The major event of week 22 is a scan at the local hospital. We turn
up in the pouring rain and I drop Maria off before going in search of
a car park space.
Remembering the lengthy waits for these consultations when Maria
was pregnant with Sam, I take my time and stroll back to the maternity
unit.
Arriving in the waiting room I’m surprised to see no sign of my
wife. Perhaps I’ve gone to the wrong room ? No, I’m told,
appointments are running to time and Maria is already being seen. If
only the privatised rail companies could show such an improvement in
punctuality!
I’m ushered into the scanning room just as Maria is slipping off
the consulting couch. All’s well we’re told and a sharply
developed ‘photo’ is shoved into my hand.
It’s not long before Maria is called over for a chat with one of
the midwives and she looks concerned… The first moment of anxiety
has arrived. An irregularity has come up on the scan and alarm is raised
when the chances of having a Down’s Syndrome baby seem to have increased.
The only way of finding out for sure is amniocentesis, a process
which is, if anything, more risky.
We have a lot of talking to do.
<< Diary of a dad-to-be: weeks 15-21
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