Dating Scan!

Woohoo the scan day has finally arrived! We both took the day off work today as we knew it would be such a special day :-)

So we had an 11:20am appointment at the hospital for the dating scan. We left early as we had been warned it can be difficult to park at the hospital (not being looked after at the hospital I work at) and we didn't know the way or if there would be any traffic etc...

I had to arrive with a full bladder and was not allowed to empty it until after the scan. So I dutifully drank the pint and a half of water required and we set off.

Of course we got there in plenty of time, however the parking issues were not a joke. We could not find a space in any of the car parks and we both started to lose our tempers! Eventually we queued for a space and got one, but it took a good half an hour. Luckily it wasn't even 11am yet, there was no traffic and we weren't going to be late! Fab!

Once parked we made our way into the hospital and followed the signs to women's healh. Then we followed the signs to scanning. By now my bladder was ready to burst. Although so was I! With excitement! I could not wait to see my baby! (Not that I believed there was actually a baby there!) We arrived at about 11:05am and I anxiously looked at the clock. Could I hold my bladder that long??

She called me through within minutes (thank goodness) and asked me to lay down on the couch. I had to undo my trousers a bit and she tucked me up with blue towelling. Then she squirted me with warm jelly and started the scan.

Within seconds there it was. My little baby bean! I looked at Oliver and was like wow! There really is a baby in there!!! It was a magical moment, to see our baby kicking and waving and wiggling around inside me. It was real. As she pushed on my bladder we were able to see the baby's heartbeat, but baby was not playing to let her do any measurements.

Although we were there for a dating scan, this scan also does measurements for nuchal translucency which can be an early indication of complications such as Down's Syndrome. I knew from previous research that anything over 2.5mm for this measurement was higher risk, so when I watched her measure it I was more than happy to see that we measured in at 1.3mm.

She then said she needed to do other measurements but she couldn't do them as baby was not in the correct position. In fact baby was face down kicking and screaming. (Probably!).
She asked me to go and empty half of my bladder. Oliver thought this was funny as it was the one thing that I had said before we went in that I hoped they would not ask me to do.

I went and did it. Don't know how, but I managed. She started the scan again. Still no joy. She then had me doing hip thrusts, jumping up and down and running on the spot. Baby was not playing.

Eventually she asked me to go and eat something sweet, go for a 10min walk and come back. So Oliver and I toddled off to the sweet shop and got me a Toffee Crisp and went for a little walk. We went back and sat outside and she called me back in.

Baby had still not moved.

Go and empty half of your bladder again.... Oh my.... So I did that.

She still could not get baby in the correct position. I started to worry I might have to go back. She then gave me permission to empty my whole bladder. I was very happy to hear that. I came back and lay down again and baby rolled over and behaved the rest of the time. (Phew!).

She took all of the measurements and all was well.

Baby was dated at: 13 weeks 0 days!!! (Totally unexpected!) I was 4 days ahead of where I thought!
New Due Date: 02.06.15.
Actual length (Crown to Rump) 6.64cm

After the scan I was asked if I wanted any blood tests for Down's Screening. I did so they asked permission for my blood. I also had to be weighed and measured again. BMI now 31.3 (Grrrrrrr)

They took my blood and I went home. I am expecting a letter from them with a result of that which will tell me how high risk I am or not.

Baby's First Photographs!

Baby's First Photograph :-) 25.11.14

Those little fingers :-) 25.11.14