A Beautiful Gift- Our Early 3D/4D Ultrasound Experience. - Pretty Real

A Beautiful Gift- Our Early 3D/4D Ultrasound Experience.

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A few weeks ago we surprised our family with a gender reveal party! Up until people arrived they had no idea we knew the gender of our baby.  It was such a delicious secret to keep.  You might be wondering how this came to be. You might be clicking away onto the next blog by now. Well when I posted something on Facebook about the countdown until our ultrasound someone asked about the date.  It was a week after Joe started treatment so I mentioned that depending on how he felt we might reschedule.  I'd already talked to our family about having a little reveal party but the more I thought about it, the more that seemed risky considering Joe could miserable by then (7 days after his first Chemotherapy).

Remember my post "This is Love?"  Well another example happened at that point.  A wonderful friend- one who is crazy passionate about keeping track of milestones, gifted us an ultrasound at Goldenview Ultrasound in Boston.  I will never forget her asking me "not to be mad," that she called to get available dates.  I thought it was the sweetest thing in the world and something I never even would have considered on my own.

So we chose a date a week before our original ultrasound and just one day before Joe's treatment.  I was so nervous!  I wanted a boy so badly and the suspense was killing me.  The same sweet friend offered to watch the girls so once I realized that we didn't even have to solicit family for help, it just made sense to surprise them.  I invited them all over (and by over, I mean over to my Mother in Law's. ha.) for pizza and posed it as a "good luck Joe" type of get together.  I'll be sharing that gathering in a later post.

But back to the ultrasound itself.  I never really "got" those ultrasounds before having one.  They looked like muddy pre-formed babies to me.  And not in a cute way.  And I didn't know how much it cost but I'm a bit of a cheapskate.  Now that I've experienced one, I totally get it!  We got there and of course they're trying to sell you everything imaginable (no thanks to the teddy bear with my baby's heartbeat inside) but still, it was a nice environment, quiet and soothing.  We filled out all the paperwork and waited to be seen.  I assumed my friend had purchased the most basic package (which wasn't cheap) but she'd gotten us the ultimate! I was astonished at her generosity and thoughtfulness.  We went in and unlike my OB office where they are really more focused on the diagnostic aspect (which don't get me wrong, I appreciate), here it was all about the experience.  The ultrasound tech took her time, showing us the baby in different positions.  I was lying on a big comfy bed in a large quiet room with soft lullabies playing.  And I should add that even though we didn't bring anyone the room is big and they encourage you to bring friends or family which is a huge advantage over a tiny office visit.  All of the images were on a huge flat screen TV rather than a little monitor that looks like it's the lone survivor from 1998.  It was just so soothing and relaxing (other than my nerves!).  She then asks if we're ready and tells us it's a boy-- which I honestly did not expect!  I cried and shouted and was so excited and felt so blessed I could barely contain myself.  She went back and forth from regular to 3D/4D which was just so cool.  That "muddy pre-formed baby" now looked like my little son!  When it's your own baby, there's something so magical about it.

I'm still not sure I'd want to go closer to my due date because I honestly don't want to know what he looks like in such detail before I meet him in person.  The only "concern" I'd have about getting one is that they are not medical professionals and if something were wrong, it could be a stressful experience. In their FAQ's they spell out that "at no time is this exam to be used in place of a complete diagnostic Ultrasound." They also make you bring proof that you're getting prenatal care, which I thought was responsible of them.  Anyway, if you're there and you can tell something is wrong or they can, I'm not sure how that would play out.  I have to admit I got a little nervous at the thought.  At my OB office there is an appt. with a doctor immediately after the ultrasound so if there was an issue, I'd be able to discuss with my doctor right away.  But aside from that "risk," I'd definitely recommend the experience.  Obviously there were extenuating circumstances for us, but I'm SO glad we did it and when we had our "real" ultrasound, Joe actually wasn't feeling so hot and I just kept thinking how grateful I was that we'd already gotten an ultrasound.

It really was SO magical!  Oh and I forgot to mention, they knew that Joe would be starting chemo the next day and printed out a photo for him of the baby that said "I can't wait to meet you daddy!" and that's when Joe teared up. ♥

Thank you SO much Jordan for such a beautiful, generous, and thoughtful gift!  Love you friend!
[And this is where I'd include a picture of Jordan and me, if one existed.  Or even just Jordan.  If one existed.  #momproblems].

PS- For more information, check out Goldenview's website.  This is not a sponsored post. 

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2 comments

  1. Dang it Tiff, between you and Joe I'm constantly crying onto my laptop ;) This is beautiful, he has the cutest little top lip I've ever seen in life lol

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