Two days later, after school, Charlotte joined me for my first appointment with my obstetrician, while the rest of my family waited in the waiting room. I was glad to have her, since I was so nervous; after all, it's not every guy who sees a doctor about his pregnancy.
A woman about Mom's age came in, wearing a lab coat. "Good afternoon," she said. "I'm Dr. Emma Parks; feel free to call me Dr. Parks, or Dr. Emma. You must be Sean."
"I am." I shook her hand.
Charlotte shook her hand. "I'm Charlotte, his girlfriend."
"Delighted to meet you both."
Dr. Emma checked my chart, then turned to me. "Let's start with you telling me what you're experiencing; then, I'll tell you if this is something my other patients have experienced."
I nodded. "My sense of smell seems to be sharper, and more odors bother me."
Dr. Emma nodded. "That's a common early sign of pregnancy."
"I feel tired more often."
"Also very common. Your energy level should pick up again after the first trimester."
"My... my nipples are more sensitive."
"That's common, too."
I unbuttoned my shirt. "They didn't used to be this color."
"Ah, yes. Darkening and widening of the areolas is common. You may as well get used to them like this, because they won't go back the way they were before."
"And the goose bumps?"
"Those are Montgomery's tubercles; they secrete oils, which keep the nipple and areola lubricated. That will be a godsend, if you decide you want to nurse."
"Speaking of that: Am I going to grow breasts?"
"Probably not."
"I found out how the baby got there; how is it going to come out?"
"Good question. A vaginal birth is out of the question, for obvious reasons; instead, when you go into labor, we'll perform a caesarean section, and you'll give birth that way."
"I haven't had any morning sickness; should I be worried?"
"That doesn't start until the sixth week. The bad news is, that can come at any time of day. The good news is, it should only last through the first trimester."
"Now for the big question," Charlotte said. "How is he?"
"It looks like you're in excellent health, Sean, which means baby is in good health." She checked my chart. "From what you tell me, you should be in your fourth or fifth week; typically, we start the count at the last period, which is two weeks before conception. Why don't we bring your family in?"
As I buttoned my shirt, a nurse brought my family in. Shelley asked, "Are Sean and the baby okay?"
Dr. Emma laughed. "Sean and his baby are just fine. I would like to discuss something else, if I may: I would like to write a paper on this pregnancy, as it's the first of its kind."
"I don't want a lot of attention over this."
"I can keep your name out of it; no one who doesn't know you would suspect you're the patient, just as no one who doesn't know you will think that the baby you two are cooing over wasn't born the usual way."
"Alright."
"I'll give you some literature on what to expect in the weeks and months ahead, and a chart to show you how your baby's growing. If you have any questions or concerns, call me anytime, night or day. Let's make an appointment for four weeks from now."
I shook Dr. Emma's hand again. "Thank you, Doctor. You're a big help."
"Glad to hear it. Oh, and Charlotte? Don't schedule any girls' nights out for the second week of June."
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