"God is in the details".Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

A detailed ultrasound is a sophisticated diagnostic procedure recommended to look for structural problems in the baby and to see if the baby is growing normally. It is usually performed at 18 weeks gestation.

We went for our detailed ultrasound last week.
This procedure was performed by a Chinese doctor instead of our usual obgyn. She was very nice and bubbly.
(I am terrible, I forgot her name. I blame it on my pregnancy hormones...I blame EVERYTHING on my pregnancy hormones. Heheheh!)

Anyway, we were very excited about this screening. Excited and a wee bit anxious too. We had absolutely no idea what it would show. Like all expectant parents, we pray and hope for a normal, healthy, happy baby and we were eager for the screening to show as such.

I was secretly EXTRA excited.
I’ve been a reading a lot of pregnancy materials and I knew that this detailed screening may be able to indicate the baby’s gender.

Like I said earlier, Wan and I only pray that our baby is normal, healthy and happy. Whether our firstborn is a girl or a boy is of no great concern. We’ve picked names for both and we’ve played various scenarios in our minds.

A robust, handsome son named Mikhail who is the exact mini replica of his daddy. We imagined dressing him up exactly like his father and tying his long, curly locks in a smart Antonio-Banderas-eat-your-heart-out ponytail. I pictured him running around the garden with his toy airplane, reading books on the branches of trees, riding his royal-blue tricycle, teasing little girls, charming adoring adults and being a typical, enchanting little boy. Wan pictured him dressed in the funkiest of clothes, strumming his mini-guitar, singing karaoke with his daddy, composing cute little tunes on his mini-keyboard and being a typical, ingenious little boy.

A vivacious, pretty little daughter named Marissa who looks like an angel but is a hyper-active, mischievous little girl. We imagined dressing her up in the sweetest of clothes and tying silk ribbons in her long, curly hair. I pictured her alternating her time playing with dolls, reading fairytales under the shade, running around with her toy airplane, speeding down the driveway in her cotton-candy pink tricycle, challenging little boys (and winning), charming adoring adults and being a typical, delightful little girl. Wan pictured her being the exact replica of me. (It’s obvious that Wan didn’t grow up knowing what little Mediha was like.)

So anyway, we were prepared for both.

On the day of the screening, I was all keyed-up. In fact, instead of my usual half-day leave, I took the entire day off. Wan was with me, of course, and we sat in the waiting room reading magazines and whispering silly anecdotes to one another.

The screening was done just like all the other ultrasounds I’ve went through. I lay on the bed with cold gunk on my tummy and the doctor started the scanning. It was very very very detailed. She would search around my tummy for the organ she was looking for, take measurements, determine whether or not the growth corresponded with the baby’s age and snap a photo.

First, we saw the spine.
Calcium shows well on the screen and we saw a slender yet brilliantly white line down the baby’s back. The doctor was pleased with what she saw and told me to maintain my diet to ensure that the baby has strong, healthy bones.
Seeing how my diet can have an effect on the baby, I made a note to myself: No more complaining about having to eat those calcium tablets. Drink more milk!

Then we saw the head.
Our baby has a very round head. That was how the doctor put it - “A perfectly round head”. She then drew a perfect little circle around the head to prove her point.
At that instant, both Wan and I blurted out:

“Just like the daddy”
“Just like the mommy”
Seems like both of us think the other has a perfectly round head.
Wan insisted that I’m the one with the round head because I was born by C-section and avoided the vacuum or forceps. I didn’t argue :)

Then we saw the brain.
A mass of gray in the baby’s skull. I have nothing to compare with but I was pleased to see that it was a sizeable brain in my baby’s head (I sound like a proud mommy already, don’t I?) The doctor took measurements and again said everything is going according to schedule.

Then we saw the baby’s face!!!
Okayla, technically, it was just the frontal skull but it was so cute. Two big eyes, a teeny nose and a gaping mouth. Apparently, the baby was yawning. I don’t think he found the screening very interesting. Of course, at this point we can’t really tell what the baby looks like, but I’m guessing he looks just like his daddy.

Then we saw the baby’s limbs. More specifically, his legs. They were parallel and pointed up. The doctor took measurements and snapped the pictures.
Then the doctor said “Okay, baby...Pull those legs apart. Let me see what’s there”

I perked up. Yes! That’s what I’ve been waiting for. My eyes were transfixed on the screen. The baby’s legs were still parallel.

“Don’t be shy, baby. Come, let us see..."said the doctor.
The baby actually moved his legs closer together.

We laughed.
“Baby pemalu”

“Come on baby, I’ve been waiting for this moment. Let mommy see” it was my turn to coax the little shyguy.

The baby moved his legs... and crossed them together.

The whole room echoed with our laughter.
“Aiyyyaaaa...this one like taukey one!” said the doctor.
“E eh, degilnyer budak kecik niii” said the mommy.
“Saja jer dia kenak mak dia” said the daddy.
(Translation: The baby's teasing his mommy)

The doctor started massaging my tummy “Lets see if I can get the baby to move in a different position”
“Come on, baby, let me see, pleaseeeeee” I beseeched the little darling in my tummy.

The baby then unceremoniously uncrossed his legs and held it wide apart.

What did we see?
Were you paying attention to how I’ve been referring to the baby?

Yes, it’s Mikhail.
We saw his pee-pee :)

So while Wan and I were gazing at the screen and giggling away, the doctor took measurements of the baby’s family jewels, snapped pictures and made a note ‘XY’ to indicate the baby’s gender.

At the end of the detailed screening, we were reassured by the findings that the baby was growing normally and healthily. And we also knew that we were now expecting our firstborn son. We walked out of the screening room with HUMONGOUS grins on our faces and the nurses smilingly teased us “Haa...dah tau la tu”

Now of course, we can only be 100% certain of the baby’s gender after the baby is born. But as far as the ultrasound screening goes, it’s a boy!


Little Boy / Little Man

Author: Clair Peach

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

Hopes and Dreams
Mischief and Laughs
Climbing up Trees
Splashing in Baths

What are the best men made of?

Hugs and kisses
Cuddles and Joy
Patience and kindness
Will make a man from this boy