It's a wriggly one!

After yesterday, I shouldn't really complain, but Fizz hasn't stopped wriggling for a lot of today. And at least it's not yet at the uncomfortable "get your foot out of my ribs" stages.

Bit of a scare

Had a bit of a scare today. A bit of pain while I was out walking Buster this morning, but nothing that I took any notice of. But then I had a bit of bleeding and realised I hadn't felt any movements today. All the happenings with the scans have panicked me and I thought the worse. But a phone call to the midwife, then to Jessops (the maternity hospital) resulted in a check-up at triage and being given the all-clear. The baby's heart rate is fine, and I'd had no further pain or bleeding so was allowed home with instructions to get in touch again if I have any more concerns. It was pretty scary, and would still like Fizz to make a bit of movement today, but I'm reassured all is OK.

Hello Daddy!

For several weeks now I've been feeling bits of movement from Fizz, but nothing regular or substantial. But then the other day (s)he decided to say hello! I'd been feeling more movements during the evening, then in bed Dave had his arm across me and suddenly asked "Is Fizz moving?" And yes, there was definite movements, and Dave could feel some too! Since then, the little one hasn't stopped much, and I've now often got a churning feeling. At least it's churning without nausea now!

All OK!

Been back at the hospital for the "routine" scan this morning. After being in the scan room for one hour, we were finally given the all clear from consultant care. It didn't take an hour because of anything showing on the scan, more that things weren't showing on the scan because Fizz was laid on it's back and not co-operating with us! But after much prodding and jiggling, it finally turned and things became clearer. And all's OK. There's still a small amount of cystic area at the back of the head, but it's all within normal range for the gestation.

So that's it, back to midwife-led care and a "normal" pregnancy. There's still a risk of Down's Syndrome or other chromosomal abnormality, but that's the case with any pregnancy, so as far as I'm concerned, we don't need to think about it too much.

It's all such a relief, and we have such a lot to be thankful for.

Movements

I can now feel Fizz moving around, which is great. I've been thinking I have for a few weeks, but with the scan scare either wasn't sure or didn't want to believe it. But it's definite now - bubbling and flutterings, especially when I've been sat for a while on an evening.

Yeah!

Today we went for the 16 week scan. I've been thinking and worrying about it, and didn't sleep very well last night, but kept myself busy today, so I didn't have time to think too much.

But the results were as good as we could have possibly hoped for. The consultant could find no evidence of any structural problem and the cystic area has all but gone! We're back again for another scan (the routine one) in a couple of weeks, and if that's all OK, then we can be discharged from consultant care back to community midwife care!! Of course, there's always a risk that a chromosomal abnormality (but no structural problems) is still present and we won't know that until the baby's born, but that's the case with any pregnancy.

It's such a relief and I can now start to feel excited about it all. Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers - keep going!

50:50

Today we went for Fizz's first scan. Before we went, the main "concern" was whether it's twins (both Dave and I had had dreams involving twins), but that all now pales into significance when we're thinking about survival.

It all started well - one little baby with a little heat beating away. But then the radiographer detected a problem - an cystic area at the back of the head, outside the skull. Discussions with a consultant followed, in which we were given to horrible news that Fizz has only a 50:50 chance of survival. Basically, this area of "nucal traslucency" could be an indication of a chromosomal abnormaility such as Downs Sydrome or a structural abnormality of the heart, and at the moment all we can do is wait. We've been told I could miscarry at any time, or that the little heart could stop beating without us knowing. We can only hope and pray.

We're booked for another scan at 16weeks, when they may be able to detect if there are any heart defects (but they may not show themselves until the 20weeks scan), but until then we just have to take things one day at a time.