Due Jan 2010 - watching our beans grow into bumps :-)

[sazlocks]

As we all talk so fast the last thread is nearly full so thought I would start us off on a new one

lynneevans51 - I'm in St Albans so planning on giving birth in Welwyn QE2, haven't done the tour of the facilities yet though so I'll change to Watford or Luton if I'm horrified by what I see!

Just had midwife appointment and heard the heartbeat for the first time! Baby sounds really healthy and there I was worrying that he/she was alright!

I'm reasured (but not glad!) that I'm not the only one with ligament pains. Midwife said it is to be expected considering what the body goes through in pregnancy!

I also 'hope' I'm not the only one still weeing in the night!

Err.. I get out of bed first mind!

ClaireDB - you are deffo not the only one still weeing in the night - I think pretty much everyone is. Mind you, I did that B4 I was pg!

Oooh - anyone else getting skintags? I have had one appear (few weeks ago now) right in the corner of my eye. Eye been v sore last couple of days and have just realised I now have large lumps on both upper and lower lids, in the corner, much like a stye - sure it must have something to do with the skintag... Quite irritating...

Hello everybody, just a very quick mail. Will post later.

I got my results and quite frankly I'm none the wiser!

12 week scan: 1/344
Triple blood test: 1/189
Combined tests result: 1/1043

I have to make a decision tomorrow re: amnio. What the Dickens am I supposed to surmise?

Help!!!!

I hope you are all well and happy.

Sorry this is such a 'me' post.

Hi all, not posted for a while as been very busy organising building work & office move... so glad my energy levels are (pretty much) back to normal, or I don't know how I'd be coping.

Anyway - yes to ligaments, especially coughing and sneezing; yes to skintags, I'm really prone to them, but most of them disappear over time, if they're sore I'd pop to your GP 'cos I think they can whip them off at the surgery; erm, yes to weeing in the night; yes to looking obviously pg already, ridiculously, embarrassingly so..; oh, and yes to shooting hip pains - chiropracter has been good, as has doing belly dancing figure of eights, pelvic tilts and thinking about sitting and standing correctly, so as not to squash the sacrum, yoga meant to help too, and trying to maintain flexibility in hips.

Not withstanding all the above I am feeliing happy with everything at the moment. Pretty sure I'm feeling movements now, which is exciting, and looking forward to 16 week check a week Monday when I hope to hear heartbeat.

Jardins, that does sound confusing, but, isn't the combined test the most accurate? I think here they don't suggest further tests unless your risk is higher than one in 250, so I'd have thought a risk of 1 in over a thousand was ok. Is there someone who can offer you some counselling - was it you that saw a genetics counsellor, could they help?

Jardins - IMO I wouldn't worry about amnio.... as Biccy says, if risk was higher than 1:250 (ie 1:100) yes, I would definitely have the amnio, but the ratio really isn't too bad. However, its really a decision for you as to what you would do if you found out for deffo that there was some genetic disorder. If, for example, you are quite certain you would consider a termination, perhaps having amnio to know for sure is an idea.. if not, but it would give you time to prepare thoughts etc - I'd be tempted to leave it. In any case, the ratio is not bad at all and quite good! But at the end of the day, MW and GPs etc (presumably in France too...?) would be able to advise better.,,?

Dear Biccy qnd lynneevans51 thank you so much for your responses. Biccy, TBH I found the genetics counsellor a little impatient when I didn't get the numbers she was blasting at me. Maybe it's my imagination but I don't really feel comfortable calling her again for explanations. Unfortunately my doctor is on holiday so I am rooting around trying to think who could advise me. I have a first appointment with my new midwife next Tuesday. Perhaps I could call her tomorrow am? I have to make a decision before tomorrow early afternoon.

Part of me would like to have the certainty and part of me is angry because I feel that I'm being influenced by a very persuasive medical front which seems to be very pro-testing.

Which is the reliable stat; the blood test or the combined result?

Thank you for your time!

Hi jardins, I feel nervous about offering advice on this, as my knowledge of these tests and their accuracy is limited, and so much of the decision making is down to how you would feel about having an affected baby weighed against the risks of miscarriage with the amnio... but I found [[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/downs-test-a-mothers-right-to -choose-975351.html this article}}, which I think I would have found useful, had I been in your position. Hope it helps.

Whoops, sorry -choose-975351.html this article...

Aargh, why can't I make it work?! Here is the link to copy: www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/downs-test-a-mothers-right-to-c hoose-975351.html

Jardins - combined test is the most reliable because they take both the bloods and the nuchal scan results, put them in a computer and come out with the combined ....

Congratulations jardins 1/1043 is a really low risk. As lynneevans says the combined result is supposed to be the most accurate as they put all the information together. Here in the UK they claim to find 80-90% of Downs with combined nuchal/triple test. I'm still waiting for my results: basically, if it is higher than 1/250 then they will phone me this week and offer an amnio, if not I will get a letter. I'm hoping that the fact I haven't heard yet is good. Fingers crossed.

Had midwife appointment today and been referred for consultant led care as blood pressure is high.

Alibobins - I'm the same. Have my first consultant appt next Tuesday (4th) for them to decide whether I should be consultant or midwife led. Really think I will be consultant led - but don't care quite frankly. Think we get more appointments, more check-ups, more chances to hear heartbeat etc. I'm really not bothered about home birthing or birthing centres etc either - just whatever it takes to get baby out in the end - so quite happy about it.

So why was the specialist harping on about 1/189 (blood test) being high risk? Wail!!! I don't understand and I am, unfairly perhaps, getting the feeling that these worries are being handed to me on a plate when prior to the genetics counselling appointment I was upbeat and as serence as possible about the outcome of this pregnancy. I know I sound like a spoilt brat, please forgive me for that. If 1/1034 is the most reliable figure then that's great. However if it's the triple test, then I guess I would go on to having the amnio.

I'm really grateful to you for giving me your thoughtful answers. It's not the difficulty of making the decision that's bothering me (although it is a hard decision for anyone) rather not being able to decipher the numbers. Also I feel as if I'm being pushed into making my decision really quickly.

Quirkychick my daughter had a fab time at dance today: 3 and a half hours of bliss. The teacher wanted to assess her level since DD is new to the school/region and,(warning, here comes a parantal gloat) told me she was very talented. Yes!!!!! I have one happy 13 yr old sleeping upstairs.

ps Lynneevans51 yes, I remember the skin tags from previous pregnancies. They freaked me out but the fab thing is that they then miraculously disappeared. Oh yes, pregnancy is a wonderous thing!

Jardins - truly the combined test, as I understand it from lots of sources, is the result to be concentrating on. Not sure about the specialist - you know I really would call someone tomorrow, you mentioned a new midwife? Ask again for them to explain to you about the figures, that the specialist seemed to be concerned about the blood test figures and therefore you need to know which ones on which to base your decision. However, I still think congrats are in order for a good result

Skintags - humph. As on 3rd pregnancy, none of them trouble or symptom free, I really thought I'd experienced most things, then these rotten things pop up - in the eye of all places! Humph again.

And another thing - WHY oh WHY are these threads so darn addictive??

alibobins and lynneevans I have been on consultant led care since 6wks, I have had 2 antenatal clinic appointments so far. I had severe pre-eclampsia and a dvt last pg, am also an "old mummy". Still, at least they seem to be keeping an eye on me. You might find the appointments take a long time, though. My last appt with the dating scan took nearly 3hrs with scan/mw/obgyn/blood test/collecting meds.

My this pg lark just feels like a series of hoops to jump through, as soon as you get through one there's another one.

jardins, this must be a real worry (the combined figure of over 1000 is good though?), this link seems to have useful info on testing for DS: www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/testsandcare/screeningfordowns/ particularly "these tests are pretty accurate on their own but become even more accurate if combined. The NT scan alone probably picks up about 75 to 82 per cent of babies with Down's syndrome and the blood test alone, about 60 to 70 per cent If you put the two tests together, the detection rate is usually in the range of 90 to 93 per cent with about a 3 to 5 per cent false positive rate"

Jardins I got the same result 1 in 10000 and was told my gynaecologist it was very good and she would not recommend any further testing.

jardins to echo what others have said your combined result is very good, personally I wouldn't go for any further testing, but obviously it is your call entirely. If the risk were say, 1 in 50 or 1 in 100 even I probably would, but I think there may be much greater risk in having further procedures done.

As for me, no news, woke up looking about 6 months pregnant. Got it in the neck from DP for 'trying to conceal it at work' er, yeah right, as if that would be possible!

Work are continuing to pay me about 2k less than my salary (annual) which makes quite a difference each month with the pathetic salary I am on! Am thoroughly unimpressed!
Work refuse to give me a cheque for the shortfall..

Work's policy for pregnant people and swine flu (as there are a few people pregnant in the office, so I enquired what would happen to high-risk groups if people here got swine flu) their plan: we will isolate you, maybe, but only if a doctor thinks your health is at risk. So I said 'wouldnt working from home be safer?' and the reply: Just use your hand gel

Er, end of vent

Hope everyone else is OK? I think these pesky pregnancy hormones are making me grumpier than usual! grr

crumpette surely the fact that you're pg means that your health is at risk? Wouldn't your work need to do a risk assessment? I would try to get your salary sorted before maternity leave as it will affect your maternity pay. Good luck they don't exactly sound helpful. You don't really need it on top of pregnancy do you?

Hi all, I have just posted this in pregnancy but thought I would ask you guys too.

Im only 14 weeks now and have just put my maternity jeans on. I look about 6 months gone. My bump is hard like when I had dd.

Anyone else huge already with their 2nd dc?

Does this mean Im going to get massive later??

laurawantsababy I am just 15wks today with 2nd dc and I have started wearing my maternity jeans this wk too! I think once your muscles have stretched before they just do it again, unfortunately and you are generally bigger next time round. I hate to think of all the sit ups that's going to mean afterwards .