Scan by Scan: part 1

Funny how a few months, a few moments even, can change a life. I thought it might be interesting to look back at our scan history.

8-week scan
This was an unexpected event due to spotting. I couldn't be there and the first I heard about it was through a thoroughly well-crafted e-mail from W that allayed all fears, even if W was probably worrying herself silly. One very good result was that W got hear a heartbeat and we gained a picture of... a blob.

12-week scan
Bladder full, W is on the bed and the sonographer starts rubbing gel over W's tummy. I feel like a spare part.

Sonographer: (wielding the echo transducer - that's the wandy thingy that looks like an elongated roll-on deodorant) Let's see what we can see. Have you been to the toilet in the past hour?
W: No, I'm holding it in.
Sonographer: Lovely.

She pushes the skin, hardly even a bump, from side to side with the scan wand, all the time looking up and across at the monitor. I know that my own mouth is hanging open in wonder at the glimpses of first a clear spine - a distinct, curved white shaft that emerges from the darkness - then a hand, a foot, a head, a heart... 

Sonographer: A clear picture, you certainly have been holding it in.
W: (proudly) I like to do things correctly.
Sonographer: Best one we've had all day. Sometimes people can't do it and go to the loo before they get in here.
W: What's the point of that?
Sonographer: Exactly. I have to make them come back.
Me: Yay! We're the best! (to my credit, I do not go any further and say somehting like 'Three gold stars to us')

We spend more time looking at the foetus, from the side and also in cross sections through the body from head to toe (I didn't know they could do that). Side on, he/she/it is now less clear.

Sonographer: ...keeps turning away...
W: Recalcitrant little person...
Me: I guess he doesn't want to be seen.
W: He?

I wonder where this slip comes from. In my own mind, I believe it's going to be a girl but I still try to defend my statement.

Me: You know, he's (I do it again), well, er.... got a big head. I had a big head when I was born.
W: All babies look like they have a big head in proportion to their bodies. That doesn't mean anything.

The sonographer nods in agreement and smiles.

Me: Something just made me want to say 'he'...

We are mesmerised for a few more minutes as the sonographer does the nuchal fold test. It's hard to pin down the foetus, due to movement, but eventually the nurse gets the readings she needs. 

Sonographer: Thank you. You can go to the loo now.
W: Relief. (giving me a look) He?!


Afterwards, we decide that Blob should now be called Flaily, in honour of its performance today. Welcome Flaily.