Very high NT measurement

[DinoGreen]

Hi all. The thread I didn’t think I’d ever have to or want to write.

I had my 12 week scan today with my second baby. My NT measurement was 5.5 and I have been referred straight to the fetal medicine team for an appointment with the consultant on Friday. I did see a specialist midwife after the scan who gave me lots of information on what it means and what the options are, so I feel pretty well informed right now. Based on the measurement our odds of the baby having downs or one of the other trisonomies are about 50%. If the baby doesn’t have one of these, there’s still a significant risk of some other abnormality such as a heart defect which could be serious or could not be.

DH and I are both agreed that we aren’t in a position to bring up a child with Downs or other significant abnormalities, so if this is confirmed then we will terminate.

My appointment with the consultant is on Friday, and I’ve been told that they will do another scan and that I should hopefully be able to have a CVS there and then, as long as everything is in the right position, and results would follow 3 working days later so around the middle of next week.

I’m just feeling like everything is an absolute minefield right now. I don’t know what I should do about work. I’m off on leave this week but due back on Monday, I was planning on telling them about the pregnancy then but I don’t know if I should now. On the one hand, it seems very private and I don’t really want to share what I’m going through with my (male) bosses. On the other hand, if we do get bad news, I’ll need time off for the termination. I also don’t want to be at work when I receive the call with the results, so will need to work from home that day, so I’m probably going to have to tell them something.

Stupidly, we already told my DS (aged 3) about the pregnancy after we had an early private scan at 10 weeks where everything looked fine. Not going to mention anything else to him for now but already thinking ahead to how I will explain it if we have to terminate.

Then, I’m worrying about the termination itself. The booklet the hospital gave me says that most hospitals can only do a surgical termination under general up to 14 weeks. By the time I get my results, I will be very nearly 14 weeks. The thought of having to give birth to a tiny dead baby while I’m awake is horrifying to me.

I don’t really know what I’m asking in this thread. Just wanted to get all my thoughts down really. I’m sure no one does but I really never expected to be in this position.

@Conorgog

Shit! I had to read that a couple times I misunderstood it the first time. Ah! But so glad for you!

I have continued taking my prenatal vitamin as it's a before/after vitamin. I have used a few ovulation sticks but I warn you all of them have been smiley faces but I think that is lingering hcg so they are not accurate. I did read that you shouldn't use them for a couple months. I was considering buying one of those Ava bracelets but they are £250. Which is a bit steep! I am nervous about when things will come back....after my first pregnancy I didn't get my period for nearly a year!

I want to try again right away. Although I have to admit I've been enjoying my wine.

Ah Jaysus @JO138 for sure.

I just re read it and yes does sound confusing! I just repeated what the nurse had told me on the phone. 🤦🏽‍♀️

I looked into the AVA bracelet but one of the things is that you need to sleep for regular periods of four hours or more to get accurate temp readings. My child is an absolute monster of a sleeper, has night terrors or just wakes up and needs reassurance. Husband is great, but too slow to get out of bed and deal with it, which drives me nuts. - so for that reason I’m out.

Never had ovulation things before and have fallen pregnant quite easily when we wanted to - but now I think from all my reading I’m a bit obsessed that I can access all this additional information about my own body. Def keen to try!

For some reason pineapple margaritas are my thing at the moment. Don’t know why, I’m not a huge drinker, but just after one I have a pleasant holiday relaxed feeling. Escapism most likely. 🙂

@conorgog

We've been quite lucky too but I did find the ovulation sticks helpful just so that I knew when I had to make an effort even if it was Wednesday and I was shattered. Sorry TMI

My DS has been a bit unsettled since all this has happened. My DH tried to put him to bed the other night when I was out for dinner apparently it didn't go well. Then be told me the next night that he can only sleep when "a mummy puts me to sleep".

I am trying to be calm but I just want to know when it's possible again to conceive again. Don't want to wait if my period takes ages to come back.

That’s really good news @Conorgog. I hope I get mine soon. The midwife did say the likelihood is it’s just bad luck, especially as we have a completely healthy DS already.

I used ovulation sticks with both pregnancies - my cycle length is slightly unpredictable. With DS it took us 18 months of TTC but then this pregnancy only 3 months. Hopefully it will be quick if we try again. I’m just still not sure if I want to. It’s all still feeling very raw for me at the moment.

My results are now in and no other genetic issues for me either. I thought I’d be relieved and I am but it’s just set me off crying again 😢 just all the emotions coming to the surface again after a few better days.

Ah @DinoGreen it’s such a hard thing to navigate, on one hand it’s like great just bad luck and on the other hand it’s like why the feck did the bad luck have to happen to me.

I feel like something was taken from me, which i guess is why I want to get pregnant again soon. I want that gift that was promised!

Hope you feel a little better soon, now you know. Here for you x

@DinoGreen that's great news. At least now you know you can move forward however you choose to.

I'm still emotionally very up and down. Just want to get my period so I know we can start trying and really put this behind me.

Hi @DinoGreen @Conorgog. I have a question....sorry if it's TMI.

I'm now 2.5 weeks post the procedure and I've not had any bleeding for over a week. Then today I've started cramping with light brown spotting. I was wondering if it was my period already but seems too soon.

Have you had anything like this?

Hope you are both well. I've finally had the energy to get in the garden today with DS right behind me with his bucket. Was really nice. X.

Ha ha, no boundaries with TMI, I’m a week and 3 days post procedure and still lightly bleeding. No cramping as such.

I believe you can ovulate as soon as 2 weeks after losing a pregnancy, but I’m not sure what the numbers are on average time, I guess everyone is different so anything is possible? Were you periods super regular before?

My bleeding has been a bit random @JO138. After day 1 which was massively heavy, mine went very light for a week (like just a bit of brown each day), then day 7 it went really heavy again and bright red blood for a couple of days. The last two days hardly anything, and then today a bit heavier again but brown 🤷‍♀️ so I have no idea what’s going on really! But mine has never actually stopped, only got very light.

It does seem a bit early for it to be your period - I was told 4-6 weeks. I was also told the bleeding could start and stop so it could be that?

That’s good you’ve been out in the garden today with your DS and felt more energetic. I’ve had a quieter day today, but that’s because I actually went out last night! Was invited out for a girls night by friends who don’t know anything about what’s happened (none of them knew I was pregnant) and I was hesitant but I’m so glad I went - I had a really nice time and had my first glass of wine (or rather several!) in months.

@Conorgog @Dinogreen

Yeah it does seem early for my period. I've been reading that people get cramping when they ovulate but I don't think I ever did. My periods were always clockwork. Hoping they come back the same! The ovulation tests are a bit of a wash though as they are just showing all smiles!

Well done @dinogreen . I went out for dinner with a couple of work colleagues last week (they both knew) but it was so nice just to be out, have some nice food and a laugh.

I did workout for the first time today so I wonder if that just shook things up.....

Ugh @JO138 as if out of sympathy for you maybe my bleeding has gone randomly heavy again this afternoon 🙄 bit sick of it now tbh, it’s been 2 weeks 🙄🙄

I went back to work today and it was fine and good for me actually. My boss was really unexpectedly sweet and no awkward questions from anyone else which is good. Hope everyone else is doing ok too x

@DinoGreen oh no. That's shite. I have to admit I'm a bit over the whole thing is now too. Just want it all back to normal.

Hopefully it passes quickly.

I am still crampy and today I have been super moody and irritable. I'm a walking hormone!

Glad to hear work went well. Today was my second day in the office because I ended up WFH last week and it was still really emotional. It's weird. I don't know what about being there sets me off.

@DinoGreen @Conorgog

Well the drama continues here. Had a huge humilation at work when i stood up from a meeting and had a huge surge of blood. Ran to my desk then the toilet. But of course i had nothing in my purse! Had to leave the office with my coat tied around my waist.

Called the hospital midwife team on the way to Boots. They told me at 3 weeks post procedure (tomorrow) it was very unlikely to be my period and more like hemorrhage so to get to the nearest A&E!

So long story short I've spent 4 hours in A&E getting poked, prodded and scanned to be told ny the OBGYN that I've already had my period!

Just feel like this is such a nightmare. Told my husband any more bad news I would crack and was crying like a crazy woman when they said I had my period. FFS! Hormones.

Hope you are both having a good day! X.

Oh no @JO138! What a nightmare. I had a pretty similar occurrence last week (so only 1 week post procedure for me) and luckily was at home. Spending 4 hours in A&E is no-one’s idea of fun 😢 strange that it’s your period so early but then I was told that the first period after the procedure could be heavier than usual so guess it makes sense. I hope you’re home now and you can have a relaxing evening. can you work from home tomorrow just in case of any more flooding?

My bleeding has got lighter again but I’m so fed up of constantly wearing sweaty sanitary towels! I remember I bled for absolutely ages after my DS was born too ... so annoying!

Oh GAWD, you poor poor thing, as if you didn’t have enough to deal with - and on your second day back in the office, that’s so tough. Pour yourself a large wine!

So after all that is it your period?! If obgyn says it is, I guess so? Start getting those ovulation sticks ready.

I’m still bleeding, just spotting really, will be two weeks since procedure tomorrow, just want it to finish!!! X

Thanks both. I only bled for 4 or 5 days after the procedure so it was 2 weeks of nothing and I was so unprepared. Not even a single Always in my bag.

I had to give blood, do a bloody pregnancy test and then had a scan. Was definitely not expecting my period so soon. I am so relieved though. If it was horrendous news like I needed another procedure I would lose my shit I think.

Just sitting down to a glass of wine while DH is on the BBQ and DS is fast asleep.

I’m so relieved for you, and a bit jealous, that your into a new cycle.

It’s quite crazy how much we/our bodies have to go through, as in bloods more bloods, scan then another scan (and in my case I had to have internal scans with the bloody giant probe because of backwards uterus) then scan again and cvs then bloods then more bloods then procedure, then bleeding. When I laid it all out to my husband he was like jaysus, when you put it like that, your stronger than you know.

Glad you got to wind down after a day like that. BBQ and wine = my ideal.

Hope you have a much better day today 😀

I’m now wondering if I could be having a period as well! I don’t think I am though, as my bleeding never stopped.

@Conorgog I didn’t have to have any internal scans but even without that I definitely know what you mean about the number of invasive procedures - culminating in the termination itself - stacking up! It really is a lot we have been through.

@dinogreen it is so confusing. I was definitely freaked out when they said I had to take a pregnancy test but apparently if your pregnancy hormones are still high is definitely not your period, which makes sense I guess. Maybe go see your GP. I found the NHS guidance online very vague and unhelpful. It does say that you can bleed all the way to your next period.

I will be happy for a bit of a break from all the prodding that's for sure!