Surprise Anomaly Scan!

A day at the hospital yesterday.  Exciting, relaxing, irritating, tiring and objective.  Yes, it was a mad day.  Let me explain.

Our appointment was at 9.20.  On time we were there.  And we are told that the Obstetrician/Gynecologist is at an emergency delivery.  I hope all went well on that end and all are well.  We were told that the doctor will be available in about 30 minutes. In the meantime, it was suggested that we check Ingrid’s pressure, temperature, weight etc.  The routine!  Whilst we were waiting for that, we were informed that the doctor wanted us to do a routine scan.  Why not?  Better watch a movie than sit counting camels and nurses.  

To the scan room we are sent.

The pleasant lady at the counter recognized us and was happy to see us. That was nice. Inside the scan room Ingrid was laid on the bed and made ready. And then the Radiologist entered. The same lady who did it the last time. And we were happy to see here. She was a kind and pleasant lady.  I took my seat, and the show begun.

It is always lovely to see ET at different stages of its life. And with every scan ET grows.  In the last few days my ‘research’ tells me that an Anomaly scan is due. Hence, that is the question in my head. When?  Apparently, it is done sometime between week 18 and week 22 and 6 days.  And we are on week 19 now.  The anomaly scan is done to check for organ defects, bone defects and mostly the heart and brain functions.  Whilst this lady was doing the scan, she was guiding us through the whole process.  It was like a guide taking us on tour.  ‘If you look to your right, you will see the Pyramid that was built by George Bush, Yes!  The one that looks like a globe.'  Apparently,  George Bush did not know what the shape of a pyramid was.   ‘Further down on your far left is a monument he build for his mother. Yes, the structure of a whale!’ 

Anyway, this lady was doing a great job.  She was showing us every organ and taking down measurements and storing images.  She was describing each organ, and what she was looking for.

'See, that is the heart!  The 4 chambers.  They all seem normal. The left and right…yes, the right ventricle and the left ventricle' she explained.

Whilst doing it, she marked an area and it turned red.

'What is that?' Ingrid asked nervously

'It is the umbilical chord' she calmly said.

All was going well.

After a while, I decided to ask here, 'Doctor, please excuse my ignorance, but when will the Anomaly scan be done?'

She laughed. 

'Well, this is an anomaly scan. Since all the organs are well developed, I am doing it now' she said.

'Ah' I said. 

While going through my folder looking for a particular sheet that I had made. A checklist from the NHS website, for the Anomaly scan.

'I would like to go through some of these things, and hope you do not mind as I would like to know if you are covering everything. And, I am not familiar with these terms’ very apologetically I said.

She was very kind.

'It is alright, please ask me all the question, and you must know and understand all this.  Don’t worry’

Now that is what I call a professional. She needs a noble prize Anomaly Scanning.

The final results: All is good.

IMPRESSION: Single viable intra uterine fetus in cephalic presentation with average gestational age of 19w/0d at the time of scan. 

It sounds like, ET is 19 weeks old,  lives inside the uterus and does phallic PowerPoint presentations!   Phallic sounds like phallus.  Holy mother of Zoltan! ET is going to be a pervert!  Thank goodness, this obviously is not the case.

Honestly, I do not have an iota of a clue as to what that means,  -intra uterine fetus in cephalic presentation - besides the fact that the age of ET is 19 weeks today!   

We are handed over all the information on a CD.  Good bedtime movie for ET. And now we go back upstairs, to meet the witch doctor!!! 

It seems like she is supervising a factory production line.   She is always in a hurry,  goes through this sheet  and shoots questions, and then goes check! Check! Check! 

Head…........…Check!

Neck……........Check!

Brains….........Check!

Air Pressure..:.Check!

Altitude.........Check!

Still I must say, she does not miss anything. So credit to her for that.  She also smacks her lips all the time, as if she has just had the hottest curry on this planet.

It was time for me to ask my questions.  As usual I pulled my list of questions, and while going through it, everything was already answered except one.  Which is on Restless Leg Syndrome or RSL.  Ingrid was getting it often at night a few days ago. Hence, I had noted it down. Apparently,  it runs in families.  But I also read on the NHS Medical Board Report on pregnancy, that RSL can also be a sign for Iron deficiency and or folic acid  deficiency.  Hence, my question was a perfectly valid one.  She glanced at me with a smile, as if I was an idiot. And looked at Ingrid who also did not seem to be bothered.  And then she said, we cannot give too many medicines and smiled like a hyena! , In the first place, I was not asking for medicine!   I was basically asking her if it is something to be concerned about. Well..we never got an answer…

Lesson for ET from that: No question is ever stupid.  The only stupid question is that one that is never asked!   

I cannot imagine what ET will have to say, when it reads all this.  It will be fascinating.  Imagine, we could read everything our parents did in details while we were in gestation!  The power of technology and science. 

Next Appointment, is on the 16^th of May 2012. Before that, we have to go to the lab and do a blood test for Random Sugar, CBC and Urine Routine.  Apparently, the test results will be ready within 30 minutes. But, with the experience from last time, maybe we will do it the day before….