More Baby Assessment

As the first trimester is winding down, let the testing commence!

Today I had an appointment at the Perinatal's office for my First/Integrated Screening. They conducted testing for Trisomy 18(Edwards Syndrome), Trisomy 21(Down Syndrome) and NTD(Neural Tube Defects). This is a three-part test, consisting of Blood Draw #1 (today), Blood Draw #2 (in 3 weeks) and a very detailed sonogram.

I, aside from wanting to hear that everything looked great, couldn't wait to see Hunter Baby #2 (HB2) again. It's so funny how, although I've already experienced all of this when I was pregnant with Tyler, it never gets old. With every appointment, we get even more excited and live the moment over and over again. The whole process of creating new life is so amazing, that I'm not sure it could ever get old [even if I was Michelle of '19 Kids & Counting'].

Enough digressing....The sonogram technician, whom I really, really liked, performed a VERY detailed sonogram, focusing on so many things. In plain English (which is the explanation that I always opt for), aside from measuring the baby for normal development, they measure the thickness of the skin and fluid behind the neck for early detection of NTD. In babies with NTD, the measurement of that area is very thick. I am happy to report that HB2 looked and measured perfectly. After I heard that news, I just focused on the screen and watched our 2nd little miracle wiggle and wave. The sonogram technician was so personable and made me feel like we'd known each other for years. She was nice enough to take various "pictures" from all different angles and printed them all out for me. [Did I mention that I really liked her?] I put some of the different pictures in the Gestational Photos Album for you to see. What a difference 3 weeks makes. HB2 resembled a nugget in the last sonogram 3 weeks ago. Today, a perfect little human being appeared on the screen. HB2's heart rate was 158 bpm today, nice and fast, just they way they like to see it. I also got to hear the heartbeat for the first time today during the sonogram, which is utterly indescribable. Again, it's one of those things that will never get old. Not in my book, anyway.

I go for my regular 4 week checkup with my OB next week and then back to the Perinatal to complete my integrated screening in a few weeks. Shortly following that, we should be able to find out what the sex of our newest addition will be, which we do plan on finding out. Until then, we'll keep it a guessing game. And so it goes...