"Tutti Normale"

Yesterday we went to our first prenatal appointment here in Italy and I'm happy to say we were more than pleased with the visit. The doctor was recommended by friends here who hadn't worked directly with our doctor, but have been very happy with our doctor's daughter who works in the same building, just with a different specialization. I wasn't sure what to expect exactly and there were some differences (which I'll lay out in a second), but I really felt like we were in great hands. Our doctor has been an OBGYN for 40+ years, I believe, and you could tell he knew what he was doing.

The office was in a very nice part of downtown Naples in a building that would otherwise look like an apartment building. And, no, there is no special signage saying that it was a medical building at all, but luckily we had been forewarned ahead of time and had no problem finding it.

The office itself again seemed more like a nice apartment/office layout rather than a doctor's office, but actually it was kind of nice and homey feeling. It was nice not to be in an office with the generic picture and seating typical of American doctors. I snapped a picture of some of the artwork on the wall:

Warm-feeling, right? I thought so, anyways.

When we were called back to the doctor's office, we stepped into a large office. Again, not the stale examination rooms you'd expect (now that I think about it, the smell wasn't there, either). The room was laid out with the doctor's large wood desk to the right, artwork on the walls, chairs, and then off to the side an examination table with an ultrasound machine hidden behind a standing wall (that I would love in my house someday).

We sat down at the desk and answered all of the doctor's questions. While the doctor (and later the sonographer) would say he had "very poor English," we easily understood everything he had to say with very few moments of misunderstanding. His questioning was thorough and although we said we had our 20 week ultrasound, he informed us it was important in Italy to do an ultrasound at 22/23 weeks and then an EKG on the baby at 27 weeks (something that I've never received in the US). He asked if we had time to do the ultrasound and when we said we did, he said we'd do it with the ultrasound doc right away.

The ultrasound was in a different room and when we walked in we knew we were in for a treat. The room was set up with some VERY high-tech ultrasound "stuff," including probably a 40-50 inch Sony flatscreen to view it all. The doctor asked if we'd like a DVD of the ultrasound. We, thinking this was unheard of, asked, "how much?" To which he replied, "No extra cost." Sign us up! He then began the most thorough ultrasound I'd ever had. He measured ever bone, organ, you name it, and could flip back and forth from 3D to 4D. 4D is a luxury in America, and so we never got 4D pics of Landon. But check out these 4D pics of #2. Click on the picture for a bigger view. And when you look... I want to know who immediately comes to mind when you look at him.

Does that not look exactly like my husband???!! I feel like it's his little clone, and, therefore, Lando's clone as well. The doctor checked in during the ultrasound and the sonographer informed him that #2 was "Tutti normale," or all normal. I was happy the Sonographer could easily tell us everything we were looking at, but when I complimented his English, he shyly said that his English was "horrible." If only my Italian was that "horrible," sheesh!

Not only were we given the DVD of the entire ultrasound, they handed us a folder to keep with us that had every single ultrasound picture in color which the sonographer had signed off. He said #2 looks "perfecto" and I can say that I've never felt more relaxed about a pregnancy than I do after leaving this visit. They were just so thorough.

Of course, the biggest miscommunication happened right as we were leaving, trying to pay and set set up our next visit (the receptionist spoke as much English as we spoke Italian). Fortunately a helpful man had just walked in and helped translate as best he could.

Phew! This is way longer than expected! Other notable differences (may be TMI, but for my mommy friends who are interested): no peeing in a cup, and although I'm only 23 1/2 weeks, he checked my cervix and uterus. The latter, I found just gave me reassurance that all is as it should be.

Lastly, here is a picture of us just outside the doctor's office. It was a beautiful (though windy) day out, and so Nate and I just couldn't bring ourselves to leave without a little walk along the Porta Napoli :)