After checking in, we waited our turn in a colorful room lined with
alphabet letters and butterflies. Then a nurse called my name and escorted
me into a room where a technician was waiting.
Since I'd had an ultrasound recently, to diagnose my kidney stone,
I knew what to expect in terms of the procedure. I didn't, however,
expect that they would have warmed the gel, which was a nice surprise.
The pressure on my belly was a little uncomfortable, especially since
I'd followed directions and drunk 16 ounces of water before the appointment.
Soon, however, what we saw would take my mind off any discomfort.
As she moved the wand, the technician explained what we were seeing,
which organs were flickering across the monitor. And then, inside a
dark sac, the unmistakable humanoid shape we'd been hoping to see. The
technician pointed out that the head was on the right-hand side, and
it looked very large compared to the rest of the developing body, partially
because it was closer to the wand than the feet. She pointed out the
little arm buds, the first stages of growing limbs. I thought I could
see them moving, but The Gryphon later suggested they might just be
floating in the amniotic fluid, due to the movement of the ultrasound
wand.
The technician pointed to a brightly flashing pulse in the chest area.
"That's the heartbeat," she told me, and let me know it was
beating at a normal rate. Immediately, I started laughing out of sheer
joy, and a lone tear ran down my cheek. "We like happy tears,"
she told me.
According to her measurements, she estimated that I was nine weeks
along, which is about four days longer than my ob-gyn had estimated.
It does not, however, change the June 4 due date. Interestingly, though,
it does confirm that the dream I had in late August was prophetic. When
I dreamt about my child, the dark-haired girl I've seen in dreams since
puberty, a voice told me, "She's already with you." Of course,
we've got to wait until the second trimester ultrasound to determine
if I'm right about the gender.
The Gryphon squeezed my hand throughout the process, and we listened
raptly to all the information the technician, and then a doctor, gave
us. Everything looked good so far, according to them. The technician
gave us two photos, and The Gryphon eagerly asked for one so that he
could show it off at work. I was happy he was so enthusiastic about
it. Reminds me of when we were first dating and he wanted my permission
to tell the whole world we were a couple. I made him wait until I got
a chance to tell my old friends myself.
We also found our way to the other side of the hospital for blood to
be drawn for several screening tests. I expect I'll get those results
when I attend my next ob-gyn appointment in a couple weeks.
Such was the power of seeing that fiercely beating, independent heart
that, even as the needle went in, I could not stop smiling.
More
on Alyce's pregnancy:
Musings
on Alyce's Pregnancy
