I had an ultrasound this morning, and Elway is still fine.

So now let me tell you what CVS is like, in case you ever find yourself in stirrups doing the same test. This is what they do:



Only instead of it being a cutesy drawing you'd see in a brochure, it's a grainy, black and white, blurry, constantly moving ultrasound image. And instead of a perfectly still baby, you have a baby that's flailing about and bouncing all over the place. And instead of a catheter that looks like a harmless straw, you have a sharp pointy end and it's poking dangerously close to bouncing baby's head.

And you're watching all this go on on the ultrasound screen while the doctor tries to take part of the baby's placenta and the baby is clearly irate at the vandalism.

Oh, and your bladder is about five times the size of the one in the drawing because it helps steady things. So in addition to trying not to laugh or gasp or breathe too hard for fear of jostling the whole uterus and putting that pincher through baby's head, you're also trying not to pee on the doctor.

I wasn't prepared for how harrowing this would be. I knew it was a risky thing to do, but I didn't really expect to be watching the risk. And I never expected the baby to go berserk like he did. It was my first taste of motherhood, where my child was in distress and I had to watch him suffer.

I'm still glad I did the test and I will probably do it again with the next pregnancy. But it hurt my heart.

*****

I am leaving today for my annual trip home to the Midwest. And since I am almost 12 weeks along, I have just flat out decided that I don't want to be morning sick anymore. I just don't want to. So I am going to exercise mind over matter and just make myself feel better. So, there, done, no more morning sickness.

Now if someone would just tell little Elway to stop treating my belly like it's a speed bag.

Posted by: Sarah at 09:23 AM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
Post contains 375 words, total size 2 kb.

1 {{{Sarah}}}

When they were trying to save my baby I had to have the PUBS  (Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling) procedure done. Not fun. Quite sucky, in fact. I totally identify with wanting to make the doctors, "Stop doing that to my baby!"

I'm thrilled to see that your little one (and you!) made it through. What a great shot of your little one, too! Have a safe trip home. And, really, you should start feeling less nauseous any day now. :-)

Posted by: Heather at August 18, 2009 09:43 AM (yVRs0)

2 had to delurk to tell you how beautiful that pic of little Elway is.  And also, good luck with the morning sickness.  

Posted by: krismama at August 18, 2009 09:53 AM (gGk2/)

3 I guess you could always change the name to Ellie, just sayin'.
Seriously, I hate to watch utrasounds for that reason, it looks like the babies don't like the intrusion of the soundwaves, let alone the probe things.
And it probably wouldn't be the first time the doctor was peed on.
Cheers, have a good trip.

Posted by: Ruth H at August 18, 2009 10:51 AM (CvvEA)

4 Have a good trip. And good luck with that mind over morning sickness thingy. lol  Seriously though, I agree with Heather, the morning sickness should end soon.

Posted by: Pamela at August 18, 2009 01:12 PM (5/d4W)

5

And just like every other week after I read your pregnancy update, I will stop and say a little prayer to St. Anne for your fears, for your baby's health, for your husband's safety!

It's really something...

Posted by: Tracy at August 18, 2009 01:14 PM (sGtp+)

6 Holy ouch...

Glad it went as well as possible! And yes, Baby is beautiful! Strong is good, as physically uncomfortable as it can be... go Sarah & Baby!!! :-)

Posted by: Krista at August 18, 2009 02:09 PM (sUTgZ)

7 I was just having a conversation on FaceBook with someone about the Unisom/Vitamin B6 cocktail given at the Navy Hospital for more bothersome morning sickness.  I never had to take it, but there were times the Unisom part would have come in handy.  I read a lot of books into the wee hours of the morning, and then slept in late.

Ian used to kick at the Doppler wand when the midwife checked for the heartbeat.  He also kicked the fetal monitor as he was being born, which kind of tickled.  The weird things you remember . . .

Love the picture.  And I'm SOOOO glad you and Baby are doing so well!  Have fun at home!

Posted by: Deltasierra at August 18, 2009 02:10 PM (unCAk)

8 What a fantastic picture of the little one!  It would be really hard to watch something like that, I would've been a total wreck.  Then again, I am the woman who practically has PTSD after watching my kid be sedated for stitches.  Sending you a big ((hug)), I'm so glad everything's ok.  

Posted by: dutchgirl at August 18, 2009 02:52 PM (hLAkQ)

9

Great picture.  I've never had one from that angle.  I'm glad the CVS went well.  How long till you get the results?

For morning sickness (or as it should be called, "all day, but especially in the evening when I am tired" sickness), I never acutally vomitted, but felt a low-grade, persistent nausea for most of the first trimester.  Lost a bit of weight, but I had plenty to lose, so the docs weren't worried.  However, since you're starting from a normal weight, they might consider giving you a Rx for nausea which is (I think) a suppository (nice, I know).  If you don't want to go all the way to that, try some candied ginger, which is supposed to help.

Have a great trip and I hope you feel better.

Posted by: Christa at August 18, 2009 03:42 PM (2qSbp)

10 It is so GREAT to see these good progress reports.  I'm hoping that your sickness ends SOON.  When you come back from your trip, may it be GONE!

Posted by: stacy at August 18, 2009 05:45 PM (JKqIL)

11 the description of the procedure does much to help understand how scary it must have been.  I am glad you were able to watch him, even if he seemed so irritated by the company.  I so want the news to be good and to come quickly so you can let your breathe out and enjoy.  Or at least concentrate on your mind over nausea technique (a great idea!). 

I love that picture.  It is an awesome angle.  Like a referee calling the field goal or something. 

Enjoy the visiting and travel safely!

Posted by: wifeunit at August 18, 2009 08:14 PM (4B1kO)

12 Wait,
you get me all hot and bothered talking about that, then you don't have any pictures of the procedures?

Rip off!

Posted by: Chuck at August 18, 2009 09:30 PM (bMH2g)

13

Don't listen to Crazy, I mean Chuck.  I, for one, am very glad that there weren't any actual pictures.  Except of Joey.  Who I love to see.

I hope you wake up tomorrow and feel amazing!

Posted by: Kate at August 18, 2009 09:40 PM (J1l7A)

14 That's so exciting ... minus the harrowing CVS ultrasound experience. I'm sorry you had to go through that and I'm very excited for you!

Posted by: Darla at August 18, 2009 11:35 PM (LP4DK)

15 Everyone is different, but for my wife, she had to eat immediately.  Even before getting out of bed.  So try having a bag of pretzels or something (that sounds good to you) next to the bed and have a bite tomorrow morning.

If it doesn't work, you can hit me. 

Brian

Posted by: Brian at August 18, 2009 11:49 PM (x+F0t)

16 Yay for Sarah and John Elway!  And yes, the first thought I had when I saw the neat, dignified diagram was, "I bet it isn't that tidy in real life!"

Posted by: Lissa at August 19, 2009 08:20 AM (eSfKC)

17 wow!

Posted by: queenie at August 19, 2009 09:07 AM (WRc71)

18 Nice pic!

Posted by: Maggie at August 20, 2009 05:29 PM (OKqpv)

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