Tomorrow (Monday 9/14) we have our 20-week ultrasound and the question on everyone's mind is whether or not we are going to take a peak at our little one's gender. This is the most common question I've encountered thus far in my pregnancy. Isn't it interesting that people are not only curious about our baby's gender, but they are curious about whether we are curious? I'm pretty sure that all the people who've asked the "peak or not to peak" question are peakers themselves.
Well, I too am a curious person and frankly I think that waiting 20 weeks for this information is long enough! John did not always share my opinion on this point, however. I remember at the very beginning, when people first started asking us this question, I was surprised that while I was certain that I wanted to know, John was ambivalent. How could he not want to know, I wondered? He is at least as curious a person as I am!
Since I am a fabulous wife and always eager to compromise, I promised John that if he did not want to know the gender, I would not tell him. I gave him no assurances that his friends and family would not let it slip, but I would not be the one to give him the news. And John, ever wise, not too long after my proclamation decided that it did not make much sense for me to know and not him.
I told you he was curious!
So tomorrow we hope to find out the gender. All the doctors (and many testimonies on the internet) remind us that this exam does not provide 100% assurance of gender and that mistakes are commonly made - especially when identifying females. The ultrasound requires that my bladder be full, an aspect I am really not looking forward to. We are scheduled for 8:45 am and must arrive 30 minutes early. An hour before we arrive I am to drink 16 oz of water and must hold it until the exam is over. As many of you are aware, pregnant woman use the restroom often. I in particular, after watching my fluid intake in the afternoon and evening, get up at night between 3 and 5 times now. I used to easily sleep through the night before pregnancy, and to be honest I am praying that our appointment will not be delayed as I am unsure I could hold the required fluids much longer than required.
No matter what happens, even if the baby does not cooperate and the gender cannot be guessed, I hope to have more pictures tomorrow to share and post to our new website. Stay tuned...
