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Conception

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The one where the BROOKERS make babies and blankets and hats and other crochet stuff!

999 replies

BeedlesPineNeedles · 06/08/2016 09:17

I almost put this in arts and crafts, seeing as how we talk about crochet as much as we talk about babies!

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hinkyhonk · 03/09/2016 07:01

Just popping in to say hi. Congrats on the boy trix and so sorry to read that there are complications. Hope I'm not speaking out of turn but DS1 was in the neonatal unit for a long time after he was born although for different reasons so if there is anything I can help with by answering questions about that side of things please let me know. His issue (very low growth due to placenta issues) were diagnosed at the 22 week scan and he was delivered at nearly 32 weeks. I'm sorry you have to go through this. It's not bloody fair. Thinking of you

DinoSnores · 02/09/2016 17:56

Sorry, forgot about my NC!

CountessOfStrathearn · 02/09/2016 17:55

Congratulations on your boy, trix! I'm glad you were able to have a good chat with the consultant. As I've said before, do feel free to get them to go over stuff with you again and again. As doctors, we really don't expect people to take things in completely, especially bad news.

Hope you are get some rest this weekend.

keepitgoing · 02/09/2016 16:05

trix I'm glad you had the amnio done so quickly, I hope you can rest the next few days. Brooking like crazy for your results on Monday and then later of course. Lots of love to you and your family

BeedlesPineNeedles · 02/09/2016 15:47

Another little boy trix how lovely.

Glad you managed to get the amnio done, and not too long for the preliminary results which is good. At least then you'll know what you're dealing with. Hope you've got an easy weekend planned, put your feet up and eat some chocolate!

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cartoontrickster · 02/09/2016 15:37

Oh the first lot of results will be on Mon or tues. Then the others are about a week, the one where the grow the cells. Sorry can't think of the right word

cartoontrickster · 02/09/2016 15:35

Yes I think if I'd had to wait I wouldve changed my mind back and forth a million more Times. I'm sure we have done the right thing for us, I know it wouldn't be for everyone.
The heart op will be done in the first few weeks or months of his life. I think they decide once he's born they may do something temporary first before the main repair. Sorry it was a lot to take in so I need to chat it through again and make sure its clear in my head.

Imps9 · 02/09/2016 15:18

Oh Trix thanks for coming and updating. Glad that you were able to have the amnio once you'd decided to go ahead and there's no more waiting for that to happen (waiting is the worst when you've decided on a course of action). When will you get the results? Was the consultant able to give any guidance as to when surgery would need to be carried out to repair the heart or did you not discuss that?

A little boy! GO TEAM BLUE!

cartoontrickster · 02/09/2016 14:51

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts.
We had the amnio this morning, it was a difficult decision but after talking it through with family and the consultant we decided that was the best thing for us. It is something I never thought I would do.
Ps it's a boy!!!

Pastamancer · 02/09/2016 09:38

Brooking for you Trix and so are the Brookers on Facebook. Not all of them are able to log in on here any more but are thinking about you

BeedlesPineNeedles · 02/09/2016 07:24

Brooking so hard trix I hope that the appointment can give you more information. Good luck.

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keepitgoing · 02/09/2016 07:19

Brooking for you trix I really hope it's helpful and positive. Lots of love

cartoontrickster · 02/09/2016 04:14

I doubt I would have it today but you never know. I would definitely choose it have it done at the John radcliffe though rather than my local hospital.

ControlGeek · 02/09/2016 02:07

Brooking so hard for you trix, I'm glad your appointment is an early one.

Imps9 · 01/09/2016 21:37

Early is good. So will you have the amnio tomorrow if you decide to have it? I really really hope the consultation answers your questions and is helpful.

Growingbeanno2 · 01/09/2016 21:30

Brooking for you tomorrow trix

cartoontrickster · 01/09/2016 20:54

It's an early one, which I'm glad of, 8.30am.

Imps9 · 01/09/2016 20:40

Glad you got out with N. What time's your appt tomorrow?

cartoontrickster · 01/09/2016 15:34

Not working. I have actually been sleeping quite well I just feel exhausted all the time. We pushed everything to the back of our minds and took N out for a couple of hours it's not fair on him he must be having a crap time at the moment.

keepitgoing · 01/09/2016 11:52

trix how are you doing today? Are you working or with n?

Imps9 · 01/09/2016 07:22

Hope you managed to get some sleep Trix x

cartoontrickster · 31/08/2016 21:31

Thanks keep
And dino for coming on to chat to me.

The fetal heart consultant has put the diagnosis as 'evolving tetralogy of fallot/ double outlet right ventricle'
Everything at 12wk scan seemed ok and so far they haven't picked up anything else structural on scans and our nuchal was low risk.
I'm off to bed now, head is swimming.

DinoSnores · 31/08/2016 19:50

Finally, I am no expert and won't claim to be, but feel free to ask anything. You are not going to offend me or upset me. Feel free to say or ask anything. There is going to be a lot of thoughts going on in your head and if you want to share them, please do.

Hope you can get some rest tonight. I'd definitely suggest lots of Cake.

DinoSnores · 31/08/2016 19:41

There are some helpful links here of leaflets and support groups that might be able to chat about the reality of the particular heart condition:

www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/children-and-young-people/heart-conditions-in-babies

Again, I'd say do write down anything you want to ask your Fetal Med consultant on Friday. They will do a really, really detailed scan and be able to tell you as much as they can about why this has happened. Of course, the answer might be that they can't tell why, but they will be able to look for soft markers for all sorts of things and will be looking for anything else. You really will be in very, very good hands.

DinoSnores · 31/08/2016 19:33

Ok, sorry to read about your DC's heart problem, particularly knowing all the problems you have had in the past.

Here are just some initial and probably fairly randomly listed thoughts but do come back to me here or by PM if there's anything else I can answer about our baby or point you in any directions.

Firstly, termination is legal in the UK until term in cases of severe disability, so you have beyond the 24 weeks mark to make that decision, so it doesn't need to be a decision made in a hurry.

Also, a number of people have spoken lots about ARC. I didn't use them myself but other people have spoken of them highly in terms of having an independent person to speak to about results.

DD1 died in utero due to holes in her heart (atrioventricular septal defect) causing hydrops, likely caused by her Turner's syndrome. (99% of babies with Turner's will die in utero, mainly in the first trimester. The ones that survive actually do really well.)

This was all diagnosed after the 12 week scan. At that point, we were offered a termination. That was never going to be an option for us and we declined it straightaway, and, to their credit, even when her death was pretty clear, they never mentioned it again.

We were also offered amniocentesis. I didn't want the risk of miscarriage (around 0.5-1%) and declined this as well. However, an Obs and Gynae friend suggested that should DD1 live to closer to term, we could consider a late amnio where the risk is far, far less and would have a risk of preterm labour. This would allow a genetics diagnosis and might have helped with birth and immediate care planning. E.g. palliative care or delivery near a centre that did neonatal heart surgery. That's something we would have considered but, of course, didn't get to that stage.

Fetal Medicine were fantastic. The consultants were great and the midwives were so helpful and happy to be called to discuss things. Do ask anything, no matter how silly or obvious you think it is, and feel free to ask things again and again so that you understand them. It is very, very easy to forget things you were told in a consultation. Ask them to send you copies of the letters to the GP so you can remember. (In a bittersweet sort of way, I also really appreciate still reading through all the scan reports and notes.)

The consultant might tell you the sex even if it isn't normal protocol. Ours also let us record the sound of DD's heartbeat. I don't listen to it very often at all, but I am glad we have it.

Will have a think in case there is anything else... Will keep you all in my prayers meantime.

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