We had an ultrasound today--what may be the last view of our little one until he makes his debut into the world. Since he had been super active yesterday, I was hoping that this ultrasound would go more smoothly than the previous ones.
I had been told previously by my doctor that I am carrying our little man very low. Doctor was not exaggerating--the ultrasound tech found him to be not only low, but as far back as he could possibly get in my pelvis. As the tech swept the ultrasound wand over my belly initially, we were greeted by our little man cub curled up with his face pressed towards my back, hands up as if covering his ears. There was his spine--I'm still fascinated by how far it's come since that little four-runged ladder I saw at 8 weeks. He showed us a nice view of his feet, and the tech got all the views of his heart she needed. We could see the four chambers pumping away at a rate of 150 beats per minute, right on track with what we are used to seeing out of him. This is where his cooperation ended.
We were still after that profile shot of baby boy that had eluded us for the last two ultrasound sessions. As she moved the wand up toward his head, he moved his hands to cover his eyes. We got a great view of an ear. Adorable, yes...useful, no. She shook my belly (once again, I say: please warn the pregnant woman before you shake her like that. I mean, seriously. I always have to go to the bathroom). He did not move. She shook me again. He kicked me. She sighed. She had me roll over on both sides. Baby thwacked me again with his feet and put one hand in the middle of his face, covering it, and clamped his second hand over it as if to inform us that he was securing himself for the storm. She started to get frustrated, so I sat up and did a little dance in my seat to try to get him to move while she did some measurements on the photos she had.
(I would like to say here that this is where motherhood truly begins--you know, the part where you're willing to do anything for your kid and his well being? Sitting in a darkened room with my husband on one side and the tech on the other--who, I'll admit, had a teeeeny attitude about all of this, as if I could help what baby was doing--scootching around in my seat with my pants pushed down as far as they could go without everything exposed to the world, a paper gown shoved in the waistband, belly hanging out and covered in goo and my shirt pulled up and tucked in my bra. It didn't occur to me until later how ridiculous I must have looked, I was too focused on getting the baby to move his hands).
Her measurements told us that baby boy weighs 1 pound, 3 ounces, putting him in the 48th percentile and right where he needs to be. She also assured me that his head is of perfectly normal size. All the fluids in there with him are right where they need to be, and everything about him seems perfect--except that he's a stubborn little stinker.
On our second attempt to see his face, we had almost given up the cause when he moved his hands down to his chin. I thought the tech was going to get up and dance, except that he quickly tried to snuggle his face further into my pelvis (maybe he's not stubborn. Maybe he's just shy like his mother). When he couldn't inch himself down any further, he gave up--and started sucking his thumb. It was the cutest thing I'd ever seen in my entire life and I instantly forgave him for all of the ultrasounds and morning sickness and back aches and started talking to him in a high pitched, ooey-gooey voice.
(A note to my husband: I promise I won't always be like that. I will not be a baby enabler. At least, not all the time).
So we finally got all the views we needed--and it only took us five ultrasounds, as opposed to the two that most pregnant women have had up to this point. I can't complain--I love the peek we get into his world and to see how he's changed over these 23 weeks. I've loved watching his little hands and feet form, seeing his appendages move, and (of course) watching his little spine grow.
However, my favorite part was today, when my husband and I got to play our first game of peek-a-boo with our son. Here's to many more.
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