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CVS: The Rapid Result.

Posted on by Claire

Wednesday 18th January: The Rapid Result came back.

I was laid on the sofa with the quilt, again, running through every single scenario possible. We were told that we’d get the rapid result back within 3 working days, and that an FMU midwife would call after 5pm. We anticipated that we’d get the phone call on Friday 20th January. My mobile started ringing at around 5pm. The number was ‘BLOCKED’. I knew it had to be them. I sat myself up and prepared myself.

The FMU midwife asked me to confirm my name and date of birth and then said the words we’d only hoped for, the results were NORMAL. That meant that there were no abnormalities with regards to Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome or Pateau Syndrome.

I rang my partner first and we both cried. I then rang my parents and close family – then my best friend. We all could breathe a sign of relief and relax, a little bit, until the final report came through…

This was the most agonising 2 week wait of our entire lives.

MM.

Referral to UCLH for the CVS procedure.

Posted on by Claire

Tuesday 17th January 2012: Appointment at UCLH for detailed scan and CVS procedure.

With barely a wink of sleep between us, we arrived at the Fetal Medicine Unit at 9am for our 9:15am appointment. We were taken a for full scan which lasted around 45 minutes. There were two specialists and a FMU Midwife present, along with a student who was observing. The specialist doctor who was performing the scan said that there was a lack of nasal bone visibility, which also carried through as a ‘soft marker’.

We were taken into a family room where we could discuss our options… and we were then joined by an FMU Midwife who went through the basic pro’s and con’s of the procedure and the impending results that would follow.

I signed the consent forms and was taken back through to the specialist room where the procedure would take place.

The doctor and an additional Midwife scrubbed up and I was given two injections of local anaesthetic directly into my tummy, on the left hand side. The injections were the easy bit…

After around 5 minutes the anaesthetic had taken hold and the doctor proceeded to take the first of the placenta samples, while the FMU midwife constantly scanned my tummy. The procedure was uncomfortable and felt like tugging. I winced quite a fair bit and squeezed on my partners hand so tightly! I just kept looking at him and both he and all the staff present reassured me throughout. I felt in safe hands, with the best in the business!

The second biopsy was taken and I breathed a sigh of relief. The FMU midwife showed us our precious little babbit on the screen again to reassure us of his movements again.

I was then taken, slowly, into a recovery ward where one of the FMU midwife’s who had been present joined us to explain that that procedure had collected two successful samples that would be sent away asap. We were to get the ‘rapid result’ back within 3 days. The rapid result checks for Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome and Pateau Syndrome. The rest of the results would follow in around 3 weeks with a detailed report on rarer chromosomal abnormalities.

After recovering for a further 25 minutes or so, we were free to go home. My partner took me home and I tried to sleep on the sofa all day. I was exceptionally emotional and quite sore. I was advised that I may have period-type pains, some bleeding and soreness for a few days. I could not help but run over every single result and scenario in my head… and again, barely slept a wink that night.

MM.

 

MASSIVE catch up! The 12 week scan and what followed…

Posted on by Claire

I can only apologise for not writing on this blog more frequently. But when you read my following posts (to come!) you’ll completely understand why it’s been a difficult couple of weeks.

I’m going to be magic and go back in time and catch up on EVERYTHING that has happened since the beginning of January. Circumstances have occurred since our 12 week scan that we hadn’t even read/heard about, nevermind had the time to contemplate. BUT, we’re through the other side now and, certain that everything will continue on the successful streak that we’re currently embarking on!

So let’s go back to the beginning then…

Monday 16th January 2012: 8:45am – The 12 Week Scan.

We eagerly waited to be called into the Scanning room  at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, with a overly full bladder (ouch!). We were briefed by a Midwife regarding the 12 week optional screening… we had already agreed between us that we wanted to go ahead with the screening. The screening that day would include a blood test and further look at several measurements of our little babbit during the scan.

We were beyond surprised to see how big our little babbit was! He was so lively too – bouncing all over, waving and dancing!

During the scan the sonographer looks at the nuchal fold and gives a measurement based on the visible fluid.  Also known as the Nuchal Translucency measurement, this screening looks at the thickness of soft tissues at the nape of neck of the foetus. It was revealed that the Nuchal Translucency measurement for us, was on the cusp of the borderline between normal and ‘high’. The result measured at 3.5 mm. This is the actual borderline. We just couldn’t believe it. Albeit, it wasn’t as high as some peoples’ measurements that we’d heard of – some as high as 10 mm.

From then on, we were whisked off to a counselling room where another Midwife briefed us on our options.

We decided that we wanted further investigation and while I was having bloods taken, a referred to the Fetal Medicine Unit at University College London Hospital (UCLH) was set up . Because of the sensitivity of time, the referral was organised for the very next day. The appointment at UCLH would include a detailed scan, councelling and the invasive Chronic Villus Sampling (CVS) procedure based on the results of the scan and our consent. CVS would be able to tell us if there were any genetic/chromosomal abnormalities.

 

Here is our precious little babbit – aged 12+3 weeks. Due date measured as 27th July 2012 – the day the Olympics begin!

We went straight back to work following the scan and revelations. I spoke to my boss, who was beyond understanding. He agreed to giving me the rest of the week off owing the invasive nature of CVS and the risks attached (2% risk of miscarrying).

Once we got home, we looked online to try and fathom what actually happens after CVS and other peoples’ experiences. We found lots of forum posts and blog posts on CVS and the procedure, but failed to find details on what happened post-CVS, the results and what it means. Hence, why these following blog posts are going to be a little bit more detailed than my usual posts. We just wanted to share our experience with everyone!

MM.

 

 

 

Welcome to the world: Blue Ivy Carter.

Posted on by Claire

So today the world woke up to the news that the very lovely Beyonce and husband, Jay-Z had given birth to a healthy baby daughter – of which they had named ‘Ivy Blue Carter’.

Since the initial reports, I’m seeing articles across Twitter saying that their new born is infact named Blue Ivy Carter.

I think I prefer it the other way around. What do you guys think?

Obviously, cannot wait to see the first pictures of what will only be an incredibly beautiful baby!

MM.

PART TWO: Cramping, Spotting and an emergency ultrasound scan.

Posted on by Claire

We have GOOD NEWS!!

We went for the second scan at the Early Pregnancy Unit today – just under two weeks since my first scan. (You can read what happened during our first scan, here: PART ONE: Cramping, Spotting and an emergency ultrasound scan.). We were so anxious for the re-scan, for obvious reasons. But the Sonographer was able to find the baby straight away, with a very very healthy  and strong heartbeat. My DP immediately had tears. I however, was just so relieved – I can’t even tell you. The heartbeat was this absolutely mesmerising flickering movement within the sac.

I was measured at around 7-8 weeks. Which by my dates works out right – infact according to my dates I’m 8 weeks +0 today.

So so happy!!

We just can’t wait until the 12 week scan now – to get more of a look at our developing baby!

MM.

 [EDIT – I also wanted to add that I have not had any further spotting or cramps since Week 6].

PART ONE: Cramping, Spotting and an emergency ultrasound scan.

Posted on by Claire

So I have a few things to talk about since my last post. I had some cramping, that initially started mild. The type of pains you have when you feel AF just around the corner. Then on 30th November the cramping was getting much worse and was lasting around 5 minutes. The cramping was really low down, almost at my pubic bone. I googled the cramping and found that is was completely normal! PHEW! It’s just all your muscles stretching.

But then yesterday I went to the loo at around10:30am at work. I noticed a TINY amount of brown spotting. But the spotting mixed with my cramps (and still not knowing when my first Midwife appointment will be!) made me call the doctors. My doctor gave me a telephone appointment and referred me to the EPU (Early Pregnancy Unit) at Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford.

I was told to arrive at my 10:30am appointment with a relatively full bladder. We arrived at the hospital early, at 10:05am with the full bladder.  Time ticked on and I was eventually seen at 12noon! Needless to say I thought I was going to pass out with the pain of having to wait all that time with said full bladder. I had emptied my bladder, slightly, to relieve the pain, FOUR times whilst waiting to be seen. When I went in for the scan, I was told I was ‘too full’ for a normal scan and so had to empty my bladder completely (really pleased I sat there in agony for all that time and didn’t need to be!) and a Transvaginal Ultrasound Scan was used instead. The scan was uncomfortable, but wasn’t painful.

Unfortunately, the news we had this morning wasn’t good. The Sonographer was able to locate a small sac (dating me at 6 weeks) but could not find a heartbeat. We were told that it could either be too early to find the heartbeat or it could have been because my bladder was so full its altered the scanning capabilites. I have to go back for a further scan on Friday 15th December. We’re feeling really really hopeful. And I just have to make sure that my bladder is not as full next time!

Fingers crossed for us!

MM.