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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Birth defects at 20 week scan

10 replies

ambientolf · 26/03/2015 20:28

Hi, does anyone know where I can find statistics for birth defects found at a 20 week scan? I am 16 weeks and I am tearing my hair out with anxiety that they are going to find a defect and the baby isn't going to be healthy. I didn't know I was was pregnant in the first 6 weeks so I smoked, drank heavily (over Christmas I was on holiday), didn't take folic acid, etc & did take ibuprofen on a daily basis for about a week due to wisdom tooth pain (I even had a stronger pain killer one time).

I'm sat here alone & pretty upset. Feel like I can't speak to DP as he thinks I'm being negative all the time but in reality I'm shocked I've even got this far & I'm so scared x

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FannyPancake · 26/03/2015 20:33

I was exactly the same I googled every single thing that could potentially be wrong with the baby. I was like you in the beginning but a LOT worse! The folic acid really played on my mind to the point I couldn't sleep!

I don't know about statistics but just thought I'd let you know your not alone. Try not to worry I think the odds are in your favour

StaircaseAtTheUniversity · 26/03/2015 20:45

No stats but just wanted to get involved and say I had a very bad abscess on my wisdom tooth when I was pregnant. They pumped me full of painkillers and aesthetics and God knows what and DD is now 9 months old and (touch wood) absolutely perfect and thriving. I was very worried as I had hyperemesis too and was in hospital for months but it was all good. Honestly, I'm sure it will be fine.

GuybrushThreepwoodMightyPirate · 26/03/2015 21:48

You will be fine. Try not to focus on things you did before you even knew you were pg. the embryo lives off it's yolk sac forthe first few weeks anyway. The odds that you've harmed your baby are miniscule.

Even if there was a problem with your scan you almost certainly won't have 'caused' it by anything you have or haven't done. Go easy on yourself.

Congratulations on your pregnancy

yellowdaisies · 26/03/2015 21:52

I'm not sure of the stats, but it's really common not to know you're pregnant for the first few weeks and lots of people smoke and drink during that time. And most birth defects aren't caused by anything you did or didn't do.

NickyEds · 27/03/2015 11:20

As pp said, the vast majority of birth defects aren't caused by something you've done. The chances of finding an existing anomoly with your baby are here
www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/service/maternity-services/fetal-medicine-unit/checking-for-adnormalities/

They are all pretty high detection rates so if there's a problem, chances are that they'll find it. But I don't think you need to worry at all about drinking etc before you knew you were pregnant. My mw said that it happens absolutely loads that women drink before they realise they're pregnant (I did a couple of times and ds is fine). With this pregnancy I took ibuprofen at around 2-3 weeks as I didn't know I was pregnant. I was taken it as I fell down the bloody stairs and really hurt my toe. Mw said it would be fine. Please try and relax until your scan.

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 27/03/2015 12:35

Please don't stress too much. I took ibuprofen a lot even after I'd found out I was pregnant, and co-codamol too - I had to be prescribed them by the consultant I saw in antenatal clinic, so it's not a blanket ban on them at all - and didn't take folic acid at all as I spent a lot of the six weeks after I found out (found out at six weeks) in total denial.

DD is absolutlely perfect.

daluze · 27/03/2015 20:33

The first several weeks of baby's life are generally considered "all or nothing". The harmful effects at that stage mostly result in miscarriage. Effects on development would be more likely during weeks 8-12. But, the vast majority of developmental defects are nothing to do with what mothers did or didn't do. So really, try to calm down! Even though I know it is hard with pregnancy hormones (I am myself 19 weeks pregnant...). Re folic acid, the risks are very small AND if there was a neural tube defect it would have most likely to been spotted during 12 weeks scan.
It quite stressful waiting for the scans, I had various high risks during my first pregnancy, but it does get better - especially when you start feeling movements, which give daily reassurance.
Good luck and really, try not to think of what you did before finding out!

GlitzAndGigglesx · 27/03/2015 20:43

Please don't stress! I was the same with my first pregnancy partying on weekends and smoking before testing and I had a perfectly healthy girl. Don't feel guilt over it as you said you didn't know

slightlyconfused85 · 27/03/2015 21:10

It is much, much more likely that your baby will be fine than have a problem. Focus on this. Also, more birth defects than not are chromosome issues - not because you did or didn't do something.

I didn't realise I was pregnant with DD for 6 weeks either. In this time I partied, drank, didn't take folic acid etc. When I realised I looked after myself better but she is a thriving 2.5 year old now.

Try and relax your baby is likely to be well.

jaykay34 · 27/03/2015 22:36

I didn't find out I was pregnant until I was nearly 15 weeks !
So, in the crucial 1st trimester I smoked both cigarettes and ecigs, drank wine on Friday nights and didn't take folic acid. I was completely convinced something was wrong - especially as I had been constantly losing watery blood during that time (just assumed it was periods).

My son is a healthy 6 month old now.

Don't fret and worry too much. I was terrified and it's all been fine.

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