IVF Graduates - A place for pregnancy menkulling

[BeetlingAbout]

A chat thread for those who have conceived via assisted conception.

Come and join me egg buddies!

That's brilliant nobeer.

I have everything crossed for you bugs.

I had my 28 week scan today and it was not good news. The baby is now growing well and is down to the 3rd centile. Most likely due to the placental blood flow problem identified at the 20 week scan. It could also be due to a chromosomal issue (although this is fairly unlikely as I have had the Harmony test, which was clear) or an infection (they took bloods for this today but thought this was also unlikely). So I'm now trying to find myself a consultant so I can be more closely monitored and get some expert advice. I'm very angry with the world today.

Oh Euro - how scary for you. Can the FMC recommend a consultant?

On the plus side, you are 28 weeks, which is viable so whilst a premature birth would be fraught with its own worries at least your baby stands a chance.

What has been said about the next steps? Amnio? Weekly scans?

Wish I could say/do something better. We are here for you xx

Oh euro, sorry to hear that.

Do they know what has caused the blood flow issue in the placenta?

I'm sure they will monitor your little one very closely now to see how the growth continues and they will choose the best time to bring bubs out to ensure they get optimum benefit from being inside your tummy until such time as he/she would thrive better outside.

You have made it to 28 weeks which is a big marker for early babies, so we will all cross our fingers that your bubs is looked after well now and they can get on top of the issue x

Euro. I'm out of words but hope that you resolve the issues soon and can stay calm in the interim.

Oh euroI am so sorry to hear this is happening, how frightening. Thinking of you and hoping that you can get an excellent consultant onto this asap so that the best course of care can be taken for you and your baby. As has been said, 28 weeks is a significant landmark. We are all keeping fingers crossed and thoughts positive for you and centime.

Bugs -

Euro: sorry that you have to go through this worry and stress. I hope you find a great consultant that can make the situation better. As others have said, 28 weeks is a viable stage for a prem baby, if the baby does need to come earlier rather than later. Fingers crossed that it doesn't come to that.

Bug: Congrats on the 20 week scan. Half way there!

No beer: great news on the 12 week scan. There is a relief in reaching this stage isn't there (despite it feeling like there is a lone way to go still). How are you feeling? I am still knackered and have a very obvious baby bump. I look more like 20 weeks to be honest.

Hi to everyone else. X

Hi everybody.

Bugs and Nobeer - huge congratulations on your scans. I always feel like a weight has lifted afterwards. Great news.

Ah Euro - am so sorry to hear of your news, however. It's not bloody fair is it? Everybody has said this already, but do try to stay positive because little centime has every chance of being fine, even if he/ she does make an early appearance. Am so sorry you are going through this though. You have suffered enough stress by far.

As for me, thanks for the kind words after my scan last week, and apologies for my late thank you! I delighted we are having another boy. I 'knew' anyway that I was going to see a willy inside me on that screen though (sorry, if that sounds rude!) my partner was a bit disappointed about the gender though, mainly because he knows I'll be using our frosties next year to try for a girl after this (and no doubt getting mega stressed out all over again!)

Res- just wanted to let you know I've been thinking of you lots. Pregnancy loss is just so ghastly, my heart goes out to you. Big hugs xxxxx

That should have been "not growing well" not "now growing well" in my last post, but I think you got that!

val we were offered an amnio but I don't see the point. What could I possibly do at this stage with the result?

ferrero I don't think they know what causes the issue. The blood vessels to the placenta start off narrow and are supposed to dilate by 20 weeks. Mine hadn't. Yesterday's scan was to see if they had dilated late, which sometimes happens. They hadn't. So the blood pressure is really high in those arteries as my body tries hard to push enough blood through. But the baby just isn't getting enough to grow properly. I'm already on aspirin. I'm wondering if adding Clexane might help. That's one thing to ask the consultant about once I get a referral sorted.

res I have been thinking of you. I hope you are ok.

euro, that's disappointing, but they are on top of it ok?

I understand why you are peeved, sometimes feels like you never stop battling, but you and the hospital will both act in the interest of your baby.

I hope they get you a superb consultant who gets the best outcome.

(Hugs)

Just had a scan at 9.5 weeks and all continues to look good. Incredibly relieved. Well I do have a pool if blood just by my cervix....told not to lift anything heavy, or DS...

Walked into the clinic and burst into tears I was so nervous

So that is me signed off from the clinic. Just crossing everything all continues positively.

val that's brilliant news.

Ferrero that's true. I have a consultant appointment on Friday, so not long to wait until I can see an expert.

euro that's good... I hope they can reassure you or at least give you plan of action. List any questions you want to ask them.

val sounds like an sch (blood pool by cervix)... Have you had any bleeding or spotting at all? Sorry if you have already told us, I am just trying to keep up with all the different stories.

Euro - glad to hear you have an appointment on Friday. I hope they are able to reassure you.

Ferrero - no, I have lucked out so far. I did have a SCH with DS but bled a lot earlier...spotting at 6 weeks and then huge red gush at 7. Continued brown spotting up to about 11-12 weeks. It had resolved by my 12 week scan. Praying it just reabsorbs. Not sure my nerves can take it....!

Ah ok val,

Well at least you know it is there and have experienced it before, so if you do get any spotting or bleeding you will know that it's likely to be that.

Hopefully this one will reabsorb too in the coming weeks.

My one didn't appear until a couple of weeks later (11+6), and despite one small episode of spotting followed by scan... It wasn't picked up until I hemorrhaged and ran screaming to A&E expecting a miscarriage.

Mine was big, but located above the cervix. I bled for weeks, and it was still hanging around at my 28 week scan, BUT bubs is just fine still at 32 weeks and sch is quietly just sitting there.

So I hope yours just quietly gets reabsorbed too and doesn't give you anything to menkul about!

That sounds like a complete mind fuck Fererro. 'Glad' (IYKWIM) to hear they happen later. My experience and the stories I have heard on here tend to be quite early on in PG which was my main concern about mine.

Yeah, the sch group I am in has had cases occur between 5 weeks and 14 weeksish.

I think if they occur really early (c. 5 weeks) it can be dodgy because the baby is so tiny it can easily be overwhelmed by the bleed (IYSWIM), but if they present late (2nd trimester) they can also be dodgy because they can be actively bleeding at a point late enough to spark premature labour.

In between those times, most cases I have come across resolve.

Up until 24 weeks it was stressful to the max, but now, baby is big, sch looks small in comparison and if he does come early he has good prognosis.

Anyway, hang in there... Hope it buggers off in a few weeks.

That's all really useful! I remember with DS they were 'ok' with it as again it was by the cervix and not behind the embryo. Fun, fun, fun!

nobeer, bugs, val, great to hear your scan news! It's always such a relief to see that everything is ok.

val - I had a SCH, it bled between about 6.5 and 11.5 weeks and gave me a heart attack. I was told that they nearly always reabsorb or bleed themselves out with no danger to the baby, but still frightening at the time.

euro - good luck for your consultant appointment tomorrow.

Thanks Hatt

Euro I hope the consultant appt goes well today

Thanks ladies. Ferrero your advice about asking questions gave me a wry smile. Those who were on the ttc threads with me will know I am not exactly backwards in coming forwards and always challenge the doctors to test what they are advising, usually having read every available research paper on the subject (and have on occasions turned up with them in my bags with the relevant bits highlighted). I remember coming out of one appointment and mr euro noting I had cross-examined the dr.... (Cross-examination is part of my job. I can't help it...). I don't do it for the sake if it but where they are advising me about some pretty important stuff and I don't know them from Adam, I have to test them to make sure the advice they are giving is supported and is right for me. Basically, I am a massive pain the arse.

I had a sch too. I bled from 6 and a half to 9 and a half weeks. It was terrifying, particularly as it started off heavy and red, accompanied by period- type cramps.

Good luck, Euro! I am glad that you are cross-examining the doctors. I have had three similar experiences recently, with a registrar, consultant anaesthetist and obstetric consultant whereby I have basically argued with all three of them, similarly quoting statistics and research back at them and challenging them on everything. I'm a dreadful person to argue with - I coach the debating team at my school and we win!! Us teachers are terrible at questioning everything as well. I find it tiresome though - I get fed up that I have to go into arsey mode every time I want/need something. Am about to go and see my midwife now and will probably end up having some kind of disagreement I'm sure. Hope all goes well for you today xxx