Hi all!

lovekatz1975

I'm new to the pregnant after 35 group. I'll be 37 in 10 days, pregnant with #1. We did IUI and progesterone for 10 1/2 weeks. Since I stopped the progesterone, I feel like my emotions are all over the charts and I also feel "strange" in my lower abdomen. Not really cramps, I really don't know how to describe it. Maybe it's just growing pains. (I hope.) I have a call into my doctors office. I go for my 1st trimester screening next Monday. I'm nervous about it. My doctor's assistant, a midwife, asked told me about doing an amnio. I'm not sure if we should do it or not. She told me that there is a very low percent of problems that come of doing the test. She also told me that she recommends only doing it if we know we are going terminate if there is a problem. This is all so confusing and scary. Can anyone recommend a good place for plus size maternity clothing?

technigirl

Hi!  I'm new to this board as well.  It sounds like things are going well for you.  Don't worry too much about the strange feelings in your abdomen lol.  Pregnancy is a weird time and you may feel lots of twinges, cramping, pulling, etc. 

 With DD, I was 36 when she was born.   We did the 1st trimester screening with her (NT scan plus bloodwork), and we opted not to do an amnio because our results came back normal from that.  It would have to be pretty bad for me to do an amnio, because as your midwife said the amnio itself can cause problems.  And really if you're not planning to abort anyways, there's no point, unless you're someone who just has to know for sure.

For maternity clothes, I recommend Gap (goes up to an 18 or 20 I believe), and Old Navy (I think they carry plus sizer maternity wear).  I believe Motherhood also has online plus size maternity wear.  Motherhood has cute stuff although the fabrics and quality aren't the best.  But it's OK, it only has to last a few months, right?

 I look forward to getting to know you!

lovekatz1975

Thank you so much. I ordered a few things from The Avenue, it was clearance so I assume they are doing away with their maternity section. I may go pick up a few stretchy type pants, just to get me through until I need maternity. I know my "normal" clothes for the fall and winter won't be fitting right.

danuli8

Welcome and congratulations on your pregnancy! If you don't want to do an amnio, another option might me a MaterniT21 blood test. (Google it, it is quite new.) It will find trisomy 13, 18, and 21 (Down's) with just a blood draw. I am planning to have this test done along with the first trimester NT screening and PAAP-A/HCG blood draw. I would only do an amnio to confirm a problem picked up by the other screenings.

dhreczuck

Because of my past experience, I'm already thinking about these things. We are going to do the MaterniT21 test, even if we have to go out of state to get it done. Don't let anyone push you into invasive screening by saying it's not a big deal. Complications do happen, trust me you don't want to be on the wrong side of the statistics unless your already fairly certain there's a problem.

coquina

Congrats & Welcome.  

Always do what you feel is right.  I was 37 when I had DD and out NT scan came out with a high possibility for Downs so we did the Amnio to be 100% sure and everything came out just fine.  A CVS and the new materl21 (sp?) was not available then.  

I am planning on the NT scan and blood work with this pregnancy and once I have the results I'll decide wether to go with the Amnio or CVS.  I'm a need to know person and like to be prepared.  

Good luck! 

danuli8

I totally agree with you! If there is a way I can avoid having a needle stuck into my abdomen (and into my baby's vicinity), I am all for it!

I e-mailed the MaterniT21 people last Friday asking where I can have it done, and I also called my ob's office this morning and asked about it, but I haven't heard anything back from anyone yet.