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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Irrational worrying!

7 replies

catnip · 30/08/2006 15:48

I've been worrying about this for ages, but holding off posting because I know it is irrational and ridiculous, but really need someone to tell me so. I had my nuchal scan and all was fine - odds of 1 in 1056

Howver, I have since managed to get in a state. A friend who had her scan at Kings asked if they had checked the nasal bone. They hadn't and I looked at the photo more carefully - and the nose looked odd - a little beak half the length of noses I've seen on other people's scan photos. Another friend who had had her scan at my hosp said, don?t worry, they will have listed that the nasal bone was visible where they listed all the arms etc, have a look at your notes - and I looked and they hadn't. Rationally, I know that the sonographer just forgot - (she was a locum, maybe she didn?t know the hosp's procedure)- either to look or to record that the nasal bone is there, but I am still worried that there wasn?t a nasal bone visible and that my risks of Downs are higher than the nuchal scan indicated. And, the nuchal scan is only 85% reliable. I work with someone whose wife had a Downs baby and nothing was picked up at any scan.

I feel ike a spoilt brat for sworrying about this when I know rationally that they are good odds, but I am so anxious now that I have stopped enjoying my pregnancy. I have my anomaly scan next week, at 22 weeks and 4 days so hopefully that will set my mind at rest, but I think I'm going to keep worrying until the baby arrives (and then some).

So I am now constantly anxious and feeling guilty for feeling so anxious when there are people who genuinely have cause to be anxious and when the anxiety won't help the baby

Help!!

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kellyvice · 30/08/2006 16:44

Try not to worry too much because the odds are you have a perfectly normal baby. The way the nose looks on yr scan picture isnt a true indicator of how it will really look. Ask any questions at yr next scan don t feel silly for asking and checking.
Ive just spent the last two months obsessing about toxoplasmosis because i live with a friends kitten. Now ive stopped worrying about that ill find something else to stress about

CurrantBun · 30/08/2006 16:50

I know it's easy for someone else to say, but try not to get yourself worked up over this. The odds you've been given are pretty good, but at the end of the day all odds are just that - odds. You could have been given a risk of 1:27,000 but you could still be that one whose baby is born with Down's. What was your age-based risk before the nuchal scan? Also, did you have blood tests at the same time? The combined results of blood tests and scan can give a more accurate result.

I'm sure that there isn't a problem with your baby's nasal bone - in fact, not every hospital even looks for the presence/absence of the nasal bone (partly why we opted to have our nuchal scan done privately at the Fetal Medicine Centre). I guess at this stage you probably can't ask the hospital to recheck your scan records (I don't knw whether they keep them) but you should get a better indication of how your baby is developing at the anomaly scan - not much consolation, I know, but try not to worry. Remember that until a few years ago, there were no scans or blood tests or anything - you only found out when the baby was born whether it was OK or not.

Mum2FunkyDude · 30/08/2006 16:51

Hi,
the nasal bone indicator is being researched at the moment, I took part in the research last year for Kings via my surgery and was told that they are doing research to see if checking the nasal bone at the nuchal scan can be used as an indicater. I would not worry, they are only statistics at the end. My sister's friend was offered a termination because of a positive downs test. She declined and her baby was normal!

Elibean · 30/08/2006 17:48

Hey, anxiety is an inevitable part of pregnancy for loads of us - its not something you can control! Its good that you posted, best way to feel better I know of...and hopefully the anomaly scan will do the rest.

FWIW (which probably isn't much, because if you're going to worry you're going to worry) my dd looked like a duck at the 20 week scan, and I was convinced she had no nose, just a beak. And I felt guilty for minding.

Anyway, she's gorgeous - nice little nose, never quacks. Honestly, don't go by scan pictures - they are totally and utterly unreliable: it takes an experienced sonographer to check the presence of a nasal bone - and it doesn't matter what size it is, if its there its there.

Good luck with the scan, I hope you get to enjoy it!

WideWebWitch · 30/08/2006 17:52

Hello

It's normal to worry imo. And even when they're born you don't stop worryng about them. I think we will all probably worry abotu them until we die. It's as it should be really
You're not an expert (are you? Correct me if I'm wrong!) so what on earth are you doing trying to interpret pictures/notes? You can't possibly understand anything from them unless you are an expert! So all you're doing is getting yourself in a tiz about it
Ask more at the next scan if you're worried but remember that the majority of pregnancies ARE OK. Good luck! I hope that sounds bossy and reassuring rather than bossy and off pissing!

teabags · 30/08/2006 18:03

pls try not to worry

I was put in high risk category after my nuchal scan. (they did not check nasal bone at nuchal scan)

Before I had a CVS done at Kings I was looking intently at my scan pics and I was convinced the nose looked wrong and worryied myself even more etc.

When I had CVS done at Kings they did an indepth scan including checking nasal bone which appeared normal. I asked if this mean a lower risk of baby having DS and was told no. It is sill only an indicator and babies with 'normal' nasal bones can still be born wih DS.

All babies faces at that stage appear a bit odd as they are still forming.
I hope this calms your fears. Don't let it ruin your pregnancy. If there was anything out of the ordinary hey would have advised you at your scan. Speak it through with your midwife/sonographer at your next scan .

Original poster

catnip · 30/08/2006 18:21

Thanks everyone

I snorted with laughter in the office (sneakly online) at Elibean's response - so glad your dd doesn't quack. And thanks wickedwaterwitch, you are absolutely right, of course I don't know my a* from my elbow - have just been merrily searching away for worrying internet postings.

I do sometimes honestly think I would have been better off not having had that test. I didnt get the triple bloods, and so that has been one less thing for me to worry about, although tbh, I would always, always find something!

Anyway, thanks again - I feel much better now

s xxxx

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