(Note: This is the side view of our little baby...the head is on the right; the nose and mouth can be easily spotted; the tummy is on the left. The little arm can also be seen on the lower left.)Before today, I couldn't 'feel' much about our baby. Connie has gone through a lot since December. From having nausea, loss of appetite, to feeling little tickles in her womb, everything was more 'concrete' to Connie. I'm glad that today I could 'see' our little one. Connie went into the examination room first for the operator had to do some measurement for our baby. Our little one was asleep during the ultrasound diagnosis, so the operator couldn't have a clear view of the neck. Connie was asked to do a few things to try waking our baby. It took quite a while at last that the operator finally could get the measurement done, but our little baby went BACK TO SLEEP!! Wow, just like his/her dad!!!
Then Abby and I were allowed to go in. I felt excited when I saw our baby in the monitor. We tried to tell Abby how to 'see'. However, she didn't seem to feel excited or interested about it. We viewed in birdseye view from the head and saw his/her brain. Then we switched to the side and saw the spine and body. We also saw the heart beating quickly like a speed pump. My heart echoed with the beating. We asked about the gender, and the operator said, "It's too early to find out."
My mind went blank by hearing her answer. What did she mean by too early? I was thinking why she refused to tell us. It's all about $$$$$$$. At the end of this check-up, the operator gave me a brochure advertising their 3D ultrasound imaging package. Through the 3D imaging, you can actually 'see' a clear view of your baby, just like a photo taken in the womb. Cost? from $99 to $199 CAD. For checking gender, it's $99!!!!! (I later found out that the ultrasound session in this package is a 10-minute 2D session only!!! That's exactly the SAME with what we're doing today) What a rip off!!! I asked the operator when would be the earliest time for checking the gender with 3D ultrasound package. She said "anytime"!!! So what she told me earlier that "it's too early..." was ALL LIES. I told the operator that I'm a student and I would not pay extra to join this fancy package. Nothing changed. I did not say much and then walked out of the clinlic with Connie. I wasn't able to react and give a good response/counterstrike. I'm angry about the way they do business. I'm really really disappointed (pissed off)!!!
Indeed, Connie and I talked on our way home. We both would really like to know the gender so that we can better prepare our minds and stuff for the newborn. But would we spend $99 to find out the gender? I don't know what I'd do yet. For the worst case, we'd find out upon delivery. Connie made a profound remark: "It's just like the case when we adopted Abby, we didn't know we're adopting a boy/girl until the matching was done for us." I felt more relieved.
This image of our baby often comes to my mind as a reminder that our baby is growing well in Connie's womb. I was giving thanks to God in the prayer before dinner for giving such a wonderful gift to us. If the baby is a 'he', this would be a great blessing for this has been what Connie and I long expected. He would be called "Caleb", my favourite Bible character who dedicatedly and faithfully walked in God's favor. If the baby is a 'she', we would also be grateful (maybe even more than having Caleb) since raising a girl would be so much sweeter!! ^_^ She would be called "Eliana", a Hebrew name meaning God's gift. She can also get to wear clothes passed down from Abby!! This saves quite a lot!! ^_^
Would our little one be Caleb or Eliana? Anyway, our story will be continued...may we always be thankful to God's abundant providence.
Cyn and I went to Greig Associate to take our first ultrasound picture for Jubi too, and they gave the same response. I would highly disrecommend this commercialized imaging "business" as they are not very ethical. If somehow Connie get to have another ultrasound later, Cyn knows one at Burnaby (though it's further) that would tell the gender right away, but of course we don't really want Connie to take another ultrasound as that would mean baby is having some problems. Anyhow, surprise is good and something we can give thanks for.
ReplyDeleteThanks John ^_^
ReplyDeleteWe shall not take another one for the sake of the gender.