On Baby Girls & Elective Ultrasounds

Dear world,

She's a GIRL! Or, as Lando says, a grrrrirrrl.

I booked a private ultrasound for 17w,1d because the anatomy scan for Baby wasn't until after 22 weeks. It felt ridiculous to pay for an ultrasound when I'd be getting the same thing for free in just a few weeks, but I wanted to know. Badly.

As a bonus, Landon was actually allowed in this ultrasound room--since the one at our hospital is in Radiology and children aren't allowed there--and I thought it would make a fun family outing. So away we went. Over the motorway in some unknown direction--I have no sense of direction here--to a cute little boutique in the middle of Nowhere, England.

The waiting room was equipped with toys, which worked in our favor since we had to wait an extra twenty minutes since the other womb dwellers ahead of us weren't cooperating. That made me nervous. Maybe this was a horrible, rotten idea, and Baby would cross its little legs and that would be that.

Finally, we were invited into the ultrasound room. It was spacious and bright, with a tv screen suspended on the wall for optimum viewing. No craning my neck to stare at a tiny computer monitor!The ultrasound tech was both friendly and professional, and decidedly not-medical, which made the whole process even more relaxed.

She explained what she was looking for, and we nodded in agreement. I'm notoriously awful at reading ultrasounds until I'm told WHAT I'm seeing. I've had two ultrasounds already, but this was the husband's first time seeing the baby! We were given measurements first. Legs and belly measuring a day ahead, and right at 50%, and the not-so-little head four days ahead at 75%.

During the leg measurement I saw the umbilical cord, and silently assumed that was the determining boy part. (Which, in hindsight doesn't make sense because it was definitely a long cord, and not at all what we were looking for.)
So...when the tech calmly said that she had made a determination and that she saw three lines, and it was a GIRL, I was floored. For a second. And then I squealed. And squealed some more. And then demanded her percentage of assurance versus doubt. The patient tech showed me the guide, and pointed to the important pieces, and assured me that my baby very much looked like a girl.

A girl.

A girl in a family notorious for making boys.

A girl after my miscarriage, which I had decided was a girl because I was sure I'd never get my girl.

A daughter to balance out my son. A sister for a brother.

I'm thrilled and giddy. The husband is thrilled and a touch nervous, as he has no sisters. Lando, apparently, always assumed it was a girl and is glad we're finally agreeing with him. He did ask if they were going to "Cut Mommy with a knife to see the baby," and seemed disappointed that the "baby" looked more like a grey alien than actual baby.

Since our experience was so positive, I recommend splurging on an elective ultrasound if someone is considering it. It is NOT a need, but it is such a fun family activity. We received FOURTEEN shots of our baby girl, and not being in a medical environment made the time so fun and rewarding. I love that we'll have a memory of going together to find out that we're having a daughter and sister, and that I have an absurd number of pictures already.

Last night, I googled girl ultrasounds until I found one that matched Baby Girl's exactly. I'll admit to being nervous that the anatomy scan will reveal a boy, but when is a pregnant woman not nervous! We didn't have a second child to have a girl, but we are beyond elated that we are receiving a daughter.

Also, Baby Girl has a name (!!!!), but we aren't announcing the name until birth. I know, I know it's a long time to wait, but I love introducing my children to the world along with their names. We hadn't seriously discussed names until then, because the husband didn't want to agree on a boy name AND a girl name. But being the irreparably impatient soul that I am, I made him sit down with me and decide on a first name. Our girl middle name has been decided for years.  For now, I'm eagerly awaiting the anatomy scan, and then viability day (24 weeks).

Happy New Year, everyone. I hope the year is filled with positive changes and growth from the difficult ones.