MSE Pregnancy Club III

emma-uk

Had my dating scan this morning!! I thought I was 12 + 3 but measurements put me at 13 + 2 with an EDD of April 21st!!:j Had a student do the scan which was great as we had to get baby to move (picture me lying on the bed jiggly my belly!!) It work but the little !!!!!! would not stay still!!! Was able to get my pictures free as the midwife was really pleased how the scan went and the issues I presented the students with lol!!!! Next one Dec 9th where we hope to also find out the sex if the baby manages to stay still for 2 minutes!!!!

astroming

MrsTine wrote: »

I think the usual set of tests are free... like HIV, Hep b&c etc etc - Guess Dh and I need to talk about the nuchal fold scan thingy... £180 is a lot but that doesn't worry me - Technically I'm not considered in an "at risk" group as I'm only 28 (will be 29 when Bean arrives) so I guess it's a matter of putting my mind to rest more than anything... I've obviously done a lot of thinking and I have to say that if it WAS a downs baby I don't think I'd want to bring it into the world... I know that not everyone agrees with that but I had a severely mentally disabled aunt and I couldn't put a child through that or myself and my husband let alone any future children. I know several downs children and I just wouldn't feel it was right to knowingly bring a downs child into the world - but I know it's very much a personal choice... so... should we have the £180 test bearing in mind we're not in the at risk group? ARGH! decisions!

I just thought i would put my two pennies worth in.

When i went for my dating scan at the hospital i was 11 weeks and 3 days, the midwife said i would have the triple test for downs etc at 16 weeks, but, if i could afford it, she recommended having a private nuchal scan with the combined blood test (im 28). She gave me a list of places in my area and then i sat down with my husband that night and we discussed whether to have it or not.

Combined with the info we had off the midwife that the NHS blood test itself was unreliable and knowing that actually looking at the baby on screen and being able to tell from the presence/lack of nasal bone and fluid measurements etc that it would be a lot more detailed and a more reliable result we opted for it. Bare in mind that a nuchal scan can only be done between 11 and 13 weeks so if you wait for the 16 week free blood test and you get a high result you wont be able to then have the nuchal to verify.

So we made an appointment for the following week and off we went. I'm not sure if im allowed to say on here where i went (advertising etc) but i have to say it was the best £175 we have ever spent. The sonagrapher explained everything to us in great detail, then i lay on the bed while she used the doppler and then i looked up and on a huge flat screen tv above me was my baby! She went through the fluid measurements (which were fine) she checked for the presence of the nasal bone and it was there, then she spent ages showing us different things like its spine, its bladder, its heart, showing us different cross sections of the baby etc, i just couldnt stop smiling, it was such a wonderful experience, there was no rush with anything and she gave us so many photos of the baby in different poses (it was a little jumping bean!). Anyway, she then did the blood tests while she waited for the computer to analyse the scan results, (which were fantastic) she said the blood would be sent off to a clinic in Harley Street at the end of the day and she would phone me the following afternoon with the results to then give me the total combined score.

I went to the loo and when i came back she said that she and my husband had been chatting about the sex of the baby and that if we wanted to know she would tell us. I thought that she meant she could guess by the photos she had printed out or something but when we said yes we would like to know she told me to get back on the bed and she did another scan! It was like saying hello for the 3rd time!

I thought it was a boy with my rubbish female intuition and the fact that i hadnt been poorly at all but she told us she was 99% sure that it was a little girl and so Poppy it is.

We got such a good result from the nuchal scan itself, and when she phoned me the next day as prompt as she said she would she told me the score and it was extremely low we felt very reassured. The whole experience was utterly amazing, we felt such a bond with the baby and seeing that she was okay and finding out the sex was a huge bonus.

Im rambling but i guess what im trying to say it that obviously i know that some people will not get a good result and will have to consider that, and perhaps what to then do afterwards but for us seeing the baby on screen again, having more photos, the reassurances that come with a good score, the whole experience of private care and finding out the sex made it such a huge experience that i would have it again with another baby and have recommended it to everyone in the same position.

Interestly enough, the sonagrapher also told us that in the next 5 years it should be available to all women on the NHS and not just women over 35 or those that live in the right borough (my friend had it included in her 12 dating scan in Warrington) which i think is wonderful (although i think part of our lovely experience was down it being a private scan because it felt like we had all the time in the world and the extra photos, flat screen tv etc, it was the little details too.

If you can afford it, go for it, it will be such a lovely experience for you and your partner and also, seeing your baby again is fab, for me we just dont get enough scans!!!!!

We are considering going back to the same place and paying for the 4D scan which we can bring our parents too aswell.

Hope this helps.

xxx

astroming

snuffilin wrote: »

Hi Astroming (and everyone else)!

I am a daily lurker but will try to make an effort to post more.

Nice to se someone else on here with the same due date!! Mine is a compromise between what the Dr said (16th) and the dating scan (14th) but from what I hear babies come when they are ready regardless:rotfl: . Just hope we can avoid Fri 13th:eek:.

How are you feeling? I am almost ashamed to say that I am feeling absolutely fine and have been so far. I really do feel for everyone on here who are struggling though.

When did you find out you are having a girl? I am dying to know but have to wait until my 20 week scan and even then I suppose it depends on how cooperative baba is feeling . I think it is a girl but could be wrong.

I am planning to work until end of Feb as I want to have as much (paid) time off after the birth as possible and try and stretch it until we can move abroad end of 2009 beginning of 2010:T . I do have a deskjob though where I can take breaks when it suits me so it shouldn't be a problem unless I have problems later on.

Anyway, sorry for rambling on. This goes to show I should be posting more often:o .

Hugs to everyone who need them and congrats to all the new mums!!

Snuffi

Oh my god, i didnt even realise there was a Friday 13th that week! Cripes, i actually hope mine stays in a bit longer anyway (although im sure i wont be saying this towards the end!!) just so its an April baby, my husband keeps saying that there is already far too many birthdays for relatives that month so the longer i can keep her in the better ha ha.

Im feeling absolutely fine, ive had no sickness, just tiredness in the beginning and weird little things like not knowing what to eat because everything tastes a bit funny and a few headaches etc. I know that ive been incredibly lucky and if i hadnt off had the scans i wouldnt know that there was anything going on!

I found out that im expecting a girl as we went for a Nuchal scan (see my previous post) and the sonagrapher had a look for us and told us she was 99% sure it was a girl, we shall of course we seeking verification at the 20 week scan (in two weeks hurrah) as my family all call her Poppy already and if it does turn out to be a boy we would all be in for a big shock!

Good luck with your scan, i shall post on here and let you know how mine went to we can share!

xxxx

Krystaltips

lunastar your baby and mine seem to be carnivores... I crave BK bacon double cheeseburgers most of the time... Don't fancy eating anything else... However, due to the fact I daren't leave the house let alone go to town I've only had 1 on the way to our honeymoon lol... I had a bit of a crisp thing a couple of weeks ago but the salt made my tongue sore and it put me right off them... I'm reaching a point where I'm either feeling sick or feeling starving and don't fancy any of the food in the fridge or cupboards... I'm not normally a picky person when it comes to food!!

Oh and to add to the scan debate, we get the 12w and the 20w but no nuchal fold... We get offered the blood tests at about 16w I think... I'm pretty low risk though, was 29 yesterday, had the blood test with DD because I wanted my moneys worth out of the maternity services... Will probaby do the same this time but doubt I will fork out for a private NF scan... If all it is is a quick measurement of the back of the baby's neck, I don't understand why it's not a standard check on the dating scan though!

astroming

redmel1621 wrote: »

Hi

I am due on the 12th March so only a couple of days behind you. I am also 29 and this will be my third, I have two boys already!!!
I really think with maternity leave it depends on what kind of job you do, as some have already said they do desk jobs or work from home so can work longer than someone like me who is stood for 9hrs a day!! Although I don't do 5 days, I do 2/3 I am in agony with my back, legs and feet by the time I get home the pain is immense some days.
I am thinking of starting my maternity leave on the 7th Jan 9wks before due date, as I am also hoping to get the baby's room sorted after Christmas and I need to get well ahead with my studies before the baby arrives. I am having 9mths off and tagging 2 wks hols onto the end so I will return 28th October.....

Good Luck with the pregnancy.

Mel x

I work in an office so i am sat down most of the day, however i do have a big commute, 15 min walk to train station, train to Manchester and then the free shuttle that drops you off, so that combined with me getting bigger, the cold weather setting in and it being such a long day from leaving the house at 7:30 and not getting in til 7:00 at night goes someway towards making my mind up too............

Just think how exciting it will be over Christmas knowing that we only have a few more days until the working life is over! I think im only going to have the 9 months actual maternity too, i dont know how im going to cope going down to just statutory pay nevermind earming nothing for the last 3 months.

Me thinks its going to be me that wins the 100million rollover on the lottery this weekend, now wouldnt that make life interesting!

I could afford one of those gold plated dummies they sell in America!

x

3 post in a row, blimey, i think thats me done for the day!

feelinggood_2

Wow, does that fact it four of us due in two days? (20th + 21st April)

How accurate are dating scans? I've no idea what date of conception was or when last period was, so they just went of the measurements.

Krystaltips

I think dating scans are more accurate than measurements because all baby's grow at the same rate up to a certain point...

I didn't have periods before DD so had to rely on the dating scan, her due date was 12th March... I went into labour that night and she was born 13th March... I'd say that was pretty accurate lol

feelinggood_2

Krystaltips wrote: »

I think dating scans are more accurate than measurements because all baby's grow at the same rate up to a certain point...

I didn't have periods before DD so had to rely on the dating scan, her due date was 12th March... I went into labour that night and she was born 13th March... I'd say that was pretty accurate lol

They've plotted the two measurements on a chart, but for some reason, the first one is slightly under average. Why would they do that, when they don't know how pregnant I am! Hes a little over average now, he is growing at a phenomenal rate.

I can't believe the postcode lottery with screening. I got the fold test and blood tests despite only being 21.

astonsmummy

Hi all!
Gosh hallo to all the newbies, hugs for anyone who's down/ill/upset etc.
I've been really poorly, have had a migrane for 2 days
Only just in the last 2 hours managed to move without feeling like my head was gonna explode and me eye was gonna pop out :eek:
I've also finally eaten for the firt time since yesterday morning.
Babys Dad was good last night, he gave Aston dinner a bath and put him to bed, and he even read him a story! I think he's trying to make a big effort coz he knows he has been the biggest bastage to me in the last couple of months, he's gone home now thank fluck, I can only deal with him in small doeses at the moment coz he just angers me.
Saying that we are going out tommorrow to finally but the bairn something together, I want to get his 'coming home outfit'
I've already got a set of monitors which I bought off ebay, it's one of the camera ones, it's old - black and white but it only cost me £13 plus no delivery as the seller lives down the road, what a touch!

MrsTinks

Feeling it's possible that it's free in your area and also that due to the medication you are/were on they wanted to check to keep an eye out for extra problems that might be a result of the meds.

They do seem to play it safe if they are in any doubt.

Had a quick chat with hubby on msn and we're going to see if anywhere does it cheaper round here and if not we'll pay for the Nuchal Fold scan at the JR...