Due in October 2009-Part II. Waiting impatiently for our scans!

[HumphreysCorner]

Over here ladies-can't believe we have a 2nd thread already.

HC
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Hi all, wont be around much as I have the most hectic month of all time, but had scan today and all well, moved me forward by 1 week so now 12+2 and due 11th.

patmum-our scans don't give us any risk numbers so we have to have blood tests. The risk level has been reduced so anything above 1:200 is considered low risk. I am 39, 40 in October and am not having the bloods done as whatever they tell me I won't trust as last time I got 1:195 so had an amnio and all was OK. What has put me off the bloods is the fact that a local lady who got a 1:20000 result had a baby with Downs Syndrome. So instead I am going straight for an amnio as if I had the bloods and they gave me odds of 1:20000 my baby may still have Downs Syndrome. It is such a difficult decision but as the MW at the hospital told me the nuchal scans and ordinary scans are just screening scans and will not be accurate enough to rule out Downs, Edwards, Pataus etc. Good luck with whatever you decide. Glad your scan went well.

HC
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Thanks for the input HC I guess you're right.

A friend of mine had a really rare form of cancer last year and was told how unlucky she was because there was a 1:800000 chance that she would get it. Given that she's the one she doesn't really rate statistics at all because after all someone is going to be the one! She's due to have her second child in 1 month and did laugh in the face of all the probabilities that she got with her screening tests.

Is amniocentesis a definite result? Then again I guess you have the 1:100 chance of miscarriage with it don't you so it's all a game of numbers isn't it?

I wish I was in total ignorance and knew nothing!

sparklytwinkletoes, did you used to be on the couch to 5k thread? i was ladyjogsalot. i might have just made that up, i seem to be doing that a lot recently.

DA - That's funny, yes I was, I stopped when I got pregnant last year, then MC and didn't dare start again. Ho hum, I guess there's always another year [hmmm] - how did you get on?

Patmum I am 37, the nuchal fold measurement taken during my scan was 1.5mm, so well and truly in the 'normal' range but combined with my bloods and age, they told me my risk was 1 in 500. So a 99.8% chance of all being ok theoretically and no further tests recommended or provided on the NHS.

Still thinking about my options. I may still opt for an Amnio because like HC, I'm just going to worry myself mad unless I know for sure. 1 in 500 doesn't sound so remote, and somebody has to be the 1. It's completely irrational - I'd take a 0.2% risk for most things quite happily any day of the week. But this is different.

I think it's absolutely right to inform everyone of the increased risks and problems as you get older but so many over 35's have babies these days it should be treated quite normally but my experience is that it's repeatedly presented so negatively it almost frightens you into an amniocentesis or CVS - which just feels wrong. It's a delicate balance.

An amnio gives you a yes or no answer so definite. There is the risk of MC too sadly. Decisions, decisions but I did decide and it is 2 weeks today. That is some bad luck for your friend isn't it.

I told myself that if I had another baby I would ignore the blood risk and take note of the scan and if no soft markers were found I was going to take the chance but now I am older I can't do that. Felt so much happier once I had the results from my last amnio.

Night ladies.

HC
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Thanks HC and cookiemonster

Now that I've "come out" at work I somehow feel less stressed about it. I'm sure that it will all rear its head again at the end of next week.

morning lovelies

Hope everyone is ok - HC & Patmum - fingers and toes crossed for you both

Will you also find out the sex when you have the amnio?

I need to come out at work - getting very tricky - there is only so many floaty tops and scarf combos i can get away with

Am just wondering if anyone else has really itchy boobs ?

I was PG with DS more than 3 years ago so it is all a bit hazy ...

Hi patmum - I'm 37 (seems to be a few of us on here the same age!). I started off with a maternal age risk of 1:155, so was really please with the 1:825 after the measurement (measurement was 1.2mm).

I was offered an amnio, but having lost 2 babies to miscarriage in the last 6 months, I just couldn't bear to take the stress of that risk.

Morning all!

Sorry I haven't been around for a while - I had an Ofsted inspection this week so have been a tad busy!

I had my scan yesterday and all was well the baby was moving around like mad! They have moved my date forward to 14th October and I am officially 12 weeks today! Yipee!

They tried to do the nuchal fold scan as well but couldn't quite manage it so I will have to go back next week for that. Aparently because I am 34 (35 in August) I am bound to get recalled. I am not too worried. It would have to be a pretty high risk for me to follow up with an amnio. I will let you all know how I get on.

The MS is finally going which is a relief because we are off to Kent and then London for the weekend and I get travel sick when I am not pregnant!

By the way - I have bought Boots own travel bands (that are actually seabands when you get them open) and they have definitely worked for me.

morning all
sorry i am really just lurking,i have 2 essays due this week and revision for my exams,i hate this time of year and my baby brain is not helping
i forgot how old i was at the weekend and had a panic as my mind went blank!
i also got ready for the school run on saturday
have a great day ladies x

have you seen the thread on finding out about the sex? I know it's been mentioned on here a bit already. I get the impression that it's quite common for people to get told at the 20 week scan, which I'm quite about as they won't tell you where I am, and I balk at the thought of spending lots of money privately to find out. We knew with ds, because we had loads of scans due to complications, and don't like the idea of not knowing this time. What are people thinking?

Haven't been on for a bit - have totally become a sloth and taken a whole week off work to sleep sleep and do lots of small DIY jobs that are holding up the general progress of the house renovation. Back to work tomorrow, but feel a million times better than this time last week I know I'm lucky.

Still getting nothing on the doppler and 14weeks today - anyone else still having problems?

Got my 20weeks scan date - 9th May, earlier than I was expecting, and will be 19 weeks only, don't suppose that matters though?

Congratulations to all the great scans, I sense lots of relieved ladies , welcome to the newbies {waves} and I hope all of you are feeling generally well / better.

nb: the new proposed thread title made me cry - so a thumbs up!

WM - great news that you saw a wiggly baby

I found those seasickness bands brilliant as well

KM - they do let you find out the sex where we are but we aren't going to find out ... want a surprise. Am gearing myself up for another boy

Now, names is another sore subject - DH and I do not agree on anything!

theboob - good luck with the essays

glad you feel better Flame

Good morning all!
The sun is out today! So I think we'll go to the beach today.

I'm so glad that everyone likes the new proposed thread title!
CalypsoFlame oh gosh i didn't expect tears but glad that they were positive pregnancy tears!

Congratulations on all the scan results! Its lovely to hear all your stories of your beans jumping about, makes it all seem so real now!

Kleine How come they wont tell you in your area? Is it because they may get it wrong? I think they had the policy of not telling in Poole untill about a year ago, for the reason that people were complaining when they got the result wrong.

A local lady i know was told she was having a girl recently and had a boy. Luckily she didn't buy many girls clothes as she was convinced that she was having a boy because she was carrying all out front.

ruby I don't have itchy boobs but i have itchy legs!

Have a lovely day!!

Have just read all the posts and have completely forgotten everything

Congrats for all the lovely scans yesterday It is very special isn't it!!!

Had some not great news yesterday-call from mw to say my blood tested positive for the parvo (slapped cheek) virus. So glad I went with my gut. Feel quite numb. Midwife has just left as they have had to take more blood to send to a specialist lab in bristol. She admitted that none of the midwives know anything about it and were all trying to look things up this morning. She basically said that i'll have to wait to see the consultant to find out what it all means.

I'm worried it'll stop me going on my sisters hen week and also having a home birth as well as all the obvious.
She said she'd listen to the hb and then couldn't find it for AGES. She kept saying 'oh that was baby moving about' when there was a noise but I was convinced she was just saying that to put my mind at rest as she couldn't find the hb. But she did find it eventually (although my paranoid brain is wandering now-but i'm being STUIPD) so that has made me feel a bit better. And she said i'm measuring quite big for my dates.
I'm really angry with the gp who just completely dismissed me. The mw is really worried as she has had several mums worried who have been told they/their dc's haven't got it. So there maybe at least one gp not diagnosing it.

I really don't know what I think and feel as true to form i'm not even letting myself know so that normally means i'm very stressed.

Icantbelieveitsnotniter-how are you? Have you had your results back yet? Have you seen the consultant yet? Is there anything/info you can tell me about it/the extra care etc. Dp is rubbish in these situations and says there is no point in worrying as there is nothing we can do BUT I can't help it

Sorry for the me me me ramble.
I hope everyone is ok and any scans go well today

Oh I'm sorry to hear that Sammysam. Would you believe I still haven't had any results back - it's been 4 weeks now !

But, I have insisted that I'm treated as positive in the absence of any results and I have my first consultation with the fetal consultant on Friday. The trouble with the parvovirus test is that you will get a positive result even if the infection was years ago - they test for antibodies apparently so there is no way of knowing how old these antibodies are.

From the OCD, totally manic research i've googled (convinced I now have diseases only black men aged 95+ can get kind of thing !!) it is only a really small risk to the babies - they monitor for it quite well and there are things they can do if they do discover a problem. I'm going to ask the consultant on Friday if the miscarriage risk is highest during the actual suffering of the virus - I'm now 4 weeks past the symptoms and there's no spotting, pains or anything so fingers crossed I'm, day by day, moving away from the danger time ?

I also need to ask about the hydrops issue - it says the danger time is 9-20 weeks and I think, from scan dates, that I had symptoms week 7-8 which might exclude me or reduce my risk of the hydrops [clutching at straws emoticon]

Unfortunately your DP (and mine) is probably right and we have to temper the worry because I don't think there is anything we can do ourselves - take it easy and don't stress is probably the only advice anyone can give - and that's for all preggers ladies with or without slapped cheek !

We'll have to compare notes from our midwives and consultants ! My midwife was quite clued up and said she has the virus details stuck in the back of her diary ready for phone calls from worried mums !

Thanks for your reply Icantbelieveitsnotbitter It is good to hear some more info and my mw had never even heard of it so knows nothing.

Have just really upset myself by reading the comments here and also a slapped cheek website set up by a couple who had a mc.

I'm just so angry that no one knows how serious it can be. Why is immunity not tested for? It is crazy.

I have to go now as my mum is here-will be back on later i'm sure. It would be really good to hear your news and any info you find out-I have a feeling i'm going to be very much in the dark for quite some time

Take care x x x

DS1 got sent home with a letter on Tuesday saying that slapped cheek was going around his class. I have been told by the midwife to avoid coming into contact with anyone who has it and to phone GP if Ds catches it. He is breaking up today for Easter thank goodness.

Sammysam - really sorry to hear you have tested positive, but am glad you are hearing an HB and detecting movement - good signs.

xx

Sammysam, i dont really know what it is, but it doesnt sound very good. But someone said that it can show up if you had it years ago, ive had something like that happen to me. Years ago i ended up with MRSA pretty bad. I never thought anything of it when i got pregnant, but they started doing blood tests etc, then i was told that i wasnt able to go into the health centre where there was babies. I was able to have Ethan in hospital thank god, as i needed a c-section because of problems. He was taken to the special baby care unit and had tubes in his hands, feet & head. He was getting pumped with drugs 3 times a day. All this because of something that happened years ago. I suppose im trying to say that if there is a chance you might not have it now, and even though its so stressful, try to remember that. Is there anyway they can check? My heart goes out to you, we have enough problems without new ones being added. I think i speak for everyone when i say, if you need to talk about this, we are all here to listen. Lots of big big hugs xxx

Ive just read about slap cheek....why the hell are we not all told about this?? Sammysam try not to read to much about it, it would drive you mad. I would look into complaining about your GP who seems to be a brainless twat!

Wilmouse - I think your midwife should have told you that once you display symptoms you're no longer contagious. The incubation period for this can be up to 40 days (depending on the website you use).

It is contagious enough to catch if you are in a room with an infected person (displaying no symptoms remember) for 30 minutes.

Unfortunately most of the symptoms can be attributed to pregnancy or a cold - stuffy nose, achy, tired, nauseous etc. In fact, I had every symptom - including itchy feet and palms, achy painful joints - EXCEPT the rosy red cheeks (looked a little flushed but thought that was because I was too hot/too cold feeling virusy!

Quite a large percentage of the population have already had it as children but, a correspondingly large percentage of people suffer it with no symptoms at all but are obviously still contagious. I think I'd ask for a blood test immediately to see if you have the antibodies - which will mean you either had it recently or years ago but will at least confirm if you're at risk now.

My GP and the Midwife say this has been a very bad year for slapped cheek.

I'm in Kent - where are these other cases is it countrywide ??