Things Overheard

Two weeks ago, when I spent two nights in the hospital at 28 weeks pregnant, I continued to hear comments from the support staff that were meant to be supportive but ended up sounding ridiculous and in some cases, insensitive. My response depended on how much magnesium sulfate I was on. Here are some of my favorites:

** On being wheeled in to L and D, "Wow! How exciting! Good luck!"

** After being admitted, "You are hardly showing, it must be your height. You carry really well."

** From a lab tech, "You are the only one on this whole wing who doesn't have a baby in her arms. Where is your baby?" (uhh...inside!?)

** After calling the nurse to tell her I thought I had spiked a fever. "Do you think YOU have a fever, or does your baby?"

**From a sweet hospital volunteer, age 15, "Congratulations!!"

**The second morning, when breakfast arrived, the food attendant asked, "Are you sure you can eat? You are in labor, aren't you?" (as I tried desperately not to be in labor)

And Sam and I just burst into hysterical laughter after this last one. One of the techs who takes vitals came in to take my blood pressure. I explained, pointing to the blood pressure cuff still on my arm, that I just had them taken by another nurse. She said, "Oh well, I'll just take it again. I see the blood pressure reading on the monitor there. Is that YOUR blood pressure or the baby's?" I responded, calmly that it was mine.

When she left, Sam turned to me and said, "We should have said, "You wouldn't believe how small the blood pressure cuff is for a baby in utero! And the procedure to get the cuff in and then out? Painful!"

Overall, the nurses were great and the doctors were supportive. And all of these comments were well natured. It just struck me as kinda funny. I almost wanted to post a sign on the door that said, "Actively working to keep baby IN".