July 2009 buddies wanted!!

[honey08]

im hoping to get a babybond scan at 17wk cos they do gender scans at 16wk !!!!!
really looking forward to it,just need to get me dating scan and she little HB etc

 

[NikiJJones]

A friend of mine had a 4D scan done. I'm not sure I'll bother to be honest. I'm a bit like Lyns: more keen to know about baby's health. If all is well on Wed at my 7 week scan I'm going to get an 8 week one privately, and a 10 week one. I need the reassurance that my LO is doing OK in these early stages. I'll then want to check for Downs and other stuff if I can. I'll wait for the 20 weeks to find out sex I think.

 

[Lanyloo]

I'm not going to bother with a gender scan or finding out the sex. Hubby doesnt want to know and whilst I'm impatient, I think I'd rather wait. I'm having a few early scans for bleeding and my Dating Scan on 18th Dec then that should be it until 20 week scan. It seems so far away, I just pray I get that far!

Well I've had a slight bleed again this morning and whilst I'm trying not to worry because my cramps aren't any worse, I have really bad back ache. I've had back ache since 10 dpo and I'm wondering if its worse because I've been sat in an uncomfortable wooden chair at my desk all day and its bloody cold!

Anyway, have a good weekend everyone. I'm off to visit my family in Cumbria tonight and its my gorgeous Nephews christening tomorrow.

x

 

[honey08]

welll yeh the gender scan aint just that uknow,its to check the health aswell, n it aint 4d, think after worry of getting 8/9wk scan then 12scan i b glad to see baby proper on a babybond scan !! but of course im going to have everything checked,not just goin to know boy/girl !

 

[JJF]

I guess it all would depend on how expensive they are. I have a 3D pic from my son but it was earlier than they like to do them (I worked for an Ultrasound company so I had scans almost daily) so he looked more like a scarecrow (do you ladies know what that is?) TBH I think it would be a special keepsake but you get to meet the real thing not long after

 

[Sarah+]

I was under the impression that the 4D scan could just be done in place of the other scan sceduled for that visit? And that it could do all the same health checks too, just with a better pic? Does anyone know for sure? I suppose it depends on how scan-happy your dr is.

Also, from reading some threads on here, and other info, our little tickers (the one like mine below) don't seem to give accurate size measurements - they say the bubs are bigger than they actually are for their ages. If anyone knows of a more acccure one, let us know.

Bye xx

 

[Lyns]

Under "Important information" on the Babybond website it says this...

Our scans are designed to complement, not replace, any regular NHS antenatal scans and under no circumstances should they be seen as a substitute for advice from your own NHS healthcare professional adviser or any other scan offered to you by your NHS hospital or General Practitioner during your antenatal process.

The only way you can 'replace' a regular scan with a 4D one is get your NHS healthcare advisor to refer you for it.

There's a long raging debate....a bit like the "do mobile phones fry your brain?" one, as to whether scans are actually any good for your baby. There's no conclusive evidence either way really, as the true long term effect has to be measured over a longer period of times than ultrasound (or mobile phones for that matter), has been around. I personally won't have for for the nicety of it, as my baby's health is more important to me, just in case. I agree to the necessary ones as they can hopefully give more helpful indications than harmful exposure.

In my last pregnancy, I was scanned very regularly because of placenta problems, and then guess what.....my baby was born with cancer. No one knows how. If I find there is even the tiniest chance that it contributed, I would go the whole pregnancy without a scan.

 

[Elliebank]

Thanks Lyns, I'm sorry to hear about your baby, is he/she ok now? I've decided that I'm not going to get any extra scans done unless recommended by the midwife. I will talk to her about the downs one & see what she says, otherwise I'll just have the 2 given on the NHS, and hopefully not need anymore.

 

[TigerLady]

My OB likes to do scans. He apparently does them at every visit (with a small portable u/s). My first visit isn't until Jan 6 (about 10 weeks). I don't know how often the visits are after that. Should I be worried about too many u/s? A girl in my office goes to him and is about 5 months right now. She loves having the u/s so often, says it is good reassurance that baby is good.

Now I'm confused.

 

[Elliebank]

In the leaflet I got given about ultra sounds it said it was safe, and when I googled it I found this -

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4063209.stm

I'm gonna ask my midwife at my first appointment

 

[NikiJJones]

That is a worry what you mentioned Lyns. I didn't realise that Morgandie had regular scans. I guess no-one can give a confirmed answer that the scans weren't the cause. That must be hard.
It's made me wonder whether to have such obsessive scans as I have thought about over the next few weeks. They would be for my own selfish anxiety too, not purely out of concern for the baby. Mind you, my colleague had weekly scans on her daughter due to recurrent miscarriages, and she does seem to be OK, but you never know what the long term effects might be.
How are people feeling today? I am well and truely feeling sick ALL of the time now!! Can't complain as I wanted it!!!! (My DH keeps reminding me this in his best "nurse's" voice!) I went to Tescos and bought 5 packs of rice cakes and loads of chewing gum, and 3 types of lemon juice which I was craving. My basket was screaming "pregnant woman with MS!" !!!

 

[Lyns]

I think for me the point stated in the BBC article and all the others I have found....

"there is no evidence that scans are an issue for the baby"

But to me that isn't the same as saying there is clear evidence that a scan doesn't harm a baby. Its only 30 years ago that cigarette manufacturers were saying that there is no evidence that smoking causes cancer.....

Its personal preference but I guess I just look at it from a different angle than most.

For those that asked....thank you, my daughter is recovered now...she had a tough battle in her first year and underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and major surgery, but thankfully she's a fighter. Hopefully she'll stay that way.

I really don't want to put anyone off their scans....its just better, I think, to think through everything we do now, knowing the pro's and cons, 'cos I know we all have our babies best interests at heart

 

[shelleylu]

Hi girls,

Wow, can of worms opened on the thread. Lyns, I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through. It must have been very difficult, and Im so pleased everything is going ok for you all now. How old is your daughter? xxx

Niki - I too feel horrific most of the time. I am losing weight everyday which is a bit of a concern. I'd started weight watchers whilst TTC, so I am hoping its just my bodies way of continuing to shift the extra pounds. I put nearly a stone on in my 3 months I was PG last time, and this time Im losing it (in more ways than one lol) I am eating much less though. Barely had anything today. In the middle of cooking roast chicken, so hoping it smells nice enough to eat in a bit!!

How is everyone else doing? Bit of a miserable day here today. Started off with my son running into me at 8am telling me it had snowed, but only on our garden - bless him. He was right too oddly enough! Couldnt get back to sleep after that though

We went into B'ham for a reindeer/Santa/bag pipes parade thingy. Got very wet, but we had a nice time.

I've decided Im going to call the gynea lady I saw last wk and see if I can move my scan forward as the pain Ive been in this wknd with the cyst has been silly. Will let you all know what she says.

For now, thats all folks. Hope everyone has had a great weekend.

Christmas is nearly coming !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xxxxxxxx

 

[Lyns]

Hi girls,

Wow, can of worms opened on the thread. Lyns, I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through. It must have been very difficult, and Im so pleased everything is going ok for you all now. How old is your daughter? xxx

Thank Shelleylu....she's 20 months and the utter light of my universe, along with her Daddy and little brother or sister to be!

I don't think this is a bad can of worms? I think its good for us all to realise the different aspects and make informed decisions...as I know only to well how the early days of pregnancy can get us carried away. I certainly wouldn't look down on anyone getting excited about scans....needed or otherwise! I just think its important to realise that there is no evidence either way on these things....I'd hate to go into anything myself and then say afterwards...well if only I'd known that side of the story!

I think my point was more to try and make sure people covered what was medically needed first and then see if there's room for anything else. Like I said I was disappointed to find I didn't get nuchal fold transculency scanning....to me that is way more important than, for example, a gender scan. That of course may be completely different for a 20 yr old Mum who doesn't carry the risk factors us '30 um and a lot' yr old mum's do! Some first time mum2be's may not know to check what they do and don't get, and hopefully now they can ask.

Believe me, my daughter has an ultrasound every 3 months....it's to check there is no return of the tumour. I wouldn't dream of her not having it, but I wouldn't put her through it without good reason.

 

[shelleylu]

I dont think its a bad can of worms either Lyns.

You have gone through something awful, which thankfully, most or all of us wont ever go through, so you will be more aware of the complications most of us take for granted. You are able to pass on this information and we are then able to make informed decisions. I think writing about your experience and your opinion may just make a difference to someone else's in the future.

I havent even thought about the 4d scan (mainly because I saw a friends and it looked like an alien!) But, now I would seriously think about it in a different light. Thanks Lyns, and again, so pleased your daughter is much better x

 

[Saxogirl]

I don't think it's a bad can of worms either lyns - I know it's a scary time and lots of mothers want the constant reassurance that everything is ok and that there really is a baby in there etc etc but I don't think it's a bad idea for it to be thought through a little more! Am glad your little one is ok now - are you worried about the chances of it happening again or is it a one in a billion type thing? Either way I would imagine it must put a lot of our pregnancy moans on here into perspective.

Shellylu, I wouldn't worry too much about losing weight etc providing you aren't underweight etc as I have read in a lot of different places that some pregnancies / women put weight on in the 1st few months whilst others lose it - just the way things go!

 

[Lyns]

are you worried about the chances of it happening again or is it a one in a billion type thing? Either way I would imagine it must put a lot of our pregnancy moans on here into perspective.

!

It's the classic thing as above again really. there is no evidence to show a genetic link, and therefore the doctors are trying to reassure me there will be no problems but want to scan me regularly to make sure. You can inmagine the conundrum there for me as I want to avoid anything that felt that it could have been a risk first time round, but want things keeping an eye on!

I think the honest truth is no one can tell me 100%. Thankfully unlike some other tumours there isn't an obviously known risk. Morgandie had Neuroblastoma...a solid tumour in the abdomen, if it had been Retinoblastoma...another solid tumour in the eye area, her siblings would carry a 30-40% chance of getting it too.

I guess I'm mostly hopeful it will all be OK, but underneath, of course, I'm worried!

 

[Elliebank]

I'm glad yr daughter is ok now Lyns, sorry for what she and you & yr husband had to go through. I'm glad you brought up the possible danger of scans too, as I had no idea that there could be a risk. I know what you mean when you say there's no evidence to prove that they are ok. It's really made me think about it and I will definitely be asking my midwife a lot about the safety of them when considering having more scans

 

[TigerLady]

lyns! I'm glad your DD is doing well now.

Thanks for brining this up... it actually leads to another something to think about for me. OH and I are a little older (me 32, almost 33, he 38 ). Yesterday he mentioned he wanted ALL the tests done. I was a little surprised and said "You want me to have an amnio?" He didn't know what that was, so I explained how it worked and what it tested for. He said he wanted me to have it. Then I explained there is a slight risk of it causing a m/c (this is still true, right?). He still seemed like he really wanted to have it. TBH, I'm not sure.

So what does everyone think of an amnio (esp for older mothers/fathers where the risks are higher). And what about an amnio vs. a NT scan?

As for how today is, I'm feeling pretty good. My biggest complaint is bloating and being tired. Everytime I have a little ache/pinch/pull/whatever, my OH is very quick to remind me, too, that I wanted this so bad! He doesn't use a nurse's voice tho! LOL.

 

[honey08]

hiya all first of all i just wona say sry lyns for the trauma u went thro with ur little girl hun, and it has made me think twice bout the scans aswell, im guna av the early one at 8/9wk cos of previous mc,then 12wk n 20wk,these are nhs arent they ? then IF i feel like i need to,im guna av just the 2d scan at 17wks,but thinking im not guna now,i know all sorts cud of caused ur LO cancer hun,but it does make u wonder, sry again for wot u went thro

AFM, well 9days ago i did a clearblue conception indicator, and it said 2-3wk, i was worried bout doing the other one incase it said the same, if it did surley this wud mean the baby hadnt grown as my HCG levels wudnt of increased....but im plsed to say i did one this morning,it came up a lot faster than the last n it said 3+ both me n gary are feeling lot more relaxed now,still no MS, got sore boobs again and cramping today aswell, not much eles tho,im ok tho.....it will come and i b thinking i really hoped for this!
its snowed here today and last night infact, stepson seems to think his school be closed 2moro and they be no school ! he wishes !!!!

hope everyone is ok xxx