One of the most exciting moments thus far in the pregnancy is the first ultrasound at 8 weeks pregnant. Though the transvaginal ultrasound experience did take us by surprise, we look back and can somewhat laugh at the whole ordeal as something memorial in our pregnancy journey.
But honestly, it’s been one of the profound milestones in our pregnancy, and what we got from experience was the cutest ultrasound picture we will ever have of our baby- or that we’ve ever seen at 8 weeks pregnant.
The first ultrasound experience is the moment you get to meet your baby for the first time. It’s the reassurance and confirmation at 8 weeks pregnant that you are having a healthy little one. And although you may not feel or hear a baby growing in your womb, it’s there alright! One of the highlights of our first ultrasound experience is the moment we heard her heart beat. Words can’t really describe how it felt but know when you hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time, you’ll be overcome with emotions and joy.
Before I go on sharing my awkward transvaginal ultrasound experience, here’s a short vlog that covers the day we went to do our first ultrasound.
Our awkward transvaginal ultrasound experience
Many ultrasound technicians I’ve spoken to have a confused look when I tell them that I had a transvaginal ultrasound at 8 weeks pregnant. This is because it is quiet common for ultrasound technicians to conduct an abdominal ultrasound at 8 weeks. Maybe not in Cuenca Ecuador?
When Albie and I first booked our ultrasound appointment at the Women’s and Children’s Medical Center in Cuenca Ecuador, we expected the standard abdominal ultrasound. I had read online prior to coming in for the appointment to prepare myself for the experience. Little did I know what was going to happen would be completely different.
I remember sitting at the waiting room and seeing the ultrasound technician come out, pick up my file and documents along with a paperclip. He used to paperclip to attach a condom on the top left hand corner of the documents and proceeded to the door, calling my name out loud.
I raised my hand and smiled. As we were walking in, I thought to myself, ‘I wonder why he is attaching a condom, perhaps he is giving it to us as a gift and giving us a lecture on sex?’
Walking into the ultrasound room, it appeared to look and feel exactly how I thought it was going to be. Everything looked white and a little cold. He began speaking Spanish in a fast pace. We were both taken back by it and couldn’t keep up. This made the experience at first somewhat confusing, particularly when he handed me a hospital robe and asked me to change in the toilet.
I remember walking into the bathroom thinking, ‘Do I take everything off? or just my t-shirt?’. I remember walking back out shoes and pants still in tact, the look he gave me and said to me ‘everything’. I walked back into the bathroom feeling a little embarrassed and decided to take everything off including my bra, which turned out to be unnecessary.
As I stepped onto the bed and placed me feet on the cold steel foot pedals. He said ‘this will not hurt.’ I was a little taken back and when I looked over to Albie, he was too. But it all disappeared when I watched the screen for our baby and her heartbeat.
3 tips to help prepare for your first ultrasound
1. Be clean and tidy
Some places you’ll not experience a transvaginal ultrasound. However, it’s always best to come in the morning clean and prepped in case it does happen. I like to shower beforehand and make sure I’m wearing fresh and clean undies. Also, it doesn’t hurt to be a little more tidy down there. You know what I mean 😉
Generally, the ultrasound can be conducted after your first doctor’s appointment, in which the doctor will examine you as well. So it’s always a good idea to be prepared in case this happens on the same day too.
2. They’ve seen it all!
I think the most important thing to remember during your first ultrasound is that these medical professionals have seen it all. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I know it’s hard to avoid those embarrassing feelings from emerging but think of it in their point of view. They probably see how many women each month? So there wouldn’t be anything that would be surprising to say the least.
The quicker you can get over it, the better it is. I mean, this is the first awkward moment but there are probably still a handful of embarrassing, awkward and weird moments throughout your pregnancy- like giving birth! Just keep reminding yourself that although it may be the first time for you, medical professionals are just that- they are professionals and will give you the best quality care without any shaming, weird looks and awkward comments.
3. Remember why you are there
Similar to doing a pap smear, transvaginal ultrasounds are just part of the whole pregnancy experience. Remember the reason why you are there. It’s to make sure that the baby is healthy and there are no complications. Your health and your baby’s health are far more important than fixating on the awkward part of the experience.
Once you hear your baby’s heartbeat and see your baby for the first time, you’ll forget about all of those awkward feelings and be completely mesmerized by your baby- trust me!
Final Thoughts on the Transvaginal Ultrasound
After several other ultrasounds during the course of our pregnancy from being 8 weeks pregnant, I can say for certain that the first ultrasound picture we ever saw of our baby is the cutest one we will ever have of her. Would I do it again? Hell Yeah!
In fact, I always make a silly remark to Albie about how I want to ask the physician to do a transvaginal ultrasound at the same time while I”m lying there just to see if there was a difference with the ultrasound pictures. I think I could bare the awkward feelings for better pictures.