Questions - April

strawberryfields82 · April 2020

Okay maybe a stupid question: I have been feeling a tingly sensation on the right-ish side of my belly. It feels like my legs feel asleep but just in my belly? Is that what first baby movement feels like?

blackgirlmagic · April 2020

@strawberryfields82 that's not how mine have felt, but I'm sure everyone can experience something different.

maelove · April 2020

Anyone know anything about velamentous cord insertion? Just curious as At my AS this morning and they found that in Baby B. My OB did not seem concerned and both babies seem perfectly healthy. Apparently just means monthly growth scans and some modifications to a normal placental delivery (ie no pulling on the cord)? I’ve not heard of it before 🤷🏻‍♀️

Edited to add: not looking for medical advice, just if anyone else has experienced this!

tara4910 · April 2020

@strawberryfields82 I’ve felt movement that feels like that, especially early on!

maggied26 · April 2020

I had my A/S last friday. My doctor called on Monday and said they saw an Echogenic focus on the baby's heart which they said doesnt cause any health issues but is considered a soft marker for Down's Syndrome. They did reassure me that everything else looks healthy and normal and we have a healthy baby girl, but that i could do genetic testing if I decide to. I'm just sort of wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this (not looking for medical advice, just sort of wondering how common this is). I feel like mentally this sort of thres me for a loop, since this is my first pregancy.

tanhabanana · April 2020

Looking for opinions... I’m 39. This is my first pregnancy. I’m high risk due to age and mild diabetes. They want me to do a fetal echocardiogram. I was fine with that, as far I know it’s not invasive, right? Anyway I got a call and they said now they’re screening everyone to make sure it’s absolutely necessary because of covid. I understand that completely so I was just going to go with the flow. Then they told me I’d have to travel two hours to basically a hot spot for the virus if they decide they want me to do it. So far, fingers crossed, all baby’s tests have come back fine. Would you go? I mean I might not even have to make a decision, they might say skip it, but I’m looking for other’s opinions. I want to do what’s best for baby.

coldlife2 · April 2020

@maggied26, for what it's worth, when I had my a/s, I specifically asked about Down's markers, and the tech said one marker doesn't mean anything. Two, your baby probably doesn't have it. And it's only with three or more that your baby is likely to have it, and they'd start advising you about your options.

*formerly coldlife. Locked out of my account.

tara4910 · April 2020

@maggied26 I had an EIF at my 16 week ultrasound. I was stressed out, but my MD said it’s very common - I forget how often - like around 5% maybe? I had already done the NIPT genetic screening which came back low risk. I was considering an amnio, but my MD reassured me that seeing only one EIF was not a reason for more testing. I decided to wait for my anatomy scan to see if there were any other abnormalities and the EIF was gone or at least not visible at my anatomy scan. If you are considering further testing, maybe start with the NIPT first since it’s noninvasive - however it is only a screening not diagnostic. There are a lot of good peer-reviewed articles out there if you want to do more research in your own.

blackgirlmagic · April 2020

@maggied26 I agree with starting with the NIPT since it's just a blood draw. You just have to wait a few days for the results to come in. I'm sorry that you have to go through this.

[Deleted User] · April 2020

@tanhabanana (((hugs))) I'm sorry they are putting you in this position to make what probably feels like a very tough decision. I am an IVF mama, and I was 34.5 at the time of my retrievals, so all of our embryos are considered AMA, and due to the IVF pregnancies, they also recommend a fetal echo. I had the fetal echo with my first at the MFM, and in our case it was nice because they had trouble getting all the heart images they wanted from the AS, so we had that backup, and the doctor basically geeked out on how great the images were she was getting, 🤷 and all was well.

I am in a similar boat this time where they are pretty much cancelling all the fetal echoes. So we did the AS, and she got all the heart images they look for. She said the FE includes additional Doppler studies to look more closely at bloodflow. I would think it would be more critical if they were to see anything concerning at the AS, then F/u and go in for the additional study. But I mean, since my practice is literally cancelling all of them, I think you should be okay to skip it if the AS looks okay, and of course as long as you are comfortable i.e. don't have any known heart issues in your family etc. #notadoctor #pleasehavetheconversationwithyourdoctor ❤️ But it goes to show you how "essential" stuff really is when they said that the first time, but now they aren't even doing them. :/

RedBaramid · April 2020

@tanhabanana I'm sure it's weird to be told something is essential, and then be told to maybe skip it. I'm kind of siding with @BusinessWife here when I suggest that maybe unless there are heart concerns in your family that I'd probably just forget about it unless something comes up through other regular testing.

We treat mother's of AMA with kid gloves, and I know there are elevated risks for issues but in reality a majority of these babies are also born just as healthy as any other baby. I've known a few women who have given birth at your age and older(including my mother-in-law and my own grandmother!!), those children are healthy and wonderful and I just hope you know that you're very likely to be just fine.

#notyourdoctor #advocatingforeveryonetotakeadeepbreath

rivercitynik · April 2020

@tanhabanana sending you warm thoughts as you make a decision about next steps!

Do any STM+ have newborn/infant care book recommendations? I love to read and I've read a lot of books about pregnancy and birth and have found some books about the toddler years that I'll want to read at some point, but not seeing as much on the baby stage. Thanks in advance!

charhar0820 · April 2020

@rivercitynik Cribsheet by Emily Oster is on my list to read. I read her Expecting better book and enjoyed it and all the facts.

Another one on my list is The Fourth Trimester. I can’t vouch for either as I haven’t read them yet but they have pretty great reviews!

rivercitynik · April 2020

@charhar0820 thanks! I also really liked Expecting Better so I should check out Cribsheet.

And I was going to recommend The Fourth Trimester on the postpartum supplies group. It's very woo woo but I'm into it, and I think it has some pretty practical advice for trying to set yourself up as best as possible for those early months (think worksheets for you and your partner/support team to talk about what everyone needs to feel their best, who is doing which chores, etc.).

emiliadkay · April 2020

@maggied26 Hugs. At the A/S for DS, they found extra fluid on one kidney, which is another soft marker for Down's. Since we'd done a first trimester scan and been determined low risk, the odds remained very low but it was still a scary time. Is the EIF something that might resolve over the course of the pregnancy (and if so, would that indicate lower risk as a marker)? If not and if you haven't already done non-invasive testing and there's an option to do it now, that could be one option to help put your mind at rest

@rivercitynik I read the standard old "What to Expect: The First Year" and thought it was helpful. The author's writing style is not my favorite, but it's pretty comprehensive in at least touching on all the various things that will come up in those first few months!

sarah0985 · April 2020

@rivercitynik I didn’t read the book although they do have one but had the app and really found the wonder weeks app very useful. It wasn’t the end all be all but it explained a lot of developmental things the baby will go through.

A lot of the information out of the fourth trimester is also useful.

The most useful thing I found in addition to reading was talking to people who I trusted that had been through it. People who will tell it like it really is and not just the horror stories.

tyrion_ · April 2020

@tanhabanana I was born with a heart defect so my pregnancies are automatically classified as high risk to rule out any heart defects with the baby. I’ve had a fetal echo with my first two pregnancies and had one scheduled for this one. My high risk doctor called and decided that it was not worth bringing me in since the anatomy scan looked good and cancelled it.

I trust her judgement and agree that the risk isn’t worth the information we might gain at this particular point. I go back at 32 weeks.

Talk to the doctor, they will be able to give you an answer based on your previous scans. If they’re satisfied with the A/S I bet it would be ok to pass on this. But I am not a doctor and can only answer based on what mine said for my baby.

roo_baby · April 2020

@tanhabanana I would see if they can combine the echo with a third trimester growth scan (as long as there isn't an urgency to do it now) so you only have to go in once. If the only reason they are having you do it is your age, it's probably still low risk. But I'm not a medical professional so if you are unsure I would ask your OB for further guidance until you have enough info to make a decision you feel comfortable with.

maggied26 · April 2020

Thanks for all the kind responses, its helpful knowing so many other people have been through a similar situation. I have decided I don't think I'll do any genetic testing at this point given that the eif was the only thing they noticed and I have no family history or anything. Once the doctor told me that this wouldn't cause any health issues for the baby, I felt a little better since that was my big concern. As long as she is healthy, I'm happy and I will love my baby girl no matter what!

samsonator · April 2020

How long does it take to get AS results? My midwife rescheduled my next appt to right after my ultrasound so I only have to go to the hospital once and I'm curious if she will know if everything looks okay or not. I'm assuming it's a radiologist or someone who reads them and I won't know anything

ziggymama06 · April 2020

@samsonator I had my as scan this past week and met with my mw directly after. She had the results and was able to discuss with me. I imagine this would be the same for you and why they scheduled it this way. Hope your appt goes well!

blackgirlmagic · April 2020

@samsonator I had a doctor at the center review my results before I left. My doctor did also reviewed them, but I don’t know how soon after he saw them.

ETA: everything that I do for my health is in one system. My ob asked me how my therapy sessions were going when I saw him last year. My gp can see all my ob sessions, everything is connected through their online system.

coldlife2 · April 2020

They told me the results were read by a doctor the same day. My next appointment with my midwives was two days later, and they had the report

viola_mama · April 2020

Same day here too - I always get a call a few hours later about any test results. I also have an app called My Chart where I can see all their formal reports on every visit and every lab. I was skeptical at first about the security of all my personal medical info being there, but it’s pretty awesome to be able to see the formal A/S write up any time I want, among all the other stuff.

[Deleted User] · April 2020

I think it really does depend on the practice and whatever else they have going on. @samsonator I had mine at the MFM, and the MWs were supposed to call me when the report come in, but no call. Originally I had my Fu appointment with them the same day, and they mentioned they would have to ask them to expedite the report; I'm seeing them Friday instead, so presumably they normally would have the report by then, but she mentioned they don't normally call. So that's how they do it at my practice anyway, if the scan is done outside, a doctor at the MFM does a quick review to make sure they got all the images, and then they get the report over to them....??? I'm not sure honestly who will be writing the report itself, but now I'm curious. As of now, I'm just going based on the tech said everything looked good.

catana15 · April 2020

@samsonator I would assume that your midwife scheduled your appointment right after the scan so that you can get your results right away.

tanhabanana · April 2020

Thank you ladies! The specialist never called to screen or make an appointment this week so I’m going to call on Monday and just to see what’s going on and tell them I’ll pass on it. I have a regular ob appointment Friday, no scans, so I’ll see what they say then too.

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