Ultrasounds
In a normal healthy, low risk pregnancy four ultrasounds are common. You usually get one in the first trimester; this one will confirm the due date. Then in the second trimester you get your 20-week anatomy ultrasound. The last two ultrasounds are done in the third trimester around the 28- and 36-week mark. However, we ended up having close to double the number of ultrasounds due to the passing out episodes I was experiencing.
When I went in for my 20-week anatomy scan, my husband was able to come as well. At this point I had seen the baby three times due to ER visits, but he had only seen the baby at the first initial ultrasound. I remember going into the room laying back, having the gel put on my tummy, and then looking over and seeing a smile beam from my husbands’ face. We held hands and just watched as the ultrasound tech was telling us all about our little babe.
The 20-week anatomy scan will be a much more in-depth scan and take longer than the other ultrasounds you will have. They will evaluate the bones, heart, kidneys, abdomen, brain, spine and face. Most of the time they also will be able to confirm the gender at this ultrasound. If you have read my previous posts, you know that we did not find out the gender.
If you really are not wanting to find out the gender, make sure to tell your ultrasound tech EVERY TIME you go in to get an ultrasound that you are not finding out the gender. Do this BEFORE you even get the gel placed on you. Our ultrasound techs always made us look away at the beginning of the scan just so they could get an idea of where baby was and to make sure we did not see anything that would give the gender away. Then when they have to scan that area of the baby, they again have you look away or close your eyes at that point in the ultrasound.
Its crazy to think about how something so small can be so developed. You will be able to see the different sides of the brain, all chambers of the heart, the kidneys and how blood flows through them. You’ll see their little toes, fingers, nose, eyes, and ribs. If you’re lucky you might even see a yawn or see them sucking on their hands.
Seeing your baby on the ultrasound screen will give you butterflies every time, no matter what stage of pregnancy you are in. Your love for that little human will grow every day of your pregnancy and the crazy part is you haven’t even met them yet! Once you meet them, you’ll fall in love all over again.
