December 2017 babies #5 - dating scans and food chat, and dwindling symptoms???

[glastogal]

Time for a new thread methinks.. will pop a link to this in the old one. Make yourselves comfy ladies - this one might see a few of us into the 2nd trimester 😱😱😱

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xkkNdcxTRfLVAtBUItL__yT9FchALAwK63e2BjZbVMM/htmlview

I need to leave for my 12-week scan in about 40 minutes, and I'm currently sitting in the garden in my pyjamas (neighbours cant see me, thank god). But I'm just too nervous to get ready. Because then it makes it real. I was on a night shift last night, so it's reasonable to be in my pyjamas, but not normal to be sitting in the garden stressing like this. I've definitely taken my seat on that worry bench (and I've brought pancakes). I don't have anything in particular to worry about though. I'm on meds already for anxiety, and I know this is just a panic attack but FFS it's not what I need.

On another note Bluebell I've had some light pains like period pains. Friends who are mums say they are stretching pains and not to worry. Hope that's all you've got.

Ooo Monty good luck! Hopefully in a couple of hours you'll be clasping a pic of your little one and a small amount of those worries will have gone away I'll keep your space on the bench warm and eat some of your pancakes while you're gone!

Just had an epic catch up on the thread after not checking it for a few days... Might have cried at the scan pics...

Had my booking appointment on Saturday which went fine, will be under the perinatal mental health team as well as the midwife, physically she thinks everything is low risk at the moment. Managed to get my blood taken without fainting so that was a definite bonus. Hooray for pregnancy veins!

Have got a private scan booked tomorrow afternoon (think I'll be 9+1) so very much on the anxious bench rn (I've bought salt and vinegar crisps). Have convinced myself it'll be bad news (no actual evidence for this) but either way I think it'll be good to know what's happening.

Good luck Monty - it's going to be amazing!

Good luck Monty. Is anyone going with you to the scan? Try and stay calm. I am sat on the bench with you, but with everything crossed wishing you lots of luck! Keep us posted (oh and I bring malteasers to the bench, yum!).

Hope everything goes well at the scan Monty anxiety is horrible, not what you want on scan day, is someone going with you?

@MontyPants Good luck!

@feelingcalledlove Good luck for tomorrow also.

Fingers crossed for you both

Just had my combined screening test results - apparently it's a very good; a "negative" result (although I thought they went on a risk scale rather than positive/negative) which means, if the tests were accurate, then LB is low risk for Downs (1:18000), Edwards (1:10000) and Patau (1:11000) based on my blood hormones, the NT measurement (1.6mm), and my age (36).

I am happy but of course now I'm also worried about the accuracy of the combined test vs the Harmony (DNA). As I'm not high risk my hospital won't find Harmony through the NHS, but I don't know if it's OTT to pay for a private screen (£400+) when the odds from the combined screening sound so good. Shouldn't be stressed yet I am...

Wow! That was so fast bikerchick!! Those results are really good. I don't know what to say about the Harmony test, if you have £400 you can spare for the peace of mind, why not?! Do what you need to do to make your life as stress-free as possible. I don't know that I would have a harmony test with results as good as that.. but I wasn't aware the combined test was meant to be inaccurate!! Basically, do what feels right xx

Thanks @glastogal. I was super impressed with their speed as well, I have to say! And you're right - that's what I'm trying to weigh up; peace of mind vs extravagance.

Excellent news bikerchick. I think it's personal anxiety levels that will decide whether you pay for the harmony test. But with risks that low you could spend £400 on something much more fun! I would totally still understand if you went for the additional tests though!

I don't think it's extravagant if you are still really worried. It's a long time till the anomaly scan if this is going to play on your mind.

I would think it's 400 well spent vs spending it on a holiday or something like that.
I did it last pregnancy and will do it again this time.

bikerchick I don't think there's a right answer, it depends on how much you need/want the reassurance. It sounds like the risk is very low, so there's probably no medical need for the harmony test, but if you have the money and the results would put your mind at rest then I can understand why you'd want to go for it.

Thanks all. I'm leaning towards that too. Will discuss with the husband, but he knows me well and I'm pretty sure he'll say that my mind won't rest till I have it done! I know it's a good result from the combined but it's the disparity between the accuracy for the combined (75% accurate) vs the Harmony (99% accurate) that worries me.

Ps In truth my hesitance is because I feel a little silly - usually when people get a second opinion they are hoping to improve on bad news, not to verify good news!

PS I did not do it as well as any other screening because we went private for everything and this was the recommended test. So I didn't compare it to anything else, just got this result from Harmony.

Congratulations weasledee, that's great news. Same as you, I got a BFP right after my miscarriage. Wonder if you have a surge in fertility right after a miscarriage.

Monty hope it went ok today.

Great results biker but I agree with the others, if you can afford it then it's worth the money if you're the kind of person who would have it niggling away in the back of your mind. I had the Harmony test done last week, should get the results by Friday and Friday is my NHS 12 week scan. Hope I get the Harmony results before my NHS scan.

How's everyone coping with the heat?

If the harmony test will give you reassurance dirty, then go for it. Pregnancy is an anxious enough time as it is and if anything can help with those concerns, I think it is money well spent.

It feels ridiculously hot here at the moment and I am dreading the summer properly arriving if this continues.

Thanks everyone. Just booked the Panorama test with a private maternity hospital for tomorrow afternoon. It's £450 but I think it's worth it - it's newer and claims to be more accurate than Harmony (the hospital also provides the Harmony at the same cost so they have no reason to make that up) and covers more than just the 3 main syndromes. Thanks for your assurance everyone xx

It's a baby! 😁 Feeling a lot calmer now. They weren't able to measure the fluid behind its neck because it wouldn't move to the correct position. I have a stubborn baby. But the sonographer couldn't see any abnormalities, so all is good. Thanks for the calming messages all.

Yay monty - great news 😄

Great scan Monty!! A proper baby :)

Panorama has been around for a good 5yrs now...slightly more sensitive for (I think) 1 and slightly less sensitive for another. I don't think there's much real difference tbh and think everyone should feel equally confident about their choice. The differences are negligible.

We've a NIPT test booked for next week and are happy with over 99% accuracy. Fingers crossed we all have bouncing healthy babies xxx

I'm really glad the scan went well Monty despite the stubbornness

Yay congrats monty! Seems you had the same as me yesterday - stubborn baby preventing a nuchal measurement. I was there for ages! Did they make you jump up and down?