October - into the second trimester!

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Hi all,

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

@Saturnsmoon I can't believe how unlucky you are! Can you explain the situation and ask them to send the bloods immediately after taking them? It was their fault at the end of the day. I hope you get some good news back soon!

Hey everyone!

love seeing everyone’s scan pics!

For those of you that have had your 12 week scan and have received your risk assessment letter for downs/edwards/patau syndrome - how long did it take for the letter to come through? I had my scan a week ago but haven’t received the letter yet but am hoping it comes in soon. So was wondering how long they have taken to come through for those that had received them already? xxx

@Hopefulx I had my scan and bloods on the Thursday morning. My letter arrived the following Thursday with the all clear. Remember we've had two bank holidays..... If they haven't rung you in 3 days I'd be optimistic that there's no problem. It's such a nerve-wrecking wait. I was getting so many cold calls that week, answered each expecting it to be the hospital!

Anyone else’s sickness/nausea almost completely gone? 12 weeks today officially and feel absolutely fine! Have to assume baby is ok as they had a strong heartbeat on Tuesday morning but it’s definitely nice to feel better!

@Hopefulx Hi lovely, I was told it would take up to 2 weeks for my letter to come through, so it might be the same for your trust. I’m still in the 72 hr waiting period for either a phone call if high risk, or a letter within two weeks if low risk. Xx

@Hopefulx the waiting is tough but it is a case of no news is good news with those letters. As @Summer022 said, most Trusts contact you by phone within 3 days if the test picks something up. If all good, the letter can take up to 2 weeks. Hopefully you'll get it soon though for peace of mind 🙂

@Midnight00 thank you! I was wondering if the bank holiday weekend would push it out a little. And then started think does that mean I am still in the 72 hours call part because the bank holiday 😂 got to love our minds!

@Summer022 hopefully yours comes before 2 weeks and you pass the 72 hours with no call. My trust didn’t say anything about when it should arrive but hopefully soon as this wait is so anxious!

@SnookyPook you are right! Got to assume no news is good news. We live in a flat and our post box is outside the building. So every late morning I run down and open it to see a load of junk food leaflets and no letter 🙈

Mine dropped off almost 12 weeks to the day!

It's funny we curse feeling sick then when it goes away it makes us panic 😂

I've had a scan since then and all was good, I'm sure yours will be too!

I have my NHS one today, can't wait to see our little one again!

@skywayavenue I'm in Ireland, 13 weeks in Saturday. My referral was sent on 14 March, called the Dr. Last Thursday as still had no letter. They gave me a number to call the hospital, and the hospital said they hadn't received it. They sent it by post, and the hospital said they should have sent it by healthlinks? So maybe give your doctor a call!

Apologies for lowering the tone but is anyone struggling with going to the toilet?

Ah I self referred - haven't even been to doctor!

@monsteramunch ahhh glad you’re feeling better too!! Enjoy seeing your little one at your scan today!! 🥰

@Hopefulx I had my scan and bloods with the NHS on 28th April, and only got the letter through on the 11th April (so it took two weeks) but obviously we had Easter bank holiday in between. I still haven't heard anything about my blood results. I hope you hear back soon.

Apologies, I meant to write scan and bloods - 28th March and I received the letter two weeks later on 11th April.

Yep! Weeks 6-11 were the worst for me, genuinely really painful to the point it was upsetting me. Sonographer at my 6 week scan said "you're quite literally full of shit" 😂

Sachets helped, I checked with my GP that they were happy for me to take them. Still getting constipated on and off at 13+3 but not every day like earlier in the pregnancy.

Hopefully it will improve for you too!

@Saturnsmoon Unbelievable. I am so annoyed for you!

I also just got a call from my trust - they were confused why my bloods and scan date were different - my scan was at 3 pm and the midwives finally gave up on getting my blood (deep veins) at 5. I had to go in to the phlebotomy clinic the following morning to get my bloods done. So it's been over a week and now I'm meant to just wait to not get a phone call for the rest of today! I thought I was in the clear after the 72 hour period, now I'm annoyed again. Hope my letter comes soon!

@Saturnsmoon I'm so annoyed for you, that's awful. The anxiety waiting is the worst so i feel for you!!

@monsteramunch 😂 shouldn't laugh but... I'm not in pain it's just annoying mostly.

I’ve only just woken up - how am I still so tired?! I’m also in a dreadful mood - I think I’ve been lost in the bank hols and now I won’t be getting my rescan which means I can’t have the combined testing (I’m 14+4, it’s too late). So I should be getting 15 weeks blood test but I have no appointment for that either! Add to that that my midwife has changed and I have no way of contacting her - I’m getting really frustrated. I’ve been ringing the community midwives number but no-one is answering 🙄

@skywayavenue What hospital are you? I am the Coombe. I got my letter around 12 weeks I think, first scan not until after 15 weeks and my booking appt i will be 19 weeks. Had my last baby in the UK and can safely say I wish I was having this one there. All I've heard is bad things about the Irish system :(

@Seekingadviceplz The Irish system seems to be a joke. My friend went public and didn't have her first scan till 16 weeks!! We're in Limerick, I was lucky enough to go private so don't have the sam experience but it's such a joke, seems to be all over Ireland too. I would have thought Dublin would have been quicker. The maternity in Limerick scares the shit out of me over how badly it's run. I'm terrified of giving birth there.

Coombe as well. Hopefully hear this week. In fairness I had my last in the Coombe and also attended there for a miscarriage and I absolutely cannot fault the care I received. Hoping its the same this time even though the appointments are late!

@iloveeggs @skywayavenue
I did think about semi-private but the reality is I dont want to see a doctor (unless necessary). I have heard of long (hours) waits for appts, only one birthing pool and you are not allowed actually give birth in it (!?!) (and anecdotally it seems from everyone i know who has given birth there no one ever gets to use it!!), and the worst, that partners get sent home at night and you are left alone, even if you give birth during the night and/or have had a c section/epidural etc! I also had a bad tear last time and although recovery was absolutely fine i received physio and other follow up care to check everything is healed, here i've heard if you have issues they tell you to go to A&E after a few weeks.... I'm usually pretty relaxed about these things and I looked forward to the birth with my first but I'm scared for this one...!

The pool thing is a bit of joke because they need a midwife trained in using it who isn't always available!

Are you doing the domino scheme? I did that last time (in 2021) and loved it. I gave birth at 5.30pm and my husband left at 9pm. The midwives were amazing overnight and helped with breastfeeding and moving about. Husband was back in then at 8am and we were discharged home at 5.30pm that day - 24 hours after giving birth. I then had midwives come to the house for 5 days, which was unreal! And then two public health nurse visits after that.

I also attended a postnatal physio class 6 weeks after giving birth but could have contacted them at any stage if I needed help, without going through A&E.

Honestly, I understand your concerns and you being nervous but my experience has generally been quite good!