Is it fair to say that getting that first ultrasound can be a major pregnant milestone? I mean, there’s some machinery, people in lab coats, and a generous amount of (hopefully warm, but probably freezing) gel all over your stomach. If that’s not a big deal, I don't know what is. I think it’s worth mentioning that my partner’s presence made a significant difference in my ultrasound experience, and I bet there are plenty of other moms out there who can say the same because, thankfully, there are plenty of ways a grown-ass men can help during an ultrasound.
Of course, not all partners are cisgendered males, and this list definitely can (and definitely does) include any and all partners of pregnant women, regardless of gender. However, there's something to be said for partners helping when they're physically incapable of experiencing the exact same situation. When a cisgender man can and does do something to help their partner through a circumstance they cannot experience themselves, the clouds part and the heavens sing and, well, great things happen (that we shouldn't be that surprised about because, you know, acting like a kind and sympathetic and supportive human being is usually a good call).
Having said that, there's so much important information you'll learn during an ultrasound, including but not limited to the size and growth of your baby, his or her heartbeat, the overall health of your baby, and the sex of your baby (if you so desire) and various other important details, that can make these relatively routine appointments, somewhat frightening. I suppose that, technically, I could have managed laying on the table on my own, but I was really glad to have my partner there, helping me absorb all that information and sorting through it, with me. Here are just a sampling of the many reasons that he (and partners everywhere) can make a difference in the ultrasound experience.