Wednesday, September 26, 2012

BEST Ultrasound EVER

I know it's so soon after my last post, but this one is HAPPY!

I work in a teaching hospital.  One of the perks is finding out about unique opportunities.  Today, I was an ultrasound "model" for teaching midwives, residents, family physicians, etc.  These folks had come from GA, SC, and a couple of other places for this teaching.  My very dear work friend, Beth, tagged along.  It's good she's so tiny because there were 5 other people in the room.

The instructor had asked up front if I wanted to know the gender.  I said I need a confirmation, but I thought it was a boy.  She did a scan first before her students came in.  First thing, he showed himself to be all boy.  As he's been at the previous ultrasounds, he was incredibly active.  At one point, the instructor asked if we had a name.  She wanted to do the mother thing of yelling, "Kelly Merritt Sanders, be still!"  (That's not his name).  He'd flip from side to side just as they'd try to measure a leg bone or head circumference.

I know I'm not medical, but I've seen a lot of things in the NICU and PICU.  I also have my own experiences.  First off, I wanted to know if there was a Corpus Callosum.  They all looked at me like I was an alien.  I said, "my daughter didn't have one."  They couldn't visualize it at this point, but other brain structures that were supposed to be visible at this point were.  Also, some structure, whose name I can't recall, was there which rules out complete ACC.  I don't really fear it, but it was a fluke in Olivia, so why not ask?

Next, there was a lot of looking at the heart.  We saw all four functioning chambers.  She'd stop on the valves and freeze the frame to show them working.  She ticked off the major vessels.  I asked, "Could you tell if it's a hypoplast?"  I got the weird eyes again and one of the group asked where I work.  She said that yes, they should be able to tell that and it looks good.

We saw two kidneys, a stomach, a great umbilical cord with three vessels, and a beautiful little hand waving hello.  He also gave a thumbs up!  The last thing I asked was about gastroschisis.  Woohoo!  He has an intact abdominal wall!

This was the most detailed and technical ultrasound I've ever had or seen.  I'm so, so glad I was able to have the opportunity.  I know there are still many things that could happen or show up later.  It doesn't matter.  He's a beautiful squirmy shadow and I can't wait to meet him!




7 comments:

  1. I am so, so, so excited for you!!! I LOVE these kinds of posts and it's so refreshing to see you HAPPY!! Enjoy it girl, you deserve it!!!

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  2. all smiles!!!! that's so awesome!!!!!!!!

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  3. YAY!!! : ) So happy for you and Kelly. You both deserve the best and to be happy. Now it's time to register!!!

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    Replies
    1. I started looking at bedding and such last night!

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