20 Week Ultrasound

Yesterday was our big ultrasound to check for any abnormalities in the baby, and boy was it a long day! My ultrasound was at 11:00 AM, and we arrived right on time although it took awhile to be seen. The ultrasound took about an hour for us as they spent time chasing each little limb and trying to make baby move to see what they needed to see. 

One of the things WE wanted to see was a confirmation of gender. I want to get this exciting part out of the way first so I am very happy to share with everyone that we are having a sweet little GIRL! We are ecstatic, and we are already planning the nursery for her. 

Our Precious Little Girl at 20 weeks 4 Days

Now onto the other pat of the ultrasound (And this is why I'm so very glad to have a private blog). The Ultrasound tech did find a choroid plexus cyst (CPC) in our little girl's brain. Now, 99% of the time these are nothing and are just a normal part of development which will resolve on its own by 28 weeks. BUT, due to the sue-happy country we live in, they have to make us aware of the other 1% where babies with CPCs end up having Trisomy 18. Trisomy 18 is incompatible with life as most babies die in utero or within the first few days of birth. 

The good news is that in the VAST majority of cases of Trisomy 18, other organs are affected. After taking a thorough look at each organ, the ultrasound tech noted that everything else looks perfect. She does not have a heart issue, kidney problems, clubbed hands, rocker feet, or a small jaw. She also is above average on weight gain which is a good sign as well. She weighs in at a whopping 14 oz which puts her in the 74th percentile! 

With all of the good news we received, it is very comforting that our little one probably does not have Trisomy 18. That said, we decided to go ahead and do the genetic testing where they will test my blood for baby's DNA. It will not diagnose it, but it will indicate if there is an increased risk of the baby having Trisomy 18. We're now in the two week wait until we hear back from those results.

Yesterday, we ended up having the ultrasound done, seeing the high-risk OB, seeing a genetic counselor, and doing a blood draw tomorrow after filling out a LOT of paperwork. It just was such a whirlwind day. I broke down and was crying in the hospital hallway while waiting to get my blood drawn. I was just overwhelmed. From before I was even pregnant with this sweet little girl, I loved her...yet finding out that something could be so seriously wrong made me realize just how STRONG that love is. It overwhelms me. 

By the time I came home and started doing some of my own research, I felt very reassured (Google actually was a positive experience for once)! I wasn't nearly as scared about it, and I started to tune into my body and into what my gut told me. 

I don't know that I can ever explain this in words, but my gut just tells me she is absolutely healthy. I have no bad feelings about her health, and every time I feel her strong little kicks or feel her roll around, I'm only that much more reassured. She is a fighter, and I just know she's ok. 

That said, the fear, of course, lingers in my mind. It's just that thought of the unknown, and the worry for the health of my child. Despite this fear though, the overwhelming feeling I have is one of reassurance and peace. This is the feeling I've decided to focus on. 

So now all I can do is pray and relax until we get the results.