Saturday, May 19, 2012

17 week anatomy scan results and picture


Sorry for the delayed post. I know I made at least a few of you nervous. I was totally wiped out yesterday and had to also prepare a talk for today. This morning, I spoke to 400 military service members for three hours. Yowza. Ex-haus-ting. It went well, but I am glad to have the talk behind me.

So...on to the anatomy scan. Yesterday, at 16 weeks, 6 days, I had my first anatomy scan. I thought I would need to drink a bunch of water, but turns out, that was not needed. Will and I were nervous. Me especially. I worried that the baby had died (I hadn't used the doppler in the past several days to reduce the baby's exposure time, since I knew this scan would be long, but of course that left me extra antsy). I was also nervous specifically about heart defects. They seem relatively common, so just at baseline I was worried about it, and then I came across information in the past week that high vitamin E intake in pregnancy is associated with congenital heart defects. I haven't been trying to supplement with vitamin E, but I've been taking high doses of fish oil (10 capsules a day per one of my doctor's instructions)...and it turned out when I checked the bottle that it contained vitamin E also...so inadvertently, I was supplementing this. Once I did the math, I started to seriously panic. I was way above the dosages associated with heart defects in this study. I've been trying without much success to calm myself since then.

So needless to say, a nervous-at-baseline Mo was especially nervous about this anatomy scan. 

Luckily, everything looks good so far. The center I went to has you meet with a high risk OB right when you do the scan, so we were able to get our results and have all of our questions answered. He said that all looked good. There were a few things we couldn't see yet, re: the heart (can't yet rule out a ventricular septal defect), at least one thing we couldn't see yet re: the brain (the corpus collosum), and the OB also said that later on the kidneys could turn out to be polycystic. But we saw what we should see at this stage. A four-chambered heart, a closed abdominal wall, a cute button nose, lips! (with no cleft), two kidneys with good blood flow, the stomach, all the bones where they should be. The OB said we could see 90-95% of what we need to see and that I should come back at 20 weeks, when they will be able to see the rest. 

They also checked my cervix, and although they didn't give me the measurement, it looked nice and closed, even to nervous me. 

The baby, they said, weighs about 6 ounces now (my little petite filet!).

And, they said that they are 99% sure that it is a girl.

Wow. A baby girl! That is just amazing. This whole experience continues to be so completely mindblowing. We haven't been hoping too strongly one way or the other - we just want a healthy, living baby. But a girl is extra special. In Will's family, there are 9 sons between all of his siblings. There are 0 daughters. In my family, 2 stepsons among my siblings, 0 daughters. So this little girl is going to get doted on, I do think.

So without further ado, here she is!



Mo

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84 comments:

  1. She is beautiful Mo! I am so happy for you!
    Also thrilled to hear that all the anatomy is looking
    normal so far!

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  2. All sound wonderful, and congratulations that this long wait looks likely to reward your families with a daughter/grand-daughter/niece!

    Congratulations in general! How many hurdles have you jumped now? It's amazing!

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  3. Oh wow! Wonderful news on the scan and a fantastic pic. She is sure to be one much loved little girl.

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  4. Wonderful news!!!!! So happy that things went well. You got yourself a beauty!

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  5. Oh great news! Congrats on a beautiful and healthy daughter!

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  6. Hello baby! Aw, she's a cutie. Congratulations on everything looking well so far!

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  7. Congrats Mo! So happy you are having a little girl! She is beautiful!

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  8. Oh, Mo, SHE is lovely! I am smiling so big for you and Will right now. Congrats!

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  9. Oh hurrah!!! So glad all is well, and a girl! Mo, you're having a GIRL! So happy for you. So very very over-the-moon happy for you!

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  10. Well...boys do rock, but girls are pretty awesome too! ;-)

    So happy for you and Will. And she's already ranking pretty high in the cute department.

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  11. Oh, she's beautiful already! Such good news. Hooray, Baby Mo and Will!

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  12. Oh my, she WILL get doted on...which is perfectly fine :)
    While I know gender didn't matter to you, it is especially fun to start fantasizing about that little girl isn't it?

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  13. Wonderful! Girls are so much fun :)

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  14. i love your updates, mo.

    and this one is especially incredible! a girl! how very wonderful for you and will. she will be doted on no matter what :)

    i am so glad and releived and excited that you had a good scan, and that things are contunuing to go well.

    thank you so much for sharing the picture of lil'mo. your petite filet. so, so sweet.

    will crrm ever let you know the ccs results in terms of xx or xy?

    have a great weekend! lots to celebrate :)

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  15. Oh, Mo, you're having a girl!!! I couldn't be happier for you.

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  16. How cool that the prediction of the family housekeeper is right so far! That must surely mean smooth sailing from here until she is safely delivered to your arms! And I too vote for belly pics to be posted here. I am so happy for you all!

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  17. Wow, a daughter!! She is beautiful! I'm so glad all looked good on the anatomy scan. I continue to be thrilled for you that after all you've endured you continue to get good news. Congratulations!

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  18. Ahh, so glad you posted. I was one of the nervous ones, waiting for you to post. I'm so very, very happy that all is well. And a daughter, YOUR daughter! She looks cute-as-a-button already! Huge smiles!!

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  19. All of that is wonderful news! I am so, so thrilled for you and Will!

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  20. Beautiful, friend. Just beautiful. :)

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  21. Congrats on your beautiful petite filet! (Filette?) So excited for you that everything that was seeable looked good.

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  22. What fabulous and special news! Congratulations all the way around.

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  23. so thrilled for you- wishing you continued smooth sailing with this pregnancy. so much love to you three!!! Yay for baby girls

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  24. Mo, your DAUGHTER is adorable! Finding out I was having a girl made it start to feel real. Incredibly happy for you. xoxo

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  25. Congratulations! SO glad that everything looks good!

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  26. Yay!! Team pink!!! So wonderful! I'm glad everything looks good...


    Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for a nice calm rest of the pregnancy!

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  27. What amazing news - so happy to read this post. A little sweet girl :)

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  28. Yes!!!! A girl!!! And a healthy girl looking good! Such great news! Keep up the good work, mama!

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  29. This is so wonderful to see ... congratulations. Your daughter looks beautiful (and smart! and smart!).

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  30. Congratulations! She's adorable! Look at that little nose, forehead, and belly!
    Oh yeah, she's gonna be so spoiled in five months or so.

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  31. She is beautiful! Congratulations! She will be the princess in the family!

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  32. These posts always make me smile. I am so happy for you.

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  33. She absolutely is a beautiful, beautiful baby! :) Glad all is well.

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  34. EEP! I knew it! SO excited for you guys and baby girl!

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  35. So glad that SHE is looking healthy!!!

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  36. She's looking good! And a hearty SQUEE!!! for you two getting to pick out awesome girlie stuff. :)

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  37. A beautiful baby girl - oh my freaking goodness! Yay yay yay!!!

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  38. Such wonderful perfect news!! I'm still right here with you at had my Anatomy Scan Part 1 on Thursday at 6w4d. My results were EXACTLY the same as your as far as what they could and could and not see and therefore "clear" at this point. Including also 99% sure mine is a girl!! I will all have a fetal EKG at my 20w to rule out heart defects which are supposedly 1-2% higher in IVF. I'm so thrilled for you and Will to see your amazing progress and healthy results.

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  39. Whoops that was 16w4d!!

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  40. Absolutely gorgeous!!! It is so exciting, I'm so happy for you!!

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  41. Hi. I haven't read your blog in ages and was SO happy today when I checked and saw that you are expecting. Your blog helped myself and a friend through our own miscarriages.
    17 weeks is amazing! Good job. Best of luck for another 23 perfect ones. Also, girls rule.

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  42. Hi Mo, Will and petit fille

    We, that is my husband and I, are so so thrilled for you. It is just so wonderful to hear a bit of excitement in your voice...it seems that you've turned a corner in many ways, not the least of which is feeling nervous and worried, when most pregnant couples do...how does it feel to cross over to the ranks of normal???

    Physician chick from the great white north....

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  43. Hello Little Girl!! She's beautiful! Congratulations on this wonderful news and what sound like a perfect anatomy scan. Maybe the fish oil helps your body process/absorb the vitamin E? Anyway, looks like everything is good, and I'm so happy for you!

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  44. Great pic and so glad all is well. Girls are soooooo fun and how special for your whole family!

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  45. She is absolutely beautiful, Mo! Congrats! So glad to hear that everything is looking good.

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  46. Yay for a healthy baby...double yay for a healthy girl! I never knew how cool it would be to have a daughter until I got one...totally awesome! So excited for you.
    kd

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  47. I am so glad that all went well with the scan. Congratulations on your baby girl!!! She will be one lucky little girl! :)

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  48. Yay! So glad you had a great scan! And hurray for a little girl--we just found out on Wednesday at our scan that we're having one too!
    Love the picture!

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  49. Yeah!!!! What a cutiepie! So excited for you!

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  50. Oh Mo! This is such wonderful news.

    My heart melted when you said a girl. I don't know why, but it did.

    So incredible.

    Congrats on another fantastic, super dooper, ultrasound of your live, beautiful, and little fighter of a girl.

    Love it!

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  51. Oh Mo! This is such wonderful news.

    My heart melted when you said a girl. I don't know why, but it did.

    So incredible.

    Congrats on another fantastic, super dooper, ultrasound of your live, beautiful, and little fighter of a girl.

    Love it!

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  52. Congratulations on the best ultrasound result one could possibly hope for, and on finding out your little one is a beautiful little girl. She is simply gorgeous! Finding out the sex makes it that much more real and tangible. My imaginings of what our life might be like as parents became much more specific and real once we knew they were all girls. Little girls are incredible and spectacular - you are in for the joy ride of your lives.

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  53. ridiculously happy for you
    no, I take that back
    I'm totally appropriately INSANELY happy for you.

    Hello beautiful little girl, oh my Mo.
    A BABY.
    Holy crap.

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  54. She is perfect!!! I knew it was a girl, I just knew it! Congratulations on a great appointment and a perfect little princess!

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  55. A beautiful, healthy baby girl. How lovely. Congratulations.

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  56. girls rule. and healthy? well that's priceless. so happy for you both.

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  57. Wonderful all around!

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  58. Congratulations! I love how you called her your petite fillet!!! Wow! Aren't ultrasounds totally amazing? Scary, but amazing!

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  59. COngratulations! She is beautiful already.

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  60. Eek! Awesome!! So glad to hear everything is going well with your little girl.

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  61. Mo and Will- Congrats!!!! The pic of her is perfect! So excited that all is progressing smoothly! I continue to pray for you.

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  62. Beautiful little girl you have on board there :)

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  63. This update could not get any better!! Aww, a precious baby girl- even more special. She is one lucky little girl to have you two as parents!

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  64. Wonderful, fabulous, fantastic news! I am so excited for you and can't imagine how thrilling it must be to give both your families a little girl finally. I see lots of pink in your future. So happy for you!!!

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  65. Yeah!! Congrats... love little girls. :)

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  66. Congrats! So happy for you. I was checking obessively on Friday for updates. So glad to see this wonderful news.

    After three miscarriages and several failed IVF cycles I just got a BFP on Friday after a FET of 2 PGS-normal embryos on Mother's Day (Beta tomorrow), Your story gives me so much hope that this pregnancy just might be different.

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  67. I am wooting all over the room for this news.

    May all the lights ahead be green ones :-)

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  68. Hello little ladybug! So glad to see you! She will indeed be doted upon, quite rightly. It makes me smile to see that the dream of your housekeeper continues to echo reality. Much joy for your little family and the families beyond.

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  69. Such a beautiful, beautiful ultrasound photo!!!!

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  70. Just amazing. I'm SO happy for you, that things are going so well, and your little one seems to be growing just as she should be. What a blessing! Congratulations for this happy news!

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  71. Aww! Congrats on your baby girl! How exciting! H

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  72. Congrats Mo and Will!!!

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  73. What a gorgeous first picture! Congratulations!!!

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  74. Yay! I find myself a bit partial to girls just now. Had mine been boys, or one of each, I'd likely have other preferences. But so far, I can tell you that girls can be wonderful and "easy" and so much FUN! Most of all, I'm happy to read that everything continues to be well. Way to go!

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  75. A girl! I am so happy for you and Will... so truly, genuinely happy. The Universe certainly listened and got this one right!

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  76. Ohhhh, what a little beauty! So glad you had a great scan, I can't wait to hear more!

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  77. great news! your wee girl is just gorgeous.

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