NT Screening

12w5d

We had our NT screening today.  It involved an ultrasound and bloodwork via a finger prick.  Ummmm....that finger prick hurt more than any needle I experienced though all my IVF cycles.  OUCH!  And it's all sore now as I type.  The bloodwork provides preliminary results in one week and then in 3 weeks I go for more blood work and in four weeks we'll have full results.

The ultrasound results (just part of the equation) was perfect!!  Everything measured well.  The neck was 1.6mm (at least I think it's mm, that makes sense when we're talking about a baby that's 2.5 inches long?) and they want to see it below 2.5 or it could be indicative of Down syndrome.  She said I had no markers for anything to worry about.  So we feel good even though we know the blood work still needs to come back. 

The sonographer was the best!!!  I wish she could do them all!  She answered questions and was really frank without making me nervous.  I like someone who is honest and realistic but who doesn't needless worry you.  She made an educated guess and thinks it's quite possible that it's a...........GIRL!  She showed us how the genitals are laying flat and how it's just how female parts look.  She said male genitals look way different.  She said that she's not always right, but she feels it's a good possibility.  She warned us to not buy anything yet, though, just in case.

OK, so now for a short disclaimer.  I really, truly will be happy no matter what we have.  Honestly.  At this point, it would be so selfish of me to even wish for anything but a healthy baby.  Even now, if asked I truly just want this baby to make it out, happy and healthy and I would be thrilled with a boy or girl.  Please do not misunderstand, a boy would not be disappointing or anything other than total joy.

However.

The idea that I might have a little girl inside me is more than I can even think about.  To think that not only have I been blessed with a baby but that baby might be a little baby girl??!!  It's so far more than I ever could have hoped for.  I can't even wrap my mind around the possibility and thinking about it makes me cry.  So I guess I didn't realize how much I wanted a girl until today.  I mean my whole life all I ever talked about was having a little girl, so I don't know why I'm surprised that I feel this way.  In the past couple years I was just so used to praying for a baby that gender hadn't come into the picture.  I really had a feeling that it was a boy - and it could very well be.  Russ has thought girl the whole time.  A girl.  Is it possible?