timeimmortal

Grace had her monthly appointment with the doctor this morning, to monitor the progress of the pregnancy. I went along, just because…I happen to think that being involved in my wife’s health is a good thing anyhow, and this latest development only reinforces my desire to do so.

The doctor didn’t do a full ultrasound, but she did use a miniature unit to monitor and record the baby’s heartbeat, which was a healthy 148 beats/minute (Grace tells me that it should be in the range between 120 and 170 if the baby is healthy).

Honestly, it was one of the most incredible things I’ve been fortunate enough to witness. One minute, there was nothing — the next, from just below my wife’s stomach (she’s not “showing” at all), there was this strong, fast heartbeat echoing through the room. Our little one is going strong. And so too is Grace, with nary a bout of morning sickness or any of the other “typical” symptoms one is apparently supposed to expect of a pregnant woman. I’m proud enough that I’m a father; I’m substantially more proud of my lovely wife, and I am so grateful for her and all that she is.

Hearing the ultrasound also reinforced my pro-life stance: it would take a measure of heartlessness that I find, quite frankly, frightening to contemplate, to think it permissible, under any circumstance, to make that heartbeat stop before its time. A truly horrid thing, abortion.

~ by Kenneth on May 7, 2008.