Downs Syndrome pregnancy - feeling very unwell

[Aurora5]

Hello there. We had a confirmation of DS about two weeks ago and are in the midst of the difficult period that many on here will remember or know. Life is kind of suspended.

The thing is, I'm feeling more unwell every day. I've been to the doctors but wondered if anyone else had experience of this? I'm so tired I can barely get down the street before having to sit down; nights are so strange - I'm exhausted in my sleep! I feel very ill after eating and yet need to eat because of sudden hunger. Is this just very high HCG or did anyone else have this and it turned out to be something else? The doctor didn't seem to know, though they have ordered blood tests, and none of my midwives know. I just thought Mumsnet might have more direct experience.

Thank you.

PS my HCG was 7.8 rather than around 1 at first screening if that helps. (For anyone reading this with similar - there are many many cases of that being totally fine in pregnancy, just unexplained and not Downs).

PPS I should also add I'm 16.5 weeks

Hi OP.

I wonder if some of this is due to the emotional response you're naturally having after finding out that your baby has DS.

What you describe is similar to the response many people have when either grieving or dealing with difficult news generally.

It may be hormonal, as you say. I have no personal experience of having a baby with DS, so I simply don't know, but I couldn't read this and run.

Forgive me if I'm completely barking up the wrong tree.

Have you had any other babies, so you can perhaps compare this stage of pregnancy? Are you an older mother - I found my pregnancy when I was 39 much more physically challenging than the previous ones.

Hi OP, I felt I was unwell when I ate too much sugar/carbs. Once I got that under control, I felt less sick and less hungry. Also my gynae told me that it's normal at 16 weeks to start feeling awful again.

Thanks so much. I've wondered this too, and it's very possible, though there are elements like mad hunger and digestive disasters after eating which are just the pregnancy at work (though intensifying).

I am an older mum - 43. That could be it too. My first child at 39 was totally different and I felt quite healthy by this stage. I've heard of people feeling crap all the way through the second trimester and third, but not really of people for whom the symptoms rocketed each week as the pregnancy progressed. I wondered if it made sense if my unborn baby is struggling to progress, and using as much of me up as they can to do so. Funny how you're just left wondering as there seems to be so little out there!

Thanks Isiteverevenreallyover - was this a Downs pregnancy or a regular one? Yeah carbs kill me - rice and porridge are the worst strangely, the slow-release / complex stuff that's good for you in normal times!

I always found that when I went through a period of feeling terrible, the baby would have a huge growth spurt and my bump would explode, so maybe that's on the cards?

I also felt worse with each pregnancy and my morning sckness lasted longer each time

Currently 28 weeks pregnant and I’ve felt crap every day whether it’s been general tiredness, morning sickness, acheyness, feeling rubbish cuz I can’t sleep etc. I think it is just pregnancy unfortunately.

But as others have said it may also be the emotional drain of finding out baby has Down syndrome etc.

My SIL had babies at exactly the same ages as you and she found the second one way worse as well. Could just be being that bit older? Hope you're ok.

Do you have a test scheduled for gestational diabetes? Your symptoms sound like mine were - exhausted, constantly hungry, sugar crashes and terrible sleep. Many women with GD are badly affected by carbs.

Also pregnancy is hard and your news is very hard.

Take care of yourself.

Thanks so much everyone - and JollyJellyCat, I have wondered about that (just today in fact). I have a normal blood test tomorrow where the doc said they were looking for "sugars" but is there a separate test for gestational diabetes?

Yes, iirc it's a fasting test which is done in the hospital. You fast overnight, they take some blood, give you a sugary drink, and take more blood 1-2 hours later.

I would ask if it can be arranged tomorrow. You might have to argue for it as they don't like doing it unless you have specific risk factors.

It sounds similar to how I felt with gestational diabetes. The regular blood test might be doing your H1BAC which is your blood glucose over the last 3 months I think but can pick up GD. I was only diagnosed with GD through the fasting test though. If the blood test comes back clear maybe ask your midwife if you can do the fasting test.

Thanks - I will try and get that sorted tomorrow. Really appreciate your advice

My DS pregnancy was easiest ever. DC1 on the other hand was otherwise typical, but I was exhausted, hip pain, back pain, weight gain. Slept so much. Sick. Think it's just varies on the pregnancy not DS