I'm doing the scene where the pregnant woman goes to the doctor's office for her first ultrasound.
Tell me anything - terminology, emotions. Could you actually see the baby's shape? What did the doctor say/do? Mothers - How many months along were you? How much weight had you gained by that point? Fathers - how did you feel? What were your thoughts/worries/concerns? Did this make you feel any differently toward your wife/gf (mother of your child)?
Some of these things I've researched, but I want it first hand. I can imagine how it would feel to hear the heartbeat and see that child, but again, I want to hear it first hand.
And if any of you got pregnant through a one-night stand, you told the father, and the father wanted to be part of the child's life (and you feel comfortable discussing it) please PM me. I might have some questions.
Thanks so much!
You want the high risk version or the "normie" version?
I'll do both.
"Normie" version:
First ultrasound is around 18 to 20 weeks.
They are looking for Tri-13 and Tri-18 (two types of downs syndrome), hydrocyphalactic defects, limb defects, heart and organ defects, spinabifida, general estimated size, weight and gestation. Also something called EDD (estimated due date). Normally, here in Canada, the technician will NOT tell you the gender.
Normally it's outer body ultrasound (as in across the tummy). Some techs warm the spyrogel, some don't. The machine hums, and it's black and white screen. At first they have it turned away from you so as to do their measurements (femur length, head circ, abdominal circ, umbilical pulse and blood flow, placental degradation or lack of, placement of placenta, baby position (back, anterior, front to mom's back, head up, head down, etc).
They will mark the head, bottom and back as well as belly and print out several pictures for the mom to take home with her. They also then turn the screen and show you head, face (if in the right position), arms. They also show you the beating heart and you will hear the placenta pulse and heart beat.
High risk - very different. ALL of the above with the added cervical probe, yes, they use a condom to cover (sanitary reasons) and it's inserted through the vaginal opening to get a better look from the inside for cervical length, thickness and dilation (or lack of) along with a whole new angle on viewing baby. Any scaring from previous issues (such as c-sections, uterine ruptures) and any abnormalities that would show up such as bicorneated uterus (septum in the uterus, much like a cardiac septum, dual chambered, pear shaped rather than heart shaped uterus).
A woman is considered high risk when she has a history of incompetent cervix, bicorneated uterus, previous losses, previous genetic defects, premature labor and delivery, prom, eprom, prodromol labour, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, measles during pregnancy, chicken pox during pregnancy, Heb A, B, C or gestational diabetes, diabetes 1 and 2 or any other health complications.
I've had all 5 pregnancies labeled as high risk, had two premature babies (29 weeks, 33 weeks), frank breech with prolapsed cord and uterine rupture. I have a bicorneated uterus and incompetent cervix with silent prodromol labor. One baby was born with a true double knotted umbilical cord (there's nutchual, fake knotted umbilical cord). My last two were emergency c-sections. First three were all natural, no drugs, no epidural, no spinal, no nothing - purely natural vaginal births.
Here:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=113724&l=920186858e&id=787315407
My youngest up there. 20 week ultrasound.