Arranging an Amnio...

[DuelingFanjo]

Do I just call the midwife unit? I have no number for my midwife. Or do I go to the GP?

Goodness, Dueling Fanjo, I am so sorry that this uncertainty is dragging on for you.

I'd suggest ringing the Midwives clinic first thing tomorrow. Get to speak to one of the duty midwives and let them know that you have had an inconclusive nuchal result and you'd like to be referred for an amnio at the Fetal Medicine Unit. Let them know you've already seen Beattie too, that's the best way to get onto his list (if that would be good for you). Don't worry about crossing over from private to NHS. In my experience, it didn't matter at all. Don't know how far along you are, but if you have decided to go for invasive testing, they do the CVS at the FMU too.

I totally understand your need to know, to have an outcome. I have had invasive testing 3 times, with good and unfavourable outcomes. Each time, regardless of the result, it was a few days of hellish stress, followed by the relief of knowing. Hopefully, then you will be able to relax into the pregnancy, knowing that all is well.

I'm sorry that the Spire clinic didn't quite live up to my hype but I do hope that from now on you find things easy to organise, clear to understand and most of all, that you get the best of news, as quickly as possible.

Thank you Shangrila. I was, by the hospital's measurements, 14 weeks on Saturday. Can I still have the CVS after 14 weeks and is the result definite like the Amnio?

I was disapointed by the spire, not because the result wasn't what I wanted but because though I was down to see Dr Beattie it was actually a woman who did the scan. On the day we went back so Dr Beattie could explain the tests we were kept waiting for almost an hour while other couples had their which was a pain.

I want to get the test arranged ASAP. I imagine that the amnio won't be done for a couple of weeks so I am hoping to set it in motion and not think about it until I am back from Glastonbury festival at the end of June. If I think about it too much I start to panic that we will have a bad outcome and I will have to go through a termination. I just want to try to relax and enjoy being pregnant while I can so the sooner I set things rolling for an amnio or CVS the better.

I'll call the midwives tomorrow, hopefully they can help.

I think that CVS is generally done by about 14 weeks but that it can be done later. As the weeks go by in the second trimester, women tend to hold out and wait for an amnio, which has a slightly lower miscarriage risk. CVS gives exactly the same sort of definitive result as amnio. They are both big tests but whichever procedure you end up having, the FMU at Cardiff should give you all the background information you need so that you feel well prepared and then get the results through to you quite speedily.

Keep in touch.

Blimey! You've got to laugh. I have been on the phone through the midwife centre to what they said was the fetal medicine unit but turned out to be the berevement unit, then to wsitchboard then to the fetal medicine unit to the screening midwife who wasn't available but tried to put me back to the fetal medicine unit. I have a number for a Lynne Taylor now so if she doesn't call me back as promised at least I can get back through to her.

It's not easy to arrange an Amnio is it?

Update. All arranged for an Amnio at the end of the month and with Dr Beattie

Oh thank goodness! I'm so glad you got it sorted and sorry that it seems to have been such a pain. Fingers crossed that all goes well with the test. I read an interesting article recently which might give you a bit of reassurance see here. It looks at miscarriage rates amongst women who do and do not opt for an amnio in the 2nd trimester and finds that although 1% of women who do have amnio had a miscarriage, 0.94% of women who didn't have an amnio also miscarried. So really only a 0.06% risk from the procedure itself. It made me feel better anyway.

Good luck and do let us know how it all works out. x

Great news DF. He's the business. Try to have as relaxed as possible few weeks and enjoy Glastonbury!

Just wanted to update and say I had the Amnio this morning with Mr Beattie and it was all fine. Not painful at all and the baby was safely away from the needle. Everyone at the hospital was very lovely and I should get my results in a couple of days.

thanks again for all the advice and kind words.

Good stuff, DF. So pleased it went smoothly. They are incredibly nice people at the FMU - and good at their jobs. Hope the initial result comes through quickly for you. I'll be watching out for your news.