Cool, but pointless

Cool 3D scans available... http://www.babypremier.co.uk/baby_ultrasound/baby_scanning.asp?section=61&article=471

'A daily "look" at you and your baby using unique 3-D ultrasound pictures.'

There's a comment from Sunday 11 March's entry worth repeating in the blog body, from Mum to Be: Mum to Be said... "If you haven't already done so then take a look at 'Your Pregnancy Day-by-Day' by Professor Stuart Campbell. It has great 3D scan pictures to help you visualise what your baby might be like at different points in the pregnancy and tells you lots about the developmental stages of the baby as well as general stuff about pregnancy. Hope you've enjoyed reading our blog. "

The book's subtitle is 'A daily "look" at you and your baby using unique 3-D ultrasound pictures.'

Visit Mum to Be at http://www.t-9months.blogspot.com/, find the book on Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Pregnancy-Day-Watch-Healthy/dp/1904760058/ref=sr_1_1/026-0843774-0562866?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173740720&sr=8-1)

Phew! Mid-term scan

Mid-term scan complete, and all is OK. The sonographer was excellent (Jay at St George's Tooting), and full of useful commentary. Priti told me later, "I was about to say 'Wow, you can really see it's head clearly' when he said 'And there's the stomach'."

We are now the proud possessors of four more grey, grainy pictures which are, if anything, slightly less revealing than the twelve-week scan images.

Go visit http://www.whenawomansuptheduff.blogspot.com/ for more commentary.

Anomaly Scan

We're due for the 20-week half-time scan tomorrow. Will we get orange slices and a rub-down from the physio?

It's called the Anomaly Scan, which, in summary, is a physical once-over. The site http://www.babycentre.co.uk/ has a clear explanation of all this at http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/scans/secondtrimesterscans/#16:

"If a problem is found or suspected, you will be told at the time of the scan and an appointment to have another scan with a Fetal Medicine Specialist should be made within 72 hours. Approximately 15 per cent of scans will need to be repeated for one reason or another; most problems that need repeat scanning are not serious. If the problem does turn out to be serious, you will be given the opportunity to discuss all your options, which may include termination of the pregnancy, surgery or treatment after birth, or even surgery in the womb. You will be supported by the team, which may include midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians, physiotherapists and the hospital chaplain. "

Get orrff moi woife

Great day fishing, and a mate caught a 19lb pike ... and I spent most of the time thinking about the strange alien growing inside my wife.

In a way I absolutely never expected, I am wondering about it all the time and want to be near her. Protective? What on earth will I be like with my own child?

During the scan, the sonographer (Oh Yes, me and pregancy jargon are now close mates) was pushing *very* hard, jabbing the scan doohickey so much that wifey was in some pain. I actually found myself about to intervene in a manly way: "Get orrff moi woife."

Strange. Most of the time I spend sitting at a desk, pumping a pencil not iron - and yet having a pregnant wife makes me an Alpha Male.

Testosterone, anyone?

Preserving pregnancy scan images

Tip-top-tip from a recent Dad: it is a very Bad Plan to laminate or otherwise try to preserve your scan pictures.

The pictures are printed on thermal paper, and any process that involves heating, such as lamination, ruins the image.

The Pregnant Bloke and the First Trimester

Thirteen weeks, the first trimester, complete. First scan complete. All the immediate family and close friends informed.

Phew!

One-third of the way through (and that's a thought!), what I have gained, or learned? What comes into my head?

Achievement - and absolute happiness in my relationships; A fistful of new words and acronyms; Dates with medics that Can Not Be Missed; A stack of books and magazines that Must Be Read; Fuzzy black and white photos on thermal paper; Congratulations from all and sundry; And a plan for 2007.

Bloody hell.

Pregnant Bloke: What, me worry? Yes.

The first scan, at St George's, includes a measurement of some doohickey that is a predictor of the likelihood of Down's Syndrome.

In our case, the risk is very low.

At the pre-scan briefing, we learned that most hospitals do not include this nuchal measurement, as it is called. My sister-in-law, for example, paid for an additional scan. At the briefing, the consultant said that it is worth thinking about what you will do if the predicted risk is high: carry on and opt for more accurate tests (CVS or amniocentesis), carry on without the tests, or, as the consultant put it, 'interrupt the pregnancy.'

What, me worry? Yes.

Proof, dammit!

WOW - it's real, official - there's another wriggler in the world!

The first scan was as quick, efficient and friendly as you could want.

Like, I would guess, 99 per cent of all first-time dads, everyone else's scan photos have been items of immense lack of interest on my part. Indecipherable smudges on scruffy thermal paper, with the women billing and cooing at them.

When it's your own - and you see the little bugger wriggling around on screen - the experience is totally different and *very* exciting.

It's all REAL now!

PS The new estimated delivery date is 8 July. Summer baby.

First scan

First scan today... we find out if all is ok, including the chance of it being a Down Syndrome baby and the more accurate Estimated Date of Delivery.

It seems like we have been waiting for this for ages, and I am not at all nervous right now. On the other hand, she had a looooong lie in this morning, which I always take to be a way of avoiding what the day has in store, so I guess this is pretty tough for her.

My mother said, when I was born, the only thing she wanted was for me to be healthy, and the first scan sort of highlights the healthy stuff in sharp focus.

Scan

OK, so now I know how the scan stuff is arranged.

The doc sent a letter off to the local maternity service (at St George's Hospital) and hey presto a letter comes back to us with the details fo the first scan.

It's fairly straightforward, and the lettter, remarkably, is written in fairly clear English rather than officialese. I'm impressed. Our scan is for between Christmas and New year, in week 12 (I think, remember to count in weeks!).

We also have another letter with details of the midwifery servce with a number to call to arrange a visit.

Pretty good.

Underneath it all, I am close to panic: will the baby be OK, will we make it to full term, will she be OK... The future is RUSHING towards me.