Anatomy Scan 18 weeks and 6 days

Baby Holmes made his or her first video debut today at my anatomy ultrasound.  I am 18 weeks and 6 days today and baby is moving sooooo much in the last week.  I feel movement every day now.

My ultrasound went really well.  I had the same male tech who has been so kind to me in my previous problem pregnancies and he just always puts me at ease and seems so genuine.  Everything looked great with baby except for 2 things which they will monitor again by ultrasound in 10 weeks (early October). 

First, the baby's kidneys were just slightly enlarged...the right more so than the left.  Because of all the genetic testing we have had done which came back normal/negative, this is very unconcerning to the MFM doctor.  He thinks it will resolve on it's own....could be the baby needs to pee, could be that there is a blockage....we just have to wait and see in 10 weeks.  They were not worried about this, and we are not worried either.

Second, my placenta was very near/covering the top of my cervix.  Upon first noticing this, I was having Braxton Hicks contractions, so the tech suspected it was the contraction pushing my placenta over my cervix.  At the end of the ultrasound, he looked again and I was still contracting and still the placenta was over the opening of my cervix.  So they couldn't tell if this is truly a placenta previa condition or if it's just the contractions pushing on my placenta.  They will look at this again in 10 weeks and get a better idea.  In the meantime, if I should have any bleeding that kind of rules out "contractions causing the problem", and I would wind up with a C-section as baby can't come out the cervix if my placenta is in the way.  So we wait and see....it is in God's hands and I can't worry about it. 

The tech definitely could tell if Baby Holmes is a girl or boy.  He even said, "if you google this kidney condition, just know that it can happen in boys and girls"....which I thought was funny he mentioned this because that was my first idea...I could get a hint at what I am more likely to have if it occurs more commonly in one than the other. ;) 

I really marveled today at the technology we have....I mean my parents and certainly my grandparents never got to see images like we see today of their unborn babies.  It's just amazing.  And to know things in advance.....the good and the bad....to be able to prepare our minds and hearts.  We just have to try to find the good in all we can and give thanks.

I came home with a whole disk of videos of this little baby.  In fact, I was surprised when he handed me a disk and not a printed picture!  Ahhh.....times are a-changing...or maybe I'm just getting old ;)

For a friend...

For a friend who recently lost her unborn baby boy....please pray for healing for her.  Our family has been praying for this family as their unborn baby was diagnosed with a fatal condition and it just hit so close to home; this mother has been in my thoughts and prayers day in and day out. 

I recalled all the emotions from Mary Grace's diagnosis....waiting and hoping and wrestling with God, begging, struggling....the emotions were exhausting and just so heavy.  It is so heavy for a mother's heart to bear....but it is such a grace that women can turn to the mother of Jesus as an example when our hearts feel like they can bear no more sorrow, grief or anguish over our children.

Mary, Mother of Jesus, please pray for this sweet mother who has lost her baby.  Wrap her in your mantle and hold her close.  Ask Jesus to show her His merciful hand in all of this.

Jesus, please hold this family close to your Sacred Heart and give them your consoling peace and love.

We ask all this in Your Merciful Name, Jesus...Amen.

Isaiah 43:2  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”