Due Sept/Oct 2021

[Mrsserenalewis]

Lockdown is so isolating. Who else is due in end sept or October. Need company, online support I’m sure will help with this journey. Xx

Hi Ladies,
I'm currently 9&half weeks pregnant from IVF. Had a 7 weeks scan @ IVF clinic and a private one yesterday which was lovely and reassuring after a couple of losses.
@Monstermunch87 I'd recommend 'how to grow a baby and push it out' and 'what to expect when you're expecting'. Both really good and recommended to me by family/friends.
I'm 40 and read about a few of you having the NIPt, my midwife told me I have a blood test first and then if high results the nipt on the nhs? But not sure now after reading how some of you are having to pay. I'll double check with her.

Hi @Kiza and congratulations on your pregnancy! I am also 40. I’m planning to have the regular NHS screening and consider further testing options depending on the outcome of that. But some people choose to have testing eg harmony test privately which is I think around £400-500 - depends on your own personal risk profile and preferences though. But others on the thread can speak to their own experiences of testing.

Hi @Kiza, I’m 38 and 13 weeks pregnant. Before I even fell pregnant we’d already decided we’d opt for the nipt test if we got the that stage.

My hospital trust offers the nipt for free on the nhs if your combined screening risk comes back as high risk, but because of my age I’m aware my result from the combined screening is highly likely to be high risk anyway, and seeing as my ‘12 week’ scan isn’t until I’ll be 14 weeks, we opted to pay privately for a nipt test at 12+2 (currently awaiting results).

We chose this mainly because if we waited for the nhs scan at 14 weeks, then a few days to a week for the combined screening results, then potentially need to book a nipt test, and then wait up to 10 days for a result, we potentially wouldn’t be able to tell people until I’m getting on for 17 weeks. As it is I’m already massively showing and is difficult to hide (this is baby number 4).

So we figured we’d pay to have the nipt done earlier. Then hopefully (if we get a low risk result) can just enjoy the nhs scan without too much anxiety and will likely refuse the nhs combined screening then as it’s less accurate than the nipt anyway.

Also, not every hospital trust offers the nipt after a high risk result. Some still only offer cvs or amnio so some have no choice but to pay privately.

If you’re happy to wait for the nhs screening then go for it.

But for me high risk is 1:149 or lower. But I know if I got a 1:150 or 1:300 or something I’d still think of that as high risk personally and would still want to get the nipt (which I’d have to pay for anyway as the nhs wouldn’t offer it at that number). Tbh if I got a 1:1000 I’d still want it. My last pregnancy I was 1:55,000 so most numbers would feel high risk to me lol.

In that last part I meant that the nhs class a high risk result as 1:149 or lower, but I know if I got a 1:150 or 1:300 etc, I’d definitely still think if that as high risk whereas the nhs wouldn’t.

@Moominmiss good luck for your results! And just wanted to say that I’m frickin enormous at 11 weeks w DC3 - glad I’m working from home as my colleagues would definitely be getting suspicious! Didn’t start showing for ages with DC1 but have had a distinct bump since 9 weeks this time (and gained 2kg already oops)...

@Aozora13 thank you. I’m keeping everything crossed, but definitely petrified!

I can’t work from home in my job so trying to hide my bump has been incredibly difficult. I’ve caught a few people looking at me funny and I’m sure there will be a few that won’t be surprised when I do announce it.

I only have a limited number of baggy tops to wear so I just want some good results so I don’t have to hide it and hold my coat in front of my bump! Lol

@Moominmiss when do you find out the results?
As we went through ivf quite a few people already know I'm pregnant but I've put on 5kg due to ivf and lockdown so a load of my clothes don't fit anymore. If only we could wear joggers to work! 😁
@Aozora13 I think I'll do the same or at least evaluate my options if I need to. Have my 11 week scan next week so they will do the 3 tests then.

@Kiza we should find out the results this week sometime. Have also opted to find out the gender from the test. But tbh all I care about right now is having a healthy baby.

Thankfully in my role I can be fairly casual, I don’t have to wear full on office gear which helps. But I’ve been in maternity trousers for a few weeks already lol

Hey hope everyone is doing well.

The ladies who have had the NIPT test were they done in or around London? Thinking about booking one as I’ve been feeling really anxious with this pregnancy and have a history of fetal abnormalities detected at previous pregnancy scans

@Cisco2 my NIPT was done in Bristol.

@Cisco2 - are you based in London? We're booking our NIPT (Harmony) test in at Fetal Medicine Centre in Harley Street. We've heard amazing things about it and they carry out a really in-depth scan at the same time.

@Bella6686 thank you that’s really good to know. Yes based just outside London so can travel there. Please let me know how you get on?

@Cisco2 Sure, of course. It's not until next month though. I wanted to wait until baby would be slightly more developed so that we could make the most out of the scan. If you do a search of "FMC" or "Fetal Medicine Centre" on MN, lots of links will come up and you can read a bit more about other people's experiences.

Just wanted to pop on and say hi! 12 weeks today so feels like a massive milestone. Good luck to everyone getting their scans this week... Roll on Friday for mine! X

Good luck everyone, fingers crossed it is all good news. This week is going to be so long!! Hope to be sharing happy healthy scan pictures soon x

@Cisco2 I wanted to come back on and update. The nipt I had in Bristol was inconclusive as they didn’t get enough sample. They’ve been rubbish at getting me in again so we bit the billet and booked a scan at The Birth Company on Harley Street in London.

It was an utterly amazing experience. We were treated wonderfully from start to finish. So professional and friendly.

The sonographer was so calming, reassuring and professional. The scan itself was way more in depth and detailed than any of the nhs scans I’ve had.

They checked everything in detail, really took their time, nothing was rushed. They scanned me for a good 30 minutes. Got all the measurements they needed, checked blood flow, limbs, heart chambers, brain, kidneys etc.

Then took the blood sample. We got a detailed report printed at the end.
It gave a background risk for the trisomies which was based on my age alone and then the adjusted risk based on my age combined with scan measurements.

We got 3 photos printed out and given to us there and then, and then around 30 photos and videos emailed to me within 20 minutes of the appointment.

I had the SAFE test done which can be inconclusive for gender in around 11% of cases and they said even if the trisomy results come in ok but the gender is inconclusive they will rescan and do bloods again for free to try and confirm the gender.

They were incredible and I would recommend them to anyone.

@Moominmiss The scan sounds wonderful. So glad you had a good experience at The Birth Company!

Hi all, can I join? I'm 13 weeks today, also had my scan today and due 27th September.

Welcome to all the newbies!
Thanks to everyone who posted their experiences having the NIPT done or reasons for booking it.
@Moominmiss thank you for sharing - sounds like you had a good experience

I had my dating scan all went well and thankfully no fetal abnormalities were picked up at this stage. We’re also seriously considering the NIPT test and realise I need to get it booked it soon!

This is my 3rd pregnancy and I’m also showing - I look about 5 months already! Thankfully I’m working from home. When is everyone planning to tell their work? I will in May after my 20 week scan.

For the last few weeks I’ve had a constant blocked nose - anyone else had this too? Now I’m feeling so run down, wondering if this is because I had the flu jab over the weekend

Hi @Cisco2 - great news that the dating scan went well!

In terms of telling work, I'm waiting until after my 20-week scan too. There's no legal obligation to tell an employer until you're 15 weeks from EDD so no rush on that front.

I've also been suffering really badly with a stuffy nose, particularly at night time. It started last weekend and is still going strong. I don't have any personal recommendations unfortunately however I've seen that some people recommend Sterimar. Think it's a bit hit-and-miss as to whether it works though!

Hello my dears, hope you are well. Just checking in to say that today was scan day! Baby all looking fine, but they’ve jumped my due date from 1 October to 26 September! Which is probably a biological impossibility dates-wise but nvm... I’m now obsessively googling nuchal fold measurements and panicking about when to start telling people.

How’s everyone else getting on? Think there are a few of us with scans this week? Hope all good and people manage their scanxiety better than me!

Had 11 week scan today and lovely to see our little eggsy again, was moving all around and kicking its little arms and legs. Was a couple of days too early to take measurements on the back of the neck so back in next week for another scan to do that test and more bloods. Feeling like a pin cushion now , especially after all the IVF needles!

@Aozora13 I had my scan today too! Measuring 13+2 so a due date of 27 September! What was your nuchal fold measurement if you don't mind me asking? I have been googling mine too!

@MrsTD88 I was a couple of days too early to get it so in next week for it along with more bloods