The Rise of A Phoenix

Chapter Thirteen-A Beautifully Beating Heart and Joy

Fourteen days later, I waited for OB to make its rounds because this was supposed to be when I heard what I hoped was my child's healthy beating heart. My mother stood next to me while I waited for Dr. Platt and her team to see me. Dr. Platt came in with her interns, one single technician and the equipment and my heart skipped beats, ramming hard against my ribs. I inhaled slowly as she ran the transducer over my abdomen.

It was quiet for about three seconds before I heard the rush of blood flow and my child's extremely quick but steadily beating heart. It was music to my ears.

“Congratulations, Mom. You made it. Hear that noise? That's the proof you're growing a healthy baby. It's officially twelve weeks old today. If 24 weeks gestation is your benchmark, you're halfway there. Tears of joy are great. Here's tissues.” Dr. Platt said this while she handed the box of tissues to me.

“My God. I didn't…wow. It all feels strange…can someone take a picture of that sonogram? Is it really mine?” I asked her in disbelief.

“Your name's on the sonogram. That's proof it's yours. See?” Dr. Platt said this while she pointed to the top of the sonogram.

“This is all a shock. I wasn't even expecting to get to this point. I wasn't sure I could carry children and now I'm officially through the first trimester. Could you print that sonogram for me, Dr. Platt? Please and thank you. I need it for the goal board.” I said with a smile.

“Sure. You know, they'll be beautiful no matter what happens. You're beautiful. I know that it doesn't feel like it now, but pregnancy is beautiful and every woman who does it is too. What gender are you hoping for? You'll be finding that out eight weeks from now.” Dr. Platt asked me as she handed me the sonogram.

“Either is fine, but the men in my family are extremely broad shouldered, so delivering a boy on the first go around scares me a little, to be honest.” I said this while giggling at myself. I was already showing slightly because of my four foot ten inch frame, so the baby was probably going to be huge. The thought of that was terrifying.