CVS procedure help

[Notsure31]

Does anyone have any experience of having the CVS with a retroverted uterus and/or being on low dose aspirin?

I have a high NT measurement of 6.1mm and been referred for CVS next week but been told because my uterus is retroverted it might be too difficult. I have heard they can use other methods such as trans cervically or vaginally instead I don’t know if this would be offered? I’m going to one of the big fetal medicine units (Leeds).

I’m also on a low dose of aspirin 75mcg because of recurrent miscarriage previously but I’ve read online blood thinners should be stopped before the procedure. It wasn’t mentioned to me when I spoke with screening midwife but also I didn’t think to ask either. I don’t want to stop them if I don’t need to but equally don’t want to make it more difficult for them to do it.

Does anyone have any experience or advice on either of these things?

I had a cvs on Wednesday and they said to stop all blood thinners a day before the procedure. I’m not sure about the other part of your question but it’s a catch 22 isn’t it. If they can’t do it, you don’t want to stop the aspirin but then you definitely can’t have it done if you don’t stop, as far as I know.

i’m waiting for my results with a similar NT score! It’s a nervous time!!

@NGF89 i rang the screening midwife yesterday and she said the low dose aspirin is fine for cvs but I’m still not 100% convinced. How was the procedure? I’m prepared for it being uncomfortable or painful. I never thought after 3 miscarriages and getting the furthest I’ve got in a pregnancy I’d have to go through something like this 😞

No experience of the uterus situation but I was taking my blood thinners in the morning and so took one the day before and none the day of the CVS which they said was fine. If you're worried, I would just skip them for a day so you have 24 hours clear and then carry on as normal afterwards.

I had four female staff in the room with me, one held my hand, and they were so kind and wonderful. It's a bit intense, but wasn't painful, just slightly uncomfortable. I just kind of held my breath when the needle went in and when they were collecting the biopsy. Only very slightly cramping afterwards and a tiny dot on my stomach where the needle had been.

You've got this!

Just re-read and saw you're going to fetal medicine at Leeds. That's even better. I was at Newcastle and they were obviously so experienced and practiced, which will no doubt be the same for you. x

They couldn’t do it in the end due to where my placenta is so had the NIPT instead and still booked for amnio in 3 weeks. I feel if the NIPT comes back high and that will be pretty conclusive with scan findings too though. If that happens I wouldn’t feel sure about carrying on until the amnio as we have already decided we would tmfr, but we also want genetic testing for ourselves if it’s a chromosome problem, and I understand testing the baby after they have passed results take a lot longer than from an amnio.

I’m so sorry that you are going through this. I had a cvs and have a retroverted uterus and they never mentioned that this would be an issue but I know this doesn’t apply to you now. I just wanted to give you some hope as we had 1 miscarriage followed by a TFMR followed by 3 more miscarriages and then followed by our 2 healthy children which I never thought we would have. Sending you so much luck. It’s such a horrendous thing to go through.

So sorry @Notsure31 - more waiting, and the waiting is the worst. Hope you're managing to stay sane x

@Bbb2023 thanks for this, if you don’t mind me asking did you have any testing from recurrent miscarriage clinic before having your two children? I had all the testing available to me and I’m on progesterone and aspirin for current/future pregnancies but I’m still not convinced it’s enough, and what’s happening now is making me think there’s something genetic going on but I had genetic testing for my third miscarriage which they said would have ruled anything out.

Yes we did. I asked our GP to refer us to one in London as our local clinic in my opinion wasn’t good. They put me on progesterone for my son but I didn’t use this when pregnant with my daughter so no idea if it helped or not. We also paid for my husband to be checked for DNA fragmentation which I think had a role to play in our losses as he has a small varicocele. I think the hospital looked after me so well that this helped to be honest whilst at our local hospital it felt like no one really cared.

Just to update on this thread. The NIPT came back high for Down syndrome. We are devastated and had agreed we will TFMR if DS is confirmed. I am booked in for an amniocentesis next Friday when I will be 15 weeks as they couldn’t do CVS, however they did say that based on scan findings and NIPT result they would support TFMR now if we wanted.
My doubt about this is that tiny 1% chance the NIPT could be wrong even though I know it’s very unlikely. I’m very aware the baby could pass away before the amniocentesis and I’m worried this could negatively impact any genetic testing as we want to be ruled out as carriers.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. It’s heartbreaking and no one can fully understand unless they’ve experienced it themselves. If you do decide to have a TFMR I’m happy to tell you about my experience if needed. Thinking of you and try not to give up hope.