Hi & Bonjour from Paris

linabparis · December 2013

Hi Everyone...I'm 37 and just over 10 weeks pregnant. It's a total shock as I've only been with my boyfriend for 6 months but I guess when you have sex like irresponsible teenagers, this is what happens!! But fortunately we're very, very excited!!

I'm from Texas but have been living in Paris for the past 10 years. I didn't think I'd be as nervous about a MC or trisomy as I seem to be. It's all I think about and worry daily.

My first ultrasound with a strong heartbeat was Nov. 18 and my NT ultrasound is Dec. 17.

Here in France the Maternity21 and Harmony tests aren't available. However, I'll be in Texas on Jan. 4 and was wondering if you all thought I could just contact my sister-in-law's gynecologist to have the test taken with them in the states?

What do you all think? Are results from the NT and blood work given immediately?

Thank you for your advice! It's a bit nerve-wrecking and sometimes I feel all alone as none of my friends in Paris have kids and all of my friends back home had them YEARS ago!! :-)

linabparis · December 2013

sorry about the html code, i don't know how to put in the fun tickers...

oh, and my name's Lina! Forgot to sign my post!

Beachgal72 · December 2013

Bonjour! My husband is French, and most of my in-laws are in France, so we will be spending a lot of time there with our little one in the future.

If you have the option to get the Mat 21 test while you are here I would recommend it. It certainly helped my peace of mind. And since it is non-invasive, why not? I guess the cost may be the only thing that could be an issue.

I had my blood drawn about a week before my NT scan so when I had the NT scan I was able to get the full, combined results right away. So I would assume if you get your blood drawn at the scan it should take about a week for your final results.

I understand about feeling alone -- I only have one friend with children under 3 years old. The rest don't have or want kids or had them years ago. I'm looking into new mom groups in my area to see if there are any I might be interested in joining so I have some more ladies close by to relate to.

Congratulations and best wishes for a healthy 9 months!

jbelle · December 2013

Congratulations and bienvenue!

Your miscarriage risk is quite low now that you've heard the heartbeat! I'm also 37 and I was actually pleasantly surprised by how low my risk of the three most common trisomies are--for trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) it's about 1.5%! That is really low, it's just a concern because it's comparatively much higher than younger women. Still, I'll take those odds!

I think it'd certainly be worth asking your sister's doctor ahead of time if getting a prescription would be possible. It might also be worth contacting the companies who do this testing and asking for their recommendations (also see: Verifi and Panorama in addition to Harmony and MaterniT21). Not only may they give you a recommendation of who to see for an RX or where to get tested, you may qualify for a discounted cost.

Best of luck!

ETA: Oh, and my Verifi test results were supposed to take no more than 10 business days. They took 5! However, a few weeks seems normal. I did not have the NT scan, but usually an ultrasound technician administers the test--taking all the measurements and pictures--and a physician interprets those results, so it's not immediate. YMMV!

obscurereference · December 2013

Welcome and congrats! I personally didn't do the Verifi testing but did do an NT scan. I think everyone goes a little overboard with all the testing. Unless you have a reason to be concerned, I'd just skip it!

kelley72 · December 2013

Congratulations! I'll state be prepared to pay for the test at the time of service if you do arrange to have it while in Texas. Best wishes for a wonderful pregnancy!

linabparis · December 2013

Thanks so much everyone!!! The support and thoughts have been great! You made me cry. A happy cry.

The american hospital does the test here and ships it to the lab in the states. It's 1,000 euros or $1,300. From what i've read online it's like $800 back home. Will definitely look into labs back home and my sis's gyno! Thanks again!!

Beachgal72 · December 2013

I was just imagining if I was in Paris right now pregnant. I think I would eat a pain chocolat or two every day. Probably a good thing I am not there.

atsky · December 2013

Congrats! I spoke to a Perinatal Lab yesterday (in New Jersey) where I will be getting my NT Scan and MaterniT21. My NT Scan will be covered by insurance, but she told me that insurance will not cover the MaterniT21. But she did tell me that it will be $200, which was huge relief because I thought it costs over a thousand dollars. She reassured me that the prices have gone down significantly since it first came out.

So you definitely should call around where your sister is and you can get an idea of prices before you get back.

linabparis · December 2013

@Beachgal72...where is your husband from here in France? I laughed out loud at your pain au chocolat comment...it's my 'special' breakfast 3 times a week. I'm trying to reduce it but it's already better than every morning before I was pregnant. The pain au chocolat with my hot chocolate in the morning is pure heaven!

@atsky...thanks so much for the details! I can definitely do 200 bucks! Wow. Feel much better about looking into these tests. Thanks again!

chirico3 · December 2013

linabparis said:

Hi Everyone...I'm 37 and just over 10 weeks pregnant. It's a total shock as I've only been with my boyfriend for 6 months but I guess when you have sex like irresponsible teenagers, this is what happens!! But fortunately we're very, very excited!!
I'm from Texas but have been living in Paris for the past 10 years. I didn't think I'd be as nervous about a MC or trisomy as I seem to be. It's all I think about and worry daily.
My first ultrasound with a strong heartbeat was Nov. 18 and my NT ultrasound is Dec. 17.
Here in France the Maternity21 and Harmony tests aren't available. However, I'll be in Texas on Jan. 4 and was wondering if you all thought I could just contact my sister-in-law's gynecologist to have the test taken with them in the states?
What do you all think? Are results from the NT and blood work given immediately?
Thank you for your advice! It's a bit nerve-wrecking and sometimes I feel all alone as none of my friends in Paris have kids and all of my friends back home had them YEARS ago!! :-)

<a href="https://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Ovulation Calculator"><img src="https://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt194aaa.aspx" alt=" IAmPregnant Ticker" border="0" /></a><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I like all the advice given here, but I'd suggest you to also talk to a OB/Gyn in France. See what he/she says and suggests as tests - most of them are probably free! I hear France has one of the best maternity policies in the world, and there is available assistance for the new mom even at home!

As for the feeling alone, I know here in Italy first time moms often take pré-natal classes - which often are free. A friend told me it's a great way to meet and make friends with women in your situation, which can also be great after the baby is born. Of course, you'll also learn about delivering! I'd check out this option too!

linabparis · December 2013

@chirico: thanks so much for the thoughts. It was my OB/Gyn here who told us about the test in the first place saying it was only available in the United States and only the American hospital here did it for super expensive, and not covered. That's why I'm looking into doing it in January if need be when I'm back in Texas.

There are some really good things about the maternity policies but others are weird. I didn't know you had to 'sign up' for a maternity ward so now I'm scrambling to find one to have my baby!! They're booking up fast for July. Back home you usually go to the hospital that your OB/Gyn is associated with. Here it's not the case. Your OB/Gyn just follows you through your pregnancy and then you're handed off in the 6th month to the hospital maternity ward where you'll have your baby. Strange!!

But I'm sure it'll be fine. France has a ridiculously high birth rate so there must be beds for everyone somewhere!

Beachgal72 · December 2013

My husband's family is from Paris but now they are spread out around the country. Some still in Paris but his Dad is now in the south near Marseille and a bunch of cousins live in Brittany. We just got our Christmas box from the family in the mail and I was hoping for some tasty treats but the only candy is a box of glazed marron. Oh well. Guess you can't really ship pain au chocolat darn it.

DTNZ4Ever · December 2013

I took the Panorama test my doctor said that if my insurance won't cover it then call the Panorama company and they will charge no more the $200. I had that test in September still waiting for my insurance to process and bill me.

marleybarne · December 2013

Bonjour! Congratulations!

QOTR · December 2013

Congratulations and welcome to the group.

QOTR · December 2013

Congratulations and welcome to the group.

LabPupLuv · December 2013

Congratulations! How exciting. I would definitely get the Mat21 while in Texas. They will call you with the results, which take about 5 to 14 days. Mine came in about 5 days. It will give you the pace of mind you need so you can stop thinking about it so much. If your insurance doesn't cover it, I believe the lab will only charge you $200.

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