Fetal medicine unit - Harley street

[Clare123]

Has anyone been there for CVS or amnio? Do you know what the rate of miscarriage is?

Thanks so much

Hi Clare - here is more info on the Clinic - the miscarriage rate is about the same as for an amnio ie 1% - but it might be best to talk with them directly. here

I went there specifically because their rate of miscarriage is one of the lowest in the country for amnio/CVS. I ended up not having either, and that was another advantage as their non-invasive testing is more extensive than what you'd get in an NHS hospital and gives you a more accurate picture on which to base your decision.

I thought they were great and would highly recommend them.

I had a scan there but my friend had CVS there in Sept. All the invasive procedures are done by Prof Nikolaides himself on a Wednesday. He is the leading man in the country so you are in the best hands if you have to have it done.

Good luck and take care.

Sorry, typing error - "if you have it done" not "have to have it done".

I love the fetal meicine centre. If only NHS care could be of this standard.

I've been there for two routine nuchal scans, and they are done by a real doctor. With my second pregnancy I actually went for a nhs nuchal and the Fetal Mecine Centre Nuchal and they were worlds apart.

Whatever you need, I highly recommend FMC. They are lovely.

I had a ouple of scans there in my first pregnancy and they were great.

I had a scan with Prof Nicolaides during this pregnancy as my baby has a brain abnormality. They are absolutely amazing, but Prof Nic is UM quite eccentric! Someone had warned me of this before I went which was very helpful as I was ready for him.

If I was having any kind of invasive procedure I would go to the FMC, and nowhere else for sure.

Good luck x

Clare, I answered that question on another of your threads on this topic.

Had a CVS there on a Wednesday in November -Wednesday is the day when Prof Nikolaides is working there and he is the leading expert so worth booking on a Wednesday.

Absolutely brilliant. You have the nuchal fold and then can decide if to go ahead with the CVS. I decided on the CVS and so Prof Nikolaides came in immediately (cracked a few jokes about it been worse for my husband as he hated needles) put the needle in my stomach, jiggled it round and the whole thing was over in a matter of minutes.

I asked about resting up etc and he said no need to worry as it had been so straightforward and besides I had to cook and clean for my husband ! Had a few cramps (but nothing painful) and the results were available on Friday at 4pm.

Would highly recommend the FMC and went on to have a 20 week scan there as I was so impressed.

I was very stressed about the whole thing but actually it really wasn't awful at all.

One warning - there are massive delays on a Wednesday (so bring some snacks if you get hungry !)There is tea and coffee and lots of magazines to read. My appointment was at 10am and I had my nuchal fold at 12.30pm.

I understand the miscarriage rate for Prof Nikolaides is very low (but of course there are always risks).

Good luck and if you decide to go ahead then please don't worry as it wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be.

Do you know what the rate of miscarriage is with Prof. Nic?

Sorry clare123 I can't remember but if you give them a call they can tell you FMC

Clare, Prof Nic does all the CVS´s at the FMC. They only perform them on Weds. As I said in your other thread, they aren´t allowed to give you the miscarriage rate officially. They can only state the national average of 1%. But I was told off the record that it´s "as good as it gets" which I took to mean zero.

I also posted a couple of days ago on your other thread. Prof N is a character! he told me I was fine to go home and scrub the floors - I left and fainted outside the front door!!! I think it was stress though to be fair.

I'd go for it, you won't get much better.

Maybe he meant that you shouldn't stand up or you might faint. But down on all fours was ok.

I have just spoke to the FMC. It all sounded so positive. At first the lady I spoke to said she could only give me the national average rate for miscarriages after a CVS. I then asked her if it was better than that and she said "oh yes". I then asked her if there was any further information she could give me. She basically said that she had been working there for 5 months and not had one miscarriage, and that she knows that it has not happened a year before then. Prof. Nik does 25 procedures a day on a Wed.

It all sounds so optimistic - I know there is always a chance of miscarriage and I could be the one. But the thought that I could then spend the next 6 months relaxing if everything went okay is very tempting. I need to talk to my hubby.

Of course I would rather spend my money on other things, but peace of mind for 6 months is definitely worth it.

Clare123 I can sympathise. I have funny blood which comes back high risk - in my first pregnancy I worried every day for 6 months and was very stressed (DS1 was fine).

This time I decided that for me personally the stress was too much and I couldn't go through it again and so opted for the CVS at the FMC.

As I said in my earlier posting the CVS was very quick, painless and professional and I had peace of mind two days later.

I would honestly say that I wish I'd had a CVS first time round as I was so worried for 6 months and I couldn't enjoy my pregnancy.

I know this is such a personal decision but I just wanted you to know you are not alone and I hope you come to a decision which you feel comfortable with X

Thanks Incy. I am more compelled to do it for peace of mind. Hubby wants to wait and see. It is difficult when there is such a difference in opinion. I spend a lot of time crying at the moment and feeling really worried. TBH, it's all I think about. The thing is how can I put my hubby's baby at risk when we have been told our odds are still low after seeing a "marker"? It's just seeing the marker has scared me so much.

Ahhh, life is not easy.