Amazing Technology

This past week I was privileged to get to see the first internal pictures of our first grandbaby. Yes, the new mama and daddy-to-be allowed me and the soon-to-be auntie to accompany them to the ultrasound appointment.

It has been two decades since I had been pregnant and there have been definitely been some changes in pre-natal treatment. Back in the day, it wasn't a norm to get an ultrasound. In fact, I only had one ultrasound and that was during the first pregnancy. It was so early on that there wasn't much to see. In fact, the mama-to-be was only big as a peanut.

Now it seems to be the norm for most pregnant women to get at least one ultrasound during their pregnancy.

The technology is amazing to me.

Younger daughter had her fall break from college and it was a by luck her sister's ultrasound appointment was during her visit home. We packed our overnight bags and went to spend the night. The kids went to work for the morning and that left us to get ready and wait. And wait. And wait.

We had to travel a bit across the city to get to the medical facility and doctors' office complex. Let's just say, I am used to now getting in the car and being to the doctor's office in less than five minutes. But this trip took twenty in reality but seemed to take forever.

Our little group pulled into one of the multiple parking lots and finally found a parking spot. We all traipsed into waiting area of the women's clinic and then the ultrasound room. It was big enough to have the ultrasound equipment, and exam table and one chair. We were cozy in the corner to say the least.

Elder daughter and son-in-law had previously agreed to find out the baby's gender. That was the first question asked. "Do you want to know the sex?" Yes indeed.

That question asked and answered very plainly. Next came the diagnostic part of the exam. There are physical aspects which get checked and measured. We watched the heart. We heard the heartbeat. There were measurements of the arms, legs, and head. There were checks of the brain, the diaphragm, the lips. There was the colored pictures of the umbilical cord and marking the blood flow from the placenta to the baby. There is an approximate weight.

I was doing the listening because at this point the others in the room were just watching with the awe and amazement that they should have been. This was a first of many firsts and they were watching with their hearts as well.

There is also 3D technology now and we were able to peek at the face in 3D. The ultrasound lady said that the baby was being bashful but active. The ultrasound lady printed out a number of photos and the whole exam took maybe 15 minutes.

As soon as we hit the parking lot and got in the car, the cell phones were whipped out. There were people of both sides of the family that needed to have the first phone calls. Granddad-to-be had to be told that his prediction was spot on. I still maintain is the funniest thing because with his own kids he was never ever that adamant about a gender prediction.

Next on the agenda - lunch. This is where is takes the additional 21st century technology aspect to the baby story. We are sitting at lunch and getting menus. However, I apparently was showing my age because I was looking at the menu but the kids were sitting there, phones in hand texting like mad. Well, who the heck was I supposed to text? Sigh. But I did get in a couple of texts but not before the kids had text messaged their family and friends and had gotten multiple replies before I could even get my names marked in my contact list to put in the send column.

It was a very special day and I am lucky to have been able to go along. Again, it is amazing technology and it was beyond cool to see. Besides, it is nice to know the gender. Try shopping for neutral baby items now-a-days. You find white and some green and yellow baby items. But at least I can say, our new grandbaby will be pretty in pink.