How many pictures have you seen of someone else’s ultrasound? Probably a bunch thanks to family and friends, Facebook and other social media websites. Yesterday was a special day for my husband and I because I had my fetal ultrasound and it was the first time we got to see our precious little lovebug actually looking like a growing baby. My first ultrasound was at seven weeks and of course we could tell there was something there, but it didn’t quite resemble a baby yet. It was amazing to see our baby’s head, arms, legs, feet, toes, heart etc.
I woke up yesterday morning feeling incredibly excited, but also a bit anxious. I don’t think I had ever been so excited for a doctor’s appointment, but at the same time so nervous. I never anticipated that I’d be nervous, but knowing the purpose of this ultrasound was to check all our baby’s organs and growth made me on edge. What if they find something wrong? What if things aren’t growing properly or normally? I went into mommy mode from the day I found out I was pregnant and all I want is for this child to be healthy.
I met my husband at his office yesterday so we could go to my appointment together. While I was driving to meet him, I started to cry a little bit. I felt emotional beyond belief and I couldn’t hold it in. I also started tearing up while we were sitting in the waiting room praying that everything would look and be A-OK with our little peanut. The entire time I lied on the table, my husband held my hand. He could see the screen from where he was sitting (I couldn’t) and just kept smiling. It wasn’t until the end that the technician turned the screen towards me and zoomed in on the baby showing us everything. One of the first things the technician said when she started the ultrasound was, “Wow! This baby is a mover!” I asked if that was a good thing and she said, “Well it’s a good thing, but it also makes my job more difficult. This baby is kicking like crazy!” I told my husband that I must be baking a little cyclist in my belly which of course thrilled him! I explained to the technician that for the past two weeks I have felt “butterflies” and slight movements in my belly and have been wondering if it’s the baby. She was sure that what I’ve been feeling is our active little lovebug. While she was able to tell us the gender and get most of the pictures she needed, she was unable to get all the pictures of the baby’s heart. We did see the heart and the heartbeat which is amazing, but because our little peanut was too busy kicking its legs, it wouldn’t change positions enough for her to get the last few pictures that she needed. We’ve got a stubborn little bugger just like mommy and daddy!
So far we were told everything looks completely normal and that the baby is growing beautifully and is right on track; although, a radiologist will check the pictures as well. I have my next regular prenatal appointment two weeks from today and they scheduled me for another ultrasound to see if they can get the last few pictures of our baby’s heart. As odd as it may sound, I’m a little excited they weren’t able to get everything they needed the first time around because it will give my husband and I another chance to see our baby and by 19 weeks our lovebug will be a little bigger and even easier to see. While we feel very confident that we determined the gender, my husband and I have decided that because we get an opportunity to go back in two weeks that we’d like to wait and “re-check” it for good measure before telling anyone. So, even our parents, siblings and close friends don’t know yet, but we are over the moon thrilled and my husband started tearing up last night when we were discussing it. Talk about making my heart melt 🙂
It was amazing to see a first real glance of our baby and take home pictures. While I’ve seen ultrasound pictures from friends and family members a thousand times before, there is something just so special when it’s your own. I already think our baby looks as cute as a button and I can’t stop looking at the ultrasound pictures. I’m excited for another ultrasound at 19 weeks and then my last one will be around 32 weeks. I’ve decided that I’m going to start a baby scrapbook and include pictures of each ultrasound so our lovebug will have them in years to come.