level 2

so we had our 20 week ultrasound (which really happened at 21 weeks) last friday. just a word on the level 2 ultrasound, this is in place of an amniocentisis. since i am a high risk pregnancy the doctor always gives us information on the amnio and since we would not terminate this pregnancy if we find out the baby is not healthy, our ob suggested a level 2 ultrasound which is a more detailed u.s. of the baby not invasive as the amnio. a longer process and measures everything, literally everything (1.5 hours long).

i had been anxious for some time. all the books and websites said i should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope, as well as feel definitive kicks and movements. well...i grabbed the stethoscope my mom had given me to monitor my blood pressure with and stuck it to my belly eagerly looking for that heartbeat. i heard nothing! just swishing and gas sounds. i was distraught. did something happen to the baby? have i not been taking care of myself? mw saw me distressed and said the baby may be positioned in a way that prevented me from hearing the heartbeat and not to worry. how would he know? i was depressed for days. and the movements i thought i was feeling, now i couldn't be sure. was that just gas? my stomach telling me its hungry? what the heck?!? where was that darn heartbeat??? all mw's encouraging words didn't alleviate my worries. so friday finally came and there was babe! in all his or her glory breached! babe was doing just fine. the u.s. tech kept saying "beautiful spine, beautiful brain, beautiful hands and feet, etc..." we were in awe of how much babe had grown, 15 oz. unfortunately, babe was uncooperative. babe was moving alot and in the breached position, so the tech couldn't get a good profile or face view of the baby. also, couldn't get a good picture of the lower half of the baby. babe was curled and often times moving too much to capture a good look down there. the tech was able to see what the sex of the baby is but didn't tell us since we said we didn't, err i didn't want to know. there was a moment of weakness and temptation, but i resisted. i told mw later that i was considering knowing the sex and he was shocked. then i quickly told him, that was just a moment and don't count on another occasion, i could see in his eyes that he was making a mental note to self to ask when he sees me weak =). well, since babe was uncooperative and still early, we have to go back in three weeks for a follow-up to check on the lower regions to make sure everything looks good. praying babe cooperates then.

it was absolutely amazing to see babe's brain, the two hemispheres; the four chambers of the heart, beating beautifully and rapidly. then to see a kick and actually feel it at the same time, no denying now what i've been feeling are kicks and lots of movement. we got a great shot of babe's hand, all babe's fingers =). after leaving the hospital, we were just in awe of this life growing in me. we are excited and are also feeling very much unprepared. but who ever is?

god is absolutely amazing in all in his goodness. we have been through so much and still feel blessed in so many ways. this baby is truly a blessing and we can't wait to celebrate with everyone this life god has given us.