Aah! I see you have the machine that goes 'ping!'

At my midwife appointment on Tuesday, Dan and I were exposed to the machine that goes 'ping!' It was really quite amazing. If you have never heard of the machine that goes 'ping!', the reference is from Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life." There is a woman in labor who is surrounded by doctors, nurses, and Japanese tourists (with cameras). Everyone is ignoring her while they cart in more and more medical equipment including the machine that goes 'ping!' The hospital administrators even stop by and are excited that the doctors are using the machine.

While our Electronic Fetal Monitor didn't actually go 'ping!' it did record the contractions that I was having and the baby's heartbeat in seismographic lines. Dan found the machine irresistible. He pulled up his chair very close to the machine and watched it intently. This, of course, made me laugh, which was recorded on the machine as a slight jump in the lines.

We are very excited that Dan has found a way to use technology to help him share my birthing experiences.

We got to see the machine again today. And, because I am late, we will get to see it tomorrow. And the next day. And on Monday. Then I will give birth and Dan will have the baby to interact with. Maybe he will go 'ping!'