December babies 2021! Thread 3

[Horehound]

Following in from 1 and 2. :)

@Coconutties @Lostintranslatio can someone tell me what sort of testing the NHS provides and when? I really want to get a NIPT or harmony or whatever it is called and preferably sooner rather than later (i.e. week 10)... and I am really confused about NHS versus private. Does the NHS not offer this at all? Or if they offer it really late, then why so late?? (Sorry I am not from the UK.) I do not want to pay 500gbp for something the NHS would offer for free (plus there's no clinics that do it in my town so I couldn't even if I wanted to! But this really worries me!).

And @Coconutties I still have the same concern. 6 and a half weeks and still no symptoms except occasionally sore nipples (and the two times I woke up feeling a little sick at night). Trying so hard not to google. Pregnancy tests still coming back positive so that means I haven't made the whole thing up, but can't get mmc out of my mind.

@DarceyCat that sounds so stressful : ( I have my fingers crossed you will have some proper answers soon. And don't be afraid to push for more investigation!

P.S. despite having no symptoms I had a proper panic about nurseries last night lol. I don't understand the system in the UK at all; is there a private versus non-private situation? And do you like just pick your nearest and sign up, or is there a waiting list sort of thing? I just noticed on Google maps that there's only 1 that is sort of between our house and the train station (i.e. our work) and I could not understand anything on their website about costs and availability... and am now so worried about what to do about going back to work after my hypothetical maternity leave.

Sorry you're going through this DarceyCat, sounds so stressful.

I got the NIPT with my daughter at 10 weeks so I'll probably do the same with this one. It was nice to know the sex so early as well. AnonymousXXIX I don't think the NIPT is available on the NHS as standard. I know in some trusts they've started offering NIPT to those who come back high risk after the 12 week screening (bloods and nuchal fold measurement) - as an alternative to an amnio.

@AnonymousXXIX the NHS offer w first trimester combined screening which is bloods and the measurement of the nuchal bit behind the neck of baby between 11-14weeks. Some factors such as age can make you high risk even though you’re not, my trust currently have reduced capacity to offer this so I will likely have a harmony test done once I’ve had a scan and confirmed everything is ok. You can still get the NHS dating scan if you do this but it spends on how important the test is to you.

@DarceyCat sorry you’ve had a rough ride. Remember, they can only advise you into their decisions and you have a say in what you feel comfortable with. Fingers crossed for you.

For everyone feeling symptomless, that’s mostly me! Except for the pains and aches from my urine infection which is keeping me low key anxious 😓 but other that that I’d have no idea other wise (except I just sneezed and ouch the ligament pain on my right side! Why does that feel more damaging than it is?!) I still have an upset stomach in the morning snd wake up quite hungry but I really don’t fancy anything at the moment. Hope anyone feeling sick isn’t feeling too rough and don’t be afraid to call the GP or midwife, there is nothing worse than feeling or being sick constantly

@AnonymousXXIX I am based in IE and I dont think the nipt test is offered. In my case I have booked it privately because I am over 35, my first MW appointment is in mid June (13w2d) and I don't have a dating scan appointment yet.

@Kinsters so NHS screening does not include NIPT? Eek I had been assuming that they would do that at some point.

So is it worth waiting with a decision until after the NHS screening? I do not have reason to be concerned because of my age, but since we were dealing with male factor infertility I am not totally unconcerned.

@DarceyCat will be thinking of you today ❤️

@AnonymousXXIX Have you had your booking in yet? I’d ask there. Where I am, they do bloods and nuchal readings at 12 weeks, and if you come back high risk, they do further tests. I thought she said NIPT but it might be Harmony or something else, I haven’t got my notes near me right now.

@DarceyCat Oh love. I only had that one early scan, this time last week, and that was hard enough! I hope they can see something today.

Before I had my scan, they said that my bleeding could be a sign of an ectopic, and that they’d need to operate if it was, as it could rupture the tube. They said that it was very rare that they operated and the baby was actually intrauterine in that case, but that they’d proceed with caution just incase. One of the “birth stories” on the wall was from someone who went for surgery on a suspected ectopic but was just a lot less pregnant than she thought she was, and her baby was okay... I don’t know how common that is, but hopefully proceeding carefully if they’re unsure is standard, and they seem to be doing lots of scans first.

I’ve got my fingers firmly crossed for today’s scan, and I’m thinking of you ❤️

I couldn’t sleep last night, I had tummy ache that wouldn’t settle and I couldn’t get comfortable. It hasn’t helped the tiredness... generally I’m doing okay, though. Not much nausea or sickness, but I consume a lot of ginger stuff anyway, so that might be helping. My follow up EPU scan is Saturday... I’ll be 7+5. Hoping things go well and we can see a heartbeat this time. In the meantime, we should find out if the chain is complete for our new house today 🤞

@AnonymousXXIX regarding nurseries I think there's council run ones and then private ones. What you do is contact the ones around you and ask for a price list, they will give you info on how it all works and what the options are like if give the little ones dinner that you provide etc. But don't just pick any nursery, you should visit a few and see how it feels. I put my son to one and we did t even finish the settling in sessions i hated it and my son cried the whole time. Luckily the private one near us had a space so he goes there. Is £55 a day 8-6 but you can pick up anytime really...we get him any time between 4.30 and 5.30 usually
They provide breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and then give him a dinner we provide. They also supply all nappies and wipes, Welly boots, sun hats etc so we don't need to deal with any of that and it had just had a big renovation so a great new outdoor play area all wooden bridges and tunnels and stuff.
So deffo have a tour of a few.

Facebook group for whoever was asking is www.facebook.com/groups/2911182022535380/?ref=share

@DarceyCat fingers crossed something appears today. If you think you're dates are wrong where would that place you now?

Remember they can only advise and you can make any decisions

@TakeYourFinalPosition no haven't had the booking yet, still waiting; I am sure that will help a lot!

@Horehound thanks! I am so nervous about the locations... there's loads in the city but they're all too far away from my house to walk to and then also walk to the train station. I'll see if there's anything near DH' work though (he works much nearer than I do).. haven't gone that far down the rabbit hole yet haha.

Just contacted the Gp about my HG.
Tried to do an E consultant, but got told to phone 111 straight away.

Got through on the phone the receptionist said it does that as soon as you say your pregnant. They have booked my a phone call for this morning.
@DarceyCat sorry they still can’t see anything. It happened to me with my first pregnancy. I chose not to take the medication because you can’t fall pregnant again for 6 months. I actually passed mine out the tube myself before they could operate.
You decide what’s best for you.

@AnonymousXXIX yeh we can walk to ours in a few minutes which is so handy!

Also, please look at www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

The government basically cover the tax of the cost of childcare so what you do is set up an account on the government site, you send the funds to their account and then they pay the nursery. So you pay 80% and government pay 20%.
I didn't know this, the first nursery didn't even tell us but when we got our son into the private one the owner made us aware!! Thank goodness

Thanks so much @Horehound!

Morning all!

Just thought I'd post these to see if anyone had similar or has any idea?

The private sonographer could only see a sac measuring 13mm which she told me was 6 weeks 2 days. When she done an internal scan these images appeared.

I called EPU and I'm going for bloods this morning and a scan next Monday. The midwife told me 13mm isn't 6 weeks 2 but earlier than that so now the private clinic has confused me.

I still don't hold out hope as any single symptom which wasn't really much I did have has completely disappeared.

@Hxoxox 13mm would indicate you are 5w+6 days so could still be too early to see anything I think?
Does this tie in with your dates?

I thought I was 6 + 6 or 7 on Sunday when I got the scan so I suppose 5 + 6 isn't too out I've I ovulated later or implantation took longer. It's just because it was internal and unclear where I've seen loads of scans where you can see a heartbeat at that age.

I'm going to hold out some luck for you :) when was your LMP? Conception can take a few days too. I think it's common not to see much in the 5 week window really. I saw a heartbeat a 6+6 so you've got a whole week of growing hopefully for something to appear on the scan x

Just spoken to the GP. He’s happy for me to go back onto cyclizine.
Need to go to the hospital if I continue to get sick.
I have some dip sticks around I might do one to see what my ketones are like.

It was 16th March. I usually have a 25/26 day cycle but been told before not to always rely on dating from lmp. Positive test was on 13th April.

Hi all... For all who are feeling sick, I am with you... I am 9weeks+1 today and I think and hope this is the peak, as in the last few days I have been feeling so nauseous 24/7 and miserable... It has been a week I have been wearing sea bands and I have to say it does help a little bit, so maybe it is worth trying it!
My 12 week scan is scheduled when I will be 13+2, do you think that's too late? I am worried they won't be able to perform all the test they should normally do as very close to 14 weeks...(I am still not clear on measuring dates... like if you are 13 weeks are you technically in your 14th week??) maybe I am just being paranoid!

Good news @Em39ma

@Hxoxox yeh that's it, there's so many variables it's tricky to know. Fingers crossed!

I just checked my Flo app and now I'm 10wrrks today I have a "fetus" rather than an "embryo" :)

@cloud2021

Hi all... For all who are feeling sick, I am with you... I am 9weeks+1 today and I think and hope this is the peak, as in the last few days I have been feeling so nauseous 24/7 and miserable... It has been a week I have been wearing sea bands and I have to say it does help a little bit, so maybe it is worth trying it! My 12 week scan is scheduled when I will be 13+2, do you think that's too late? I am worried they won't be able to perform all the test they should normally do as very close to 14 weeks...(I am still not clear on measuring dates... like if you are 13 weeks are you technically in your 14th week??) maybe I am just being paranoid!

No I think 13+2 is fine :)

@Hxoxox 13mm is around 5 and a half weeks, typically, although there's a lot of variance in early pregnancy, which is why they don't date until 12 weeks.

I was exactly 6w from LMP when I had my scan, it was external only but the EPU could only see the two sacs, nothing else. They insist on two weeks between scans as things can change slowly, and that's considered the safe distance, so we're due back on Saturday, when I should be 7+5... I'm hoping we'll see the heartbeat then!

They'll check your HCG in your bloods, although if it's like my hospital, they don't do repeat tests if your HCG is over 1500 - they just use it as a barometer of what they should be seeing on the scan.

It's really tough and I cried a lot with worry and anxiety last week, but I feel calmer this week... Try to keep yourself busy. I definitely don't think you're out, just too early for a scan.

@cloud2021 I was told that anything before 14+4 was fine for the testing, so 13+2 is great

@Horehound Ahh that's lovely! I'm 7+1 today, I can't wait to get to double figures. I love Flo too. And pregnancy+. And Ovia pregnancy. I might have an app problem