Quadruple test results....

1 in 350 .


Apparently this is low risk / likelihood for Down's syndrome.


If it had been high I wouldn't have had the amnio, as that's a 1% chance of miscarriage which is a chance I wouldn't want to take.


I had been concerned as an older mum to be...so this is a bit of a relief....one less thing to stress / plan for.

http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/maternity/quadruple-test-screening-for-downs-syndrome-and-spina-bifida.pdf

Rose on a summers day....

Today I indulged in a small (125 ml) glass of Rose...it was a colleagues surprise Tropical Tea Party in honour of her getting married abroad and leaving the team....


We all went to a local pub afterwards (no one at the pub knows of my pregnancy) and I must admit the lure of the vino was too strong...

It was my first drink since Valentines day, where the Bear and I went to a comedy event, got smashed, got laid and here we are!

Bad news is I now feel guilty I've destroyed beanies brain cells.....

I don't think I'll have nay more booze....


Guilt is so much worse than a hangover.....

Haven't told OH....he'll go ballistic!

NHS advice is to abstain during first three months, so as not to risk miscarriage or impair development


http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/10October/Pages/light-drinking-in-pregnancy.aspx

Milestone: My Booking Appointment

Major milestone today, in the form of my booking appointment!

At 12:45pm everything became a little more real!

I went on my own - that's another story for another time - and actually it was fine, any questions I could answer.

Quick run down of what happened :
Met a sourly and vague receptionist - it wasn't personal, i witnessed her unique brand of customer service with several people! Good for her keeping the hospital / doctor receptionist stereotype alive(!)

Had to provide evidence that I'm a UK citizen and live in the borough- passport and ID plus bills etc
(I'm not sure what would have happened if I didn't have it.....?)

Met a midwife assistant Vanessa- not at all like Debbie McGee but equally smiley.
She weighed me. I asked not to be told and she stopped smiling very quickly and barked "you have to know", OK thank you ma'am(!)


Oh by the way did I mention that Vanessa is as short as me and 3 dress sizes smaller...no? Hmm.

It's official - I'm still short - 5' 2" and have turned into a porker BMI 32, yes thirty flipping two!

I did a urine test and was told I need to eat more...hey?! I thought I was too fat?! I had eaten only an hour before the appointment, but was told I have ketones in my urine. Little and often snacking I;m told is the way forward.

I need to get back into exercising. i stopped a year ago...bad move.

I'm told I should walk for an hour every day...every day. I will have to see a consultant because of my fibroids. We went through a long questionnaire asked about my health, family history both sides.... She took several gallons five little vials of blood.
I was told I'm High Risk due to my fibroids. I may have to see a specialist team due to previous depression.

What I walked away with:

Maternity Book - it's huge!

My first Bounty Pack

• Maternity Book - massive yellow folder with all your medical notes
• Bounty Pack with some money off leaflets
• Leaflet on breastfeeding as I said it was my intention to bf
• Information on antenatal classes
• Maternity guide for my hospital

Tips -

• Write questions before you go - there's so much info you may be overwhelmed and forget.

• when she asks if you have any social problems she means social service type issues, not whether you have a fear of public speaking or are shy at parties!

• You will be asked about previous pregnancies and the outcome, so be prepared.

• Bring a big plastic bag if you tend to have small handbags, as you'll be given a ginormous Yellow Folder which contains all your hospital notes, plus you'll get a Bounty Pack.

• Bring some reading material - you may be sitting around a while, although to be fair i sat for no more than 5 minutes at a time before the next stage.

• Eat before you get there as the whole thing for me from beginning to end took two hours.

So, next step; scan and consultant appointment - 24th April, all booked today :)

Oh and apparently it's OK for me to get my hair relaxed, after the first trimester,phew...