4d baby scans, anomaly scans and the miracle of life

I will begin by filling you in on yesterday's anomaly scan. After all my worrying and anxiety (which is not at all unusual for this particular scan) I was thrilled when the sonographer gave both babies a clean bill of health. There were one or two moments where I could feel my breathing get more shallow, at times holding my breath completely when she seemed to hover over a particular part for too long, or would check and re-check a figure several times over until she seemed satisfied. The tension was plainly felt with every fibre of my body during those moments it seemed. I relaxed when Twin 1 was given the all clear, only to go through the motions again with Twin 2's examination. Both babies are lying transverse in their little amniotic bunk beds with their heads on my right hand side and their feet over on the left and they are estimated to weight 14 oz each. That explains the increasing size of my bottom... I don't think.

I'm glad it is over and to say I am relieved would be an understatement. I am now looking forward to enjoying the rest of the pregnancy, at least until it is time for me to start worrying about the birth. Oh come on, you don't expect me to not worry about something, do you?! If it's not going to be about the pregnancy I'll be worrying about the kids. If I'm not worrying about the children I'll be worrying about the teens. If I'm not worrying about the teens I'll be worrying about what an awful place the world would be without ice-cream. Oh no! What if the world had no ice-cream?

Anyway, last Saturday was the day of the fun scan. The 4d scan. We arrived over an hour before our appointment time thanks to a combination of our over zealous nature of not wanting to be late arriving anywhere plus the clear roads. My plan of getting everyone a drink in the Innovation Centre coffee shop ran awry when it turned out to be closed at the weekend. Who'd have thought it?

I ended up using all my change for the overpriced vending machines instead and we waited until our appointment time approached before we headed up to the imaging centre.  We paid up and were then led into another room for the scan.

The lady was pleasant enough, despite insisting that diamniotic/dichorionic twins meant that they were ALWAYS non-identical. I tried reasoning and explaining that it wasn't actually correct but she wouldn't accept it at all. Her opinion would not be changed. Di/di twins would ALWAYS be non-identical, she said. I already explained here how diamniotic/dichorionic twins could still be identical (albeit a lesser chance) as it all depends on when the egg would have split, so I thought better of continuing to argue reason with her and would prove my point to Mike once we'd got home by Googling a millionty-fifty-two pages which backed me up proving that I was right.  I didn't go as far as printing off the pages and sending them to her by recorded delivery.  Not that I didn't want to.  I just didn't have enough ink.

The scan began and the two babies were both lying head down and facing each other.  It was so sweet to think of them in there, chatting away face to face (sort of).  At this stage they haven't yet started laying down much fat so they're looking pretty skinny and scrawny but to me, they already look beautiful.

Twin A at 21 weeks

It doesn't matter how many times I experience a pregnancy or see an ultrasound scan, I still feel complete awe and amazement when I get a glimpse of what is going on in secret.

Twin A at 21 weeks

Do you see the tiny foot up there?

Twin A at 21 weeks

It's like a top secret project being diligently worked on.  Each part unique and special.

Twin A at 21 weeks

A private room where nothing else even comes close to this wonder being formed within it.

Twin A at 21 weeks

A new life being created is always a miracle.

Twin B at 21 weeks

Whether it's the first week or the 21st week.

Twin B at 21 weeks

There is a heart....

Twin B at 21 weeks

... and a soul.

Twin B at 21 weeks

There is a life.

Twin B at 21 weeks

And it is so very precious.

Amazing. 


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Worrying times

Today I had my mid pregnancy scan. I haven't had a good couple of days, with one thing and another, so I'm not surprised that today was a shambles from the moment we walked in.

For once I managed to find a parking space quite easily in the hospital car park. We arrived ten minutes before my appointment time, because as the sign tells you "If you are more than twenty minutes late for your appointment you will have to reschedule a new one." Half an hour after my appointment time I was finally called into the sonographer's room.

There were two sonographers in there, a lady and a man. The man would begin and asked me to lay down on the table. "No, up a bit, over a bit, down, you're too far down, move yourself up....". After a while of this he told me that I was stressed. Quote "because you have so many children". I only had the three youngest with me, two of which were in a buggy and the third sitting perfectly well on the chair beside me. All three children were quiet. "I am stressed but it's not because I have so many children." I told him.

Man sonographer asked if I'd had any bleeding. I told him I had early on in the pregnancy for a couple of weeks.

The lady then asked me twice whether I wanted to know the sex. No I do not. I don't want to know. Twice, while the man sat beside me did I state this.

Man Sonographer began the scan. All was looking good. My wonderful neighbour and friend who accompanied me marvelled at how the picture was so clear and how much you could see. Oh everything was going well. Nothing to worry about at all!

Then, he began to tell me the sex!! "I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!" I said... again.

And then he told me.

"I said that I didn't want to know." I said quietly.

"Oh I'm so sorry". Thanks.

"There's a bleed in the baby's bowel," he said. Then he continued "It could just be where it's swallowed some of your bleed earlier on in the pregnancy, or it could be more serious. But it's likely to be because of the bleeding."

He then continued the scan. A while during which nothing was explained to me, indeed I was completely ignored while the two of them spoke quietly between themselves. Then he began saying how everything is fine. All measurements are good, and nothing to show any concern. Sid had managed to dislodge a part of the buggy - not a big deal, just the drinks tray in front of him. According to man sonographer he was being a bad boy. I told him that actually, he was a very good boy and was not being bad at all.

While my friend took Eddie to the toilet man sonographer apologised again for telling me the sex. Apparently, this is only the second time he did this in all the time he's been doing the job. I told him it didn't matter.

"Never mind" I told him.

Inside I thought "Perhaps try listening to people next time."

Around forty five minutes later I was still lying there, only now they had swapped over. Lady sonographer had now taken over and was getting the final measurements.

Almost an hour after I first went in we were finally ready to leave and about to walk out of the door. One moment they were saying how everything was ok with the baby and there was nothing to worry about. Just... hold on... actually...

... baby has a hyperechogenic bowel. They went over how they'd said that it may be where it had swallowed some of the bleeding from earlier in the pregnancy. Only now they are more concerned that it may be an indicator of fetal infection, cystic fibrosis, bowel obstruction or chromosomal abnormalities. Could I have a blood test and go back for another growth scan? Yes, of course I can.

So I was asked to wait in the waiting room for the paperwork. The lady sonographer came out after another ten minutes and told me that I'd have to go back on Monday for a blood test, then back again next Wednesday for another scan. She handed me the paperwork to give to the receptionist, and then she walked off. The receptionist had no idea what to do. "Leave it with me and we'll get in touch" she said handing me some papers.

I got home and looked at the papers, expecting them to have some information regarding my blood test, perhaps, or my scan appointment.

Nothing.

I was upset, tired, fed up and didn't have a clue what was going on. I rang the hospital back and explained the situation. Now I have to wait until someone calls me on Monday as the lady who makes the appointments isn't in today (!). Obviously, nobody else is qualified to make appointments in this hospital.

I don't know what to do. I don't know what to think. I'm extremely worried, have no idea if my baby is ok or what is going to happen as nothing has been explained to me in even the slightest detail. Google certainly isn't your friend when you're worried about something so I'm torn between doing my own research and not, because the answers are far too upsetting.

I feel useless and sad and don't know what to do.

Please God, please let our baby be ok.




I have also posted this at Lots of Kids and Pregnant Again

Today so far...

I got up at 5am, got myself ready, got two lunchboxes packed, made breakfast and checked emails before getting the children up and ready for the day. Cleaned downstairs bathroom, kitchen and living room (it doesn't look like it now but it is 1pm now after all!). Set off on school run at 7.30am. Stopped for fuel and a few essentials. Got back from school run at 9am. Hoovered stairs, and all of downstairs. Made younger boys some toast. Packed some bananas for boys then went to the hospital and got this...

... came home. Changed seven nappies over the course of the morning. Folded clothes. Put another load of washed clothes into the dryer and put the fourth load of laundry so far today into the washing machine. Made lunch for boys. Put Paddy down for overdue nap. Spoke to my dad and simultaneously broke scanner/printer/photocopying machine and tried not to curse. Calculated that I'd managed 18 sips of tea since waking which is really poor considering that I had actually made four cups during this time. Spoke to brother. Made lunch at sat at PC to blog. All by 1pm!

What's that you ask? Yes I know! Fantastic isn't it?!!!

A whole four loads of washing so far!

At this rate the laundry basket may be empty by bedtime tonight!