Baby Supplies: Shots

We still haven't purchased any baby supplies of the type that might go into a nursery. In fact, when we moved in, we had boxes and boxes stacked in every room except the baby's room, where there was one small box in the otherwise empty room. I think even the moving boy felt bad about it, because rather than just dropping the box in the middle of the room like he'd done with the boxes in every other room, he put the baby box around the corner in the closet--in the very back of the closet, tucked away from view unless you were really looking for it. Since then Joe brought in the rocking chair that was in storage, and I put a teddy bear on it, but that box still represents pretty much everything baby-related that we own.

However, we have been actively trying to get ready for the baby in other ways. Joe bought a truck, we've been attending some baby classes at the hospital, we have a couple of baby showers planned, we bought this gigantic house...and I've been to the doctor nearly every week for some kind of check-up, test or shot. This weeks' visit was to get a shot because my blood is Rh negative. The whole Rh factor thing was news to me, as was my blood type in general. My doctor was discussing things I should take into consideration for my flight to MN for a shower this weekend, and then suddenly said, "Oh, you need a shot." What?! Before I got pregnant I couldn't remember the last time I got a shot, and now I've had three of them, in addition to ample amounts of blood drawn. Not my favorite past time, let me tell you.

The shot I needed isn't all that common, so they didn't have it in stock and I had to go back a few days later to get it. It was a beautiful sunny day, so I planned ahead and wore short sleeves, allowing easy access to my upper arm for the shot. I followed the nurse into the room, held out my arm like a brave little girl, and then she said, "Unfortunately, this shot has to be in the butt." What!?! I definitely don't remember the last time I needed a shot in the butt. She saw my face and said, "Yeah, if I'd told you it had to be in the butt, you probably wouldn't have come back in." Ha ha, lady, and darn right.

She made a few more jokes about having to get a shot in the butt, and I started sweating profusely. Not so much because I had to get a shot in a butt--though I'm pretty sure shots in the butt are in a separate pain category from shots in the arm--but because I didn't know the proper procedure for dropping one's drawers for a shot in the butt. The nurse was just standing there holding the needle, and didn't appear to be getting ready to leave for me to remove my pants. Was I supposed to take them off completely? Drop them to the knees? Just reveal my butt and bend over?

After a few more jokes on her part and a few more nervous giggles on mine, she finally seemed to realize my dilemma and told me she only needed to get to the top of my butt cheek, so I could just pull my pants down a bit to "show her just the top of my crack" and that would be enough. I complied, she wiped an area of my butt with alcohol, and said, "Are you ready?" and went for it. There was a small pinch then a really big pinch, I flinched, and she said, "Sorry!" Then she gave me a Snoopy band-aid and I was on my way--still a little sweaty and feeling a bit violated, but done. Until round two, that is, because as I was leaving she reminded me that I'll need another one of these shots in a few weeks. Yippee. At least I'll be able to mentally prepare for the next time.