What a terrible week

Last Friday we went for the NT scan, naive as can be. We stopped off for lunch before the appointment and I was actually able to eat real food! I ate a chicken (non-spicy of course) quesadilla with sour cream and loved every single bite of it. After weeks of almost nothing but plain mashed potatoes, plain rice and other assorted bland foods, real food was a real treat. We then headed off to the appointment.

When we got there I began to feel a little nervous which I figured was typical considering the gravity of the test we were about to take. The tech started the scan by measuring the baby which is measuring a full week ahead of my due date (May 8th) then moved onto see the ventricles of the heart, both hemispheres of the brain, the spine and even the blood flowing through the baby's body. It was truly incredible! All the while the baby was in the wrong positiong for them to get the measurements they needed. We tried many things and after nearly an hour and a half, the baby finally flipped over and straightened its head.

Unfortunately, the DR was unhappy with the measurements he got and said that the baby's nuchal fold was measuring larger than they like to see. It measured out to 2.9mm which is right at the threshhold of what they consider there might be a potential problem. The DR who was not my regular OBGYN but a Perinatologist, was very grave when he told us the news and was quite hasty in getting us out of there. I tried not to cry but wasnt very successful. We were very upset and worried. The 2nd part of the test was a blood test which they took that day but wouldnt get the results back for a week. It was a horrible week for us, wondering what if.

Yesterday was my regularly scheduled monthly appointment with my OBGYN and he put me at ease. He did a quick scan of the baby as well and the measurements werent even close to being as high as the Perinatologist got. The baby also had a prominent nose bone which he told me just isnt present in Down Syndrome babies. The nurse then pestered the Perinatologist's office until they handed over the blood test results. We were very relieved to find out that with both the scan and blood test combined, our chances of having a child with Down Syndrome is 1:532 and with Trisomy 13/18 (another disorder) 1:>10,000. My OBGYN was happy with the results and doesn't feel that we need any further testing. We do, however have a Level II scan scheduled with the Perinatologist on November 20th.

Ive gained 2 pounds back from the 10 I lost being so sick and now with this good news, we are hoping the rest of the pregnancy will be easy from here on out.