CVS? Anyone been there, done it?

[frazzledoldbag34]

Am pregnant with DC3. My brother has Downs and the docs are not sure whether it's hereditary. My 2 other DC's are fine, had an amnio with the first and detailed scanning with the second (wasn't allowed CVS or amnio with her as bleeding constantly throughout preg). Keen to find out about CVS as worried about Downs Syndrome (plus I'm mid-30's now too). Any experiences, advice etc very welcome. Thanks

Glad to be of service herbaceous.

Thanks, our results came back clear for all Downs, Edwards and Patau (after we were given a 1 in 75 risk factor).

Oh and the results were with us by Tuesday lunchtime - the scan had been a Friday morning so it was pretty quick.

Hi all.
Have namechanged recently but it's me!

Well, an update: I went along to have my CVS done and they spent 2 hrs faffing around trying to get the right angle (apparently my placenta is right in the way and so was the baby). So eventually they said it was too risky and booked me an amnio for 4 wks later.

Had the amnio 2.5 wks ago - went really well, hardly any discomfort at all (much better than my first amnio), some cramping for a couple of days after - but no bleeding (but then couldn't really take things properly 'easy') and results are all now back and CLEAR. So very relieved and happy.

Thanks for all your comments on this thread.
And best of luck to everyone else having/considering these procedures

Hi Delight,

Your post has made me feel more positive. had an MC at 5 weeks in August and am now pregnant again (1st baby). I went for a CVS 2 weeks ago and they called two days later to say that the Consultant didn't get enough blood, so now I have to have an amnio aswell on 29th December.

I have heard that MC rate is lower with the amnio and isn't quite as uncomfortable as the CVS and a much easier procedure as there's loads of places to take the fluid from.

Still very nervous about the results though. I'm 34 so risk was originally 1:434, the scan dropped the risk to 1:743 but my bloods came back as 1:35 which gave a combined risk of 1:59. Scan was good though, Nuchal fold at 12 weeks was 1.9 and nasal bone was clearly visible, so I'm keeping everything crossed that the Amnio will be clear. Trying to keep positive to get through Xmas.

Thanks for your positive post.

xxx

Glad you got some reassurance delighted - hope you didn't have to travel too far.

For those who have choices about where to go, I would be fairly trusting of a big NHS hospital which regularly offers screening and is therefore likely to be carrying out diagnostic tests. Like LadyMac, I was at the Whittington with Miss Paul and she told me after the CVS that the risk factor had already dropped because the test went relatively smoothly. I would think that if the Homerton also offers regular screening and someone regularly carries out the tests, the risks would go down.

Dawn, I hope the amnio goes ok, I found it a very tough experience to go through decisions and testing once.

Herbaceous, I had CVS at the Homerton and it was fine - this is rather a long time ago now - 2001. Still get the heebie-jeebies when I look at DS2 now and think - imagine if I'd had a m/c...

I had my CVS at 13 weeks at Harris Birthright, Kings College Hospital, South London.

It was done by a doctor who never did a CVS before! But under the guidance of the man himself, Prof Nicolaides. After the procedure, there was clapping and the doctor told me that there was no chance of a miscarriage (don't know how he could tell).

Anyway, I have dd to show for it.

The only part that hurt somewhat was when he had to job the needle through my stomach muscles which being my first child were very strong. A bit of crampy pains later but not worse than a mild period. My dh was fascinated with watching the progress of the needle through the screen. It was uncomfortable, but not horrible.

frazzled,

I had CVS done by Prof Nicholaides at the Foetal Medicine Centre in London. I lived in Edinburgh at the time (2003) so it was a long trek down to London. I could have had it done in Edinburgh (and obviously saved myself a lot of time and money) but I had read that the risk of miscarriage is reduced if the person doing is experienced and expert at it. Since Prof N is one of the most expert and experienced people in the country, that's why I decided to go with him. Obviously due to the costs, this is not a luxury that everyone can afford. The other thing that 'swung' it for me was the fact that in Edinburgh if the placenta was in an awkward place the CVS would be done through the vagina rather than through the stomach, and I'm afraid the thought of that just brought tears to my eyes, so....
As for the procedure itself, it didn't hurt at all. It was just like someone pushing on my tummy and after all the stressing and worrying about it, I actually had to ask to make sure he really had done it.

Hmm. I've just read this thread again (properly) and noticed that frazzled is now delight and that you've had an amnio. I'm for not reading it properly but congratulations on getting the all-clear

Thank you bogwobbit!
I'm very relieved now reading your post that we don't live in Edinburgh any more. Apparently there is also a higher chance of m/c if the CVS is done vaginally. Ugh.
I did think about going to London but in the end the top consultant at Ninewells (Dundee teaching hosp) did it and was fantastic.
Glad all well for you too.

Been following this thread with interest; I had a DS result from my last CVS and decided to terminate the pregnancy at around 14 weeks. My risk after nuchal fold and bloods was 1:44 and we were convinced the results would be ok. Do understand that someone has to be the 1 but it is still devastating. My friend was also pregnant at the time and had a risk of 1:16; her gorgeous little boy was born in January perfectly healthy. My termination was a year ago and I am now pregnant again with my CVS taking place on Monday. At the moment it feels like history repeating itself and is all very scary And then I read about a whole host of things that can go wrong through to people losing their babies at 7 months. Such a lot of sorrow that people endure, but at least we know that we're not alone. And on the bright side, most pregnancies end happily!!

oh ruby - I've got everything crossed for you and your baby this time. Please re-post and let me know how you get on.
BEST OF LUCK

DawnAS - I will have my fingers and everything else crossed for you on 29 December too.
You are right - amnio has a lower risk of m/c (assuming that the practitioner is experienced) and is quicker and easier usually than a cvs. They don't give a local anasthetic because they really don't need to (I wasn't happy about this before hand but they were right). The needle is about 1/3 the diameter of the CVS needle (so the doc told me) and because they are just taking fluid its a more simple procedure. I hardly felt a thing with this one, really and truly. I had my eyes closed throughout but can honestly say it was not even as painful as having the blood taken from my arm before hand!
The quick result was back the follwing afternoon and although they told me it would be 2 wks for the full cultures to come back it was only 10 days.
As far as your nuchal goes I'm not sure what 1.9 means? but the fact that there was a clearly visible nasal bone must be a very positive sign.
Again, good luck and please let me know how you get on.

delightedoldbag34 thanks for your message . I too did not find the CVS painful at all; it's more the thought of what they're doing and the potential risk to the pregnancy. I'm also rhesus negative and the anti D injection was probably worse (though even that was a nothing) Also I wonder how many other operations have around a 90% success rate? Sounds pretty good to me. I had my CVS done at Birmingham Fetal Medicine Centre and was just over 12 weeks last time. The consultant doing the procedure asked me why I was having it done so late as I had missed the window of opportunity for a D&C and would have to have labour induced. Why was I not waiting and having the amnio as it was less risky? This really upset us (as far as we were concerned, we were on track, having presented the pregnancy to my health carers at around 6 weeks) We decided to take the risk as terminating a pregnancy later would be a hard choice. We felt more attached to this pregnancy as each day went by. In hindsight, the CVS was the best choice for me bearing in mind the outcome. I was given a choice, induction or D&C; my consultant was prepared to perform a late D&C as I already have two children. I chose the induction and was dealt with very sympathetically and professionally. Like others here, I had no follow up which was quite bizarre considering the care and counselling leading up to the termination. I haven't seen anyone else here who has experienced termination as a result of a bad CVS result, I suppose most results are good. I am told that if I have two bad results then they will look further into it being a genetic problem with my new partner.
I'm philosophical about it; whatever will be will be and there's no point worrying about it until it happens.
DawnAS Good luck to you! 1.9 is well within the limits for the nuchal fold and a visible nasal bone is an excellent sign (my previous pregnancy was missing a nasal bone when they went back and checked after the CVS result. my nuchal fold was 3.6) PS My friend with the healthy baby after odds of 1:16 of DS had a nuchal fold of 4.2!

I had my NT scan yesterday, and while it was great to see the bab waving and moving, I'm now all scared. The NT measurement was 2.6, which while still 'normal' is on the high side of normal. (S)he did have a nasal bone, however. Still waiting for the blood test results to give me the risk factor. I do hope I don't have to have CVS, as it will be over the xmas break, and no doubt mildly chaotic at the hospital. Not ideal.

Now I've seen the baby in such detail, I feel so much closer to him/her, and the thought of something going wrong is even worse than before.

I had NT of 3.3 but normal bloods, giving combined risk of 1 in 200 - cut off for referral for further testing is 1:250.

I am 38 so age is also a factor with me.

CVS gave all clear - now 33 weeks pg.

I thoroughly recommend having the CVS - I found it very reassuring. Mine was done at UCH by the Professor of Fetal Medicine and went very smoothly. He is an expert and has a miscarriage rate of 1:700, which is pretty impressive.

The nuchal measurement had actually gone down to 2.5 (within normal range ) by the time I had the CVS - it can literally vary from day to day and also can vary according to who measures it.

I have read that scientists are currently developing diagnostic blood tests - as opposed to tests that screen for markers (like the bloods and nuchal). I think these sound absolutely brilliant and will give so much peace of mind to so many women.

I am under Miss Henson at the Whittington but was referred to UCH - I guess they must have been busy.

Big fan of the Whit - not the most glamorous hospital on the planet but the staff are great.

Hi, just to add that I had my CVS on Monday (a little daunting as my placenta is posteria high and they weren't sure if it was too risky to pass the needle towards the back of my uterus!) Dr doing the procedure had originally asked if the trainee sitting in on the CVS could perform it. Only if it's straight forward, said I I wasn't overkeen as this really is my last chance, I'm not twenty something!! Anyway, fortunately it was hard to access so the main, experienced Dr did it. That was on Monday and heard today (Wed) that the initial test results are clear for the main chromosome disorders. Having had one Trisomy 21 pregnancy (&termination) I was terrified that this was history repeating itself and how challenging that would be. So, am over the moon that so far so good, though full karyotype result may still show a problem. The thing is, that until you have the new baby in your arms, nothing's guaranteed. So, I'm celebrating anyway, Merry Christmas!

I had CVS done in Sheffield and am due to have it done in Leeds in just over a week. Didn’t have any problems a bit of bruising on my tummy i know an earlier post said not to have it on 11 weeks but my consultants in both Sheffield and Leeds advise to have it done on 11 weeks usually needs to be 11-13 weeks. Leeds do quite a lot of them according to my consultant they have large maternity units in both hospitals

I found out from the that the baby had Downs and the genetic condition Myotonic Dystrophy- this second CVS was worse felt ill after then had a TFMR coz my little boy is unlikely to have made it full term or survive outside the womb - they tested me then see if this Downs was genetic which thankfully it wasn't did they not test you?