Seeing a High-Risk Fetal Doctor.. #Ultrasound #Pics

Reading time: 4 – 7 minutes

My latest OBGYN recommended to me on Monday that he would like for me to see a High-Risk specialist. Why? Well – when Carli was born she was only 5lbs, 4oz at almost 38 weeks gestation. The average weight around 37 weeks is about 6.5lbs. Obviously, Carli was not 6.5lbs. She was in fact 4lbs, 9oz when we left the hospital on Father’s Day 2008.

On top of a low birth weight, she also had low amniotic fluid and was breech. Was there an issue I had that was unknown or undetected? Had my placenta stopped working efficiently and caused growth restriction? My doctor wanted to be on the safe side and have my current pregnancy monitored to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Even though having a little 5lb peanut was kind of cool (man she got attention!) I can understand his concern. He also wants to make sure that it doesn’t happen again, and/or sooner.  So come Tuesday, I went for my regular OBGYN screening blood work (unrelated to high-risk doctor appointment) and Tuesday afternoon I got a phone call from the HR Dr setting an appointment for the following morning at 8:30 in the morning. YIKES that was early since it’s all the way in Orlando and I am currently in Deltona (and on top of that, rush hour Orlando is the WORST, and I had to drop Carli off with my Mom). But if I didn’t agree to 8:30 Wednesday, I would have to wait until a week later. So I went ahead and said, “okay” and went to bed early.

I got there around 8:15am, filled out some paperwork and waited until about 9:15 before I finally got called back to get my weight (cries) and blood pressure and ask me a series of questions. I was then asked to go back to the waiting room where I waited for another 45 minutes. Luckily I had Janet Evanovich’s Hot Six with me to keep me company. Thank G-d for books!

Finally around 9:45 I was called back for my ultrasound. I had two technicians, the regular one doing all the work and a student one who was watching and asking questions.  They were very friendly and I enjoyed being able to see my little bug! After the sonogram was finished, my tech asked if it was okay if the student tech played around a little with the machine and practiced. Hmmm.. more opportunities to see bug? Sure why not! I wasn’t going anywhere!

So Tech #1 left and Student Tech was like, “So what should we look for?” and we looked for the spine and profile. It was a lot of fun just watching Bug squirm around on screen. She was rolling and jumping and kicking and waving. It was.. wonderful.  It was still so crazy knowing I have a little baby inside me with a head and arms and legs.. let alone a nose and eyes and a mouth! I was definitely in awe.

The HR Doctor finally comes in just as the Student Tech was finishing up and he also ran an ultrasound on me to double check things. He noticed I had a fibroid mass in my uterus, which I guess.. supposedly is really common. He didn’t seem concerned. At first he thought it was a contraction because I guess contractions show up the same way. But when it didn’t change, he realized it was a fibroid. I am trying not to read too much about fibroids because I don’t want to freak myself out but.. I do know it increases my chance for a c-section by 6x. Not cool. But – hopefully it’ll shrink and go away!

Textbook Girly Nub.

He said fluids look good and the baby looks properly formed (on target) and doesn’t appear to have any down’s flags.  He stated that she was very active – and she really was! She was all over the place.. definitely an acrobat of sorts. It kind of makes me wince wondering just how painful she’ll be kicking me in the future. Carli was so laid back and not much of an acrobat in the womb.. so, if this kid has her Dad’s energy, I am in trouble from 15 weeks on!

Then what he would say next made my eyes bug out, “It’s a girl.” and I joked, “What – are you like… 50% sure?” and we all laughed. I was pretty sure you couldn’t tell a fetus’s gender before 16 weeks as parts were still growing. But I guess you can if you are skilled. The issue comes from thinking that a fetus is a boy based on the fact that a nub is present. But all fetuses have penis-like nubs early on.  But the girl’s nub eventually descends within itself and becomes girl bits. Based on the angle of the nub (he checked from all angles) he said, “I am about 90% sure it’s a girl!” He smiled at me, “But when you come back for your next ultrasound in a few weeks, I will be 99% sure.” I was really happy. We really wanted another little girl!

Quite a few friends are hesitant to believe it – because it’s so early and I get that. But for now, you know, if my fetal diagnostic high-risk specialist doctor tells me something, I am going to judge his word over Dr. Google.

My next appointment is on February 17th so we’ll see for sure then.

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