Went along to 20 week anomaly scan naively assuming that everything was going to be fine. But baby was in a funny position, tech was in a bit of a grump and said between that and the fact I am BMI ++ she couldn't see enough but thought there may be bilateral talipes. Referred to fetal medicine.
Felt quite devastated, then realised after 5 mins on Google that the possible implications of bilateral talipes were much more concerning than the talipes themselves. Lovely hospital admin called and booked me in for a Monday appt (scan was about 3pm on a Friday).
Went for Monday scan with consultant in fetal medicine dept. Felt terrified, but was delighted to hear it was actually unilateral talipes. Consultant confirmed that this meant low risk of wider genetic issues. Went off feeling quite positive, having been booked in for a third scan that Friday at the other hospital the consultant worked at because it had better machines and there were a couple of bits the tech had seen but the consultant couldn't, again due to baby position.
Went for 3rd scan this Friday. Unilateral talipes confirmed - OK, I can deal with that - but then consultant mentions the hands. Turns out they were in tight little fists during 2nd scan and are doing the same during 3rd. As we are discussing one hand opens but the little finger seems to still be folded down. The other hand remains in a fist. Was booked in for another scan in 4 weeks time.
Left a bit dazed, did all the work stuff I had to for the day and then tried to find out what the significance of the hands would be. Of course immediately discovered links between club foot, clenched hands and Edwards. But I have no idea how worried to be because we only have one club foot and one hand that hasn't been seen open at all. I have emailed the fetal medicine admin to ask her to pass on some questions to the consultant about whether her main concern is a hand abnormality or a chromosomal issue, no idea if that's the way to get an answer or not. All other measurements have been declared normal, everything except that one hand has been seen, baby is moving at each scan. My notes only point to possibility of hand abnormality.
My mum has suggested a private scan (she is convinced it's all just worrying about nothing). But there doesn't seem to be any particular reason why a private scan will show anything more than 3 NHS scans, other than maybe getting lucky with positioning and movement. I've read that 3D/4D scans can be useful in diagnosing defects that are hard to see properly with 2D, but the only person I've read about using them for diagnostic purposes at a London clinic (Dr Maxwell) has retired. Can anyone recommend a place in London that does this?
Otherwise the best plan seems to be to do the Harmony test, I've found a place on Harley st that gets results in 5 days because they have a local lab rather than sending blood to the US. Since every concerning moment seems to point back to Edwards it seems sensible to just cut to the chase and find out whether it's a likelihood. But it's quite a lot of cash to spend if I am just being hysterical about it.
Has anyone got any experience of all of this, all advice or experience welcome. Am driving myself up the wall trying to work out what to do. It's all completely overwhelming...