12 to 24 week pregnancy thread

katchambers

hi everyone :j
I'm new to this thread and I am 19 weeks tomorrow. Just wanted to say hi, lots of good info and advice and chat here so I will probably stick around for a bit.

How's everyone feeling?

I've been experiencing round ligament pain for the last week, it really sucks!! Anyone else?

Kat x

Blue_Monkey

Hi WW, gosh I'm sorry to hear you've had this news. Easier said than done but try not to stress hun, and see what the consultant says on Friday... Nothing to lose by having the bloods done again. If he understands the timings hopefully he can help speed these up?? I understand about the amnio, so fingers crossed the other results come back quickly and ok. And ignore the pushy woman - I sometimes think because stuff like this is around them every day they forget it's real people with real emotions they are dealing with, grrr.

Take it easy chickie, lots of hugs to you and your OH xxx

Wonder_Womble

Thanks BM. My head is just all over the place. I'm ok about having a child with Down's, but there are obviously some concerns in relation to health issues etc. But as my mam said none of us are guaranteed a healthy child, whether they have a diagnosed disability or not. It's just the risk is dramatically increased with a baby with Down's.

It's other little things that bother me which sound stupid, but my first question isn't going to be "Is it a boy or a girl?" It's now going to be "Does he have Down's?" and when you've had the baby and you see people you know for the first time they are all going to want to look in the pram and they are going to look at him and be surprised and uncomfortable and not know what to say, as if something is wrong with him, and that is going to upset me.

OH is coping far better than me with it, and says he isn't worried as he wouldn't feel any different and would rather have a baby with Down's than not have a baby, which I do too, but I think it is just the initial shock and my hormones. We both work with people with disabilities so we aren't naive about the everyday issues that they face.

I've got to stop thinking like this because it isn't as if I've been told that he definitely does, but it's going to be at the back of my mind for the next 5 months.

I read that blog a couple of weeks ago that you posted the link to, and I hunted it out again yesterday. It made me cry the first time I read it, but yesterday it had me in bits.

Anyhoo, glad you got to see the midwife yesterday and hear the baby's heartbeat

Blue_Monkey

I think I'd feel exactly the same (if that helps at all). I agree with your mam - we've all been given a 1 in X chance, and if we're that 1 it doesn't matter about the odds.

Try to work with what you do know at this point in time, not what might/could be. As you say, you haven't been told that it's definite yet. And speculating about the huge range of potential health issues is only going to get you down. I understand probably need to circulate all the what-ifs in your head to deal with them, but dwelling on them before you know if you need to is not a good use of your heart or energy hun.

And crikey yes, I imagine the hormones combined with the shock factor is also compounding things....

As for that blog, it had me sobbing too. But - and whether the blog provides a rose-tinted view or not I don't know - if you read more entries their family is perfect as it is and they come across like they wouldn't have it any other way.

Did you have the scan part of the NT test, or is that what the doctor/consultant will discuss tomorrow? Will you keep us posted, I'll be thinking of you xx

I tell you, it's ironic really that we shouldn't drink during pregnancy as there sure seem to be some times when a big glass of Pinot would do the trick.

Wonder_Womble

Thanks BM.

We didn't have the NT scan as our hospital doesn't do it so we are just going on the blood results

I'm keeping myself busy with chores today to try and take my mind off things until we know more.

pigpen

I was advised not to bother with the bloods alone without the nuchal scan because they are notoriously inaccurate and can be swayed massively by such a huge number of factors.. so I dont have any odds.. though.. looking at baby's nose on the scan.. all is fine

Blue_Monkey

Good plan WW, the phrase "Keep Calm & Carry On" is going through my head for you.

PS. I worked out that 1 in 31 as a percentage is 3.22% which I think sounds less daunting.

Wonder_Womble

It's odd the different advice people are given PP as I was told that the bloods were more accurate than the scan. Strange and worrying :eek:

BM my husband and sister worked out the percentage yesterday and it is a bit more reassuring when it is put at 3.2%

It's more the other bloods I'm worried about in case baby has Edward's Syndrome or Patau. But I saw my midwife today and she reassured me that just because we're high risk for Down's doesn't mean we will be high for the others.

Really hope we get some answers tomorrow. We're on hol from work next week and could do with some relaxation and us time.

I went shopping today and bought some more baby stuff and got my free changing bag from Boots

seafarers_wife

Can I ask is anyone having a problem eating? Im 16 weeks at the moment and am really struggling to eat, its weird cause i am hungry but when i make myself something to eat im physically having to force it down my throat and have gagged a few times on it.

Its mainly meat that im having the problem with, toast and cereal im ok with, but anything more than that and it turns my stomach. I fancy it at the time its being cooked, but when i go to eat it i just dont want it and am fed up wasting food

Blue_Monkey

WW - thinking of you today. If you fancy chatting afterwards, we're here for you....

SFW - I'm 18 weeks and have been over the MS since about 13 weeks (thank god), but have a random appetite. When I get hungry I get really really starving and practically inhale food. Then other times I think I'm a bit peckish and ready for dinner, yet when it's in front of me I just don't fancy it / can't really fit it in.... At the peak of my MS I just stuck to what I know I could stomach which was pretty much cereal & milk, Philadelphia on toast, cheese & cucumber sandwiches, jacket potatoes, apples, melons (all types). God knows how I got through those 7 weeks now, it was horrid. So I hope you feel better soon!