SAGE ADVICE DURING PREGNANCY
By Lianne Castelino  www.whereparentstalk.com

There seems to be a little baby boom going on among my friends and acquaintances – and
the proud parents-to-be couldn’t be more ecstatic, as they should be!

The whole magic of pregnancy complete with the morning sickness, cravings, anxiety and incessant planning is a wondrous time in a couple’s life!  And so it should be.

I loved that period — all 3 times — even though I felt like throwing up more often than not!
There is one observation though that is increasingly becoming a worrisome trend.  How prepared are expectant parents for the upcoming miracle of birth and the care of a new human being thereafter?

With families living further away from each other, a lack of access to specialized physicians or pre-natal classes, socio-economic factors that prevent proper pregnancy instruction and other obstacles, the education of a pregnant couple seems to be taking a back seat.   And that is really too bad considering “parenting doesn’t come with a manual”.

There appears to be more time spent analyzing the latest nifty baby gadget or the adorable wardrobe options than what counts – preparing to take care of a newborn.  There seems to be this false belief that learning to care for a newborn comes naturally – after giving birth.  WRONG.

Anyone who asks will always get the same answer from me:  Pregnancy is the best time to get prepared.  That time will never come back so use it wisely.  There is so much to learn and precious little time to learn it AFTER the baby arrives.

Goodness knows, despite our best intentions, giving birth is a physical and emotional event
for which no one can predict the outcome.  How will you feel, how long will the recovery take?  Will the breastfeeding work or will the bottle have to enter the mix?

NOT TO MENTION the dramatic changes that occur in the couple relationship – good and bad.   Anyone who asks will also get the same answer from me:  “you will never learn more about your spouse or partner, than after you have a baby.”  It stands to reason, doesn’t it?  Hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, added stress, crying baby, diaper-changing, visitors..the list of changes and things to cope with is endless once a baby enters your life.

What doctors should be telling pregnant women and expectant couples is to GET PREPARED.  Save yourself some of that upcoming anxiety.  Knowledge is power so empower yourself.  Try to learn as much about newborn care BEFORE the baby arrives so you and your spouse can cope together.

Sure the room, the gear, the clothes are important.   However, the single most critical thing is
to learn how to take care of that new little life.  PREpare during PREgnancy.   It’s sage advice that expectant couples should listen to – so they can navigate rather than resent the steep learning curve that comes with the arrival of a new bundle of joy.

Watch excerpts from our award-winning baby-care DVD ‘Bringing Baby Home’ Coming Soon

1. Faster heart rate indicates a girl

2. You should not exercise during the pregnancy

3. Ultrasound makes your baby left handed

4. Ball-shaped belly means a boy

5. Standing upside down after conception increases your chance of getting pregnant

6. Craving for spicy food means you are having a boy

7. Craving for sweet means you are having a girl

8. Heartburn means your baby has lots of hair

9. Girls take mom’s beauty away

]]> http://www.uc-baby.com/blog/2009/11/16/9-most-common-pregnancy-myths/feed/ 2 http://www.uc-baby.com/blog/2009/10/22/beauty-style-for-moms-to-be/ http://www.uc-baby.com/blog/2009/10/22/beauty-style-for-moms-to-be/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:51:35 +0000 admin http://www.uc-baby.com/blog/?p=41

Have a look at some beauty and lifestyle tips for Moms-To-Be:

• Enjoy the miracle of pregnancy – start a journal
• Join Yoga / Fitness classes
• Choose clothes that make you feel great
• Treat yourself to a trendy haircut & makeup
• Pick a simple skin care routine
• Watch your posture
• Eat high fibre foods to avoid constipation
• Drink lots of water, it’s great for your skin
• Moisturize your tummy daily
• Get lots of sleep
• Improve your smile & health. Floss daily
• Plan “date night” with your partner every week
• Indulge in massage for couples

It has arrived. The dreaded return of the PERIOD.

After almost 19 months of not having one, I finally got it and it came with a vengeance.

It made me think about all the physical and emotional changes we women endure in our lives.

First you go through puberty, feeling and looking awkward, adjusting to growing boobies along with the teasing from the boys, hair growing from funny places, and having your “friend” visit every month. Once you’re over the excitement of becoming a woman, the truth sinks in.

Out of the whole month of a woman’s cycle, you only have one good week of feeling and looking great. You ovulate one week and your hormones are already out of whack. Then PMS takes over you and you turn into a monster, not to be messed with! Your skin breaks out, you’re retaining water and your clothes are too tight (I always gain about 5 pounds during this time). Finally your period comes and you’re a bloated balloon and bitchy because you look five months pregnant. The week after is technically the only good week you have out of the month. Only one measly week of normal behaviour and a nice flat stomach!

Mother nature is cruel.

After your biological clock starts ticking and you decide to pop out some kids, then you’ve entered new territory. Once you reach this point you can never go back (unless you’re Heidi Klum). Oh the joys of pregnancy! There are some women who just love being pregnant! No morning sickness, they gain only 10 pounds and never get a stretch mark, work and exercise up until their due date?

Not me! And many others, I’m sure! Your beautiful belly grows but at the same time, your skin stretches out, your boobs grow massive proportions (this is not necessarily a bad thing) along with other parts of your body that you would have never imagined (my nose grew wider!). Your butt gets bigger, your legs get swollen, your hair gets thinner, and your emotions are a roller coaster… one minute you’re all sweet and loveable and the next you’re cussing out the first person you see. I could laugh and cry literally in the same instant (my husband always found this hilarious). But when you first see that tiny little baby on the ultrasound, you are truly amazed and forget everything else.

Next up – labour. You experience the thrill of lying on the hospital bed with your legs spread open for the whole world to see, and every nurse and doctor on the floor has gotten to know you a little bit more than you had hoped for. The least they could have done was wined and dined you first! They would enter the room, greet you and all of a sudden the glove is on and they’re digging for gold. “Hmm, you’re about 3 centimetres now” which means they’ll do this another 10 times before the baby is actually ready to enter the world.

Then it’s time for the baby to come out! Ahh what a beautiful experience – NOT! Well not right away. The epidural was just enough for me to numb some of the pain with my second baby, who was delivered face up (extremely painful), and with my first I couldn’t feel my legs or how much I was pushing so they had to use a vacuum. Poor lil’ conehead. I asked the doctor with both pregnancies how many stitches I got from tearing but they never did give me an exact number…hmm I wonder why?! But once you hold your baby for the very first time, you miraculously forget the pain…just pure joy and intense love.

Ah, you’re home now! The pain from the stitches (or C-section) is excruciating, not to mention the lovely hemorrhoids, and for some, the baby blues take over so you’re also an emotional wreck. Your milk comes in and your boobs have grown two cup sizes. Your nipples become large pepperoni’s and with bad latching (if you breastfeed), they become cracked and crusty. The soggy leaking breasts last several months and soon enough, they are not so full of milk anymore and that large C or D that you were hoping would remain disappears. Suddenly they decide to go south, never to return. Wa wa wa.

Would I ever consider and go through with a surgical procedure to enhance or tighten a part of my body? I say, never say never to a boob lift or a tummy tuck. But right now, I am proud of my scars.

So the baby is now 5 months old and you’re still looking 5 months pregnant… you’re sick of wearing maternity clothes when you are no longer pregnant, but your old clothes don’t fit yet. You can squeeze into your old jeans but your flabby belly hangs out. Now you finally understand why your mother owned a dozen girdles and control-top panties!

On top of taking care of the kids, keeping the house in order, feeding the family, maintaining some level of sanity and trying to find the time and energy to exercise, on top of all of that, I now have to deal with the wonderful return of the period.

Arrrrrrrghhhhh!!!

Oh I forgot, we also have menopause to look forward to.

Maria Lianos is the creator and editor of www.amotherworld.com, an online magazine for moms around the world.  Along with articles on parenting, marriage, health and wellness, home and entertainment, the magazine also shares stories from moms around the globe.

By Rishma Lalani,
Owner of Itsabelly LLC, www.itsa-belly.com, Baby Concierge & Planning Services for New and Expectant Parents

Congratulations – you’re having a baby! Learning about your new arrival brings an onset of many emotions from the initial excitement and happiness to anxiety and confusion as the time gets closer to bring baby home.

Amidst all the planning and preparation here are a few helpful hints to keep in mind:

1. Plan and Develop a Support System

· May consist of your spouse, parents, other family, friends, baby planners and doulas.
· Consider a division of “labour” schedule. Decide ahead of time who is responsible for tasks such cooking, cleaning and laundry.

2. Save Money on Baby Products

· Consider your lifestyle, where/when/what type of activities you plan to do with your baby in order to determine what type of gear and/or products to purchase and what may/may not be necessary.

3. You Can’t Spoil a Baby

· Infants typically do not develop manipulation skills until after 6 months. Newborns need to feel loved, secure and re-assured that their basic needs are being met.

4. Mark Your Calendar for the 6 week and 3 month Milestones

· The first 6 weeks are a whirlwind of healing for the mother and feeding/changing/soothing on demand for the newborn.
· Around the 3 month mark is when baby’s eating and sleeping patterns become more predictable. This will enable you to start establishing some simple routines.

5. Establish a Schedule

· Babies are creatures of habit – identify a routine – an order of eat/activity/sleep/personal time.
· A schedule doesn’t mean things have to happen at the exact same time everyday – it means consistency and some predictability about what to expect next.

6. Rest/Take Time for Yourself

· Even if you don’t follow the “sleep when the baby” sleeps advice, it is important to relax/rest everyday in order to have the energy to be the best parent you can be.

7. Manage Your Expectations

· Every mother/father/baby is different so give yourselves the time to figure what works best for your family.

8. Bond with Your Baby

· Aside from the feedings and diaper changes, take time to bond with your baby, this is a precious moment in your lives and it goes by very fast. Talk to each other, play with each other – cherish each other.

9. Loose Control

· Allow others to help with household chores, meals and taking care of the baby.
· Don’t sweat the small stuff. As long as you are meeting your and your baby’s needs, it’s ok if the dishes and laundry don’t get done today.

10. Trust Your Instincts

· As well planned and researched you are as a parent; one of the most useful tools you have is yourself. Do not underestimate the value of your instinct.

Breast milk is nature’s way of providing the best nutrition to a new born. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding to babies for the first six months after birth. There are a number of reasons why mothers should breastfeed their babies, some more important than others. Here are 10 important reasons which should encourage non-breastfeeding moms to start breastfeeding their baby right away.
1. Breast milk is easily digestible by the baby
As opposed to formula milk, breast milk is easily digestible by the baby as it is completely natural and does not contain any synthetic or artificial nutrients like those present in formula milk. The protein content in breast milk is also as much as your baby requires, which is easily absorbed by your baby. However, in case of formula milk, more proteins are present, which cannot be absorbed by the baby’s immature digestive system. This is why the stools of formula-fed babies are bulkier than those of breast fed babies.
2. Reduce the chances of breast cancer
This is one of the most import reasons why mothers should breast feed their babies. Moms who breastfeed their new born are at a reduced risk of suffering from breast cancer at a later stage in life. Moreover, it has been researched that baby girls who are breastfed also have a reduced risk of suffering from breast cancer at a later stage in life.
3. Breast milk increases levels of IQ in children
Children who are breast fed develop higher IQ levels than bottle fed milk. This is directly related to the growth hormones which are present in breast milk and are essential for the cognitive growth of the child. Whether the baby received breast milk directly through the breast or pumped, like using Avent Breast Pump or Medela Pump, studies show that it is the consumption of human milk that causes higher levels of IQ in school going children.
4. Breast milk helps pass meconium
Meconium is the sticky, black tar-like substance that passes from the babies intestines after birth. A mothers breast naturally produce colostrum in the initial days after birth which contains natural laxatives, along with antibodies and hormones to help clean the baby’s intestines. Formula fed babies often have problems getting rid of meconium after birth.
5. Breast milk helps build the baby’s immune system
Since breast milk is naturally produced, it contains all the essential nutrients, minerals, growth hormones, antibodies and other vitamins required by the baby. These substances help the baby to build a stronger immune system, helping the baby to fight against infections, diseases and illnesses. No formula milk can provide these disease fighting antibodies. According to a research, about 80% cells found in breast milk are macrophages, which are cells that help kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. This is why beast fed babies visit the hospital less often.
6. Increases the emotional bonding between the mother and the child
Breastfeeding is a natural process and it helps the mother and the child to bond with each other by spending quality time together. This emotional bonding is essential for the baby to grow in to a good human being. Bottle fed babies who are not able to make this bond can develop feelings of “neglect” over time. Touching and holding gives a very comforting and soothing feeling to the baby.
7. Breast feeding releases hormones in the mothers body
Breast feeding is known to release the hormone oxytocin in the mothers breasts, which helps in stimulating the uterine contractions, helping the mother to recover quickly after birth. Oxytocin helps the uterus to return back to its normal size. It also helps mothers to regain their figure more quickly. Non-breastfeeding moms are never able to shrink the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size.
8. Reduces the risk of diabetes in children
Infants that are breastfed are at a reduced risk of developing diabetes in the later stages in life. Studies show that lack of breastfeeding is directly associated with the development of Type I diabetes over time. Non breast feeding babies are usually introduced to dairy products at an early stage. This increases the level of cow’s milk antibodies in the child’s system, increasing the risk of insulin dependent diabetes. Infants that are breastfed are also known to be at a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
9. Prevents post-partum hemorrhage in mothers
The release of oxytocin in the mothers body due to breastfeeding helps to shrink the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size and also helps to expel the placenta. The contractions that allow this to happen also shut off the maternal blood vessels that fed the baby during pregnancy, discouraging excessive bleeding after child birth. Mothers who do not breast feed often have to take artificial oxytocin to help prevent post-partum hemorrhage.
10. Protects the baby against illnesses, infections and diseases
This reason makes breast milk the best gift for babies provided to every mother by nature. The natural antibodies present in breast milk allow the baby to fight against infections such as ear infections, infections of the respiratory system and intestinal tract, as well as reduces the risk of asthma in infants. Not only this, but breast milk also reduces diarrheal infections, vision defects, bacterial meningitis and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, known as SIDS.

These factors are just a tiny part of more than 100 other reasons why breast milk is best for you and your child. So if you are a mother who has just given birth, or will be soon, should make every effort to give the best to yourself and to your child.

I’ll admit, since I’ve been pregnant with my first baby, I’ve turned into the type of expectant mother I swore I’d never be.

For me, along with morning sickness (read: morning, noon and night sickness) and bloating came an innate obsession with all things maternity. I use “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” as more of a manifesto than a reference book. If there was a website at www.ihavetostopbuyingbabystuff.com, I’d need to check it out. I want to know everything possible about my baby and its development at every stage. If I could install a little two-way mirror in my belly so I could peek in at the baby (whom we’re calling Bean at this point, since we haven’t picked a name yet), I probably would.

A few weeks ago I did the next best thing: I booked an appointment at UC Baby.
My family doctor told me about the new 3D ultrasound business back in December. The UC Baby franchise has 18 locations across the country, and provides ultrasounds not for medical or diagnostic purposes, but for expectant parents who want to have a look at their baby in the womb.

The local franchise is owned and operated by Sarah Boone, a trained diagnostic imaging technologist who once worked with Eastern Health. Boone prefers to work as an ultrasound technologist instead of an X-ray technologist, and particularly likes working with expectant mommies and their babies. She opened her business at Campbell Avenue in St. John’s last September.

Focused sound

According to Health Canada, fetal ultrasounds create images of the baby in the womb by using short bursts of sound waves that travel through the body in a series of focused beams. Echoes from the beams are converted into real-time images that show the unborn baby’s movement, internal organs, heartbeat and even blood flow.

While the 2D diagnostic ultrasounds required by doctors and performed in the hospital are obviously necessary, they don’t show the untrained eye the surface detail that 3D ultrasounds show. With 3D, expectant parents can see and decipher clear images of their baby, including facial features.

Though Boone’s prices start at $175, my partner, Ian, and I chose the $299 option — which includes two ultrasounds, about 10 weeks apart, about 40 pictures of the baby on CD at each visit, two printed photos at each visit, and the ability to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Gender determination and a podcast — so family members and friends not present can watch live online — are free options.
Ian and I chose to pay an extra $25 to have the ultrasounds recorded in 4D (the fourth dimension being movement) on two DVDs.
We opted out of buying the cute teddy bear that comes implanted with a recording of our baby’s heartbeat. For now.

Unlike in a hospital, you can bring your entire family with you to see your UC Baby ultrasound. We brought our parents — Bean’s four grandparents — to witness the first portrait session.
The office isn’t a clinic. The waiting room is a cozy living room-type space, with carpet, vases of flowers and a fireplace. The actual ultrasound room is even more impressive — while it has the standard table and ultrasound equipment on one side, the room also features a large white leather sofa and armchair, and a huge flatscreen TV, for your family’s viewing pleasure.
“All we need is popcorn, and we’ve got a great Saturday afternoon matinee,” my dad remarked.

Gorgeous black and white photographs of tiny babies by central Newfoundland photographer Dawn Oldford adorn one wall and add to the cozy feel of the room.

Flicking the switch

Once everyone was comfortably seated (and I had assumed the standard lying-down-on-the-table, belly-covered-in-jelly pose), Boone turned on the machine and started the session with a look at the baby in 2D.
To anyone not trained, the 2D ultrasound images look gray and blurry. You can make out the head, spine, hands and legs and see the heart beating away, but the pictures are more for doctors.

To the average parent-to-be, the ultrasound shows only the skull, and not the real face, so the baby looks like an alien with gigantic eye sockets — a cute little alien, but very extra-terrestrial-like, all the same.

When Boone flicked the 3D switch, Bean appeared. You could see the eyes (although at this point, the eyelids are still fused shut — I know this from reading the manifesto), the lips, and the little bum. We watched the baby rub its eye, stick out its tongue, play with the umbilical cord and snuggle in towards my back.
Ian’s father, who had never seen an ultrasound of any type, took off his glasses and leaned towards the TV screen to count the fingers and toes, which were clearly visible (a perfect 10 each).

“I’ve seen babies sucking on their toes, grabbing at their feet, hands completely up on the head, or right underneath the bum. Really cute things,” Boone said.
“I’d say with half the babies, we see yawning. They don’t actually shed tears, but I’ve seen expressions that looking like crying, frowning, or anger, almost.”
Although we already had a good idea of Bean’s gender from the diagnostic ultrasound, we asked Boone if she could confirm it for us in 3D. Bean co-operated, and we saw, on the big screen, further proof of what we’d been told at the hospital.
After that, Bean wouldn’t show us its face anymore, turning so we could only see its side, and covering its face with its hand.
“The baby is embarrassed,” my dad joked. “It’s afraid you’re going to put the gender pictures on Facebook!”
“That won’t be happening,” Ian, already a protective dad, quickly responded with a chuckle and a shake of his head.

Impact

The most incredible thing about the 3D ultrasound is that we could clearly see Bean’s features, and when I say clearly, I mean we know already, at about six months’ pregnant, that the baby has my nose and chin, its father’s long legs, and long fingers like the both of us.
Leaving the UC Baby office, after making the appointment for the second ultrasound — and with a bag full of goodies, including the CD and DVD, coupons, diaper rash cream and a baby bottle — I considered in amazement that Bean was no longer a “thing” in my tummy, but an actual person.

Seeing the 3D images of my baby made me want to eat more veggies, and Boone later told me studies have shown that many women take better care of themselves after having the 3D ultrasound.

“It’s no wonder parents today are so connected to their children,” remarked Ian’s mother.
“You can know everything about them before they’re born.”
After seeing the ultrasound images, most people feel a bond with their baby, whether or not they know the gender, Boone said.

“One of my first clients, the father, said as he was leaving, ‘I did not feel like I was going to be a dad until now,’” she said. “I think for the dads, they don’t get to feel the movement, so it’s a good way to get them involved.”

As The Telegram reported in 2008, Health Canada issued a notice in 2003 recommending that parents not expose their unborn babies to fetal ultrasound simply for keepsake purposes. Ultrasounds should only be done based on a doctor’s referral, and only “when the expected medical benefits outweigh any foreseeable risk,” the notice said.

However, it acknowledged the millions of ultrasounds that have been done with “no confirmed health risks for the baby or the mother.”

Health Canada hasn’t issued any other notices about elective fetal ultrasounds.
In 1996, the Canadian Association of Radiologists issued a statement about fetal ultrasounds, saying it was concerned the operators of the equipment might not be equipped to recognize fetal and placental abnormalities.

This is one reason why Boone accepts clients only after they’ve had their 20-week anatomy ultrasound at the hospital, and requires all expectant mothers to fill out a form, giving their obstetrician and family doctor’s name and phone number before they have the 3D ultrasound. If she detects anything out of the ordinary on the ultrasound, she will contact the doctor right away.

“That’s very rare, though, because if there are any abnormalities present, they should have been detected at the 20-week ultrasound,” she said.

Many of Boone’s clients come to the clinic after having been told about the service by their doctor. She sees about 20 new clients a week.

“In my personal opinion, they would not be doing the ultrasounds as freely in the hospitals as they do if they thought it was dangerous,” Boone said.

“There are high-risk pregnancies that require ultrasounds weekly, and if they thought there was a risk involved, they wouldn’t perform them as freely as they do.

“There is equipment in the hospitals that can produce 3D images, and they often just turn it on for some of their patients. It’s not like an X-ray — which is actually ionizing radiation and is completely different; it’s dangerous, it’s harmful — and no one would recommend that a pregnant woman be exposed to ionized radiation.

“My family doctor, as soon as she found out I had this business, said, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to tell my patients.’”

The 3D ultrasound was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve shared the pictures with my friends and made copies of the DVD for Bean’s grandparents. Like the baby-obsessed preggo that I am, I sometimes look at them before I go to bed, say a prayer for Bean’s safe arrival, and let the baby know that whatever it’s planning to throw at me next — whether perpetual heartburn, 20 more pounds or a 40-hour labour — it would all be worth it.

May 21, 2009

I was so disappointed to discover that gender identification and pictures were not shared with parents in the province of Nova Scotia. My two previous pregnancies were in different locations, both of which celebrated pregnancy, sharing as much information with parents and families as possible.

I am so not one that can wait to find out anything. I shake Christmas presents, I want to know! Then I heard about UC Baby, the first 3D/4D ultrasound provider for parents in Canada. I could not wait to find out more information! It was reassuring to discover that they have licensed and experienced ultrasound technicians, that were friendly and very informative. After contacting the owner I was delighted to head in to perform a gender identification about eight weeks ago.

We were thrilled to be informed that we were expecting a baby girl! Since I did not know what to expect, I did not bring in my children, instead they stayed with their Dad. However, once I arrived at the office I was disappointed that I did not bring them along. Not only were the staff super nice, the ultrasound room is huge. Definitely more than accommodating for my growing family. Not only that, the sonographer Kathy informed me that the kids were welcome, as well as could eat and drink. As most parents know, the key to good behaviour at appointments sometimes is a good snack!

For the 4D scan I totally brought my husband and kids along to experience it with me. My husband, a few nights before went to the UC Baby website to check it out and was so excited to get a good look at our new baby girl before she arrives. We have spoke at length with the children, to prepare them for the birth of their new sibling and I knew this experience would further the concept.

I was not disappointed the second time around. We did however discover that our baby girl was breech. Not a worry so early along, however it made it virtually impossible to get a good picture of her. Not only was she breech, she was all curled up with her hands and feet covering her tiny face. It was still so amazing to see her, watch her heart beat and share it with my family. However, UC Baby insisted we wait a couple weeks, then return to see if our little rascal had flipped.

I have to admit I was not sure I believed in going for an optional ultrasound. It felt frivolous and unnecessary. Yet when I was there, seeing my little baby girl all tucked inside me safe, cozy and a part of me, I could not have been happier in that moment. Being able to share that moment with not only my husband and children, but my friends and family that are far away was priceless. My mother in law has never seen her grandchildren on an ultrasound before and was able to be part of the moment through UC Baby’s free Live Broadcasting.

We returned for our final viewing last Tuesday. A good friend suggested I try standing on my head to flip the baby out of breech position. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get on my head, so instead I did a shoulder stand with the help of my husband. It must have worked because the baby girl was in perfect position. Once again my mother in law and a few friends were able to see the baby through UC Baby’s free Live Broadcasting. This time we had the microphone on so they could hear what was happening.

I was so pleased with the UC Baby experience. My husband was all gushy afterward, happy to have witnessed our baby girl inside me. Our daughter (almost 5 years old) was totally into the process as well. We were able to bring home not only a ton of pictures on CD, printed photographs from the sessions and a DVD of all the recordings during the sessions we went to. Such amazing memories we will be able to cherish and share with our children in the future.

For more information on products, packages and services provided by UC Baby check out their website. Really truly, it was amazing and absolutely worth it, I am still all giddy seeing our baby. So exciting only 10 weeks till we can snuggle her!

Written by: blush
8/11/2009 11:18 AM
This week we had one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. I’m still struggling to find the right words to describe it. This week we had a 3D ultrasound experience with UC Baby.

After my immense disappointment at not being able to find out our baby’s gender at the 20-week scan, we weighed up what we wanted to do. We could either give up trying to find out the gender, have a 3D ultrasound, or wait for my placenta previa scan at 32 weeks (the placenta is a bit too close to the cervix at the moment so I need another scan to make sure it’s moved far enough away). Being the impatient person I am, and because Husbando and I had already agreed that we wanted all baby-related tasks to be completed by 30 weeks, we decided to go the 3D route.

The staff at UC Baby was fantastic. Not only do they offer full scans, which last 45 minutes each, they also do shorter scans (15 minutes) just to find out the gender. Each of the scanning rooms can accommodate up to eight people, so you can bring your family and friends to meet the baby, but there is one service they offer that made the whole thing even more special for us.

UC Baby is able to broadcast the scan over the Internet. For us this meant that Husband’s family, and my best friend in the UK, could be a part of it all. In this day and age, when the people we are closest to are often scattered all over the country or the world, being able to include them in such a momentous occasion is priceless. Each person is given their own log-in (you can have up to four email addresses) and they can see and hear everything you do.

When we arrived at the scan I was nervous. After the crushing disappointment of not finding out the gender at the 20-week scan, I had tried very hard not to get my hopes up (even though I knew that the chances of finding out with a 3D scan were much higher). Our tech instantly put me at ease, and after a few minutes of set-up we were able to get started.

I can’t explain the amazingness of seeing the picture jump from a regular 2D image into a 3D picture. Suddenly, there in front of us, was a picture of our baby. I was shocked at how clear and precise the features were. You could very clearly make out the lips, eyes, and cheeks. I could tell it has Husband’s nose and my cheeks it was startling to see our features combined on this little creature. After a tour of our baby’s face, arms, legs, hands, and feet (still look larger but with adorable toes), the tech asked us if we were ready to find out the gender. I grabbed Husband’s hand and the tech had to manoeuvre several angles until he was able to show us that we are having a baby GIRL! Thrill and exhilaration rushed through me. A girl. A daughter, OUR daughter is all of a sudden we were a family. Tears filled my eyes as we stared at the face of the daughter we would meet in 18 weeks. Such a truly incredible experience.

My husband and I can’t stop talking about the scan and the discovery that we are having a daughter. It has definitely made the experience far more real and immediate. I think both the scan and finding out the gender have made a massive difference to him. It must be hard for husbands and fathers to feel involved in the pregnancy. I get to feel every little move, every kick and every day I discover a new way in which my body has changed to sustain this baby, both now and after the birth. But there is nothing for him to feel yet (and thankfully, his belly isn’t growing!) This scan has made it real for him, and I think that plays a vital part in his bonding with our daughter.

UC Baby has clinics across Canada and I can’t recommend them enough. The 3D scan has definitely been one of the best things about the pregnancy so far. We will be having another 3D scan at 30 weeks in one of their other offices and they are hoping to have upgraded their Internet broadcasting to include two-way communication (right now the people watching can hear you but you can’t hear them) so I can’t wait to tell you about that, but in the meantime I leave you pictures of our daughter’s