The Real Importance of an Anatomy Scan

Most people look forward to their 20 week ultrasound because they are excited to find out the gender of their baby.  Most people don't consider the real importance of the 20 week ultrasound, or what is also called the Anatomy Scan.  Unless you've lost a baby during pregnancy or have had a baby with congenital birth defects, you are blinded to the fact that things can start to go horribly wrong at the anatomy scan.  As a parent who has lost a baby during pregnancy or who has given birth to a baby with birth defects, they know that during the anatomy scan it is far more important to look at all of the baby's organs, the placenta, and the umbilical cord than it is to look at the baby's genitalia. It is important to know if the brain is developing normally, if there are 4 chambers to the heart, if the kidneys are normal size, if the bladder if full, if the placenta has good blood flow and is in the correct location, and if the umbilical cord has all the arteries it needs and if it is located in the correct spot. 

So with that said-today we have reached 20 weeks with Baby M and today we had our anatomy scan.  We did not find out the gender of our baby today.  It was not important to us to know that today.  We know Baby M is either a boy or a girl! And we know we already love our baby boy or girl, whichever it is:)

Here is the scoop with Baby M:

• Measuring 20 weeks exactly
• Weighing 11 ounces
• Heart rate of 148 bpm
• Heart has 4 chambers!
• Brain has 2 hemispheres and is developing normally
• Kidneys looked normal
• Bladder was full like they want to see
• Placenta is still blocking most of my cervix and is "low lying"
• Umbilical cord has an insertion-it is not attached to the middle of the placenta like it should be

And Here is a picture of our little gymnist practicing yoga in the womb:

And Here is a profile picture of Baby M:

All in all, we got a pretty good report from the anatomy scan.  Baby M is growing strong and healthy.  The concerns at this point have to do with the placenta and the umbilical cord.  Due to the placenta blocking my cervix, there is a chance I may end up having a c-section.  But we also have plenty of time, hopefully, to see if the placenta moves out of the way.  It has moved just slightly since our last ultrasound 4 weeks ago.  The umbilical cord insertion is more of a concern.  The doctor informed me that when the umbilical cord does not attach in the middle of the placenta (cord insertion) it can lead to Interuterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) in the baby.  Right now Baby M is just slightly ahead of schedule with his or her size so that is a relief for the time being.  Due to our first daughter having IUGR and being stillborn between 23-24 weeks with the cord wrapped around her neck and with the cord being thinned where it was attached to the placenta, and then learning about the cord insertion today with this pregnancy, the doctor would like to do ultrasounds every 3 weeks instead of every 4 as we had originally planned. We just need to keep a close eye on Baby M's growth and the location of that dang placenta. 

If anyone has had experienced with umbilical cord insertions, I would love to hear your stories and encouragement.  This is obviously a very scary time for us as we approach the next big milestone in this pregnancy (making it to 24 weeks).  It is just scary to know that everything appeared fine with Riley at our 20 week ultrasound, or if it wasn't fine we were never told of any issues, and then 3-4 weeks later she stopped growing and was delivered as an angel baby instead of a living baby.  The fear of losing this baby is just as strong now as it was during the first trimester while I was having bleeding issues. 

Our next ultrasound will be on Thursday, April 16th.  We could certainly use your prayers during this time as we continue to learn to trust God and his promises to us.