Less than 12 weeks pregnant club! 2

ikkle87

Zcrat everyone has blood tests hun and when you see your midwife you need to take a urine sample each time.

Blood tests check for your blood group, iron count, syphilis, HIV, rubella, rhesus factor etc. You can also have a blood test if you are having the nuchal folds scan which is to test for Downs syndrome. ( I don't know what those tests are like as I didn't have them)

savageHK

zcrat - yes, at the first booking in appointment they do about 8 tests on you - if I remember right mine were:
* blood type (to check if you are Rhesus + or -, and probably just in case you need blood in an emergency as well)
* if you are immune to Rubella
* several things which meant nothing to me but I presume checking if iron levels are OK and whether or not you have an infection (amongst others!)
* sickle cell anemia and something else also genetic (this they may or may not offer, not sure why I got offered as it's rare unless you are certain ethnic origin)

At the scan, if you have the initial Down's screening, it may be a 'combined' test where they measure the back of the baby's neck and take blood to check something; then they combine these two into an overall probability.

savageHK

ikkle87 wrote: »

You can also have a blood test if you are having the nuchal folds scan which is to test for Downs syndrome. ( I don't know what those tests are like as I didn't have them)

It was just another tube of blood (!) and at the scan itself getting a measurement of the back of the baby's neck. It took quite a while for baby to co-operate with that - it didn't want to move into the correct position!

Rups32

do the do the nuchal test at the 12 week or at the scan after?

Rups32

oh ok. wow. lots of tests. which is good i suppose. i am still counting till i get my scan letter. how does everyone manage to wait sooo long???

ikkle87

savageHK wrote: »

It was just another tube of blood (!) and at the scan itself getting a measurement of the back of the baby's neck. It took quite a while for baby to co-operate with that - it didn't want to move into the correct position!

Yeah I knew it was a blood test and checking the nuchal folds at the back of the neck, just wasn't sure what exactly the blood tests tested. We declined those screenings as I wouldn't have had an amnio or CVS so it seemed silly to have half a test. Everyone is different though and I understand some people like to know so that if there is a problem they can prepare themselves.

My baby doesn't like co-operating for anything lol, he's stubborn. The first scan everytime she tried to measure him he curled up and the second time everytime she tried to measure his nose and lips he covered his face with his hands like he was playing peek a boo, in fact the only thing he seemed to want to flash was his willy lol.

savageHK

ikkle87 wrote: »

We declined those screenings as I wouldn't have had an amnio or CVS so it seemed silly to have half a test.

Yes, I won't have the amnio or CVS either, but decided I'd like to know my chances so if they are bad we can prepare at least partly, and possibly let the family know that there's a high chance.

ikkle87

moneypenny21 wrote: »

The baby sounds amazing - was that at the 20 week scan? Ours was hitting itself on the head! It was really cute if not a bit daft (obviously takes after it's Dad! :rotfl:).

Yep 20 week scan and it was really good, I've got another scan in 6 weeks and I can't wait to see how different he is then either The early scans are strange because you can see the baby moving but you can't feel it, sometimes at the 20 week scan you can see the baby move and feel it too

ikkle87

savageHK wrote: »

Yes, I won't have the amnio or CVS either, but decided I'd like to know my chances so if they are bad we can prepare at least partly, and possibly let the family know that there's a high chance.

Yeah, I understand that totally. I'm a worrier and I knew if there was anything slightly higher than average I would worry even more and I've had a few problems already this pregnancy that have stressed me out so I'm glad we made that decision now.

I think it's different for everyone, I know there is a lady on here who had a problem with a previous pregnancy which meant she lost the baby so for her the tests this time were beneficial as they put her mind at ease and she could not worry as much. So for some it has it's benefits and can prepare people or put their minds at ease and for some it can just cause stress and worry which can have it's own effects on the pregnancy and baby.

Rups32

ahh ikkle that sounds so so cute. esp when you can see them moving and playing about. ahh i sooo want to just see mine like that. and it will happen.

no idea of scan yet moneypenny. still waiting for letter for date. saw the MW on Sunday gone, so waiting and waiting as usual... i hate waiting.. hope these 3 weeks fly by!