PS: blood results

Just for completion: At 13 weeks 6 days

Free beta hCG was 27.05 IU/l equivalent to 0.780 MoM (versus 0.91 MoM)

PAPP-A was 5.588 IU/l equivalent to 1.054 MoM (versus 1.06 MoM)

From what I understand there only is a higher risk of Down’s syndrome when the hCG is much higher and the PAPP-A much lower than the average. These values are very close to the average so no worries here.

Nuchal scan results

No, I haven’t got my NHS results back. It normally takes 7 days and it’s been 14 days now and I can’t reach anyone to let me know where my results are. I got really worried that the blood results are lost and the test couldn’t be repeated because I would be beyond 14 weeks then. So I decided to have the test repeated privately, also because at the private clinic they not only measure the nuchal fold but look for the absence of a nasal bone and if there is fluid in the heart. Both are strong indicators for Down’s syndrome. It was definitely worth spending the money. The doctor took almost an hour to look at my baby from all angles and showed me the developing brain, the nice and straight spine, we counted toes and fingers and saw the heart, the stomach and the bladder and what will eventually develop into male reproductive organs. ITS A BOY!!!! 8 cm at present. I always thought I wanted a girl but I am thrilled but realize I have no suitable boy names, not one. Please send suggestion.

Anyway, there is a nasal bone present and no leakage between the heart valves which lowered the risk from 1:60 (for age 41) to 1:1200. That was as much of an improvement as the doctor’s software allowed (it cuts of at a 20 fold improvement). The blood results come in on Friday and are likely to be absolutely fine. I am so relieved and now look for ward to the rest of my pregnancy.

If you can afford the luxury of a private scan here is a good clinic in Oxfordshire http://www.beardmillclinic.com/

nuchal scan

Last week, at 12 weeks, 1 day I went in for my nuchal scan at the JR. The NHS is now paying for it. I loved it! It was just so wonderful to see that little (5.8 cm) baby, fully formed with fingers and nose and everything. It was kicking and throwing its arms around and looked so active and alive and real. I am still overwhelmed and none of the photos they give you do this little wonder any justice.

The nuchal translucency scan was 1.6 mm which I believe is well in the range of normal. At 12 weeks I read it is normal to have nuchal measurements up to 2.2 mm. I am now waiting for the combined results (with blood results)  to come in. Fingers crossed.

My next scan is at 20 weeks. What a long time to wait to see my baby again.

10 weeks 5 days, first midwife appointment

Feeling less sick now and I am not as tired in the evenings anymore. The worst bit was really between 6 and 10 weeks with a few days of “rest” in between where I didn’t feel anything. 

First midwife appointment last week. I met her in the Wantage hospital maternity unit. Very cute little place. It was all a bit rush rush because there was a woman downstairs ready to give birth. We could hear her groan and scream. I said to the midwife that she could cut our appointment short any time if she wanted to go downstairs and tend to her. “No”, she said, shrugging her shoulders, “She’s not ready yet.” Big scream from downstairs. A woman comes in the room and asks for something. “Oh, this is whatever-her-name-was. She comes here to support teenage moms.”  I said “That must be really scary for her, being a teenager”. “She knows what she’s doing.” said the midwife “It’s her second.”

It did frighten me, all that screaming.

Anyway, I now have a 1/2 meter pile of stuff to read at home. Most of it has to do with things happening much later in the pregnancy. I don’t want to think about where I will give birth right now. All I want to think of is whether I should have an amniocentesis or not. I don’t think I could face having a disabled child all by myself.  Being a single mum will be hard enough as it is.  My nuchal scan (now paid for by the NHS in Oxford) is scheduled for the 29th. I’ll be 12 weeks by then. It will take a few days to get the results back. But any result will only spell out a probability of having a child with Down’s syndrome. It’s not a yes or no answer. The midwife just told me that even when the probability is quite low it can still happen. She just had a woman giving birth to a Down’s baby and her probability was 1:350.  I wonder if she now wishes she had an amnio? At least she would have been better prepared. But the amnio carries a 1% risk of miscarriage. I am not good at maths but certainly in that case the chances of loosing a healthy baby through miscarriage by amnio is more likely than  carrying a Down’s baby to full term.  But even so, is the impact the same? Is it worse if you lose a healthy baby or live with a disabled child? Who can possible answer such a question?