Thursday, August 9th, 2007
Ultrasound Image at Six Weeks, Six Days
First, we conceived with a Home Conception Kit.
Second, my wife contracted Fifth Disease, potentially endangering the child.
Third, we had an ultrasound last week to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, which was a risk factor for us due to an unrelated medical problem last year. The concern was that there might be scarring in the fallopian tubes, causing the egg to implant in the tubes instead of traveling down into the uterus. If that happened, the doctor would end the pregnancy.
The GA(CRL) notation in the calculations area of the ultrasound image indicates the dotted lines are taking a measurement of Gestational Age based on Crown-Rump Length (head to butt).
The baby is 6 weeks and 6 days old, measuring in at 8.25mm (0.825cm). An illustration of a 6-week-old baby is available from 3dpregnancy.com, but it doesn’t depict the yolk sac. The sac feeds the baby until the placenta takes over completely by the 12th week.
The good news is that the baby is safe at home in the uterus, and in a close-up view we saw its heart beating.
I was going to diagram out and explain all the abbreviated techno-gibberish that is printed on an ultrasound image, but even my labor and delivery nurse wife doesn’t know what most of it means. I’ll quiz the ultrasound technician next time.
Our next step is a "level 2" ultrasound in September at a hospital a few hours from us and a consultation with a geneticist. The ultrasound is to rule out fetal hydrops, a build-up of fluid in the baby that would likely result in death this early in the pregnancy (12 weeks next month).
But if we understand Fifth Disease, there is at most a 15 percent risk, so we’re looking to confirm everything is OK next month.
So, hey, check out my cute 8mm baby! He’s the spittin’ image.
Comments
9 Responses to “Ultrasound Image at Six Weeks, Six Days”
Woo!
cool isn’t it. I can’t imagine NOT seeing the baby before being born anymore!
August 9th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Yay! Glad baby is still safe and sound in mommy!
August 9th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Hey Hey- Isn’t it just awesome!!!
August 9th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
What a Cutie!! ;)
August 9th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Wow! Chip off the ol’ block–it’s totally got your eyes!
Hoping for the best possible news at the next viewing.
August 9th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
great to see baby is doing good. we too have a “threatened miscarriage” at 8 weeks now. and i know how hard it is to stay positive. but after the first ultra sound, its very encouraging.
August 10th, 2007 at 12:55 am
What a beautiful baby blob! The first time you see that little heart fluttering in there… well it’s just amazing. Cheers to the good news. Good luck!
August 10th, 2007 at 5:52 am
So glad to hear it! Best of luck with the next appointment that everything will still be great.
August 17th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Not all ultrasounds techs are created equal! My friend had three false, bad readings in Sacramento, and they almost aborted based on the results. If you get bad news, go for a second opinion at UCSF. This is what my friend did, and now she has an amazingly smart, healthy, three-year-old.
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 pm