How to trigger the fuck out of me (but then happy day)

So. Mt. Sinai. What seemed like hundreds of pregnant women - special pregnancy unit, low-risk pregnancy unit, ultrasound lab, blood lab, etc., all spread out over the 3rd floor of the hydro building.

I did not, however, feel like a number. I got my card, checked in at the ultrasound desk, got the ok to go drop off the files at the low-risk unit, and went down to do so. Once I gave my name I got introductions to all the people I've been chatting with on the phone, plus more, and hugs and squeezes of reassurance. Then I trotted back to wait for the ultrasound.

The ultrasound was bad. I've had so many now I wasn't expecting any problems, but they couldn't get a good angle on witch baby and then they thought they saw cysts on my ovaries, which turned out to be something else, and they got in several techs and pushed the wand all around transvaginally (ie, up my vagina), and got me to move around, giving me permission to make noises or breathe funny if it hurt, which it did. It felt very much like a bad rape and I'm still sore. Also they didn't really comment on why they were doing this, except the cysts part, and only after they got some shots were they ready to say what was going on.

I was sure that really bad things were happening, and I had both labour and rape flashbacks, although they were low-key; just images. Still, it could have been a bad system moment. Next time I will not be so brave about going myself.

And the good news is that witch baby, despite not wanting to be photographed (Emily didn't either) is fine. In fact, so normal that they cancelled the 16 wk ultrasound on the spot. Low risk for Down's, arms, legs, hands, feet, organs all looking good thus far. And they suspect they saw ovaries, although they were careful to note that it's not for sure. So witch baby remains sexless just now, but does seem more of a witch baby than a warlock baby.

And - I was right, originally. We're not at 10w 6d but 11w 5d, so the first ultrasound was just -wrong- and we're only a couple of weeks away from the end of the first trimester (which is 14 wks long just to be confusing).

So chances are good it's a go. Of course Emily was fine up until she died, so.

After the ultrasound I met with my genetic counsellor (I was not aware I had one, but there you go - this is a very "show up and we'll take it from there" place) and she told me all this good anatomical news, and that what they never saw was the nose bone (which is another indicator for Down's) 'cause the baby would not look towards the pretty wand miles away through my flesh, but the neck measurement is so textbook they're really not worried.

I am not either 'cause I do not think I would terminate, but I am glad to know there are organs and lungs and things.

I was also weighed and I've lost 2 lbs, so it's good I'm feeling better and I have to eat lots of good food. Not a huge concern yet but something to work on.

So afterwards I went back down to the low-risk unit where I am a star and got more hugs and the requisitions for the 7 vials of blood and the urine test, got all that done, and got one more hug, and left. The whole thing took 2.5 hrs, and I go back Tues to meet Dr. Seaward, who was not in on the hugging (and from all accounts won't be; he apparently is a big grump with a profound hatred of obstetricians &/or nurses who let labour go on too long, who is also a brilliant diagnostician and spends his nights dreaming up esoteric things to test for before they become problems, and mostly works in the high-risk clinic.)

All in all it was a very good baby-news day. And they gave me a picture which I will scan later on.

Shandra