by Shannon Lawrence

Created on: June 20, 2009

Pregnancy is such an exciting and, at times, scary experience. There are so many things to do and to look forward to. Doctor visits, Lamaze and Bradley classes, endless parenting books and websites, all of them lead to one place: the birth. Birth is the day you will finally meet that tiny little person, growing away inside you, occasionally bludgeoning your insides with what feels like torturous glee. As beautiful as that day will be, it is so incredibly far away. At times, the weeks will fly by, but at others they drag on as you wait to hold that teeny bundle in your arms. Through it all, morning sickness and kicks can only make it feel so real to you. However, an ultrasound gives you a brief view, a snapshot, of the child you'll soon be able to snuggle. What a magical day "Ultrasound Day" is!

Some women are lucky enough to have doctors that do ultrasounds more than once, but others only get that one fondly referred to as "The Big Ultrasound." This one occurs some time around the twentieth week of your pregnancy, in the second trimester. Technically, this ultrasound is done to check for possible birth defects and to spot any other issues that might exist. However, as important as that is (and as reassuring as the scan can be), the thought on most mother's minds is the fact that they get to see their beautiful child. Sure, the child will look like a cross between a skeleton and an alien, but that is your baby, your creation, and it is perfect!

All mothers know that the child's personality is obvious well before they see their first glint of sunshine (or, rather, artificial lighting). Seeing that baby via ultrasound can solidify things we already know, as well as introduce other things. A mother might learn that her sweet baby is a thumb sucker, for instance. Of course, there is always the obvious discovery of the baby's gender (should you choose). Mothers often suspect, or even know, what the gender is, but it can be so helpful to discover for sure. Baby doesn't always open up and show his or her privates at the ultrasound, but there is a good chance they will.

If you're lucky, your doctor will print up a picture (sometimes several) of that perfect little bundle of yours to take home with you. Sometimes that picture can help you get through a rough day. Doctors will often try to get a face shot, as well as a sweet little hand or their little feet. These things are looked at, among others, in the search for possible birth defects, but they print them up because they know perfectly well that parents enjoy seeing them.

Ultimately, an ultrasound should show that your baby is healthy, as well as the gender. More importantly, seeing your baby solidifies that this is real, that all of the less pleasant parts of being pregnant promise a huge reward in the end. Yes, you've known you were really pregnant, and you've even heard the heartbeat, but there is something to be said for seeing your baby at last. As cliche as it may sound, that moment is truly magical. While you're viewing that ultrasound, take a moment to look at your partner, where you will surely see a mirror image of the wonder showing on your own face.

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