Last week, we had our 20 week scan.
Most importantly, baby Birch number 2 appears to be very healthy.
That alone meant I could relax and enjoy the experience.
It was also nice because I got to see one of my former colleagues and have a catch up during the scan.
Though I have to say – it was nicer for me than for her!
Baby Birch was being very naughty indeed.
An hour or so before the scan, he was lively, excitable, and moving around lots. But he must have worn himself out. Because by the time the scan started, he had fallen asleep, curled up in a ball and facing down.
Basically, he couldn’t have made it any harder to scan him!
As well as making me worried that it’s a sign of things to come…
I also felt sorry for my friend. Imagine the pressure of scanning a former colleague – and their baby’s position making it almost impossible to assess them properly!
Despite the challenge, she did a great job of all the health checks, and I’m left feeling totally reassured that Baby Birch is developing well.
The only downside for me was that I didn’t come away with any pictures – simply because my baby was never in a good enough position to take any.
Yet, I’m in the very fortunate position of being able to have a little peek – and print some pictures – whenever I want to. So it didn’t matter at all.
But it made me think about parent’s like you who aren’t in a position to see their baby – and take some pictures and videos – on demand.
The main purpose of NHS scans – and the main concern for most parent’s (myself included) – is that their baby is healthy and developing well.
But I also know how nice it is to have pictures and video clips to remember the experience and how reassuring it is to view them later.
My 20 week scan (or anomaly scan) eased my mind. I’m delighted that Baby Birch is healthy. But it’s an example of how NHS scan don’t always the full experience. That’s nobody’s fault. And perhaps it’s not even a fault at all.
They always serve the main purpose: to check your baby is healthy and make sure you get the right care if not.
Yet, they don’t always provide the time, explanations, environment, images, videos and more that lead to peace of mind and memories to cherish.
That’s where private scans come in. Especially when those scans are specifically designed to give you what NHS scans don’t or can’t: time to take it all in, ask questions, savour the experience, and create happy pregnancy memories.
If you’d like to learn a little more about gender scans at Sneak-A-Peek Ultrasound, you can find some more information here:
https://sneak-a-peek-ultrasound.co.uk/services/gender-scans
Speak soon.
Maria Birch.