Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Results of our 20 week ultrasound

I am so excited to report that our 20 week ultrasound went GREAT!

When we first arrived the sonographer told me that she'd do 30-45 mins of measurements where she'd just be taking notes, but at that point we could look around for vanity's sake. She gelled me up and we jumped right in. It was last Monday and the weather was quite warm, so my clothes were thin and sparse but the AC was blazing. It wouldn't have been so chilly in there except that I had consumed 20 oz of ice cold water to fill my bladder just prior to the appointment (I don't believe in drinking an hour before hand - no pain for me, thank you!) ... so I was stretched out on the table, in summer clothes, with cold gel slathered all over me, AC blasting right on me, with cold liquid running through my body ... and I was shivering! Though I'm not entirely sure it was just the elements, I was quite scared too.

I finally asked the sonographer if she wouldn't mind confirming a heartbeat for me and she looked surprised. I told her this was our fifth pregnancy, but our first live child (that's how I answer people now-a-days when they ask me if this is my first) so she quickly confirmed the heartbeat and asked if I could feel the baby kicking on a regular basis. As you know, I can, but there's still a part of me that gets scared that somehow the baby might have died between the last kick and when the ultrasound wand was placed on my tummy :-(

As she took her million measurements she kept placing the wand quite high on my stomach, I finally asked her "is there uterus and baby up that high?" ... she told me that my uterus ended 1 1/2 inches above my belly button and I was SHOCKED! I had heard that at 20 weeks it should be AT your belly button ... but I guess the location of a belly button ... is relative ;-) While she glided the wand over my tummy I broke out in only a few chuckles - heck, I'm ticklish! Then she had me turn on my side and I'm not kidding you - my uterus is all the way on my SIDE! When I shared my surprised the sonographer laughed and said, "well what do you think is filling up this stomach of yours?" ... so I guess it's the uterus and the baby! While I was "quietly" waiting for her to complete her measurements I mentioned: "I know you're not supposed to give me the results, but can you just tell me if you will be looking into my cervical length, amniotic fluid level, number of umbilical cord arteries, and placental location?" ... she looked at me in shock again and asked how far along my previous losses were - she was concerned I had reason to worry about all of these things most pregnant women don't even know exist. I confirmed for her that they were all early first trimester losses - but you learn a lot of scary things the years you are waiting to successfully conceive. She let me know that she'd be taking down all that information. I was relieved. I guess I was so relieved that I relaxed a bit and fell asleep! That was nice.

When we were done taking the required medical measurements, I asked to go to the restroom and upon return we would look at the fun stuff!

The baby cooperated the entire time! The sonographer said that she got a clear shot of the goods and just when you'd think that we'd ask her if she saw the pork and the beans ... we told her that we aren't finding out gender until the delivery day! However, we did ask her to write the gender down for us, in a sealed envelope, so that we'd have it in case something were to come up before the baby is due. It's morbid, I know, but I think about a family member lying on their death bed, at least we'd be able to share the gender and the baby's name with them before they go ... I guess I've always been a planner. And you'd think, with the information in an envelope, right inside our house (!!) (no, I won't tell it's location!) that we'd be tempted to rip it open and find out ... but we are excited that we'll have EXTRA motivation for delivery day. Right now, the only people that know what gender our baby is are: the sonographer, the paper greeting card, and the good Lord Himself! (but it was never a surprise to Him! ;-)

Regardless of that anti-climactic decision ... we still got our chance to poke around and see the baby's head, heart, stomach, face ... you name it! Some of the cooler things were: watching the baby gulp and swallow! (the sonographer said that that shows great lung development - exactly what you want to see at this stage!) and we saw five fingers on each hand! We tried to look for five toes on each foot, but when she went down to get a picture of the cute little feetsies, the baby wouldn't stop kicking!! It was ... too cute. Flicker is just as stubborn as her mother ;-)

Without further adieu (for those of you still faithfully reading) the actual test results:

Cervical length: 5 cm with NO funneling ... WOO HOOO!!!
Placental location: Fundal ... YIPPEE!!!
Umbilical artery count: Three! .... PEFECT!!!
Amniotic fluid level: "grossly normal" ... DOES IT GET ANY BETTER???

And the pregnancy is at 20 weeks and 3 days, with the baby measuring 21 weeks! The OB has yet to modify the due date ... so we'll hang off on changing that. The baby was measuring big on all fronts: femur, cranial, abdominal, etc. One measurement even came out at nearly 23 weeks! Hmmmm ... Berilac is 6'3'' and I weighed 9 1/2 lbs at birth ... should I start to worry yet about having a large baby? ... I'm actually quite enjoying our good news ... so I won't worry ... just yet.

And lastly, here's an adorable picture of our 6 1/2 inch Flicker:


We are praising the Lord for this healthy baby!

27 comments:

  1. I am very happy that everything is going well! You deserve it! Your baby looks adorable. And hats off to you not trying to open that envelope!!! I don't think I have that much patience!

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  2. How precious! Isn't it amazing that your baby has all those parts when it started out as tiny cells? I'm glad you're not finding out the gender--I think that makes it even more exciting!

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  3. YAY!!! All good things!!! (about changing EDD's, our OB said that they normally dont change since babies can be shorter/taller, fatter/thinner, etc and throw dates off. They try to keep EDDs pretty stagnant from the first u/s because they more accurately define internal development verses size of the baby. We brought this up because our twins are measuring 7-10 days ahead and we thought it would bring us to viability sooner, but they said not at all. We checked with the MFM too, just to make sure.)

    I am so thrilled!!! Everything sounds/looks great!!!

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  4. YAY!!! God is good! Look at that perfect, precious profile. I think I know what you're having. :)

    Celebrating with you today!

    ((HUGS))

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  5. Congratulations Polly,

    I am so very excited for you!

    Such a healthy, good looking little one.

    Yeah!

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  6. Beautiful, Polly! So glad everything is so very textbook perfect. (-;

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  7. Yay!!! You must have been on cloud 9! I know you are still floating!

    And for what it's worth, I'm thinking GIRL!

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  8. That is such wonderful news! how exciting! and, I love that you are waiting for birth to find out the sex...that is so much fun!

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  9. Yahhhhoooo for GREAT news!!!! I cannot believe you haven't ripped open that envelope. No way could I hold out. So happy for you!

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  10. Polly ~

    Thank you *so* much for all of the helpful comments you left on my blog. I am truly grateful for your input and advice. Would you mind if I emailed you? No long-winded writing, I promise. =) I don't know your email address, but if you can, email me at mrkhmeg@gmail.com, and I'll get back to you. =)

    Congratulations on the healthy, *perfect* development of your sweet, sweet baby! I've actually been following your journey since February, so I was ecstatic with the news of your BFP. You and Berilac have been through so much. It's about time for that happy ending!

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  11. Oh, Polly, that is wonderful news. Congrats on the good results. And, wow, you are so patient to wait until delivery day to find out the gender. I admire that! I felt that since I had waited so long to get pregnant, I deserved to know the gender in advance. :) (justification) What a wonderful surprise it will be the day of. :) Big, big hugs!!!
    P.S. Flickr is ADORABLE!

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  12. Polly, I wanted to jump in and say huge congratulations. What a thrill! Our 20 week scan is tomorrow and I'm quite nervous about it. I'm so pleased that your pregancy is going so well. And I have cervix envy - mine was only 4cm at 16 weeks and I'm very curious/nervous to see what it is tomorrow. Hugs to you.

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  13. Hi Polly,
    I just found your blog and wanted to wish you congratulations on your beautiful baby. The picture of the baby is amazing. I will be following your journey!

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  14. May your healthy and peaceful pregnancy continue and bring you a beautiful little one in the coming months. Congratulations on all the milestones you have surpassed and on a well-deserved and even happier future once your baby arrives!

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  15. I'm so happy to hear that the baby is healthy and that he/she is doing well! I think it's cool that it will be a surprise for you guys!

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  16. Love seeing the good reports. Laughing at your gross normalcy, but in a big, happy relief sort of way (not "Ha, ha!").

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  17. Awwwww, congrats Polly. What wonderful news!

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  18. B.E.A.UTIFUL!!! Flicker is perfect!!!

    I am so happy for you!!

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  19. And as seems to be the norm every time I read your blog now, my eyes are welling up and I can hardly see to type. I'm so happy for all of the good news!!! Praise God!!!

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  20. Doing a little dance of joy for you! Love reading about your wonderful experience. Keep growing precious little Flicker! We love you and are praying for you.

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  21. Sorry I have been so slow to tell you I am so pleased at your wonderful news that everything is going well. As you know I have been super-self absorbed in my own pile of yuck, and you know how that is, so I'm sure you'll forgive me. But I did want you to know that I'm not ignoring you, or even begruding you and am thrilled at each positive update you give. Go YOU!!! xxx

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  22. Congrats on your great u/s! I'm so happy to see that things are progressing as they should be.

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  23. Gosh, I'm soooooooo happy for you, hun! Sorry haven't been able to read up on what's been happening! But I am soooooooo happy for you.

    Keep posting and I promise to follow up.

    ps Pls check your email when you can! hugs!

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  24. Hi Polly, Hope everything is going well. Thinking of you!

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  25. Congratulations on making it this far!!! More than half way. What an amazing journey you are on!!!

    Enjoy every second!

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  26. Great post. Looking forward to the next.

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