Pregnancy #64

[indeedjoy]

Thank you to everyone who said to get checked. I ended up in hospital on a ward for a few saysv

I’ve told the people I work closest to at work, the teams I manage. But, in terms of my organisation I am ‘high profile’ and the thought of having to send out some sort of email or something going ‘yes, that’s right, I’m knocked up!’ Gives me the ick. I’m sure people will either be happy for me or not particularly bothered but I just don’t like the attention. I’ve also fallen pregnant earlier in my time in the job than I thought I would so it feels like I only just got here and now I’m off….

I feel the same as you I’ve only told a few direct reports who it will affect when I am on maternity and one of the board members I report to but then when anyone else knows I feel very always awkward

Struggling as I’ve been in hospital for a few days and now work have said I must rest and no emails etc which is very unusual for me so I feel all out of sorts

I was crying when I was told I can’t work this week but I’m blaming the morphine

 

[calabazarock]

This is me generally and always has been I have to say, slap a blood pressure monitor on me and away it goes I've had the most deranged readings all throughout my twenties and thirties, thankfully most doctors are super experienced and relaxed about it but I've struck fear into a few dramatic nurses and Boots pharmacists with my mad readings so my pregnancies were always fun in that department.
I've definitely got white coat syndrome and need get a grip but something just takes over the moment the cuff goes on, like you during the appointments my BP just naturally starts to lower but it's very frustrating I've ended up on 24hr ambulatory monitors and ECGs all fine, I don't pay much mind to it all now tbh.

Same. Have a bp monitor at home and all readings are good.

 

[Cucumber and eggs]

Baby cucumber made an early and quick appearance last Thursday! I went into late prem labour (36 weeks) and had a beautiful baby boy. He has spent a few days in SCBU but we get to bring him home tomorrow! I can't wait!

 

[HankMcPrank]

I added my scan yesterday,
Chat GBT suggests boy. Maybe too early for nub but impatient

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

Quadruple test results came back low for Down’s which was expected as we had a private NIPT which gave us some pretty decent probabilities of the various things it tested for. Of course, MrDragName is being weird and because both tests use different probability ranges (with the NHS test using much smaller ratios so it therefore looks ‘more likely’) he is freaking out and I’ve had to explain to him a million times that they’re two different tests that do different things and my NIPT test was analysed in America so it was even processed in different countries. He cannot seem to understand this at all.

Sometimes I would quite like to exclude MrDragName from stuff because he fails to understand and doesn’t listen and his obsession with the screening tests did start to irritate me, but it is his child too! My view on the screening was I wanted it done and I was really upset with the NT scan and combined test couldn’t be done on the NHS because I just wanted access to information. Which is why we went private. Whilst I’m aware some of the things screening can start to detect the probability of have very poor prognosis and you may not even carry a baby to term, when it came to other conditions I was not sure it was going to change what was going to happen in my mind. I’m not sure MrDragName was quite in the same place as me and whilst he isn’t a bad guy in the slightest, at one point he was being so ‘I just want to hold off on anything till the screening comes back’ that I had to point out how disablist he was coming across and how we needed to be bonding with our baby regardless of what the screening said. I’m worried we’re off back down that road now he knows about the quadruple result and I’m not up for that.

Going to the midwife tomorrow ‘should’ help but she is the person who told me in a phone call that NIPT was diagnostic when it quite clearly isn’t, so I don’t hold out much hope for an explanation that satisfies him. I only had the quadruple test to avoid having ‘refused’ on my notes. Wish I hadn’t bothered now!

 

[clmay]

Quadruple test results came back low for Down’s which was expected as we had a private NIPT which gave us some pretty decent probabilities of the various things it tested for. Of course, MrDragName is being weird and because both tests use different probability ranges (with the NHS test using much smaller ratios so it therefore looks ‘more likely’) he is freaking out and I’ve had to explain to him a million times that they’re two different tests that do different things and my NIPT test was analysed in America so it was even processed in different countries. He cannot seem to understand this at all.

Sometimes I would quite like to exclude MrDragName from stuff because he fails to understand and doesn’t listen and his obsession with the screening tests did start to irritate me, but it is his child too! My view on the screening was I wanted it done and I was really upset with the NT scan and combined test couldn’t be done on the NHS because I just wanted access to information. Which is why we went private. Whilst I’m aware some of the things screening can start to detect the probability of have very poor prognosis and you may not even carry a baby to term, when it came to other conditions I was not sure it was going to change what was going to happen in my mind. I’m not sure MrDragName was quite in the same place as me and whilst he isn’t a bad guy in the slightest, at one point he was being so ‘I just want to hold off on anything till the screening comes back’ that I had to point out how disablist he was coming across and how we needed to be bonding with our baby regardless of what the screening said. I’m worried we’re off back down that road now he knows about the quadruple result and I’m not up for that.

Going to the midwife tomorrow ‘should’ help but she is the person who told me in a phone call that NIPT was diagnostic when it quite clearly isn’t, so I don’t hold out much hope for an explanation that satisfies him. I only had the quadruple test to avoid having ‘refused’ on my notes. Wish I hadn’t bothered now!

I just told my husband it was low risk and didn’t give him any more info. I had first baby at 36 and due second at 39. My low risk on this pregnancy is far worse odds than my first pregnancy- albeit still low risk. I’m guessing that age plays a big factor in the risk level that they provide!

 

[indeedjoy]

I just told my husband it was low risk and didn’t give him any more info. I had first baby at 36 and due second at 39. My low risk on this pregnancy is far worse odds than my first pregnancy- albeit still low risk. I’m guessing that age plays a big factor in the risk level that they provide!

Same, they used to have a higher number e.g 1/50000 for downs which had been reduced so it sometimes seems a higher risk when it comes back now like 1/5000 and it’s low ?

 

[MissP]

MiniP#2 made a surprise arrival at 4.30am after my waters going waterfall movie style at 1am. 9lb 7oz so no wonder my spine gave up at 36 weeks he is lush though 🩵🩵🩵

 

[clmay]

Same, they used to have a higher number e.g 1/50000 for downs which had been reduced so it sometimes seems a higher risk when it comes back now like 1/5000 and it’s low ?

Mine is 1/3300 this time and it’s low!

 

[Elisha97]

I am so sad I was last on this thread (well last thread) voting 27-32 weeks pregnant and now I have a baby that’s almost 4 months old already

we’re thinking about having another eventually (absolutely not yet) and my anxious mind has thrown out a question for the second time around c section mums..

does your c section scar numbness stop you feeling baby movements? I had an anterior placenta and I always felt my baby move where I’m completely numb (externally) now, and I’m now wondering if it’ll cause me extra anxiety because I’ll feel even less movement in the future.

i used to get terrible periods and my 2 post baby have been extremely heavy but 0 pain at all which I think might be because the nerves are ruined I used to literally be bed bound but these periods actually took me by surprise!

 

[Spencerskates]

I am so sad I was last on this thread (well last thread) voting 27-32 weeks pregnant and now I have a baby that’s almost 4 months old already

we’re thinking about having another eventually (absolutely not yet) and my anxious mind has thrown out a question for the second time around c section mums..

does your c section scar numbness stop you feeling baby movements? I had an anterior placenta and I always felt my baby move where I’m completely numb (externally) now, and I’m now wondering if it’ll cause me extra anxiety because I’ll feel even less movement in the future.

i used to get terrible periods and my 2 post baby have been extremely heavy but 0 pain at all which I think might be because the nerves are ruined I used to literally be bed bound but these periods actually took me by surprise!

Anterior placenta, c-section just under two years after baby number two is due to arrive and I can very much still feel (and see!) movements. It did take a little longer than in my first pregnancy, but I don’t think the scar numbness affected it - it’s not even something I considered to be fair!

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I just told my husband it was low risk and didn’t give him any more info. I had first baby at 36 and due second at 39. My low risk on this pregnancy is far worse odds than my first pregnancy- albeit still low risk. I’m guessing that age plays a big factor in the risk level that they provide!

This is what I should have done. I am a fool! He finally did his own googling and is satisfied.

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

Same, they used to have a higher number e.g 1/50000 for downs which had been reduced so it sometimes seems a higher risk when it comes back now like 1/5000 and it’s low ?

Mine came back looking much ‘worse’ but it was the standalone quadruple not the NT scan and screening? So mine says 1/260 but low. But my NIPT was like 1/13,000 so I’m sticking to that.

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

Mine is 1/3300 this time and it’s low!

Mine was 1/260 and low but it was the quadruple which seems to have a scoring range all of its own? Who the heck knows. I wish I hadn’t had the stupid test now.

 

[Elisha97]

Anterior placenta, c-section just under two years after baby number two is due to arrive and I can very much still feel (and see!) movements. It did take a little longer than in my first pregnancy, but I don’t think the scar numbness affected it - it’s not even something I considered to be fair!

that’s really interesting- thank you!

i know, my anxious brain comes up with all sorts of weird thoughts did your c section/ scarring affect this pregnancy at all?

 

[clmay]

Mine was 1/260 and low but it was the quadruple which seems to have a scoring range all of its own? Who the heck knows. I wish I hadn’t had the stupid test now.

I know what you mean. Particularly if it wouldn’t make a difference either way then almost what’s the point. Just unnecessary worry

 

[calabazarock]

I think it depends a lot on the person. Some are good with just being high/mid/low risk and others need numbers. The latter does require studying the topic and having some foundation on science to be able to come up with ones own conclusions.
What I'm not a fan of is on partners or others inflicting MORE ANXIETY to the expectant mother.

 

[Vmanxx]

I’m due TOMORROW! And I’m suddenly nervous despite it being no4 I’m guessing we won’t have an appearance until Sunday at the earliest though, probably more like this time next week

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I think it depends a lot on the person. Some are good with just being high/mid/low risk and others need numbers. The latter does require studying the topic and having some foundation on science to be able to come up with ones own conclusions.
What I'm not a fan of is on partners or others inflicting MORE ANXIETY to the expectant mother.

He doesn’t mean to and I feel a bit bad because he doesn’t normally open up about anything in the world and the one time he was really upfront about his worries for the screening and I got a bit upset because we were just in different places. It is harder for him though because I’m carrying the baby and we’re living together so I suppose I feel more bonded than MrDragName does through no fault of his own. I worked with children and then adults with additional needs at the start of my career so I suppose I’ve had more interaction with it than my husband, who has never worked in anything remotely like that ever, so whilst my wish is for our baby to be completely healthy, alternatives to that don’t maybe scare me as much as they do him, if that even makes sense.

 

[littlepup]

Re testing -

Spoiler: TW Background risk of Down’s syndrome in late 30s and beyond

The background risk of a baby with Down’s syndrome at 37 is 1/250, at 40 it’s 1/100, 42 1/70 and so on. So without any tests at all that would be your rate.

The test then takes into account other factors to give your overall score.
A 20 year old woman would have a background chance of 1/1500. So, and to simplify, a 20yro who’s given 1/350 after the test would have shown more markers (but still low) from the actual test than a 42 year old with a chance of 1/350 by the time it’s adjusted for the background risk.
I hope that makes sense.
I also think it sounds less concerning when you look at it as a % rather than an ‘out of’ figure. 1/20 would be 5%, 1/350 just 0.0028.

@Elisha97 I found a lot of the numbness was gone by the time I had a second baby but I felt them move months earlier and felt no different overall to the first time. My second scar runs from the same start point as the first overlapping for about 1cm and finishes about 6mm above it at the other end. The nerves affected/numbness is a bit different but it didn’t seem as though the first scar affected anything in pregnancy or recovery for the second.