Due April 2008 - brand new thread here!

[EllieG]

OK - am going to take the plunge and start one...anyone coming?

Sorry, cross-posted.

smcg - {{big hug}} I know it´s difficult but like lemonaid said, try and focus on that 97.8% chance. We´re all here for you whatever

lemonaid - I´m sure you look gorgeous That model though certainly doesn´t look pregnant. I was no where near that thin before I conceived

I'm getting very now at all of you with lovely maternity wear, think I´ll slink off & have a sulk Only kidding, it´s DS birthday today & he´s in such a euphoric mood that I don´t think anything could get me down today

Thanks ladies, yes, you're right, in reality the risks are still low and that's what my dh keeps telling me but I am making things worse by looking up scary stories! We didn't go privately but might look into it for the CVS if we feel we need it and the hospital can't schedule it quickly. I was worried about the NHS initially but so far we are very impressed with the hospital.

They told us that they combine the results of the blood test with the scan so the risk could go up or down.

I'll quit moaning now and do some work! Have a good weekend.

its not moaning We all do it on here, its reassurance!

Hope you are ok this weekend.

Smcg. I would totally recommend you have CVS. Most babies who have the measurements yours have are fine - it is not a certainty by any means that he or she has any problems. Believe me I have done my research. So lets focus on that first and foremost.
By CVS will put your mind at rest and give you definte answers, which it sounds like you need to know - I was the very same.
The doc who did mine was a chap called Pranav Pandya. He was recommended to me and I can honestly say he was one of the most amazing docs I've ever met. I researched him first and he is one of the leading consultants in the world. Meaning that, even though he will no doubt tell you you have a one in 100 or 200 chance of a misscarriage because that's the official stats, in reality your chances are much, much smaller. He is wonderful.
I'm not going to lie to you and say it didn't hurt - it did and I cried and got very upset - but I think that was more the shock of the weird sensation. It was a perfectly bearable pain.
I had a very soar crampy tummy for about 20 mins then the paracetamol kicked in and I just felt a bit achy. Took it easy that day and yesterday and now feel totally fine.
They check the heartbeat straight afterwards but I wanted another scan today to be sure all was fine so I saw Dr Pran for litteraly 5 mins this morning at the Portland to check all was well.
Expecting my results this afternoon or monday at the latest and then the full report in about two weeks.
I am a need to know person - my nuchal was 1mm but I still had CVS because, and I'm not meaning to freak anyone else out here, but someone has to be that one in 200 or 500 or whatever. And I wanted to rule out all possibilty of that being me.
If that is how you feel then I think you should go for it. But it depends what you would do if your baby was abnormal. We would definately terminate so we thought it was worth it.
I really hope this helps. I feel so sorry for you and, if like me you haven't told anyone you are preggers yet, then you and Dh are going through it alone. It's so hard.
I am so here for you though so please ask me anything and I'll help you as much as I can.
This is the number for the harley street clinic where Dr Pran used to work. 020 7636 6765. I don't have his new number on me but call them and they'll give it to you. He's at 78 Harley street now. I think it costs £550 but I thought that was a small price to pay for peace of mind.
Is there anything else you want to know that I've forgotten?
x

If you want to look up stories that are less scary, you could look at some of the posts on here from posters with children who have Down's Syndrome (eidsvold and thomcat spring to mind). And there's a girl with Down's Syndrome as one of the babies (well, toddlers now) from my due date group with DS -- wasn't picked up until she was a month old, actually, because she didn't "look" like a baby with Down's when she was born. Developmentally she's only about six months "behind" the rest of the children, and on vocabulary (although she's mostly signing rather than speaking) she's actually ahead of a couple of them. There are positive stories out there.

sooo lost with all this measurements stuff!!

This is lovely, too (I have it bookmarked because I thought it was such a good article at the time).

Thanks Dolly1, that's good to know. I am going to think about it over the weekend.

I feel awful saying this and I really hope I don't offend anyone but I don't want a DS child.

smcg, i think these decisions are very individual and we all have different ideas of what wwe would do, IYSWIM? Don't feel bad for your decision, even though others may disagree-its your life and your baby.

SMCG I do hope all goes well for you x

Dolly1 let us know how your resluts go and wether its a boy or girl how exciting

I have my first Midwife appointment on Monday and although I havent put on any weight I am far too big to begin with I am already 16 stone but I am 5'11 so can carry some extra! but I know it will be an issue for them but hayho! as for Maternity clothes I am a size 22/24 so have NO chance or buying anything nice from a shop here so its ebay in America for me I think although because I have lost 5 stone this year yes 5 stone so I was huge I still have bigger girls clothes - Its hard though because my belly has popped out but people are just going to think oh look at her fat belly oh well!

Only you know what you can and can't deal with -- it has to be your decision, utterly (well, and your DH's).

The only thing I would suggest is that you make sure you know what "a DS child" is really like. In your position the choices I'd have made, say, five years ago are different from the choices I'd make today, after I've met more adults and children with DS. Make sure your decision is an informed one, but it is very definitely your decision and you should be supported in it.

Yes there are many positive stories about downs Lemonaid but, and I'm not wanting to start a debate here, having a child with a disabilty is just not something I want for my life.
Of course no one has a crystal ball - anything could happen in future which would put me in that position, but for now I feel I have options.
What's so great about something like CVS is that it lets you make a truely informed choice. Lots of people seemed to be scared of it, and yes, it does increase your chance of misscarriage but it depends what your priorities are - for me it is finding out.
The main point I want to make to you smcg is not to be scared of it. It is nowhere near as bad (or as risky if you get a brilliant doc) as it's made out to be.
If you do decide to do it, whether you would opt for a termination or not depending on the results, at least you won't spend the rest of your pregnancy wondering what the future holds when your baby arrives.
I really hope this helps. This is a very personal topic and there are no right or wrong ways to think - only the right way for you. Whatever you decide I wish you so much luck with it.
Dr Pran's clinic is on Wednesday so I'd book asap for next week if you want to.
He is so nice. I'm having all my care privately so I'm going back to him for my 20 week scan. So even those who aren't considering CVS or amnio, I would still highly recommned him for a scan.
x

tlsm I am not as heavy as you, but not as tall either and it wasn't an issue with my midwife (who was on the cuddly side herself, admittedly). All she said was to try to eat sensibly not dieting but not "eating for two" either so that if possible I could avoid gaining too much weight.

What a fantastic article.

smcg, I dont think anybody would 'choose' to have a child with downs syndrome, but I think the reality is no matter what your child may or may not have, once they are born you love them exactly the same as if they didnt have it.

Personally I opted out of all tests and stuff because I wouldnt want to have to go through the decision of deciding whether or not to keep a child if there was something discovered, my baby will be born, and then we'll find out anything else afterwards.

But of course it is your choice, and you must do what you feel is right.

Good Luck

Should have also put that I respect anyone's decisions & it´s entirely personal so don´t go feeling bad just because other people would do things differently.

I was a stone lighter when I fell with my DS but by this stage had put on 2 1/2 stone in total I put on 6 1/2 stone with my Ds double and I had MS with him! so am happy with the fact I have lost a 1lb so far am hoping to either not put any on by sticking to eating heathly and swimming three times a week or at the most putting on a stone with Max I just eat crap for 9 months and never worried about my weight in fact I was 1lb heaver when I came out of the hospital after having him!!!!

I can understand what your saying Dolly I am 29 so am at a slighty lower risk for DS but I know that if I have a high chance result next week I will have a CVS as i know neither myself or my DH would be able to cope with a DS child. I have worked with a few lovely people who have had DS some mildly others not my BILs mum has a lovely boy who is 19 with DS that lives with her as his family could no longer cope. It is a very personel choice that I am sure No one here would take lightly

Dolly1, thanks again for the information. I am very much leaning towards having CVS now. I've just read an article about Pranav Pandya and he does sound wonderful.

Lemonaid, I appreciate what you are saying but we have more or less decided what we'll do if it comes to it. Thanks though.

ladies, I think I am going to drop off this site for a while, I wish you all the best in the future.

OK smcg-best of luck with whatever happens. Do let us know in the future how you are

Smcg - good luch my dear and if there is anything else you need to know then don't hesitate to get on here and ask me.

But keep remembering that there is still a great chance your baby will be fine.

If you do have CVS then please go to Pran or find someone just as good because who does it has has so much to do with misscarriage rate. You want someone who has done loads - he told me he'd done four a day for years. That's the kind of experience you need.

Will be thinking of you.
x

Midwives still aren't there and don't really want to leave a message.

Am i being silly?