JUNE 4TH 2008 - Squashy!
Dear Grandchild,
You don't have to be concerned with that - an ultrasound examination shows a picture of the inside of the mother's womb - without the use of X-Rays - which could be harmful. It involves high frequency sound waves that are transmitted through the skin and reflected by the internal organs and structures. These "echoes " form a picture of you on a screen which can be examined for any abnormalities. Most pregnancies are now monitored by ultrasound examination to assess the age, health and position of the unborn baby.
Your mother told me today that they don't like to call you 'it' so they call you Squashy!
Isn't it funny how we call our babies by different names - Junior, Squirt, Dude, Squashy - all because we don't yet know whether you are a girl or a boy. Perhaps they will be able to tell your gender when your Mom has her next ultrasound.
You don't have to be concerned with that - an ultrasound examination shows a picture of the inside of the mother's womb - without the use of X-Rays - which could be harmful. It involves high frequency sound waves that are transmitted through the skin and reflected by the internal organs and structures. These "echoes " form a picture of you on a screen which can be examined for any abnormalities. Most pregnancies are now monitored by ultrasound examination to assess the age, health and position of the unborn baby.
These are good things to have because if you have a moderate to severe form of OI and sustain fractures in the womb, the scans might be able to detect them. If detected, they will take extra care when delivering you from the womb. The doctors will also measure your growth, spine, length of fe
murs and skull.
murs and skull.
If you have a mild form of OI with no evident abnormalities, normal development, no fractures, it will be almost impossible to diagnose OI until you are born. Just to be safe, the doctors will be still very gentle with you when you are delivered.
What they might look for once you are born are what is known as 'wormian' bones in the skull. These are squiggly bones found in the sutures between cranial bones and are present in people with OI.
Your father was born normally, he didn't have any of the usual features of OI - besides blue sclera (whites of the eyes, which is a clinical feature of OI) and he was a beautiful baby.
I know that you are going to be a beautiful baby too. You are the first grandchild in your Mom's family and the first Grandchild in your Dad's family and we are all overawed by the prospect of welcoming you.
Between 17 and 20 weeks your hearing develops and you can hear internal-organ and outside-world sounds. Your Mom said that you were leaping about at the concert they went to last night - perhaps you were dancing in time to the music!!
Just take it easy in there, little one. Keep safe.
Lots of love,
Silly
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