Ultrasound, Schmultrasound

I was so excited to go to my first ultrasound in the States. I was 5 months pregnant, and I brought the VHS tape the nurse recommended I bring, so that the technician could make a recording. I was crying when I made the appointment, because Jeff was in Casablanca and would not be able to sit next to me. My mom came with me instead, and it was so exciting to see this little being moving and kicking and sucking its thumb. We saw the little feet and ribs and fingers and alien-like head. My doctor told me that this would be the only ultrasound for me. Barring complications, in which case she would order another one around 8 months, I wouldn't need a 2nd ultrasound. The ultrasound tech printed out two pictures for me, each of which she put in a pink and blue keepsake paper frame. I pressed these in a notebook to bring to Saudi to show Jeff. Again, very exciting and special.

When I got to Saudi and started seeing the doctor there, she informed me that I would get an ultrasound at every appointment. So my first appointment in Saudi, Jeff stood next to me and got his chance to view the little alien on the screen. It was really exciting again.

I've now been in the Middle East for about three months now, and have adjusted to seeing my new doctor in Bahrain, and still get an ultrasound at each appointment. Each time he prints out keepsake photos and I dutifully take them home to store.

Just today, I was cleaning out my handbag and crumpled at the bottom was the sheet of ultrasound photos from last week's appointment. I threw them away. Am I terrible mother? The novelty of the ultrasound has completely worn off for me. I asked the doctor if it actually was necessary to have an ultrasound each time, especially since I'm now at the point where I visit the doctor weekly. He smiled and said, "No, it really is just for impressing the patients. You will find that public hospitals in the Middle East will rarely do ultrasounds."

This also made me think about the difference between healthcare costs in the US and the Middle East. Why, if these hospitals all have sonogram machines, do the costs vary so greatly? My ultrasound in the US was $804.09, part of which I was responsible for out-of-pocket. My ultrasounds in Bahrain are free. I pay the co-pay for my consultation with the doctor, which is $7.95. Does this discrepancy make any sense?

By the way, for many weeks now the baby's head was consistently measuring larger than its gestational age. Only last week did its femur catch up. The doctor thinks it will be a tall baby. Yeah, a tall baby with a huge head!