position where your back was on the top, with your head pointing down. A very difficult task indeed.
We came out, made our calls to Dadi. Jeyjayya and Dadi were in Chennai that day as Jeyjayya too had a crucial interview scheduled for his last stage of promotion i.e. for GM post. Two big days. On talking with Dadi, we got to know that interview didn't start yet and from our end we told her whatever doctor said. Added to the discussion was also my condition and your Amma's fury for my stubbornness in going to jog. With the prominence now being on your Amma, the hearing was considerably less.We also explained to Dadi that there was no cause of worry and this repeat procedure was being advised for several patients too for the same reason.
45 minutes passed and still there was no call. It was your Amma who was moving around, speaking with the receptionist to let us know our turn. With my condition, the only thing I was able to do, without any pain was to sit erect in the chair. In another 15 minutes, we were called up. Same doctor, same another rotund doctor, same place , everything same same. The doctor started the scan and this time around she captured the legs, the hands, your position too was slightly better. She was saying some encouraging things like your baby is now fully focused, the scan is going smoothly and that it may well be over. I don't know what came over me or what prompted me to ask - Is the back captured too ? She looked at me as if I just cracked one of the most important cases ever in history of mankind. She was pumped up, reivigorated as if the case has just got interesting and with all smiles, she told me - Yes, that's necessary, the last time I didn't capture, this time around too baby isn't the position I wanted. I mean it was like watching a Nutty Professor movie real-time. Here was a doctor, playing the role of absent-minded professor to the tilt. Only an hour back when we first came in, she was stressing that back wasn't captured and now it was only when we asked she tells us the same thing. Unbelievable, I tell you. The output was the same, she asked us to come back after an hour or more. It was already nearing lunch time i.e. around 1 P.M.
We proceeded to the lift, me limping with a hand at my back and your Amma calmly walking beside me. By that time, your Amma only had gone down and got the tiffin boxes up. The other people were staring at us. People must be wondering who exactly is pregnant among us. We went up to the cafeteria and had our literally hot food. The car was parked in a lot without any shed and our lunch boxes were cooked up to say the least.
Your Amma had rice, dal, pickle and fruits, myself roti, cabbage curry. We ate our lunches calmly with little talks on the happenings with only one thing one my mind- how much more longer we need to endure this ordeal. Amma couldn't eat the pomegranate that was packed as it was literally hot. We came down and around 2-2:30 we were called again. This time you were in the best of forms and the posture she wanted. She showed us your ears, nose, whole face in fact but slightly covered with hands, heart, legs. Everything. The only thing wasn't satisfying to her was the picture wasn't fully perfect as in the hands not on your face. She was suggesting to make another appointment and your Amma too was like if it isn't perfect, let's do it again kind. I was having none of that. Completely restraining myself, I asked the doctor if the purpose of the scan was served, she said yes. I then told her, we are also satisfied and we are good with the progress. I think this time she got the message and agreed that scan is done.
Trust me baby, it isn't because I didn't want to see you further, it is just that I was having very bad pain that I wanted to end this and go back home to sleep.
That's how the day ended and we were back with our jobs for the week to come. Your Jeyjayya too got promoted and there was good news all around.
More to follow, my sweet munchkin.
With Hugs and Kisses,
Nanna.