October - into the second trimester!

[Needtobuildabridge]

Hi all,

Getting close to 4 threads filled - here's number 5!

Had my scan today. Measuring a bit on than I though. I’m 13+3 and due date 9th October. Everything were fine 🥰 x

@LR94 I feel your frustration. I would call the hospital to check if you could have earlier the scan than the new date booked or wait to announce, unless you are fine sharing with family and friends any bad news up hear later(chances of bad news are very small). On the NHS website it says that some issues can be detected at the 12 week scan:
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/12-week-scan/
I don't think that private scans will look at the same things. Most of them are basic, you will need to book a nuchal scan if you want the same level of scan. Some clinics offer it but it's more expensive.

The reason you should wait 1/ 2 weeks between scans is that so you can see a difference in growth. You can have a scan at 12 weeks and another one a few days later!

Congrats @LWestYorks @SillyOldBear3 @RooneyRach 

@iloveeggs we brought DD to a wedding when she was 2 months exactly, it was fine. She fed and slept through most of it and I just went straight to bed with her after the meal. Only slight mishap was she did a very noisy poo right in the middle of the groom's speech 😂 but I just legged it out of the room to change her, it was grand.

@iloveeggs - yeah, I would not worry, particularly if it is not a long journey (a flight of 5+ hours in a car). One notable issue is you might not have a very good sense in advance if what size you will be. Your body is still changing a lot so soon after giving birth, so best think about choosing something that accommodates a range of a sizes/shapes you might be. You might be up a size or two, but also you might be a pretty different shape.

Also, you might be a lot less engaged in the spirit/vibes of the wedding as you have this other weighty obligation/joy going on at the same time, and it is very immediate. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but try to keep your expectations about your level of engagement low. If you have a really rigid idea of what it will be like and are someone who would find it hard to deviate from that vision, you might struggle.

@Phoenixwings1989 - so sorry you got this result, it is an awful place to be in, even though the numbers are pretty favourable to you. I chose CVS (invasive testing) with the NHS, but both are good options in different ways. I would expect you will just have your blood taken, and when you go in for your appointment, they will explain it all to you. However, it will be different in different trusts. If you head over to the antinatal testing board that Mumsnet runs, you will find lots of people in your situation. I spent a lot of time there and it seemed like a ton of the downs syndrome risk ladies, even with 1:6 odds, came out ok. If you want to think more about invasive testing, Emily Oster's book called Expecting Better has a long, detailed section about prenatal teating. She goes through testing options and efficacy. She argues that the risks of miscarriage are much lower than advertised, but how you feel even about the lowered risks is going to depend on your own own perceptions and experience of risk.

Getting an elevated risk result really does impact your pregnancy journey. Take care of yourself and do seek out the antinatal testing board. Also check out ARC, which is a charity that does work in the antinatal testing space. I really, really hope you gett cleared soon.

@LR94 - no comment on whether your hospital is good or not (though you can change if you want to), but the issue may be that there is a doctor's strike. Here is a note from my hospital:

The British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) have announced that their members will take further industrial action, with a four-day strike by junior doctors from 7am on 11 April to 7am on 15 April.

Congrats @SillyOldBear3 ! We are now due date twins 😄

@EMcG3 thanks for that!
That explains it then, typical that the patients are forgotten about time and time again xxx

@Phoenixwings1989 hi,
I don’t know if you’ve read much of my journey, but I had a baby last year with t13 pataus.
This all started with a high risk after my screening scan/bloods.
I was offered all 3 options as you are being offered now. At the time I was told NIPT is more accurate for downs than any of the other 2 trisomy’s therefore I didn’t even waste my time with NIPT and opted to wait until I was 15 weeks so I could go for the amnio. I figured if I was having something invasive I should go right to the source (the baby) and get the most accurate info. So I chose the amnio which does have a risk of miscarriage however I was absolutely fine and didn’t lose the baby that way.
For you, I think it’s sensible to try the NIPT first and see what it says as like I said It is pretty accurate for downs, but bare in mind how you might feel afterwards even if you get a low risk. Would you be satisfied or still worry. This is something I had to ask myself. (Luckily for me there were soft markers on my 12w scan).
This time around I was offered the NIPT even before doing my screening bloods/scans due to my history and I had my NHS NIPT done on 28/03.
I’m happy to report my result came back 05/04 as low risk for all 3 trisomies. They told me that this is the best result I could have and it would be highly unlikely there was an issue, but of course they will keep an eye on my scans & even offered me an extra scan at 16 weeks. (I am having my 12 week scan and combined bloods on 19/04).
This can be a really stressful time for you and I’m here to talk if you want to reach out 💓💓 sending lots of love at this uncertain time, just remember 1 in 40 means that there have to be another 40 pregnancies exactly like yours to have an unfavourable outcome which is still really unlikely. There are also lots of factors such as age etc that affect this ‘high risk’ so it is not diagnostic at all 🤍🤍

Thanks girls I appreciate it!

I have my private scan today and window to womb have left a voicemail asking me to call and confirm the date of my NHS scan. It's 6 days - is that going to be an issue as it's quite close do you think?

I did my research before and everything says there's no evidence of any adverse effects of having scans close together. And obviously I'll only be doing so this once.

Scared they'll cancel on me!

@monsteramunch I tried to book one a couple of days before my NHS 12 week cos I am seeing family before & wanted to tell them. Window to the womb told me I couldn’t do it when I wanted to (on the Friday, cos I am seeing family on the Saturday so wanted to do it as late as possible, my NHS scan was the following Thursday!) they made me book it on the Wednesday… so a full week prior to NHS. Even though it says there’s no adverse effects.. it still asks you to tick the box to confirm there’s 7 days between appointments. Hopefully they’ll let you have it done x

Thank you @EMcG3 @NSX for sharing your experiences and for your offer to talk if needed. I am sorry you had to go through that.

I knew right away the CVS wasn't an option for us what with the risk of miscarriage. Having experienced one last June it has been a massive worry and I'm still worried something will happen at 12+5. That worry has amplified since learning I have a hematoma just underneath where baby is. Although the risk of miscarriage is considered low, the fact is there is still a chance and I don't want to take it which is why NIPT sounded more of an appropriate option.

I'm aware there's a chance the results might show a high chance too. If it happens then that's something we'll deal with but for now I'm happy with the choice.

With my first I had a high chance of her having Spina Bifida. I had extra scans to rule it out and thankfully all seemed well. She was born unaffected, so I know combined testing can be hit and miss.

Thanks @Mldn that's really helpful

Off to my scan now, goodness I really hope I come back with good news and a lovely little picture!

@monsteramunch fingers crossed for you! Looking forward to seeing your scan as mine will likely be similar for what I use to tell people! Good luck x

@Phoenixwings1989 no problem at all. Like I said I think the NIPT is pretty accurate for downs so I think you will have a good idea.
was anything noted at your scan?

@monsteramunch good luck today 🤍🤍

Did anyone else feel very battered after their scan? The sonographer asked me to empty my bladder as it was so full it was pushing baby down. He was pressing so hard into my belly, which was fine at the time, but today I feel so achey, almost like I've done loads of sit-ups the day before... Hopefully this is normal?!

@SillyOldBear3 they can tend to press in when they’re looking hard if the baby is being awkward.
I had an anterior placenta before which made scanning hard and I also felt they pressed very hard 😂😅 hope you’re ok.

So relieved and so happy, our little one is looking great and measuring 12+3!

Thanks for everyone's best wishes, it's such a lovely group

What a cute sprog @monsteramunch

I had my nipt today. Baby looked good and I was so relieved. The sonographee tried to measure the fluid around the neck or whatever they measure but she said it's 11 weeks, too early for this measurement but it looks ok for now. Fingers crossed all is good.

I asked the nurse who took the bloods about the chances of having to give bloods again. She said that they have changed to prenatal safe and she didn't have to draw blood twice from anyone. Too need to have 4-5% of baby DNA in your blood but they can actually do the nipt with 2%. They used to have to redraw bloods with the harmony test, but if the test didn't work it was because of low % of baby DNA in the blood, it's not an indication of an issue.
@Saturnsmoon I hope this reassures you a bit.

@NSX nothing was noted on my scan, no. Screening midwife also confirmed this yesterday saying baby looks fit and healthy and measurements are what was expected.

@AlongcameLainey aw yay! I was surprised as I thought I'd be slightly behind on my dates rather than ahead!

@monsteramunch lovely pic! I think we're also due date twins, I was dated 17th October!

@NSx he didn't mention anything about an anterior placenta but he was really pressing in hard! Also I had a training sonographer in there who also had a go, so perhaps I had double the scan! (I did get 5 photos though as she was practicing 😅). Hopefully I'll be less achey tomorrow!

Got my scan on Tuesday and feeling a mixture of excited and anxious, I just so want them to be ok and healthy ❤️ popping to IKEA this afternoon and I can’t help myself but have a little peek at the cots 🤭 I know it’s still early days really but it makes it feel so real when looking a bits and bobs like that. Xx

@SillyOldBear3 me too! I had an early scan which put me back to the 25th October so was surprised to be given 17th this time around! Bubba must have had a good growth spurt 😅