October - into the second trimester!

[Needtobuildabridge]

Hi all,

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

@monsteramunch ah yes it’ll be nice to have others going through the same thing as a little support network won’t it.

Yes, I live in Cornwall so ideally would need transport just to get by really but obviously I’ll do as the consultant advises. I do have family that can help just don’t like to have to rely on everyone while DH is at work.

The plan is for him to have 2 weeks paternity and 2 weeks annual leave so at least that’ll be most of the time covered just in case x

@AlongcameLainey i hope your consultant can give you a better idea of what might be best for you.

As for driving, I may be wrong but I believe you’re advised to wait 6 weeks but it’s not a legal requirement? Friends I know have driven earlier, it depends how quickly the wound heals and when you are comfortable making emergency stops without pain (so I’ve been told). Worth checking with your car insurance though

@VictoriaBlossom I'll use a clinic in my area offering the prenatal safe nipt, it's more accurate in the other chromosomal issues than the harmony offered by most, and I'll test a few more things. And it has smallest blood withdrawal rate. I think for multiple pregnancies panorama is suggested.
I don't think a lot offer the prenatal safe test because it has to be done before 24 weeks.

I found this table useful when comparing
https://northsurreymidwives.co.uk/what-we-do/antenatal-screening/harmony/

Hi everyone.

Can I join please? I've been quietly lurking while using my energy for nasausa, being sick and a toddler! I'm currently 10+6 and this is my second. My first pregnancy was in the UK but we've since moved abroad so navigating a new system this time so useful to see everyone's updates to check care is similar.

Hi @ForeverAndEvers, welcome and congratulations!

So interesting to hear people's experience of c sections. I can totally see how that's reassuring as you take a lot of the uncertainty out of labour. I'm a squeamish one - can't even look at the needle when drawing blood 😅 - so a natural c-section is def not for me!

Haven't really thought about the birth yet other than that a home birth is not for me. I would really like to avoid a c-section. Birth centre might be a good middle ground and in my trust it's right next to the maternity so good if things go wrong.

I have to decide if to have a section or VBAC and absolutely can’t decide. They said they can scan baby and predict size at 36 weeks so I can decide but that seems like a long time to not know! The only thing I do know is I really do not want to be induced again!

I drove after 3 weeks last time

@AlongcameLainey that's really interesting - do you know what kind of tumour it was? I had a prolactinoma from when I was 18 that eventually seemed to sort itself out. They weren't concerned about it all last time around & didn't do any checks. I did flag it to midwife again this time.

I also had huge cysts on both ovaries that needed an mri scan but ultimately again no concerns. I've since had emergency surgery to remove my right ovary & tube after another huge cyst twisted & killed it. Fully expecting them to find another on the left ovary at the scan now. That surgery has put me off c section a bit as it wasn't much fun & recovery was slow & I couldn't do much for my toddler for a month or so which was really tough.

I'll be consultant led due to shoulder dystocia last time so will have to wait and see what they recommend

Hi gals, I had my scan today! 13+2, so a bit further along than I thought-- new due date 8 Oct. They found four fibroids and are referring me to a consultant. They also gave up on my bloods after trying unsuccessfully for a half hour 😑so I have to go to the phlebotomy clinic this week, which I'm annoyed about. Deep veins! Happy that baby is looking good though xx

@Ss32 how accurate are the size scans? I didn’t have one but all the midwives were adamant DS would be 7lb and I knew they were wrong and so did my mom (Same stature as me and could see how big I was). He was 9lb.

i think the biggest help for me in terms of the emergency c-section was my NCT classes where they had demonstrated how many people would be in the room and explained why. This made me much more relaxed about it all.

@cruciverbalista what a lovely picture.

@Cammy23 I have done the NHS NIPT and literally waiting on my results. I was told they would be back today but obviously they are not so I’m living on anxiety for another day.

like @EMcG3 I had a baby with a chromosomal abnormalities (t13 pataus) last year however this was picked up on the NHS combined screening, I went on to have an amniocentesis which is where they stick a needle in your tummy and take some amniotic fluid from the babies sac to check the dna for issues, this too showed t13.

so to cut a long story short I do think that both are pretty reliable, however I was told that the NIPT is more accurate, especially when it comes to Down syndrome- it is apparently not as accurate for the other 2 major trisomies however is still more accurate than the combined screening which just looks at the mothers blood/baby measurements rather than the actual babies DNA like the NIPT, amniocentesis and CVS.
I hope this helps 💓

Ah wow @cruciverbalista what a lovely scan!

Hi @ForeverAndEvers we’re the same dates :)

I’ve just finished painting my bathroom and its only just occurred to me, is it even safe for us to decorate?! I’m now abit worried because of the fumes xxx

@NSx - I did private NIPT and am also waiting on results right now. The end of the 3-5 day results window is tomorrow. I usually can find a way through things but am finding this particular wait shitty and hard. I hope you are feeling ok about it. I hope they don't keep you waiting longer, and have my fingers crossed for you.

Does anyone get random electric shook feelings in their belly? It’s driving me mad xxx

Hi ladies!

Hope you are all doing well this evening.

I had my twelve week scan yesterday. Everything looked great. We saw baby's heartbeat and he/she was moving around lots. However, we were lucky to be seen as we got lost and couldn't find the right department, so by the time we got there it was late by ten minutes or so. Sonographer wasn't best pleased which is understandable but it's not like we planned to get lost 😔. The scan was cut short because of this but she managed to get measurements ok (she said very little in real time and on my notes). She asked at the end of I had any upcoming appointments with a doctor which threw me. I said I had an appointment with the consultant next Friday. She said that was good then let me go.

However, roll on today and I wake to find I'd been bleeding overnight. It wasn't on the bedsheets nor were my pyjamas covered, just bright red blood in the toilet and when I wiped. I went straight to the maternity assessment unit where the checked my urine and a cervical exam was performed by a doctor. The exam revealed the entrance to the womb was closed but they couldn't find where the bleeding came from.

I was lucky to get an appointment at a private scan clinic tonight where she noticed a subchronic hematoma outside of the sac where baby is and by my cervix. She thinks it is 100% likely that's where the bleeding came from and baby is just as lively as yesterday. Even gave us a wave and did a headstand 🤭.

What a day!

Anyone ever had a subchronic hematoma? Did you need to stop doing any usual activities in order to prevent further bleeding? This is my first experience of having one and I'm not sure what to expect or do if anything.

@EMcG3 oh we are in the same boat 🥲 it’s so stressful waiting isn’t it. I’m hoping I’ll know by tomorrow, so I’m praying we both get some good news tomorrow 🤞🤍🤍🤍🤍 here’s hoping babe x

@Phoenixwings1989 I have this!! I had a really bad bleed last Tuesday and i was in a&e for 6 hours and they did nothing.
I had a scan the next day at EPAS and said the same, she can’t 100% guarantee but its more than likely where the bleed came from. Baby was totally fine. I wasn’t told to do anything different, I was painting my bathroom earlier haha. I think because they have no idea how they even occur and what causes them, they can’t really give any advice on how to prevent another bleed. She said they usually just go away by themselves and most people don’t even know they have them so i’ve just been carrying on like normal 🙂 xxx

@Koalawhala I asked to see my placenta with DS1 - figured I might never get to see another one so had a good nosey, fascinating! 😂

I've had 2 births both with only gas and air (not through choice but timing) - my second was almost a car park birth, so will bring this up nearer the time to see if they'll let us come in a bit sooner - I shall be drinking raspberry leaf tea and eating dates in the final few weeks again because I've been very efficient so far with this whole labour thing, so whilst I don't believe the old wives tales I'm also too scared not to do them again just in case!

@cruciverbalista lovely photo!

@Phoenixwings1989 sorry to hear you've had a roller coaster couple of days but super glad baby is ok! ❤️

Placemarking at 13 weeks +4, hope you are all well x

@LR94 Yes the Sonographer said the same to me about how some women don't notice as they don't bleed at all. I've started bleeding again but she also said to expect that. It's still quite shocking to see blood though despite knowing. I did try to ring the hospital to let them know but they just said it would be on my records and not to worry. I wonder if this is it passing and something I just have to wait out or not.

@DancingNancies Thank you! I'm relieved too. Hope things calm down now. My nerves won't take anymore.

@Phoenixwings1989 So glad everything's okay!

@cruciverbalista thank you. I hope it stays that way 🤞

@Phoenixwings1989 @LR94 when I did my 7 week scan the sonographer mentioned I had a small subchorionic hematoma, not to panic if I had some bleeding and that it would be nothing to worry about. I never did though and at the 12 week scan forgot to ask. Sonographer had also said the body could absorb it on its own so don't know if that's what happened. But there was no rec I should do anything to prevent it (probably can't be prevented so why change your routine)