12 Week Scan no.2.

I remember our first 12 week scan. Our scan in which we first caught a glimpse at a tiny blob that grew to become John. I was nervous, bricking it, even. What if something wasn't right? What if their was no heartbeat? What if I'd imagined the whole pregnancy? Or worst of all - what if there was more than one in there?

This time was different. Maybe it's because I knew what to expect. My previous anxieties could simply be put down to fear of the unknown. Perhaps it's because if the news was negative, I'd still have John at the end of it all. Or perhaps it was simply because the past 8 weeks of my life had been ruled by Hyperemesis Gravidarm, leaving little time for pre-scan dwelling, but also reassuring me that there was definitely something in there.

In fact the only real concern we had this time around was how many was in there. I'd always said if I was to have twins, I'd hope they'd be my first. As a first time Mum, you know no better. Everything is tough, nights are sleepless regardless and nipples are sore no matter what you do. But having already done it with one, the idea of trying again with two (plus a toddler!) was a thought that terrified me.

This idea of a twin pregnancy wasn't helped with everyone pointing out that Hyperemesis is common in multiple pregnancies. Nor by seeing twins everywhere I looked - double buggies with days-old newborns in, adverts that make reference to two+ babies... It seemed like the world was screaming "TWINS!!!" to me.

So when I lay down on the sonographers bed, as she squirted the cool jelly on my tummy & casually explained what they'd be looking at - size of baby, measurements for the Downs Screening - I butted in and blurted, "and if there's more than one baby!" And there they were... Just one perfectly formed, perfectly blob-like, baby.