My new favourite sound

OK, people keep asking me … yep, I’ve heard the baby’s heartbeat now! A sweet little sound that I’ve burned into the memory but can’t wait to hear again.

The obstetrician had just shown us the baby on the ultrasound. Jase, my sister and me had all clearly seen the gender (it’s a boy, by the way!), so there were happy smiles all round and we were all making jokes and laughing. Then, the doctor flicked that magical switch.

Oooh. There was sudden silence as we all listened to it. I did shed a tear … it ran all the way to the back of my neck, but I was too fixated on the sound to bother wiping it away. (I was pretty proud of myself for only a shedding a tiny little tear actually … thought there might have been heavier waterworks!) 

My smile turned to a frown when the doctor switched it off. Hey!!! I could have listened to that sound all day.

Sound defines your place in the world. It lets you know exactly where you are. When I was deaf, I hated the loss of environmental sounds. It made my world sound so empty. I especially hated not being able to hear my footsteps when I walked. Sound provides reassurance. Comfort.

And there’s nothing more comforting to this mum-to-be than to hear the heartbeat of her unborn baby.

Next 'comfort sound' I'll be looking for ... the sound of the baby crying as soon as it's delivered. Going to be waiting a while for that one though. :-)