Pregnancy

jazyblu · Jan 7, 2021

Tui said:
Baby will be a little blobby peanut and you may be able to see heartbeat, but if you don’t it could just be too early to see it yet xx

I find antenatal care really patchy! I work in the NHS so understand there are frequent admin issues and oversights but it does seem a bit of a Wild West and relies a lot on the mum to chase things up.

Yeah, the NHS is great for critical and emergency care but routine care has generally been lacking in my experience with it. Which is a pity.

Even the general scan experience, I get it is a medical diagnostic tool but understandably most women are also excited to see their baby on the screen but the woman just sat in front of me so I couldn't see anything, and when I tried to lean to peer around her arm to catch a peek she shouted that I needed to stay still.
I'm glad I was able to do a private scan not long before so I felt like I got the nicer experience there.

elloelloello · Jan 7, 2021

Kitt said:
Morning all, got my rescan on Wednesday 13th. I’ll be 6 weeks and 3 days. Do we think I’ll be able to see baby then? And a heartbeat?

Glad you got your scan date for next week!

When I had my daughter a few years ago I got scanned around 6.2 weeks and there was no fetal pole visible, but try not to let that worry you, it’s still early so if you can’t see it don’t panic!

I got scanned again at 12 weeks and there she was partying in my tummy x

WhatABore · Jan 7, 2021

jazyblu said:
Just had a midwife call at 7:50, she kept saying 'I think I've rang you early' and and was like uh yeah I'm still in bed. Turns out she meant the appointment was apparently wrong for some reason so asked how are you getting on with the pregnancy and rescheduled for 4 weeks later. and hung up a minute later. So pointless.
Not having great luck with care so far, my first scan was arranged before in early December but I wasn't sent a letter or informed in any way so I completely missed it!

I was never sent a letter for my glucose test. Luckily I had logged on to the online notes thing and saw it listed there!
I also had a phone call the day before to say "just a reminder that your appointment tomorrow is over the phone"
I said Um? Sorry?
She asked what the confusion was. I said well it's my glucose test...how is it over the phone?
She just went "Oh, nevermind. Yes it's in person"
And put the phone down

CrimeJunkie · Jan 7, 2021

Kitt said:
Morning all, got my rescan on Wednesday 13th. I’ll be 6 weeks and 3 days. Do we think I’ll be able to see baby then? And a heartbeat?

I had an early scan at 6 weeks 2 days and you could see the sack and a tiny tiny blob that was the baby! It was an internal scan which I think is a bit clearer when you are very early in your pregnancy. I was able to see the heartbeat but it’s really common not to be able to see it at that stage so if you don’t, it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong x

Vivian124 · Jan 7, 2021

Kitt said:
Morning all, got my rescan on Wednesday 13th. I’ll be 6 weeks and 3 days. Do we think I’ll be able to see baby then? And a heartbeat?

My scan at 7 wks was a little blob and heartbeat

Chickenandgravy · Jan 7, 2021

Kitt said:
Morning all, got my rescan on Wednesday 13th. I’ll be 6 weeks and 3 days. Do we think I’ll be able to see baby then? And a heartbeat?

Ive put my pic of a scan at 6+3 I think. I couldn't see a heartbeat till I was over 7 weeks so don't worry if you don't either.

Sw4 · Jan 7, 2021

jazyblu said:
Yeah, the NHS is great for critical and emergency care but routine care has generally been lacking in my experience with it. Which is a pity.

Even the general scan experience, I get it is a medical diagnostic tool but understandably most women are also excited to see their baby on the screen but the woman just sat in front of me so I couldn't see anything, and when I tried to lean to peer around her arm to catch a peek she shouted that I needed to stay still.
I'm glad I was able to do a private scan not long before so I felt like I got the nicer experience there.

Yeah totally agree. In some ways I feel I went a bit overboard with private scans as I went for a package which included 2 scans and the harmony test. But the experience was amazing, they really took the time to show me each and every view of the developing organs, blood flow, heartbeat, took measurements multiple times to ensure it was correct and explained as they went along.

Whereas my NHS experience was very similar to yours and I think if this was the only scan I'd had I'd still be feeling very anxious as I didn't see much and she basically said nothing about it except 'yeah nothing to comment on really, things look ok' . I get the NHS is so overwhelmed and underfunded but having a good bedside manner doesn't cost anything!

jazyblu · Jan 7, 2021

Sw4 said:
Yeah totally agree. In some ways I feel I went a bit overboard with private scans as I went for a package which included 2 scans and the harmony test. But the experience was amazing, they really took the time to show me each and every view of the developing organs, blood flow, heartbeat, took measurements multiple times to ensure it was correct and explained as they went along.

Whereas my NHS experience was very similar to yours and I think if this was the only scan I'd had I'd still be feeling very anxious as I didn't see much and she basically said nothing about it except 'yeah nothing to comment on really, things look ok' . I get the NHS is so overwhelmed and underfunded but having a good bedside manner doesn't cost anything!

Like I totally get the point of the scan is medical first and foremost but jesus, let a girl have a peek at her baby! There was a screen but behind my head so the only thing I had to look at was the computer the scanner was using and it was hard work to sneak a look. She was making out like I was a naughty school kid for wanting to look!

My husband had to wait 3 floors down and I could only call him when I was in the room and when I tried to ring him she kept shouting lie down first, call once we have started. Like no, I want him here for support, that is the point of allowing partners at the 12 and 20 week scan. I don't really want to do half the scan without him because I will still be alone if something bad is detected.

Gem2212 · Jan 7, 2021

My 20 week NHS scan was brilliant, they have a tv on the wall so we could both see everything and she talked us through everything she was looking at. We were in for around 30 mins and got a couple of pictures to take home x

Tui · Jan 7, 2021

My NHS scans were great, long waits for both (very nearly wet myself waiting over an hour for 12 weeks scan with a full bladder) but can’t fault the sonographers I had.

Jg182 · Jan 7, 2021

Hbirdette said:
Hello lovely I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this, my babies nuchal food came back at 4.5mm and we were told there was a 1 in 100 chance of baby having Down’s syndrome. Within about 10 mins of being told this they started mentioning terminations etc. Broke our hearts. Anyway, we were able to get a NIPT (aka harmony test) via the nhs so it was about £300 I believe because the thought of an amniocentesis freaked me out incase it caused a miscarriage. I appreciate not everyone is in a position to be able to do this though which is really frustrating. Anyway, results came back as 1 in 10000 so basically the baby was the lowest risk possible for downs. Had to have a scan at 16 weeks to check all his organs etc and everything came back perfect. Please try to stay positive and I hope you get the answers you want as I can so relate, the wait is absolutely agonising. Pls message me if you wanna chat or have any more questions xxx

Hey Thankyou for your reply.
we had The call this morning to say chance of Down syndrome is 1 in 4. So have decided to go straight to the invasive testing to find out for definite. Luckily it’s gonna be tommorow so we don’t have to wait to long, then get back results in 3 days. I don’t think our chances are looking too postive at the moment.

Hbirdette · Jan 7, 2021

Jg182 said:
Hey Thankyou for your reply.
we had The call this morning to say chance of Down syndrome is 1 in 4. So have decided to go straight to the invasive testing to find out for definite. Luckily it’s gonna be tommorow so we don’t have to wait to long, then get back results in 3 days. I don’t think our chances are looking too postive at the moment.

Really really thinking of you at this difficult time I totally get why you would go for that procedure straight away. How are the doctors being with you? I hope they have told you about a charity called ARC which I spoke to a few times and they are really helpful. I am mutual friends with a fetal medical consultant and she said there’s a lot of women who get given this result and it can come back as totally fine. I know it’s not always the case but it can be sometimes. Please remember that the tests you’ve had so far are only about 70% accurate (this is what I was told by my consultant) whereas you will get much more accurate results from the other test. I’ll keep you in my thoughts

Jg182 · Jan 7, 2021

Hbirdette said:
Really really thinking of you at this difficult time I totally get why you would go for that procedure straight away. How are the doctors being with you? I hope they have told you about a charity called ARC which I spoke to a few times and they are really helpful. I am mutual friends with a fetal medical consultant and she said there’s a lot of women who get given this result and it can come back as totally fine. I know it’s not always the case but it can be sometimes. Please remember that the tests you’ve had so far are only about 70% accurate (this is what I was told by my consultant) whereas you will get much more accurate results from the other test. I’ll keep you in my thoughts

Thankyou. Tbh so far they have just suggested I think about my options if this test was to come back postive. I feel like they are preparing me for the worse.
I do worry if these come back negative to what other problems they might find.
my heads just a mess tbh. I don’t know what to think really.

Hbirdette · Jan 7, 2021

Jg182 said:
Thankyou. Tbh so far they have just suggested I think about my options if this test was to come back postive. I feel like they are preparing me for the worse.
I do worry if these come back negative to what other problems they might find.
my heads just a mess tbh. I don’t know what to think really.

We found that they had to prepare us for the worst, I guess only because if we found out something bad later down the line we could hold them responsible for not telling us... not sure if that’s how I want to word it but hopefully you know what I mean. It’s really difficult cause I remember no matter what people said to me whilst I was waiting for the results, nothing helped at all. I think the fact that your emotions tend to be all over the place when pregnant too probably doesn’t help. Just take each stage 1 step at a time... I hope tomorrow goes ok for you and I hope your partner is able to come with you. I’m not sure where you are based but the staff were very accommodating despite all the covid crap going on in regards to letting my partner be at extra scans etc. I would tell you to try and keep busy this weekend whilst waiting for results, but all I wanted to do was lie in bed and cry for the whole week I’ll be thinking of you x

Octopies · Jan 7, 2021

Hi lovely people just wondering if anyone can help settle my nerves.

I’m 28 weeks, FTM, baby was very unplanned but a happy surprise. My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly 7 years. We are very close. I keep getting jittery / panicky about how this is going to change our relationship. I really treasure our alone time and I know we won’t really have any again. I’m scared, if I’m honest, that we’ll grow apart! If anyone wants to share the positive ways in which having a baby changed their relationship I would be so grateful... feels like from the minute you get pregnant people love to tell you how crap your life’s gonna be...

WhatABore · Jan 8, 2021

Octopies said:
Hi lovely people just wondering if anyone can help settle my nerves.

I’m 28 weeks, FTM, baby was very unplanned but a happy surprise. My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly 7 years. We are very close. I keep getting jittery / panicky about how this is going to change our relationship. I really treasure our alone time and I know we won’t really have any again. I’m scared, if I’m honest, that we’ll grow apart! If anyone wants to share the positive ways in which having a baby changed their relationship I would be so grateful... feels like from the minute you get pregnant people love to tell you how crap your life’s gonna be...

I think this a lot of people's worries!
If anything, having children has brought me and my partner closer together because we have learnt to work as a team and it makes you value that time you do have by yourself as a couple! It also makes you look forward to that alone time too!
I can't say I know many, if any people that have grown apart because of a child.

Ignore what people tell you! I have never understood why people who already have children insist on trying to scare those who don't!

HoneyBee29 · Jan 8, 2021

Has anyone been to window to the womb for a scan? I’m currently 29 weeks and we where meant to have a 4D scan done next Friday as we thought everything else we can do to celebrate etc has had to be cancelled so this would be nice to do and got an email yesterday to say we have to change it to a different scan as because of the covid restrictions etc here they aren’t doing them atm so we’ve changed to a growth scan bit gutted tbh but it is what it is

WhatABore said:
Just going to rant a little

So Christmas eve, I phoned the GP because I thought I may have a UTI. She didn't do a urine test but put me on antibiotics anyway.
They appeared to have worked but not until the last day of them when I finally had no pain, that was the 31st.
Called today because the pain returned 2 days ago, was awake all night last night with it.
She said bring in a urine sample and it should be back by Friday.
So I go in instantly to get it, take it back straight away, to be told their currier left hours ago and the results won't be back until Monday.
The receptionist then says "If it is a UTI, I wouldn't advise leaving it that long"

I phoned the number they give you to call on your maternity packs, and she says they can't do anything only the GPs.

So basically I'm left in pain, until Monday at the earliest with a possible UTI

I’ve had similar UTI pain throughout my pregnancy on/off and thought it was a UTI as I would have had them on/off pre pregnancy regularly. I had urine tests done and they came back clear every time, turned out to be pressure from my uterus growing, also if the baby is lying on your bladder it can feel similar. Had that happen a few times as well. They shouldn’t be giving antibiotics without testing a sample first

Tui · Jan 8, 2021

HoneyBee29 said:
Has anyone been to window to the womb for a scan? I’m currently 29 weeks and we where meant to have a 4D scan done next Friday as we thought everything else we can do to celebrate etc has had to be cancelled so this would be nice to do and got an email yesterday to say we have to change it to a different scan as because of the covid restrictions etc here they aren’t doing them atm so we’ve changed to a growth scan bit gutted tbh but it is what it is

I’ve had similar UTI pain throughout my pregnancy on/off and thought it was a UTI as I would have had them on/off pre pregnancy regularly. I had urine tests done and they came back clear every time, turned out to be pressure from my uterus growing, also if the baby is lying on your bladder it can feel similar. Had that happen a few times as well. They shouldn’t be giving antibiotics without testing a sample first

They’re only allowed to do “medically necessary” scans e.g early scans, growth scans, scans for bleeding etc. I had a scan there in the first lockdown and they weren’t doing 4D scans for this reason.

HoneyBee29 · Jan 8, 2021

Tui said:
They’re only allowed to do “medically necessary” scans e.g early scans, growth scans, scans for bleeding etc. I had a scan there in the first lockdown and they weren’t doing 4D scans for this reason.

Yea up until yesterday they where doing all scans where I’m from. Cause our regulations only came in last night I’m from Northern Ireland

Octopies · Jan 8, 2021

Tui said:
They’re only allowed to do “medically necessary” scans e.g early scans, growth scans, scans for bleeding etc. I had a scan there in the first lockdown and they weren’t doing 4D scans for this reason.

Our 4D scan at WTTW is still going ahead on 17th Jan. in the north of England.

We got an email saying we couldn’t be guaranteed a re scan if the pictures were poor due to covid. Fine. Basically we just have to tick a box to say we’re there for ‘medical reasons’ / reassurance. But the package itself remains the same.

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