Pregnancy After Miscarriage Part VI....Share your worries and knicker checking stories here...

[SparkyMalarky]

Will this do?

Missy brilliant news!! Really really pleased for you - you can relax for a day or two now!!

Hello everyone - thought I'd check in after many weeks absence.

Scanning down the last few pages, it's been a mixed news week. So sorry to those who have had bad news - I know from experience how hard it is. It's taken us four goes to get this far, so don't lose hope.

Things have been fairly eventful since I last posted. Having had a private anomaly scan at 15 weeks, which found everything to be fine, I finally started to relax and enjoy it, and was really looking forward to the 20 week scan. Unfortunately, it turned into a gigantic trauma.

The baby (a boy) was alive and kicking and all measurements were within normal ranges, but the sonographer noticed that he has bilateral talipes (both feet turned in). In most cases that is all that is wrong, but it is linked to chromosomal abnormalities, so I had to go back the next day for a scan with a fetal medicine consultant. At that point I was a little upset, but realised that, in the grand scheme of things, there are far worse things. Unfortunately at the second scan, the consultant spotted three other "soft" markers associated with chromosome problems, and gave a 1 in 10 risk.

I hadn't had a nuchal scan or the triple test, because after all the miscarriages, didn't want to risk the invasive tests, particulary as I wouldn't terminate the pregnancy just because of Downs. So after all that, to be given such bad odds was devestating.

After much agonising, we decided that we needed to know one way or the other so we could prepare ourselves, and I had the amnio. That was over two weeks ago now, and all the results have come back clear, and there is no sign of any problems caused by the amnio. So huge sighs of relief all round.

Now I can relax over Christmas until the next scan at 24 weeks just before New Year (the consultant has now got all worried about blood clotting issues, so I've been referred for growth scans every 4 weeks - the fun never ends).

Anyway, delighted to see that so many of the familiar names are hanging on in here. Hope you all have a lovely Christmas, and a baby-filled new year!

Hi all - haven't been on for ages - work so busy pre-Christmas, but I've really missed hearing everyone's news.

lizzie, glimmer and sausage - so for what you're going through - look after yourselves.

Great news on everyone's good scans. Flossie - what a rollercoaster! Glad you've had some reassurance and are being so well monitored.

joyful - I know exactly what you mean about being punished - and actually I really need some advice/reassurance today. I'm 26 weeks today, and for the first time this pg I have a tiny bit of pale brown spotting. Baby is moving around (can't find my doppler right now, but I guess moving is a good enough sign!) but I can't help panicking. Could growth and lots of movement have dislodged a little old blood?

Should I just wait and see? It really is only a tiny bit of brown tinged cm. How bad should I wait for it to be before I heave myself down to A&E?

I've been so full-on at work, and eating far too much cake and chocolate the last couple of weeks, too, and now I'm racked with guilt that all the sugar and stress have upset Bo...

Help [anxious emoticon]

Lots of people seem to bleed either on and off thruoughtout pg, daisy, so it may be absolutely fine. Why don't you ring your midwife to check tho? They will either explain, or get you in to check? Its so scary all the time - I have some discharge sometimes, and when I feel it I end up rushing to the loo to check in case its bolld. But from hanging around here on this and lots of other threads, I think its pretty common.

But check it out for your mental health!

Flossie sorry to hear about your difficult time - after all this, to get potentially bad news is awful, so no wonder you were upset. Congrats on a boy by the way!

One of my NCT couples had a boy a few days early on Mon (think they were due Fri)and brought him to meet the group at the pub on Thu - how cool is that!! I was really cross that I missed it so am gonna try and hound them, mostly cos they had a hb with just gas and air and I want inspiration!

Hi everyone.

Quick post as have so much to do in RL and so little time . DH is home (hurrah!!) and has gone to do supermarket shop - I feel so spoilt.

flossie I'm so glad you posted, I've been thinking about you and wondering how things were. We're due nearly at same time and are also on our 4th attempt so similarities. Can't believe how much you've had to cope with though - I'm so glad chromosomes came back clear and there was no effect after amnio. Talipes are treatable aren't they? Have they said what they'll do? 4wkly scans will make the next 18wks fly by. Then you'll have your lovely baby boy in your arms

daisy try not to panic too much about the blood, brown=old which is normally nothing too much to worry about. I remember having a brown discharge monthly with DD but that was pre mc and didn't think too much into it. This time however I freaked even though I'd had a reassuring scan a couple of days before. Went to day care and had a vaginal examination by a Dr who diagnosed cervical erosion which apparently is quite common and as pg progresses the area kind of comes out a bit (not very technical but I've a head full of mince pies!). Mixed in with normal pg discharge it can look worse than it is. Definately mention it to your MW though.

Baby movements are an excellent indication everything will be fine.

missy excellent news!!

dan I've decided not to tell you anything about my DD's birth cos am wishing you lots of uncomplicated labour and delivery vibes. DD was back to back with me and a complete pain (literally ) to get out!! So this time I'm going to make sure I'm on hands and knees loads a few weeks before due date and am not going to exhaust myself walking around a flippin garden show 4 days overdue which left me knackered and just wanting to lie on my back and sleep. Are you trying a home birth? It's so exciting there'll be a baby soon.

so much for quick post

Thanks dan and scotlass - just got back from hospital - called labour unit and they said I should come in, just to be sure. All seems fine. They can't tell where the bleeding is from, but they took a long time examining me and listening to baby's hb, and were really lovely, so I feel much better. Thanks so much for replying - it made me feel more confident about calling and 'making a fuss'!

Oh, and dan and everyone else who replied the other week, I've booked antenatal classes with a local independent midwife, starting early Jan - cheaper than NCT, and she sounds lovely and comes recommended. Really looking forward to it - it sounded as though you had such a positive experience, I didn't want DH and I to miss out.

x

sausage, lizzie, glimmer thinking of all of you who have had bad news this week, my last 2 mcs were just before christmas, I wish I could have known then that this christmas would bring a happier situation but of course you can't know what's to come, just hang on and hope for better things in the future

daisyj think they should have an 'anxious' icon face

Glad everyone else doing well, scares aside, and ready for Christmas. ds2 vomited all over me just before I was due to go on works night out last night so spent the evening looking after him instead. Actually not too sorry to have a chance to lie on the sofa. Unfortunately he is still ill today which is ds1s bday so dh has taken him out to all the planned activities today. Hope he is better for party tomorrow. Otherwise all well here, belly growing daily. Will have to limit my choc consumption over Christmas or will be like giant haystacks. Eventually asked my new consultant (who seems very good) about clotting screen done prepregnancy in June (by someone else), turns out bottle unfilled so no result available. Have had it repeated this week, just assuming antiphospholipid abs will be negative and keep taking the aspirin in the meantime...

Daisy - glad to hear everything is OK. I keep telling myself that all this worrying is good practice for being a parent.

Scotlass - thank you for remembering me. I'm due on 20 April, so very close to you!

Talipes is very treatable - either with physiotherapy, casts/splints or, in severe cases, surgery. We just have to wait until he is born to see how severe it is and what the treatment will be. It's not great - who wants to have to watch their newborn go through surgery, or to have their legs in casts and have to take them to hopsital once a week to have the casts changed. On other hand, apparently Steven Gerrard had it, and it hasn't done his physical development any harm! In most cases it is resolved by the time the baby is ready to walk.

Educational section over!

daisy I'm so pleased you went in & glad baby is okay

Flossie congratulations on your little boy! I'm sorry you've had a stressful time, my niece had bilateral positional talipes (SIL had low fluid levels) - she's 7 now & no sign of it at all. The only treatment she has was stretching exercises.

Was very sick last night - in bed - and had the additional indignity of wetting myself due to excessive retching Had to change all the bedding. Scan tomorrow.

Had a meeting with the registrar, whose told me that although they are fine with VBAC they want to constantly monitor me so my desired water birth seems to be less likely.
Got an assessment with supervising midwife.
looks like I've got battle ahead of me

Good news Missy & Daisy

Wow Flossie that all sounds very stressfull. Hope you can a least enjoy seeing baby on the scans

acqua we can all hold your hand thru the battles! One of the great things we were told at the classes was to constantly ask BRAVE questions - B for what are the benefits of this; R for what are the risks to this and the opposite; A for what would the laternatives to this be. Um, we have forgoten the rest but I thought those 3 were really good. So you can be persistent abut how they do the constant monitoring.

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. The only way I could get through this last week until the scan today was by trying to think about things as little as possible.

Anyway - it was the scan this morning and bad news. I knew the pregnancy was over as have had very heavy bleeding with lots of clots etc, and was actually hoping the sac was out, but unfortunately not. it has grown from 11mm to 20 mm and is therefore classed again as a missed miscarriage as despite the bleeding it doesn't seem to be coming out. I therfore have to make a decision (I was supposed to ring them back by now but can't decide what to do.) I could have an ERPC tomorrow, but I am petrifed about the anaesthetic and procedure. Or I could have medical management again (that went wrong last time and ended up with me being admitted as an emergency.) Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Medical management would also mean I could be bleeding on and off (quite restricting with clots etc being passed) over xmas, and would ruin our plans as we were going away on the 28th). I wish I had the courage for the ERPC tomorrow. Has anyone had one on here? Was it okay?
Sausagex

Oh sausage. I'm so sorry. How awful, and just before Christmas.

I've had two ERPCs, and they were fine. Takes about 15 minutes, under general anaesthetic, and they let you go home about an hour after that. I was quite grateful for the fact it was all over and done with. You'll feel empty and numb for a while, but I would recommend it.

In my news, I've just got the downs test results back - 1:99 chance of Cromwell having downs. But as the CVS carries a 1:100 risk of miscarriage, and we're not sure we'd terminate anyway, I think we're going to turn down further testing, even though we're 'high risk'...

Sausage I'm so sorry
I didn't have an ERPC, but I did have general anaesthetic for a minor procedure once and it was just fine. there are no guarantees with anything of course, but if I were you I'd likely vote for the ERPC as it would be the quickest way to move forward. {{{hugs}}} for you and good luck with whatever you decide.

I'm very worried this morning - I've just been to the bathroom and have very light pink CM up near my cervix. DH and I had sex last night, which we haven't been doing much of lately, so I'm really hoping it's just a slightly irritated cervix but I can't help but remember last time. I didn't have any spotting throughout the entire pg until the mc started Of course my mind is running wild and I'm convinced I don't have any symptoms.

Sorry to continue the bad news but I had scan this morning as had slight bleeding yesterday and they coudn't fnd a heartbeat. I should be 8+2 but only measuring 5 weeks so another MMC for me I'm absolutely devastated as had been feeling so so sick and this was reassuring me.

Booked in for ERPC on 5th January (yes 2 bloody weeks away) so hoping it all comes away naturally like last time but praying its not on Christmas Day .

Its just shit isn't it.

bluesatinsash I am so, so sorry to hear your news. My heart goes out to you. I'll be thinking of you, and fingers crossed for us both for next time. I was prepared for it this time as have been bleeding on and off for 2 weeks, so it's easier for me. You'll get through this somehow though, and they'll be light at the end somewhere, even if it's hard to see now.

Try and take it easy. I know what you mean about not wanting it to happen on Christmas day. I've just confirmed the ERPC for tomorrow afternoon. Am so scared, but at least it will all be over. Are your hosipital incredibly busy? It is a long time to wait, particularly if you've got all the pregnancy symptoms still.

Take care,

lastboxoftampons - It does sound like irritation after sex, which apparently is quite common. Could you give your midwife a quick ring just to hear her opinion?

Thanks for the positive op accounts herb and lastbox. I've decided to go for it and I'm sure it will be fine. It's not until the afternoon tomorrow now though. More time to worry.

herb - It's difficult making decisions about tests isn't it. You're right - you have to think about what you'd do with the results and if you wouldn't do anything anyway there's no point doing the test. Sometimes it seems life would be easier without all the options.

So sorry to hear more sad news on here.
Sausage I had an ERPC in July. No problems at all and over v quick which I found a relief in all the circumstances. Also, if it helps and I have no idea where this came from - I've got a feeling it was from a midwife via a friend - after an EPRC you are quite "fertile". I'm not sure if that is the right word. Perhaps "ripe" would suit and a lot of women find themselves pg again quickly. As indeed I did! I was pg within 6 weeks. Thinking of you.

sausage i havent been on here very much and just came on quickly to see how is everyone - very sorry to hear your news. i think you did the right thing with choosing with erpc tomorrow - i did it the day after i found out my mmc at 10 weeks - it went very smoothly. general anasthetic isn't scary - you just feel a bit dozy and before you know it they are waking you up again. like herby says it takes about 10-15 mins - so it's all over very quickly. and they gave me tea and sandwiches 1/2 after, waited for me to have a wee, then i was allowed home after 1.5 hours. i did bleed like a normal period about 5 days after, and a word of warning - i was pretty crampy the first night, but like a bad period - nothing a few ibuprofen wouldn't get rid of. but it's different for everyone. the positive is that you wont be waiting forever for it all to happen naturally, and at least it is some closure for you to move on. be kind to yourself. i found the mental recovery much tougher than the physical. big hugs to you.

same to bluesatinsash - i am so very sorry that you and sausage are going through what you are right now. sending you big hugs too. it's really not fair.

aqua and dan agree - have to hold firm with what you want after all it's your body and you should have some kind of choice of birth method. good luck! i am in total denial so wont think about birth until the new year yeah!

bluesatinsash I'm so sorry 2 weeks to wait for an ERPC is absolutely awful & what a totally shit time to have it hanging over you.

sausage, I'm sorry too I've had two ERPCs & despire being terrified of the GA they were fine - very quick & the physical recovery was okay. I conceived on the cycle following the ERPC both times (my ds & this baby).

Take care both of you xx I'm so sorry this has happened

lastbox, it probably is from sex - I've spotted a few times afterwards.

Scan today was okay, growing fine according to the consultant, I have a long wait now until my 20 week which isn't until the 16th of January (I'll be 21 weeks)

hi sorry havent posted for a while, so sorry to everyone who is having crap time, bssash so sorry and sausage life is just so rubbish and unfair, sending big hugsxxxxxxxxxxxx

i had more scans last week, following bleed and am fine but just wonder will i ever relax? hi to everyone. the unit said no sex until after 20 week scan so that pleased my hubbie ha ha!xx

Bluesatinsash I'm so so sorry. Please take care of yourself. I'll be thinking about you.

Sausage good luck with the ERPC. I'm glad you were able to come to a decision.

Thanks joyful and congratulations on your scan.

maz poor DH