I have just experienced one of those defining and pivotal moments in the pregnancy period. Yesterday I went, husband in tow, to the 20 week scan.

For the benefit of those yet to experience this wonderment, it is the point at which some woman or man measures all the vital organs to check they are of safe size, that every piece of the body is functioning as it should be and that the baby is growing at a steady rate.

For those who have been through this scan you’ll know it is one of the most nervewracking moments of the process. Until this point there is an unspoken rule that you will not buy anything for the baby or even talk too much about it for fear of not being at the next safety marker. During the scan you’re petrified that the next measurement will show some crazy abnormality which is going to throw your dreams out of the window. If everything is ok you expect you leave feeling a sudden rush of joy like now everything is going to be ok.

The truth is there is little reassurance in the big old 20 week scan. Don’t get me wrong, I am delighted that my precious little 10 inch foetus seems to be doing well but I know that until I hold my child in my arms I won’t feel that sense of relief. After all pregnancy is one massive rollercoaser and you just hope you get to the end safely and both in one piece.

I did ask the scan man (sorry I am sure there’s a more technical term but you get what I am trying to say) for a picture of my bundle of joy so that I can parade its beauty for all to see. (I know no one really cares but you can pretend at least). He dutifully printed me three pictures for which we “donated” £5 to some unknown fund. (NHS policy).

Problem is, call me a terrible mother but I have no idea what he has given me. It could be my baby, someone else’s baby, or even a picture of a blob against a black screen. He did point out to me that there were arms, legs and toes involved but which is which I simply couldn’t tell you. Is that terrible?

Well anyway another milestone ticked off and armed with my unidentifiable pictures of some object floating in my belly I am going to make a cup of tea. Decaffeinated of course.