A mother's intuition

Today was another visit to the perinatologist for another sonogram and more measurements. This one was fantastic because I got to wear a mask through the whole thing--something they're asking of all patients during flu season. Hot and steamy and I could totally feel my rosacea acting up on my chin. And there's nothing I love more than having a bright red shiny chin. I'm not a believer that the mask is going to do much to prevent me getting the flu--that would come from concientious hand-washing and use of hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available. Using tissues, sneezing into your elbow, etc. But I wore the mask while I was in the office. I cheated during the sonogram an pulled it out so I could breathe and the lower portion of my face could get air.

Nothing exciting about this visit. My weight is up an appropriate amount (2 lbs.), blood pressure was 90/64, pulse was 68. Baby's heart rate was 143. All the measurements were looking good. I'm 16 weeks and Baby's measuring right around 17 weeks. It took about 1.5 hours for the appointment because the baby kept moving around. I think I've felt Baby moving but people say it feels like fluttering. I don't feel fluttering. I am just momentarily aware that I have a uterus. Apparently, I'm giving birth to a soccer player though because that child is moving all around. Enjoy the room while you've got it, kid. Your mama is short and the space definitely won't last long. Baby is sitting really low right now too--the head is just above my cervix (which looked good--millimeters thinner than what the doctor wanted but because it was such a small margin, the techs didn't alert the doctor).

Unfortunately Paul got caught at work because I knew this would likely be the visit in which we could find out what flavor we're having. I told him that I wasn't going to find out because I wanted him to be there and I told the sonogram tech the same thing. The tech said she'd tell me when to close my eyes. I'd seen both Abigail's and Benjamin's sonogram pictures so I knew vaguely what girl parts and boy parts look like on the sonogram screen. At one point today, I thought she was looking at the head (she had been so it's a natural thought) and I asked if what I was looking at was the eye sockets. Apparently, Baby had moved and we were then looking at the bottom end. So, I wasn't really concerned that I would know what I was looking at on the screen

Then Baby flipped again and I said, "Oh. That looked like boy parts."

I will give the sonogram tech credit in that she said absolutely nothing. A second tech came in to do some other pictures and asked if we were finding out. By this point, I was fairly certain as to what I'd seen. I had to go to the bathroom and told them that I thought I'd call Paul to see what he thought. When I was back in the exam room with Paul on the phone, I told him that the tech knew and I thought I knew but she would tell me. He agreed to just find out and she confirmed that I had indeed seen what I thought I saw. Paul laughed and said, "Oh, no. Now we have to worry about things being destroyed." That's the attitude, honey. One of his coworkers said that at least we only had to worry about one penis and not lots of penises. Nothing but support, those engineers.

So my dream was right--perhaps my first taste of mother's intuition. This baby is going to be a boy. Not just any boy--the first firstborn son on for my mom's side of the family since my grandfather was born over 80 years ago. We don't have many boys in the family--we're definitely heavy on the estrogen at family reunions and the boys in the family are either the second or third child. Not that it will make him any more special than any of the other babies born during that time. He's just proof that a son can be born first. While I was thinking of this, I also thought "Poor Sarah." I don't know if she wanted a girl cousin or if it even mattered to her but a part of me wanted another girl for her in Paul's family.

Here is 16 weeks. Looking a little more rounded although mostly just chubby still. And I really should take these earlier in the day. I'm smaller in the morning but at least then I'm wearing makeup and don't look so scary.


Jub at 16 weeks. I always think he looks a little drunk when he sits like this.