Week 21 of Pregnancy (Trimester 2 of Preganancy)

AJ and I went to the General Infirmary for a fetal anomaly scan. It is quite normal to have this, and most health authorities will offer this to pregnant mothers. It was wonderful – we saw the baby’s head, arms, hands, heart, body, legs and feet. We even saw it moving and sucking its thumb. The radiographer thinks our baby is a boy – she did point out the tell-tale piece of anatomy, but I couldn’t see anything recognizable. Oh well, I guess she has more experience in these matters than I do! The results of the scan are all normal, so we are both very happy and relieved to know that there is every chance of our little boy being a normal baby.

AJ and Rosie have said all along they want a baby girl, a little sister. AJ because he says he has got so used to being a dad to a little girl, he is unsure how he would cope with a little boy! Ever since she first began asking for a sibling at about 5 years old, Rosie has wanted a sister because “girls have long hair”. When AJ collected her from school and told her the baby was a boy, apparently she went all quiet for a moment, then cheered up and said “oh well, at least it’s a baby”!!

Rosie is so excited about the scan photo, she has taken a copy in to school and posted a couple to her grandmother and great-grandmother. At times she seems so excited and happy about this new baby. And at others she seems very quiet and almost worried. I did ask her about how she felt, but all she would say was that she was a little unsure about how she could help looking after the baby. Poppet!

The fetus is starting to manufacture the white blood cells which will play an important role in fighting disease and infection after birth. His skin becomes opaque, so those little blood vessels are not so visible anymore through the once tracing-paper like skin. Baby’s tongue is now fully developed, too.