Well, its been a while. Where to start.
On the 20th, when I was 23 weeks 3 days pregnant, I went to my scan at the fetal medicine unit. I was anxious about it and after taking all the measurements the sonographer said that the baby had a small head. And that the head was below the 10th percentile (about 3). She booked me in for another scan in three weeks time and told me to see my consultant within 2 weeks.
The consultant appointment was on Monday, 27th. Can that be only 3/4 days away (its the middle of the night here). DH came with me as he said he just didnt understand either. I had suggested that the head was small to the previous sonographer at my 20 week scan. The small head cost so many tears as inuterine growth restriction problems are normally associated with a normal head (the baby pumps all the goodness to the head) and the other measurments are compromised. I could no longer deny, it seems that the baby would have down syndrom/Edwards or cal(something a syndrome that causes the head to be small and intelligence compromised). The baby also showed a small femur.
I rang the down syndrom advice centre and they said I could, based on my screening results and these small measurements, ask for a second opionion. She advised me to contact my doctor and be referred. This I did.
So on Monday we went to the consultant. It started, as normal with a blood pressure check - it was 140+ over 100+. The doctor said it was no longer ignorable and I have been told to stop work. I have been put on blood pressure tablets, which I am to take 3 times a day. They make me drowsy. After a couple of hours after taking them I fall asleep. I have no idea if they have lowered my blood pressure but I do feel much more relaxed.
They also tested my urine. There was gloucose in my urine. The doctor prescribed some blood tests to test my blood for gloucose and function tests of the liver and kidneys I think. I got a call yesterday from the diabetic clinic to say they needed to make an appointment urgently with me because there was lots of gloucose in my urine. So I go there next Tuesday to see if I am developing diabetes.
Then dh and I asked the doctor about the scan results. He asked again if it was a boy or a girl. I confirmed we were having a girl and he said good. Apparently girls have a better survival rate. I asked for an amnio as I said we could not ignore the small head and femur measurements and it now looks to me like it has to be a chromosone problem. He said 'its too late,' that in his opionion it is fetal growth restriction based on my high blood pressure and flow problems. He was nice about it, earnest even, but it felt like a hunch.
The consultant provided me with a letter to sign me off but it wasnt sufficient for school so I made an appointment to see my doctor to give me a certificate for school. I went this afternoon and she wrote the certificate until the 18th July. She wanted to do it longer but I said I preferred a review to see if I could go back. I also asked her about my second opionion referral, she said in all honesty it was probably waiting to be typed up. (I went to the doctors the previous week.) I asked for a copy as I would hand deliver it. She typed the letter there and then and I took it away. I took it directly to the fetal unit at Kings. It was very quiet there (all the consultants are away apparently on a conference). The receptionist wasnt sure if I could be seen there so took it away to see a midwife. She came back with the only remaining consultant who asked me why I wanted to be seen there. I explained about my down syndrome results, my call, the small head and femur that I wanted an amnio but was told no and that the whole thing was upsetting and I didnt understand and I just wanted to know.
She said she would scan me now!!!! She did. She asked do I know the gender. Yes I said (Ive been told twice its a girl). She said whats that then? Its a penis. My girl has a penis. My daughter is actually a son. She said that, to excuse her but she wouldnt rely on the measurements I had if they hadnt got the gender right. I know it sounds trival but that has been the only thing we have counted on. There may be no baby born, there may be problems but we ARE having a girl. We even did names. Even if the baby isnt born alive we would need a name now. I told people. I was pleased, dh was pleased. Now even the things we relied on can no longer be relied upon.
The consultant carefully took the measrements, the ones I was anxious about she took several times. She spent time explaining the results. She did not find a small head!! The head was nearer normal in size. The femur really is small - right at the edge of the measured line. Thats worrying but it all makes sense now. Now I really can believe that it could be restricted growth as it makes much more sense than it did before. It still could be down syndrome but it might not be.
Now I need to decide whether I should switch hospitals. I think I will go to my doctor again and discuss the results. Ive never been to my doctor so much in my life.
We bought clothes that were pink. Not that many but they are pink - we wanted to tell the world she was coming and she was going to be born. Its a lot to digest.
Symptoms = drowsy, headaches, baby moving
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