21 week ultrasound

February 10, 2012 (21w4d)

Another great visit with the specialist today!  Went in for another growth scan to measure our beautiful girls.  Nova (aka Baby A) is measuring 14oz and Bria (Baby B) is measuring 15oz.  When you look at their weights in grams, they are still 16% difference in size.  This is really good news since the size discordance has not changed.  The next 6 weeks will be filled with 3 additional growth scans.  I never get tired of seeing my precious little girls.

21w4d spinal view

In addition to their growth at each of these visits, they measure the fluid in each amniotic sac as well as their blood flow to and from the placenta.  Both babies were within normal limits in these areas, which is also reassuring.  After all of this, the doctors check my cervix to make sure it is strong enough to keep both of these babies in.  This is definitely NOT a fun experience.  For those of you that don't know what this entails (Warning: TMI coming) they check your cervix by transvaginal ultrasound.  First they measure the length of your cervix and then another dr comes in and simulates a contraction.  How do you simulate a contraction?  Well, the dr presses down firmly on the top and side of my belly.  He then applies pressure while another measurement is taken.  This pressure shows them how my cervix reacts when my uterus is compressed as it would during a contraction.  My Dr announced, "Wow, your cervix is like Fort Knox!"  Apparently its long and closed shut!  Sorry about the TMI, but we celebrate the little things.. or should I say the LONG things around here! lol

It was also fun to see how they are positioned.  Bria is positioned transverse across the top of my belly with her head on my left side and her feet out to the right. (Yep that means I've got a head in one rib cage and feet in the other. Nova has her head just below Bria's with her feet kicking down on my cervix.  They both are moving a lot now and it doesn't seem like they rest at the same times, someone is ALWAYS moving around in there.  I wouldn't change that for anything, feeling them move is by far my favorite part of being pregnant!!