Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Ultrasound and Echo

On Friday we had a busy day of appointments for baby.  We didn't do the 20 week anatomy scan with our OB as we knew we wanted a more detailed ultrasound.  We also waited until 22 weeks so that we could check out baby's heart at the same time.

I had very mixed feelings going into the appointments.  I wasn't really nervous that the doctors would find anything.  With Claire, I always had a feeling that something was going on with her, and I've never felt that with this baby.  But at the same time, I'm not really sure what to do with a typical baby.  Sounds crazy right?  Everybody worries about having a baby with Down syndrome, as I did with Claire, and now a typical baby freaks me out a bit.

We started out with the ultrasound.  This was the same group of perinatologists that we saw with Claire, and I've always liked and felt comfortable with them.  The tech got caught up on our history, asked how Claire was and commended us on continuing with our pregnancy.  She said most people wouldn't have done that.  I responded that most people would have missed out then, as Claire is awesome.  I always wonder how people take these comments.  If they think that I'm just saying that because she's my kid and I have to, or if they can tell that I really mean it.

We gave our usual warning that we don't want to know sex of the baby and then got started.  This tech moved a little faster through the measurements than some of the others we've had.  Maybe she had more practice, or maybe it was that everything was measuring where it should be and she didn't double check herself as much as they did with Claire. She spent a lot of time on baby's heart, but said it looked structurally sound.  When all was said and done, baby is growing perfectly.  S/he is a few days a head of schedule and estimated at 1 lb 2 oz.

When the doctor came in (not the one I'd scheduled with, she was called out) he started out by mentioning that he noticed we declined screenings.  He went on to offer the new MaterniT21 test.  I declined again.  We are not concerned about Ds, and with no markers on the ultrasound we are even less concerned now.  He took a quick look at baby, mostly the heart again, and said that everything was good.

We go back at 32 weeks for a follow up ultrasound as I'm hoping for a VBAC, and none of the hospitals in our area do them.  They will make sure there's no reason I can't do one, and then we'll figure out when Claire and I have to move up closer to the hospital.  None of the doctors are comfortable with us being 2 hours away.

Since the ultrasound looked perfect the echo was a bit anticlimactic.  I really like the echo tech as this office, even though we don't see her often.  She's done both of our fetal echos and a couple of other echos for Claire.  The echo took about an hour and we chatted through the whole thing.  There wasn't the scared silences like our last fetal echo.

After the echo was done with met with Claire's cardiologist for literally five minutes.  He said the structure of the heart, all of the vessels and the squeeze of the heart are all perfect.  There is no need for us to come back, not even after the baby is born, unless I get nervous.  We aren't planning on any follow up echos for baby, but will be requesting a pulse ox test for him in the hospital.  It's such a quick, painless way to rule out congenital heart defects that it will be done.

So, all is well with baby!  I am a bit sad that I won't have all the ultrasound pictures with this baby that I did with Claire, but at the same time, it's awfully nice not to have to fit more appointments into our full schedule.



14 comments:

  1. I always wonder if people believe me, too, when I say my girls are awesome.

    Glad everything is looking good for the baby! Healthy hearts are great :)

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  2. what a sweet little profile- can't wait to see what you're having!! :) yay that you waited though- I love surprises!

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  3. I wish I could give you a big hug. I am just so darned happy for you all. I had a couple of miscarriages before Emma, so I had baggage with sonograms. Once you go through something like that, you are marked. I am so pleased everything went well!!!!

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  4. So happy that everything looks good and I hope your mind is eased a little. I am surprised that they are already offering the new test. I still have mixed feelings on that one.

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  5. So exciting! Funny, I'd be nervous about having a "typical" baby, too. I have a frend who's pregnant with her 2nd child and the 1st has Ds, and she's also anxious about it! LOL

    Btw, I mailed out your calendar today!!! :-)

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  6. YEAH!! congrats MaMa! Claire is going to ROCK the big sis duties! smies

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  7. I do think it would be weird to have a "typical" child when you have a DS child first. So glad he's healthy, and Claire will be a great big sis!

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  8. I think it is awesome that you guys are waiting to find out the sex...I waited with all mine, I just loved the surprise at the end :)...So happy to hear all is well with baby...He/She (But I think He) has the cutest little profile!!

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  9. Thanks for the update, Melissa! I am glad that all seems well with the baby. Congrats, mama! Claire is going to be an excellent big sister :)

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  10. Oh look at your beautiful baby!! so excited for you all and for sweet Claire. She is going to be an awesome big sister.

    Love to you all.

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  11. I'm so excited for you - congratulations! I also love what you said, "I always wonder how people take these comments. If they think that I'm just saying that because she's my kid and I have to, or if they can tell that I really mean it. "
    I feel the same way, totally.

    About the typical baby - LOL - they are great too. I love having my Micah who cracks me up to no end. It's a nice balance. Either way, it's going to be good and oh-so-delightfully adventurous!

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  12. Great news Honey...I am so glad that you and all the other parents on this Blog keep us informed of progress, heartaches and mostly the Love that you all share between you. I'm so happy that I was picked to be the Mimi for our angel Claire.

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  13. Melissa, it is so great to hear about your pregnancy progress. I think Claire will be a great big sister, and we all know you and your husband will be the best parents as well. congrats

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  14. We also declined all tests on our kiddos - we were having the baby and whatever god had in store was what we would get.....I had a VBAC as well and it was so much eaiser (Than C-section). This of course was before all OBGYN's stopped doing them. And can you blame them - the mal-practice insurance for these Dr.'s is outrageous so anything to help them lessen there cost.

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