It was my scheduled ultrasound on that day. I am 11 weeks pregnant with my first child. Unknown to my parents yet, only my close friends knew my secret and my boyfriend of course.
I was so happy when I saw my baby on the screen. My angel. I can't understand the happiness I felt inside upon seeing her. I can hear her heartbeat. I saw her tiny movements. Then the physician was making a line near her neck. She was like measuring at the back, then put a label "NT". The doctor explained to me the Nuchal Translucency.Its thickened by 4.4mm She said that my baby may have a risk of having a chromosomal condition, congenital heart defect, etc. She then said it's only a marker.
When I heard that I feel so worried. I asked myself what have I done? Is it about the foods that I eat? For staying up so late at night? for drinking coffee everyday? So many questions running in my head. I can't wait to go home to search over the internet of what really is nuchal translucency.
When going home, I keep on reading the scan results. Keep on looking the photopaper of my baby and that NT on her neck. I keep on telling myself and assured that she is okay, she is fine, she is strong. Indeed I went over the internet for research about the NT. Read testimonials of mothers who have experienced NT scan. I feel relieved when their child is very healthy when they gave birth. No signs of DS. No heart defect. But it does not stop my worrying. I want to have an ultrasound week by week so I can see whats happening to my baby. I feel so worried. I told my nurse friend about my condition and I can see it on his face that something is not good. My boyfriend assured me not to worry, to be positive and everything will be okay.
I visited my OB-gyne regularly for prenatal care. When I was on my 24week, I have my congenital scan. Again, another soft marker of chromosomal defect was found in the scan. The doctor said it's an echogenic intracardiac focus. It's a small bright spot or a small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. Not only one but 4 bright spots! They said it's normal for Asian women. That it will be gone after giving birth.
I prayed so hard that my little angel will be fine. That nothing is wrong with her. The doctor made a follow up scan to check if the echogenic focus still there. And yes, its still there but only one was left. She said its veerrryyy tiny and it's okay, nothing to worry.
I keep myself busy so I won't think about the soft markers that was found on my little girl. I tried not to think all those terms, it might affect on my baby. I was 31 weeks then, I wanna give birth immediately so I can see my girl's condition!
Weeks before I gave birth, the head doctor asked me if I want to do the 2D Echo scan for my baby. To find out and to prepared us her real condition. Me and my husband decided not to.
Then the time has come. January 29. After 10 long hours of labor, she finally get to see the world. The first thing that I saw was her hair. I smiled. My heart smiled.
The pediatrician who look into her, said that everything is normal. She is healthy. They check her heartbeat and its good. Upon hearing the words, I feel more relieved and happiness was all over in my heart.
Now my little angel is 4months. She knows how to smile. She laughs. She gurgles. She coos. She sucks her fingers. She can now grab your hair, your shirt, and everything within her reach. She can kick and push with her feet. She can now lye on her tummy!
I was so happy when I saw my baby on the screen. My angel. I can't understand the happiness I felt inside upon seeing her. I can hear her heartbeat. I saw her tiny movements. Then the physician was making a line near her neck. She was like measuring at the back, then put a label "NT". The doctor explained to me the Nuchal Translucency.Its thickened by 4.4mm She said that my baby may have a risk of having a chromosomal condition, congenital heart defect, etc. She then said it's only a marker.
When I heard that I feel so worried. I asked myself what have I done? Is it about the foods that I eat? For staying up so late at night? for drinking coffee everyday? So many questions running in my head. I can't wait to go home to search over the internet of what really is nuchal translucency.
When going home, I keep on reading the scan results. Keep on looking the photopaper of my baby and that NT on her neck. I keep on telling myself and assured that she is okay, she is fine, she is strong. Indeed I went over the internet for research about the NT. Read testimonials of mothers who have experienced NT scan. I feel relieved when their child is very healthy when they gave birth. No signs of DS. No heart defect. But it does not stop my worrying. I want to have an ultrasound week by week so I can see whats happening to my baby. I feel so worried. I told my nurse friend about my condition and I can see it on his face that something is not good. My boyfriend assured me not to worry, to be positive and everything will be okay.
I visited my OB-gyne regularly for prenatal care. When I was on my 24week, I have my congenital scan. Again, another soft marker of chromosomal defect was found in the scan. The doctor said it's an echogenic intracardiac focus. It's a small bright spot or a small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. Not only one but 4 bright spots! They said it's normal for Asian women. That it will be gone after giving birth.
I prayed so hard that my little angel will be fine. That nothing is wrong with her. The doctor made a follow up scan to check if the echogenic focus still there. And yes, its still there but only one was left. She said its veerrryyy tiny and it's okay, nothing to worry.
I keep myself busy so I won't think about the soft markers that was found on my little girl. I tried not to think all those terms, it might affect on my baby. I was 31 weeks then, I wanna give birth immediately so I can see my girl's condition!
Weeks before I gave birth, the head doctor asked me if I want to do the 2D Echo scan for my baby. To find out and to prepared us her real condition. Me and my husband decided not to.
Then the time has come. January 29. After 10 long hours of labor, she finally get to see the world. The first thing that I saw was her hair. I smiled. My heart smiled.
The pediatrician who look into her, said that everything is normal. She is healthy. They check her heartbeat and its good. Upon hearing the words, I feel more relieved and happiness was all over in my heart.
Now my little angel is 4months. She knows how to smile. She laughs. She gurgles. She coos. She sucks her fingers. She can now grab your hair, your shirt, and everything within her reach. She can kick and push with her feet. She can now lye on her tummy!
