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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Really scared - please help

31 replies

JhsLs · 19/01/2021 11:31

I have been phoned by my midwife and asked to come in and discuss my booking in bloods. I had a MMC in April and I wasn’t phoned about my bloods during booking in back then. I am literally terrified. Has anyone been called and asked to come in the same day?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Beamur · 19/01/2021 11:33

Maybe they just have availability? It might not mean anything sinister.

ShowOfHands · 19/01/2021 11:34

This did happen to me yes. I was anaemic and needed iron tablets. They did it the same day as the midwife had time, nothing sinister at all.

Try not to panic.

Original poster

JhsLs · 19/01/2021 11:41

It’s a worry because when the bloods were taken, the midwife told me ‘no news is good news.’ The midwife that phoned me refused to tell me what it was over the phone, just that she needed to discuss it face-to-face.

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physicskate · 19/01/2021 11:42

Maybe they need to retake some? They had to retake my bloods three times at 28 weeks during my last pregnancy!!

You won't know why unless you ask!

Could be nothing, could be something (generally something about you).

Moominmiss · 19/01/2021 11:43

Same as a PP I had this happen and turned out my iron was extremely low and I was prescribed iron tablets

Hopefully it will just be something similar for you x

Beamur · 19/01/2021 11:45

Maybe the 'no news' comment is less helpful - best just go along and find out what they want to see you about. I get its worrying, it doesn't sound like they've communicated with you in the most reassuring manner.

Chelyanne · 19/01/2021 11:47

They'll just want to fill apps they have free, the sooner your bloods are done the better.
I got both my booking appointments sent through the post as you have to do self referral online here. I had a mc in July and only got the telephone booking app through with that one, no bloods app. I lost baby before the telephone app and had to phone them to cancel it, they are lovely about such things but still not the easiest conversation. I had my bloods done Wednesday, had my phone app today and she had all my results in. She said I'll get another call tomorrow to take consent for the NT screening and should get my scan date through within 2 weeks. Desperate to see how this one is going and if there's one or more (we already have fraternal twins). I paid for a private scan with the mc and still lost it so decided best to wait for dating scan this time.

Schoolhouse123 · 19/01/2021 11:53

I had this and it turned out to be a rare antibody. It meant having to be induced by a specific date. Baby being monitored for 48 hours after minimum - regular blood tests in this time plus temperature checks. Then after discharge more regular contact with midwife /extra weigh ins.
It was fine and I felt very well supported during the whole period. Its hard not to worry but please try your best to distract yourself - the not knowing is the worst bit, once you know you can process and deal with what ever it is.

Chelyanne · 19/01/2021 11:56

I think I may have misread, so you've had bloods and results in. My midwife did discuss iron levels being fine and disease screening coming back clear over the phone.

It may just be your trusts policy to not discuss such things over the phone. It could be something minor like vitamin deficiency and they'll have a prescription for you. If it's anything more serious they will have a plan of action in mind so you will be well looked after. Don't stress yourself too much.

Bleepers · 19/01/2021 12:03

This happened to me and I had antibodies. It was quite serious but it's unlikely to be anything immediately serious at this point. For me, they needed more blood to do more tests.

I know how worrying it is but try to see it that you're getting excellent care and they're checking everything they should. Also I think the fear of the unknown is more intense than when you find out and can feel more in control.

Best of luck and know that you're not alone in this experience x

Runkle · 19/01/2021 12:03

It could just mean that they have availability to see you today - less f2f appts taking place, a cancellation, etc. Please try not to worry.

ShowOfHands · 19/01/2021 12:11

Our trust tell you nothing at all on the phone even if it's a case that they accidentally contaminated the sample so couldn't do the tests so want to take more blood.

And "no news is good news" doesn't mean "any news is bad news". It's shorthand for "we won't bother contacting you if everything's fine so don't expect a call as a given". There are many, many reasons why they might need to repeat bloods, change care, check in with you etc. It isn't necessarily anything terrible.

Bleepers · 19/01/2021 18:08

@JhsLs did you find out what had happened?

Original poster

JhsLs · 22/01/2021 18:34

Thought I’d update you on what has been the worst the week of my life. Went to the hospital to be told they’d found positive indicators of HIV in my blood. I was pregnant (had a MMC) back in March and bloods were fine back then. No reassurance. Was told there’s rarely cases of false positives for those tests. Discussed life expectancy and treatment and how it would affect the baby. Took more blood for a confirmatory test and got the results today. No HIV. Lab got it wrong and an incident report has been filed to find out why/how. The stress since Tuesday has been unbelievable and I can honestly say it’s been worse than watching my mum die of cancer. So relieved but also angry my husband and I have been put through this ordeal, especially as I told the midwife I had NEVER engaged in risky behaviour like drugs/unprotected sex with a stranger, let alone since last March.

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BrandoraPaithwaite · 22/01/2021 18:41

That sounds absolutely horrendous. Poor poor you.

After the adrenaline wears off and you come down from the shock and terror, at least the end of the story is you do not have that to deal with.

Such an awful experience. Sorry you went through that.

mistletoeandsigh · 22/01/2021 18:43

Wow, I'm so glad it has been confirmed as negative now. Congratulations on your pregnancy

Beamur · 23/01/2021 15:49

Good grief! That's dreadful, you poor thing.
Hope the rest of your pregnancy is uneventful now.

Original poster

JhsLs · 23/01/2021 16:29

It was so horrific and I feel like logging a complaint about how the information was delivered will be the only way to avoid someone else going through the same stress that I did.

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PFin · 23/01/2021 16:51

Omg that sounds like an absolutely horrific experience. I cant even imagine being told theres a possibility you have HIV. I can imagine how scared and confused you felt. Defo follow through with the highest form of complaint you can! Eugh the thought of being told that is sickening the thoughts you must have had, you poor husband assuming he had it too and then obviously your babies health, so sorry you went through all that. Sending love!

Namechange8471 · 23/01/2021 16:58

Wow, I'm so sorry you went through that.

However i disagree about the complaint, you can't exactly deliver news like that over the phone. Calling you in was the best approach.

Unfortunately sometimes things to do wrong with testing/results, and whilst I understand your frustration, at least you know you're negative.

FWIW- My brother had wrongly been diagnosed with cancer, when it was infact HIV.

physicskate · 23/01/2021 17:17

@JhsLs if you're going to make a complaint, the only way it'll help is if there is a different way it could have happened that would have made you a) feel better about it and b) improved your diagnosis and treatment.

So try to imagine how it would've been better. And instead of complaining, maybe give feedback instead.

Original poster

JhsLs · 23/01/2021 17:48

I read a protocol that is followed in Wales when dealing with initial results in pregnant women. It outlined using language such as ‘reactive’ instead of ‘positive’ to explain to women that something in their blood had reacted to the HIV test and it didn’t necessarily mean you are HIV positive. It also said that the women should be reassured that factors such as previous pregnancy antibodies can be mistaken and cause a false positive. The biggest thing was reassuring the pregnant woman that in all likelihood, she is HIV negative. When I explained that I had never engaged in any sort of risky behaviour, least of all since I last had bloods taken, it was met with doubt. She also requested my husband leave the room and was reluctant to allow him to stay when I insisted, which I whole heartedly disagree with - whether you ultimately end up being positive or negative, receiving the news is extremely distressing and women have the right to have someone there supporting them. These are the factors I want changed or reconsidered at my particular hospital.

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hotpotlover · 23/01/2021 17:53

@JhsLs

Gosh, I'm so sorry that you had to go through this.

What a terrifying thing to encounter.

If that happened to me, my thoughts would go straight away to "did my partner cheat on me and give me a hiv"

At least you know now that you're negative and I agree this needs investigating to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.

Chelyanne · 23/01/2021 18:10

Blimey, you really have been through it. You should put in a complaint, hopefully they will tighten their procedures as a result.
Good that all is okay with you so you can relax a bit.

missrm · 23/01/2021 18:33

Holy fuck! What a fright. That's a really traumatic event to happen. You look after yourself x

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