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Antenatal tests

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Original poster

Good Scan - Bad Bloods

44 replies

EwokStorageUnit · 12/02/2013 07:46

I had scan last wednesday and sonographer told us all was good, everything was as expected at that stage (13+2). Had bloods taken and was told I would get a call within a week if high risk.

A call from the midwife yesterday afternoon whilst I was at work basically to tell me risk is 1/35, I can have an amnio in two weeks time, which they can't do at my local hospital, there's a 1% chance of miscarriage, if positive for abnormalities they'll oFfer me a termination, and could I have a think about it and call them back between 9 and 5 today to make an appointment.

I knew that my risk was going to be high (I'm 40 and this is first pregnangy), so I had researched Harmony, CVS and amnio. I'm not even being offered a CVS and the thought of waiting two weeks for the amnio is just awful.

I booked myself into to FMC on Friday to have CVS, although the have suggested that I just have scan and talk through options first. If I still want procedure they will do it then.

I don't really have a question, I just wanted to share my experience. - haven't slept well, I've cried a lot and I feel numb - as if I've lost before I started and aS if I need to cut myself off before the news gets any worse.

Thanks for listening.

OP posts:

MrsHelsBels74 · 12/02/2013 08:11

I too had a good scan but bloods came back 1:71 risk of Downs. I decided to wait for amnio as the risk of MC is slightly lower than for CVS. Had no problems with procedure & results came back normal. DS2 is now 4 months old.

Hope all goes well x

AliceWChild · 12/02/2013 08:19

So sorry to hear that ewok. I had awful 20 week scan news. I didn't amnio as anything would be inconclusive and we decided we would take the chance even if we only had days with the baby. I remember that feeling of having lost it all before it started so well. I hear you. It was the worst time of my life. But I heard heaps of stories of things that others had had diagnosed that turned out to be just fine. They really helped me. My baby is now 4 months and snoring away next to me. We now have the all clear.

Take care of yourself and do what feels right for you. It's not easy but there's always hope.

GooseyLoosey · 12/02/2013 08:28

I had bad bloods and a good scan. The results came back as a greater than 1-10 chance for Downs.

GP told me at the time that he always paid more attention to the scan and bloods were often mis-leading.

I too remember crying a great deal. I could not really believe that it was happening to me. With a 1/35 chance, the odds are very much in your favour.

Dd is now 8 and fine. I waited for an amnio too.

Original poster

EwokStorageUnit · 12/02/2013 09:01

Thank you for sharing the positive with me, so pleased it worked out well for you all.

I shall try to relax and think positive - one minute at a time maybe, but I'll do my best.

OP posts:

Original poster

EwokStorageUnit · 12/02/2013 09:01

Thank you for sharing the positive with me, so pleased it worked out well for you all.

I shall try to relax and think positive - one minute at a time maybe, but I'll do my best.

OP posts:

AliceWChild · 12/02/2013 09:09

Just wanted to add, re the cutting yourself off thing. I did the opposite, got really engaged and protective. I felt like I was 'doing it wrong' for a while, as things I read made me feel I should disconnect. I thought I was failing by not doing so. Until my counsellor pointed out that I was just dealing with it differently and that was fine. So just wanted to say however you feel and deal with it is fine.

lozster · 12/02/2013 12:12

Hi ewok it's a horrible situation (see my thread bad news after combined test). I too had the cvs amnio choice. My partner wanted to wait for the amnio which I had yesterday at 15 + 5. I think the risk from both is relatively low though still real. However I think the amnio risk is even lower than stated as the data is very old.

Yesterday I did ask what the difference in procedure was cvs vs amnio. Obviously what is taken is different however the mid wife said that the cvs is slightly more invasive as the needle needs to be broader and they need to 'wiggle it' to pick up cells. Honestly, I would have done it to know sooner but that said, I did make the wait till amnio and it was very straightforward and not painful.

Original poster

EwokStorageUnit · 13/02/2013 07:56

Hi Lozster, I hope everything goes well for you and thank you for your post.

It may be that after I've spoken to consultant on Friday I decide to wait for amnio.

Alice, thanks.

Will let you know how I get on.

OP posts:

Original poster

EwokStorageUnit · 13/02/2013 07:56

Hi Lozster, I hope everything goes well for you and thank you for your post.

It may be that after I've spoken to consultant on Friday I decide to wait for amnio.

Alice, thanks.

Will let you know how I get on.

OP posts:

Original poster

EwokStorageUnit · 13/02/2013 09:39

sorry for the double posting - when I post from Blackberry it seems to happen automatically...

OP posts:

suzyrut · 13/02/2013 11:56

Hi Ewok,

A few months ago I was in a very similar situation to you, nuchal scan was 99%MOM and everything looked good walked out of the scan happy and relieved, I'm 38 and though I realised I was starting with a higher baseline risk based on the scan I wasn't expecting there to be any problems so the phone call came as a massive shock to me too. My risk was 1 in 70.

In case you decide to go ahead with the CVS I just wanted to say I decided to have one as I didn't feel capable of waiting for a couple of weeks however, the first time they weren't actually able to do the proceedure because my bowel was in the way (nice!). I did have it on the second time of trying a week later and to be honest although it was uncomfortable and it was quite invasive it wasn't painful and aside from feeling a little wobbly for an hour or so I didn't feel too bad. I have subsequently had a few small bleeds over a few weeks which were worrying and meant I had to go back in but nothing painful afterwards either.

I understand that the FMC is the leading place in the UK so it's probably worth checking with them what the m/c rates are for the consultant who will do your proceedure. Mine (at my nhs hospital) were much much lower than the stated rate. You have every right to ask this and I found it very reassuring.

I completely understand how you feel emotionally, I started to really try to back away from all the nice happy pregnant thoughts I'd been having to that point, delayed telling anyone else I was pregnant (other than it forcing me into talking to my boss) and spent a lot of time crying. My dp was great but he had his own feelings about it too which was hard sometimes. This lasted until the results came back all clear 3 days later. I'm now 24 weeks and everything seems to have settled down and I'm actually even starting to enjoy this pregnancy again a bit now I'm past the 20 weeks scan. I found it hard to get the joy back again for a good long time and think that's pretty common after a shock like this.

Sorry OP this has turned into a massive post! Just wanted to share my similar experience with you and wish you luck that it all turns out ok xxx

p.s. Good luck for your results too lozster will keep my fingers crossed for you both xxx

Original poster

EwokStorageUnit · 14/02/2013 08:12

Thanks Suzy.

Its an odd thing, but for the last two days all symptoms I had of being pregnant have completely disappeared. I haven't retched, I haven't craved and I haven't had sore boobs. Is it just moving into second trimester or has my head closed my body down?

Only one more sleep and then I'm hopping on the train to London - its been the longest week of my life.

OP posts:

MrsHelsBels74 · 14/02/2013 19:36

Hope all goes well tomorrow.

Themobstersknife · 14/02/2013 19:39

Have you had any bleeding so far in your pregnanct, as apparently this can skew the results? Good luck with your appt tomorrow.

sleepyhead · 14/02/2013 19:53

I had the same thing. Good scan, bloods + age (40) gave a 1:27 risk.

Mine were 16 week bloods so I had an amnio at 17 wks. The baby was fine and I'm now 32wks.

We'd already decided that we wouldn't terminate for downs but I didn't feel I could wait another 6 months with the uncertainty. I know others would have made a different choice.

The odds feel overwhelming but are on your side. I hpe you get better news from the FMC - the specialist midwife did say that my bloods, although showing the pattern the look for when screenibg for genetic anomalies, weren't dramatic. It was the combination with my age that brought back such a high result.

Good luck x

ThePathanKhansAmnesiac · 14/02/2013 20:36

Ewok, I was 38 when I had a nuchal scan, like you the scan was fine, (no nasel bone was only marker).
Like you i was at work when i got the results of my bloods. They were awful 1/10 for trisomy 21 and 1/18 for trisomy 13 & 18.
I had the cvs a few days later, i didn,t find it too uncomfortable, and didn,t cramp afterwards.
Tje results came back clear.It was a horrible time. Bloods are infamous for gthrowing up red herrings.
Sending you good wishes for tomorrow.

ThePathanKhansAmnesiac · 14/02/2013 20:38

Forgot dd is 5 now and the biggest chatterbox.

Original poster

EwokStorageUnit · 14/02/2013 22:22

Thank you everyone. So lovely to hear all the positives and best wishes.

Mobster, I haven't bled at all, apart from feeling sick and being knackered I've been disgustingly well.

Heyho, safe with my mum tonight being pampered and spoilt. I am lucky in lots of respects and have lots of support.

Sleep well everyone,

OP posts:

Themobstersknife · 14/02/2013 22:30

All the best for tomorrow. Sleep well.

ThePathanKhansAmnesiac · 14/02/2013 22:35

Sleep well.x

ThePathanKhansAmnesiac · 14/02/2013 22:42

Can i just add, i had a brilliant home birth with dd, then couldn,t deliver the placenta.

I was transfered to bwh and lost about 2lt of blood. After removal, a consultant on ward rounds, told me about a study, showing some correlation between "bad bloods" and placenta accreta.

phlebas · 15/02/2013 00:54

I'm another one with bad bloods & good scan - I got a 1 in 16 risk, I was 24 & pregnant with dc1. I had a CVS which came back normal (but I declined screening except the 20 week scan which I had at the FMC with my next three children). It is a horrible thing to go through, the FMC are fantastic though.

Positive38 · 15/02/2013 09:31

ewok thinking of u today hun...hoping u get good news do let us know.
like u i had good scan.and bad bloods.i had harmony 10 days ago and now waiting for the call...petrified.
my hcg was 3mom and pappa was .44 low nt at 1.8 and perfect scans.
like u i dont feel pregnant have.detatched myself at min i am 14+2 days.
sending u support for today xx

Positive38 · 15/02/2013 09:33

and my risk is 1:34 xx

Positive38 · 15/02/2013 12:52

Hi Ewok
My results from FMC have shown negative 1:10,0000 risk for all 3 trisomeys
i cant tell u what a relief that was,
pls let me know how you get on today xxxx

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