November 2020 Babies - Thread 3

[Sakura54]

Another new thread for the Nov mums to continue our discussion!

Aha! Here you all are. I’ve been on thread 2 wondering why it was so quiet!!

The nausea this time round is horrendous, I had no MS, or any symptoms other than heartburn towards the end when pregnant with first dc 5 years ago. Only thing that helps are fizzy drinks but obviously can't live on fizzy drinks for the next few weeks last thing I need is sudden weight gain due to overloading in sugary fizzy drinks!

@overandoverafail I live on sparkling water. I like the ones that have a hint of flavour, not too much or it makes me sick. Zero calories 👌

Hey girls I hope you’re all coping well through this crazy mess! I’m completely new to all of this and I’m freaking out.

I’m 22 and found out I was pregnant It’s been a whirlwind of emotions and overwhelming feelings ever since as this was obviously not planned (but now accepting that it’s a blessing always).

I’ve been experiencing mild cramping similar to light period pains accompanied with some brown discharge which has me freaking out even more now!! Maternity told me they can’t see me until 12-15 weeks and I can’t see my GP I’m going to book a private scan but has anyone experienced this? Should I be worried?

Thanks xxxx

@calimommy just so you know paracetamol isn’t an anti inflammatory

I forgot to mention I’m 7 Weeks + 6

@Pip1120 hello welcome, mild cramping is normal. Brown blood is better than fresh red blood because it is an older bleed or loss of lining rather than something which is new. So long as the cramps are mild and you don't experience any sharp pains accompanied by heavy bleeding with clots, I wouldnt worry too much. X

@SMcG1 all these years I've been living a lie

If it’s working for you that’s the main thing

Only for a bit. I'll have to see how tomorrow goes.

I stopped receiving notifications from this thread which I thought was odd. 11 pages later, here you all are 😀

Hi ladies I’m new to this thread but have been reading :)

I’m due very early November (1st) so currently nearly 11 weeks.. anyone else share my due date? Or close?

I have a question, at my booking in appointment I was told by the midwife that due to COVID-19 my health trust is not doing the combined test for Edwards, downs and Pataus at the dating scan and that I will go to my midwife but she will only be able to do the Quadruple which only covers downs and is less accurate.

Has anyone else been told this by their midwife? I’m a little concerned as I thought that this screening was offered to everyone but it seems they won’t be doing the full screen at my 12 week scan :(

Hi @luckyme30

I’m also due on 1 Nov apparently!

That’s worrying, is there the option to have the test somewhere else?

Ooh hello @littlegem84 it’s nice to hear someone has the same date as me :)

The only other option I’m aware of is for me to pay privately :( I can’t believe they are not doing these tests but I checked the trust website yesterday and it confirmed what my midwife had abused :(

Have you had a date for your scan?

@Luckyme30 I'm at queen charlottes in London and they are still going to do the test at my 12 week scan. I'm 8 weeks atm. X

Sorry all slight error in my post ** meant to say confirmed what my midwife had advised!!!

Here is what it says on the trust website, I’m in Oxford. So unhappy about this, feel like I’m not getting basic checks :( don’t know whether to complain or not... I don’t know if I want to pay £400 for a private NIPT :(

@Luckyme30 I'd be really annoyed not to be offered the tests at 12 weeks - can you ask for these specifically, or perhaps a different hospital within the same trust will offer them? I think if the NHS weren't doing them, I'd go private x

I know I honestly feel like they are taking so much away from us as it is with Coronavirus that this is just one step too far :(

I wish I had opted to go with my other local hospital (different trust) but now worried if I asked to change this late in the day (I’m now 11 weeks) that I won’t get in at the other hospital in time for the tests anyway :(

I don’t know of any other person who’s pregnant who isn’t getting these tests :(

@Luckyme30 how come they're not offering it? Aren't they doing the 12 week scan regardless and other bloods - isn't that all they need? Doesn't make sense! I'd be annoyed too but if you are young to be honest the risk is so low anyway. And I think that those tests only give you a risk - if you wanted a definite answer it's a sample which there is a chance of miscarriage so if you wouldn't want this anyway I guess it doesn't change end outcome. But I understand it's just another additional worry on top of everything else!! Difficult time!!

@luckyme30 I know that routinely we get the nuchal translucency scan (if we opt for it). We don’t get a more conclusive option unless we pay privately. I just assumed that was standard across health boards x

Everything seems to vary from trust to trust, @Luckyme30. I'm sure someone else up thread said they were told the same thing.

At the moment, my trust doing full screening still.

The NHS is having to cut back where it can, and unfortunately maternity care/screening seems to be an area they have decided to cut.

IN MY OPINION they're playing a numbers game because they don't have the staff/funds to provide the same level of services as normal and fight CV - they screen for these things because they know many couples will choose tfmr over having a severely disabled child, which saves the NHS/government money in the long run as they would be providing the care for the child. Now, they need resources in the short term. They're gambling that not screening for the next few months will not affect the numbers (possibly in part because they hope people in wealthier areas will arrange their own tests) and if it does, they've still put the costs off for 6 months or so, by which time they hope to be on top of CV.

For the greater good?

You should complain, but (unless there's a reason you would be at higher risk than normal) as it's a decision taken across the trust it's unlikely to be upheld.

@Luckyme30 I had a similar issue earlier this week - my hospital initially said they wouldn’t do my scan until after 14 weeks, and the combined test has to be done before that. I kicked up a big fuss and managed to get the scan moved earlier. The issue was more about available scan dates than refusing to do the combined test - I’m really really shocked that a hospital would make that decision for all their patients. If I were you I would definitely have it done privately and also look into moving to another hospital. May be too late to get the combined screening but I’d worry if they were cutting something like that then what else will they be cutting.

Thanks for all your replies, it’s making me really anxious about this pregnancy.

I’m 32 so not sure if I’m classed as an ‘older mum’ I don’t have any risk factors that I’m aware of but I do feel I would like the tests - I know they can’t give me a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer but I just feel like this has been offered to all women previously and I’m still going to be going to my scan so why can I not just have a blood test?

I understand they are making cut backs but it really worries me that they are cutting something like this :(

Think I’m going to get on the phone to my midwife on Tuesday morning and ask if I can transfer my care over to the other trust - I’ve checked their website and they are not making any changes (yet).

I think I will need to arrange for a private scan too, I had considered NIPT and doing it privately so think I’ll need to look into this....

My scan is on Friday so I will try and complain to PALs, I don’t want to make a fuss in the scan as I’m sure the people doing the scan have enough to deal with at this time and it’s not fair on them :( just can’t believe they would decide as a blanket policy to drop that screening :(

@Luckyme30 I found a calculator for your risk at 32. Only 0.14% chance of chromosomal abnormality. So that's 99.86% of not!! But agree if you want to move trusts do whatever is best for you and baby xx

@Luckyme30 I would be very annoyed too. Those tests are there for a reason. They test for very serious conditions. And yes, you just get a risk factor and not a definite yes or no, but still knowing the risk factor is important. Just blanketing every woman in that trust with the idea of 'it will be fine' is quite irresponsible. Its hats because we are living in a terrible time to need medical care, and cuts have to be made, but I really believe those tests are important. I would go private if they insisted they weren't offering them, but I am lucky enough to have that financial option. Not all do.

The whole thing has finally made me nervous. I have been staving off nerves for weeks, but now I am nervous they wont schedule my scan, they wont get those tests done, or I do get the scan and it's all gone wrong in there, and i may not even get the care needed if a termination is my only option. That's terrifying, especially as we have all told work etc. So many people to have to tell if it's not right! I cant get the thoughts out of my head. This is all getting very stressful.