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Amy sat in the waiting room of Dr. Patel’s obstetrics office, nervously tapping her foot against the linoleum floor. She was about eight weeks pregnant, and this was her and Sheldon’s first visit to the obstetrician. Amy was excited, but also a little anxious. Sheldon, on the other hand, was… well, Sheldon.
Next to her, Sheldon was flipping through a medical journal he had brought from home. He had insisted on preparing for this visit by reading everything he could about obstetrics. This would have been a good idea, except that Sheldon’s idea of preparing also included grilling the doctor about her qualifications and medical background.
Amy glanced at her husband, who was now intensely focused on a section about prenatal vitamins. “Sheldon,” she said, trying to get his attention, “can we please just relax and let the doctor do her job today?”
Sheldon looked up, his expression serious. “Amy, I assure you, I am perfectly relaxed. However, I find it prudent to ensure that the person responsible for the health and well-being of our unborn child is adequately qualified.”
Amy sighed, rubbing her temples. “I know, Sheldon, but you don’t need to interrogate the doctor. Dr. Patel is highly recommended, and we’re in good hands.”
Sheldon huffed slightly. “That remains to be seen.”
Before Amy could respond, the nurse called them back to the examination room. They followed her down the hallway, with Sheldon clutching his medical journal like it was a shield. Amy was hoping for a calm, straightforward visit, but she had a feeling that with Sheldon involved, things would be anything but.
Dr. Patel entered the room a few minutes later, greeting them with a warm smile. “Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper. How are we feeling today?”
Amy smiled back, trying to project calm. “We’re good, thank you. Just a little nervous—it’s our first baby.”
Dr. Patel nodded understandingly. “That’s completely normal. We’ll go over everything today and make sure you’re comfortable and well-informed.”
Before Amy could say anything more, Sheldon cleared his throat loudly. “Excuse me, Dr. Patel, but before we proceed, I have a few questions regarding your credentials.”
Amy shot him a warning look, but Sheldon was undeterred.
Dr. Patel, maintaining her composure, smiled politely. “Of course, Mr. Cooper. What would you like to know?”
Sheldon sat up straighter, clearly relishing the opportunity to dive into his questioning. “Where did you attend medical school? And can you please list the hospitals where you completed your residency and fellowship? Also, how many years have you been practicing obstetrics, and specifically, how many deliveries have you overseen personally, and how many of those were in high-risk situations? I’d also like the statistical outcomes of each, if you have that data on hand.”
Amy buried her face in her hands. “Sheldon, please…”
Dr. Patel, to her credit, answered each question with calm professionalism. “I attended Harvard Medical School, completed my residency at Johns Hopkins, and have been practicing obstetrics for over 15 years. I have extensive experience with high-risk pregnancies, though I should note that your pregnancy appears to be low-risk based on your medical history.”
Sheldon narrowed his eyes slightly, processing the information. “Harvard and Johns Hopkins, you say? Impressive. Though I would have preferred a more research-focused institution like Stanford, I suppose Harvard will suffice.”
Amy, who had been silently cringing, suddenly perked up. “You know, Sheldon, I also went to Harvard. It’s a great school.”
Sheldon waved her off, as if dismissing that fact. “Yes, yes, you’re a biologist. It’s not the same.”
Dr. Patel smiled, amused by their banter. “Harvard has a strong program in many fields, including medicine and biology. We’re all part of a prestigious alumni network.”
Sheldon made a noncommittal noise, tapping his chin. “Now, I’d like to hear about your fellowship."
Dr. Patel smiled with the patience of a saint. “I completed my fellowship at Cedars-Sinai, focusing on maternal-fetal medicine. I’ve overseen over 2,000 deliveries, with a success rate of 98% in high-risk cases.”
Sheldon raised an eyebrow, “98% success rate—that’s above average, though I’m curious about the 2%. What happened there?”
Amy’s eyes widened. “Sheldon!”
Dr. Patel didn’t flinch. “Mr. Cooper, as with any medical field, not every case ends as we hope. However, I assure you, I’ve learned from each experience, which has only improved my practice.”
"Yes, however- "
“Sheldon, I think we’ve established that Dr. Patel is more than qualified. Can we please move on?” Amy interrupted, desperate to end this nonsense.
“Fine. Just one last thing, Dr. Patel. How would you rate your bedside manner? On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being empathetic but not overly sentimental, and 1 being clinical to the point of coldness?”
"You don't have to answer that." Amy said hastily to Dr. Patel, who shockingly seemed ready with more answers. Amy turned to her husband, squeezing his hand. “Sheldon, please. Can we just focus on our baby now?”
Sheldon considered this, finally leaning back in his chair with a satisfied nod. “Very well, Dr. Patel. I suppose you’ll do. But I should mention, I’m a doctor too.”
Amy rolled her eyes and interjected, “Sheldon, you’re a different kind of doctor!”
Sheldon frowned, clearly unimpressed with her attempt to downplay his credentials. “Yes, but it’s still a doctor.”
Amy sighed in relief, hoping that was the end of Sheldon’s interrogation. Dr. Patel smiled at her reassuringly. “Now, why don’t we take a look at your baby?”
Amy’s heart skipped a beat as the doctor began the ultrasound. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Sheldon, now blissfully silent, had his eyes fixed on the monitor.
The room was filled with the soft whooshing sound of the ultrasound machine as Dr. Patel moved the transducer over Amy’s abdomen. After a few moments, she pointed to a small, flickering spot on the screen.
“There it is,” Dr. Patel said with a smile. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat.”
Amy’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the tiny, pulsating heartbeat. It was real. Their child was real. “Oh my gosh, Sheldon, look! That’s our baby.”
Sheldon’s eyes were wide, and for once, he seemed at a loss for words. He leaned in closer, his face inches from the screen. “That’s… that’s our baby?”
Dr. Patel nodded, smiling at the couple’s reaction. “Yes, it is. Everything looks perfect so far.”
Sheldon’s mouth opened and closed a few times, but no sound came out. Finally, he managed to speak. “Amy… our baby has a heartbeat. That’s… remarkable.”
Amy squeezed his hand, her heart full. “It is, isn’t it?”
For a few moments, Sheldon was completely silent, his earlier intensity and need for control forgotten. He simply stared at the monitor, awestruck by the sight of their tiny, flickering baby. The world seemed to stand still. It was just the two of them, sharing this intimate moment, the first glimpse of the life they had created together. The doctor pointed out the different features, the tiny hands and feet, the beating heart, but Amy barely heard her. She was too overwhelmed by the enormity of what she was seeing, of what this meant for them.
Dr. Patel took the opportunity to finish the ultrasound and print out a picture for them. As she handed it to Amy, she smiled warmly. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper. You’re going to be wonderful parents.”
Amy nodded, barely able to speak as she sat up and wiped the gel from her stomach. Sheldon took the printouts, staring at them with a mix of fascination and pride. “We should frame these,” he said. “They’re the first images of our child. They should be preserved for posterity.”
Amy thanked Dr. Patel, still holding Sheldon’s hand tightly. As they left the office, Sheldon was uncharacteristically quiet, his mind clearly still processing what he had just seen. Amy couldn’t help but smile at his newfound awe.
As they walked to the car, Sheldon finally spoke. “Amy, I think I might have overestimated the importance of where Dr. Patel went to medical school.”
Amy chuckled, shaking her head. “It’s okay, Sheldon. I’m just glad you’re finally on board.”
Sheldon nodded, still looking slightly dazed. “Our baby has a heartbeat,” he repeated, as if trying to convince himself it was real.
Amy smiled, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. “Yes, Sheldon, our baby has a heartbeat. And I have a feeling they’re going to have a lot of questions, just like their dad.”
Sheldon looked at her, his eyes softening. “I suppose that’s not such a bad thing.”
Amy laughed softly, resting her head on his shoulder. “Right back at you, sweetie.”
They climbed into the car, Sheldon still holding the ultrasound picture as if it were the most precious thing in the world. And for once, he was too preoccupied to ask Amy about her driving.
After awhile, Sheldon finally broke the silence. “Amy, I think we’re going to need to get more baby books. We need to be fully prepared.”
Amy laughed, rolling her eyes affectionately. “Sheldon, I think we’ll be just fine.”
Sheldon looked at her, a small smile playing on his lips. “I suppose you’re right. But just to be sure, I’ll start reading up on pediatric cardiology.”
Amy shook her head, laughing. “Of course you will.”
As they drove home, the sound of their baby’s heartbeat seemed to echo in their ears, a constant reminder that their lives were about to change in the most wonderful way.
The End