Sunday, April 10, 2011

NT scan and LOTS of pictures! =)

Brian and I had gone back and forth about doing the NT scan (an ultrasound that measures the fluid behind the babies necks and looks for nasal bones to see if the babies are at risk for Down's syndrome.) But, in the end we ended up going for it because we knew that it was another opportunity to see the babies!

All of our previous ultrasounds took about 5-10 minutes and the doc measured the babies, their heart rate and that was it.  Well, let me tell you, this ultrasound was sooo different!! We got to spend about 30 minutes looking at EACH baby! It was so cool.  We saw their brains, spinal cords, femurs, arms, hands, legs, feet, stomachs, bladders, nasal bones (yay!) and a whole lot more!  We even saw the umbilical cord just floating around in the fluid. 

It was so surreal to see these little tiny babies because I still don't really "feel" pregnant.... except for the fact that chicken and most meat make me want to gag!  My belly is starting to pooch out, but its not super noticeable yet.

Anyways, so the indicators for Down's syndrome are NO nasal bone and the fluid measuring behind their necks over 2.5mm. 

Our babies both have nasal bones and the fluid behind their necks measured 1.7mm each.  So as far as that goes, everything looks fine.  They also pricked my finger and took some blood to send out to a lab in New York to assess the total risk.  But, being that I am only 28 and Brian is only 28 our risk is low anyways so hopefully all is good.  The doc will call in about 10 days he said when he gets the results back. 

On a side note, now that all looks good and I am almost out of my 1st trimester I am starting to let myself think about baby stuff.  My amazing aunt even sent us two Minnesota Twins onezies for the twins! They are soooooo cute! Thanks Ginny!!!

I am also starting to think about how crazy expensive everything is going to be if we don't start buying things NOW.  Since Brian is in a wheelchair, we will be buying a special crib that opens all the way on the front using two doors. It also has space underneath for his wheelchair so that he can pull all the way under the crib to get the babies out.  BUT, this crib goes for $1200!  I think normal cribs are around $200-300. Since these are so expensive, we have decided that the babies will sleep in the same crib.  I would hate to buy two and then not need the second one so we will start with that. 

After our 20 week ultrasound where they do a complete anatomy scan where they will measure all of the body parts and take a peek at their girl or boy parts we will really start buying stuff.  I feel like I have been waiting all of my life to be able to go into the baby section and actually buy stuff for our babies.  For the last couple years I would completely avoid the baby sections (and maternity clothes section for that mater) at all costs.  We would even go in the "grocery" door at Target so that I didn't have to walk past all of that stuff at the back of the store.  I know it sounds really silly, but it just used to make me sad just seeing all of the cute stuff that I thought I would never have. 

Well, now its a different story! I feel like I can stop worrying a little bit and just relax about things.  The babies are measuring perfectly... On Friday I was 12w2d and both babies were measuring 13w0d.  Their heart rates were 167 and 154 so those are great too.  Maybe now I can just breathe and enjoy it! 

Ok, now for the loads of pictures and videos! 


Family Pic! Both babies


Baby A and its tiny cute arm!


Baby A- Heart Rate- 167 bpm


Baby A- Foot


Baby A- Arm and Hand


Video of Baby A moving around!


Baby A- just chillin


Baby A again




One of the babies jumping around!

This is Baby B opening and closing its mouth! How cool is that?


Baby B


Baby B- face! its looking right at us!


Baby B- Heart Rate 154bpm


Baby B- Just chillin!


Baby A again- do you see the footprint?


Baby B


Baby B- moving around like crazy!

7 comments:

Betsy Desmond said...

Wow Jess, the videos are unbelievable!

Natalie Smucker said...

Amazing! I am so happy for you two or should I say 4 :)

Ginny said...

Happy Happy Joy Joy!!!
Your active beautiful babies are such a miracle to see.

Cherbear said...

wow! Thanks for posting the vids especially. The "mouth opening" one wouldn't play for me. (but all the others did...I especially liked the last one!)

Jeni Lee said...

Absolutely unbelievable!! So awesome to see your little family developing and being active!!!

Whitney Anderson said...

Wow! Lots of awesome pics. Congrats, Jes.

Anonymous said...

Hi. I just found your blog and have been catching up on your story. Congrats on being pregnant! I wanted to mention something. My SIL is in a wheel chair due to cerebral palsey and she has 2 kids. Before their first was born my brother contacted a local college to see if they would be able to help. With the help of an engineering class and wood working class they were able to get a modified crib (much like the one you described) for the cost of a normal crib. They just had to supply the crib and the professors used the project as a learning/community service for the students.