Please talk to me about CVS

[itisntreallyme]

I've also posted this on the antenatal tests board but it seems a bit quiet over there...

I think I've decided to have CVS next week after finding out I have a 1 in 55 chance of Downs. Please can you tell me your experiences and what to expect? I'm terrified. My hospital has reassured me their miscarriage rates are 1 in 150 so I feel confident I'm in good hands but still scared. Thanks

Hi I had cvs about 5weeks ago. I personally found it painful but my friend didn't just uncumfy. The doc who done mine done it wrong so another doc had to re-do it and touch wood so far baby is doing great. I think the miscarriage risk is far lower then they say really as I had problems and my baby is still fine. Good luck and any questions then feel free to ask. Xx

Hi

I had CVS about 6 months ago. My chance of Down's was 1 in 5 (baby had Down's sadly).

Risk of miscarriage very much depends on the expertise of the doctor undertaking the procedure. I was lucky enough from to have a specialist from a top London teaching hospital and she was confident from the start that the procedure would be straightforward. At the time they can also tell you a lot about the risk unique to that particular procedure, for example the baby's position and so on, which is very re-assuring.

The main thing is to check who will be doing the procedure and how much experience they have. Make it known that you would prefer an experienced consultant and don't take no for an answer - if the centre does not have sufficient expertise you have a right to go somewhere that does so don't be afraid to speak up if you need to. 1 in 150 sounds about average, it might be worth asking if they have the statistics pertaining to other local centres to help you make an informed decision about where to have it done.

Good luck, will be thinking of you and hope it goes ok.

The cvs itself didn't hurt in the slightest for me - I barely felt it. Firstly they gave us a full scan as we were still undecided at that point whether to go ahead. When they found a soft marker, we gave consent - the consultant came in and talked us through what would happen. They just lie you down and get the ultrasound to double check where your placenta is. Mine was at the front side so was very straight forward. They then keep the ultrasound on the baby to monitor that the needle doesn't go from the placenta. They give you a local anaesthetic which doesn't hurt,check that you can't feel anything then get you to lie very still (whilst squeezing hand very hard) while they insert the needle to the placenta. They then withdraw it and confirm they have enough sample. It takes about 20 seconds. You have to wait around for 30 mins to make sure you have no immediate reaction and then can go home but I got told to rest for 48 hours. Apparently the risks decrease the longer the time after the cvs. If you have anything that is not normal or you are worried then you should contact someone straight away. I started to feel a bit bruised that night but did't need any painkillers. I also couldn't watch the screen while they did it although my husband did. It really wasn't as bad as I thought- it's the decision process and the waiting for the results which is far more tortuous. Find yourself something mind numbing to do while you wait for the results- I went out for long walks and did sudoku. If you need to talk then go on the antenatal thread- there are a few of us that keep an eye on that to respond. We know what an awful time you will be going through.

Hi itisntreallyme,

I had a CVS about 6 months ago at Kings in London when we were given a 1:73 chance of our baby having Downs. We weren't going to have one but then after discussion DP and I thought we'd rather know either way and take the risk.

Like Scouseem I found it quite painful but other reports say that most people find it uncomfortable. I felt reassured that the consultant at Kings told us they'd never lost a baby yet as a direct result of a CVS, and were obviously very experienced, but like Kitty says, feel free to ask for a different consultant if you're in any way unhappy.

In my experience the consultant was very thorough and before inserting the needle DP and I had to go away for 20 minutes to sit down on two separate occassions as my uterus was involuntarily contracting according to the scan (I had no idea!)and he needed it to relax as was in wrong position to make the procedure safe for baby- so although was a pain I felt reassured that they knew what they were doing IYSWIM?

Afterwards I just felt a bit bruised for a couple of days but no real pain. Luckily for us the results came though two days later, and our baby appears to be okay- the wait was a nightmare though and I def recommend that you find something distracting to do!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, I'm sure you'll be fine.

I had one in 2008 for DS2 - now a crazy, superbright toddler - after a dodgy nuchal.

It was done at UCH by Professor Eric Jainaux.

He was amazing and the procedure went very smoothly.

It put my mind at rest and gave me the ability to relax throughout the rest of pregnancy - not easy if you're as neurotic as me.

Have it, it will give you the ability to make an informed choice and the risk of mc is very low if done by the right person.

Thanks all for sharing - it really is helpful to hear your stories.

I've been told I will get an experienced consultant but will definitely ask more questions to make sure I'm happy with who is performing the procedure after what you all said.

Ilovekitty can I ask which hospital you were treated at? I'm at Homerton. Would be good to hear from anyone else who has had a CVS there.

Thanks again

Sorry - just bumping this in case anyone has any experience of CVS at Homerton Hospital in London please?

Hi, I have a friend who had a CVS at Homerton so I'm afraid this is second hand information. Like you, they said the risk of miscarriage was about 1 in 150, but I think they also told her that they had not had a miscarriage related to the procedure for a couple of years.

I had a CVS myself at the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley St recently and it was totally fine. It's natural to worry about the risk of miscarriage, but it really is negligible. Similar to others, the consultant spent a long time working out where the placenta was and the best entry position for the needle. The actual procedure took only a few seconds. He explained to me that all the risk is during the actual procedure and he showed me the heartbeat afterwards and explained that all the risk was gone now the needle was out. So if you do go ahead, make sure they show you the hearbeat afterwards. The consultant also told me that the miscarriage rate depends on your weight. So if there's less fat to get through, the procedure is much easier, so this is something to bear in mind as well.

By far the worst part of the process was waiting for the results, but remember there's a 54 out of 55 chance that things will be fine. Do you know what raised your risk of Down's -- was it something on the scan or your bloods?

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks Yaya that's very helpful. It was the bloods that (mostly) raised my risk I believe. My bhcg was 4.74 which is crazy. Just wish this week (and next week) would go faster now...