Chelisa shook her head with disbelief as she read the results of the pregnancy test — tears flowed down her cheeks as she repeated over and over to her peer counselor that she could not be pregnant. It was impossible! Chelisa had numerous medical problems in the past, and doctors told her she would more than likely never conceive. She had given up on that possibility a long time ago and the timing of this pregnancy was terrible.

Last year, Chelisa went through a breakup of her marriage and was beginning a new chapter in her life, with plans for a new career as an international flight attendant, which she was to start the next month. She had been dating a man for the last several months, but she would soon say goodbye to that relationship as her new career would take her out-of-state for training.

After a lengthy conversation with her peer counselor, Chelisa agreed that this was a miracle, but her dream job was ahead of her and her plans did NOT involve a baby. She agreed to an ultrasound, and the nurse was available to do one immediately, as a last minute cancellation had opened up an appointment for Chelisa.

The ultrasound showed a baby, so small that all that was visible was a tiny speck, with a heartbeat. As Chelisa watched the beating heart, with tears she said, "Oh look, that's the heartbeat! I can no longer deny it!" The nurse encouraged her to return in a couple weeks for another ultrasound, which she willingly scheduled before she left that day.

However, she still felt unsure of her decision, so before leaving the center, she stopped and spoke to her peer counselor, sharing the photos of her tiny unborn baby. "If I didn't have this picture, I couldn't have this baby. Thank you! Can I come back to talk with you later?"

By the time of her second ultrasound two weeks later, she had learned that her flight attendant training had been canceled due to airline cutbacks, and she'd decided to carry her baby to term and move in with her mom who was thrilled! Her second ultrasound revealed an 8-week-old baby.

Chelisa came into the center about a month later asking to talk with the nurse. She said she couldn't get in to see a doctor for another month, but she'd had blood tests done and was confused because she'd been told that her hCG blood levels indicated that she was 22 weeks along! She was concerned about the discrepancy in dates, especially since she wasn't feeling the baby move yet.

So a quick abdominal scan was done, showing her to be about 13 weeks along, according to the baby's crown-rump length as well as the measurement of the skull. She expressed profuse gratitude, saying she felt "very reassured." What a difference those 4 weeks made in the development of her baby. She could see the baby's spine, the legs kicking — watching the movement was so fascinating.

Chelisa just recently came back to the center to show us her beautiful little son. Dagan James was born on November 2nd, sporting a full head of dark curly hair, weighing 8 lbs. 1 oz. at 20 inches long. Mother and son were so cute together, and she confessed she can hardly ever put him down — she loves him so much!! She continued to remind everyone that this darling little guy would not be here today were it not for us and the ultrasound services we provided for her. She wonders how she could have ever considered NOT having this boy of joy in her life.

Chelisa visited Pregnancy Resource Centers of Greater Portland.

Faces of Option Ultrasound Index

All Pregnancy Medical Clinics in the Option Ultrasound Program provide limited obstetrical ultrasound as medically indicated.  Clinics are licensed to operate under the supervision of a physician, using only trained sonographers. Focus on the Family does not endorse the use of ultrasound outside of a medical clinic setting and does not endorse the use of ultrasound for non-medical reasons.  Patient referrals are made to physicians for follow-up diagnosis and care as needed.