Fetal Echocardiogram
This morning we had what will potentially be our last ultrasound. We went back downtown to the perinatal center to closely check on Muffin's heart development and functionality.
The ultrasound tech did a fantastic job of explaining what she was looking for and why those features are important. She started by measuring the baby's brain, belly, and femur. These measurements are used to judge the baby's overall growth and health. The brain looked good and she estimated Muffin's weight to be 1 pound 14 ounces (which is the 63rd percentile). Most babies reach 2 pounds at 26 weeks, so we are right on track. Then she measured the amount of amniotic fluid, which was smack dab in the middle of the normal range.
Then she spent about 30 minutes looking at the baby's heart from many different angles. She checked the four chambers, the directionality of the blood flow, and the arteries taking blood to the heart and away from the heart. Muffin was compliant and didn't move around too much, so she was able to get good images fairly easily. Throughout the ultrasound, she commented that things were looking good and she was pleased with what she saw.
Partway through the ultrasound, I started to feel nauseous. At first I thought I was just hungry (because I saved some of my breakfast to eat after the appointment), but after a few more minutes, I was definitely nauseous and clammy. I said this aloud and the nurse told me to roll onto my side. Within a few minutes I felt better. After hearing the nurse's explanation and doing a little online research, I've learned that the vena cava vein is located behind the uterus. When pregnant women lie on their backs, the weight of the uterus puts pressure on this major vein and limits the amount of blood that returns to the heart from the lower body. This can cause feelings of nausea and dizziness. The nurse told me that this occurs most frequently in the third trimester, but the combined weight of my uterus, fluid, and Muffin is likely enough for me to feel the effects of this after an extended period of time. So now I know that lying on my back is not the best option for me!
The ultrasound photos will be sent to my OB/GYN office and the doctor will look at them. We are to assume that everything is great unless we hear otherwise. My next appointment will be a standard 28-week check-up in March.
Update (2/22/20): I received a message today that the ultrasound results are all normal and the heart looks good!
