Antenatal care after losing a baby

[loopyloops]

Dear all

DH and I have just come to the conclusion that we might start trying for another baby. :)

Our first pregnancy was with twins, so high risk, regular scans and consultant care. Sadly DTD1 was stillborn and DTD2 8 weeks premature. This was probably avoidable, as (without going into all the details) the sonographer noticed a problem on the 28 week scan but didn't write it in my notes, so it wasn't acted upon and between the 28 and 32 week scan DTD1 had died. :(

Now I am obviously terrified about becoming pregnant again. Will the care be better, or at least treated as high risk? I would want to know if possible quite early on if it were twins again (I found out at 6 weeks last time as I bled) and would hope to have very regular scans. Is this likely? If anyone has any experience I'd be grateful.

Thanks. :)

Sorry for your loss.

I think it depends on the likelihood of the problems that occurred first time recurring in your subsequent pregnancy.

If there is an increased risk of the problems that effected you last time being an issue in your future pregnancy they will keep a closer eye on you, however as a matter of course the NHS don't generally treat you as high risk, and don't seem to be keen on "reassurance scans".

That being said all the staff that I have had contact with have been lovely and very sympatheitc and reassuring in relation to my worries.

You should fiind that at booking in the midwife will give you a Sands sticker to go on the front of your notes which should mean that anyone who picks them up will immediately know you have suffered a loss. If your midwife doesn't have one you can request one from Sands.

Best of luck TTC

There is a thread running here for those pregnant after a loss/diifciult pregnancy which you would be welcome to join. There is at least one poster who is TTC so you may find it helpful.

Yes, it should be.

My experience is a decade old, but after the neonatal death of DS1 from a congenital condition, I had additional scans throughout my subsequent pregnancies (I think 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks).

I also had antenatal care at the hospital with their midwife team, plus two or three appointments with the consultant (one early on to agree the monitoring regime), and I found everyone to be very support

Can't deny that it was a stressful time, even though we knew from genetic testing that what had happened to DS1 was random and unlikely to occur again. Are you at any known increased risk?

Wishing you well for this time around.

The results of the post mortem were inconclusive, so no known congenital problems. IUGR was as specific as they could say.

Thank you so much for your help.