Friday 13th dawned with a sense of apprehension, excitement and downright terror at what the scan would show. But of course, we needn't have worried! There was our baby, up on the big screen for us all to see, with that reassuring flicker of a heartbeat rhythmically pulsing away. We breathed a huge sigh of relief. All was well.
Then the sonographer hit us with some unexpected news: "The bladder is looking quite a bit larger than it should be at this stage."
I felt myself take a sharp intake of breath, then revealed to her that exactly the same thing had occurred at my son's 12 week scan. They had noticed a prominent bladder and that, combined with the fact they could clearly see he was a boy, gave them grounds to suspect a case of PUV - Posterior Urethral Valves. In layman's terms, this is basically a blockage of the urethra close to the bladder, which affects boys exclusively. It requires careful monotoring during pregnancy and very often a small operation for the child.
"Does that mean it's a boy?" I asked, tentatively - only to be told it was far too early to tell the flavour yet. Why can't they just be honest? I'd only just told her that they were able to tell the sex of my son at 12 weeks and here she was trying to fob me off.
My son's enlarged bladder had fortunately gone back to normal by 16 weeks, and so the sonographer asked me to return in a week's time to have another scan with the consultant. She took the measurements for the combined screening for Down's Syndrome, and told me the results would be sent to me early next week if low risk, with a phone call if we were considered high risk.
Fast forward a week, to my second scan at 13 weeks. We saw an extremely lively baby up on the screen, and much to our relief the consultant confirmed that the bladder looked perfectly normal. To be on the safe side, we have to go back in 3 weeks time to be scanned yet again! I can tell I'm going to have to get a season pass for the hospital car park .....
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Friday 6 August 2010
Looking Back ... and Forwards
So, I finally did hear from my midwife and she came to see me at home this morning. She's the same midwife I had first time around, and is lovely - exactly the sort of person you would want to have looking after you.
The first 'booking in' appointment with your midwife is usually a lengthy one - and this was no exception. There was medical history to be taken on both sides of the family, blood pressure checks and a recap of my last pregnancy and birth.
Today's meeting pretty much confirmed my suspicions - I am unlikely to be having a natural labour and birth. Let me recap on the events of last time to put you in the picture ...
With my son, I devloped obstetric cholestasis - a condition where bile salts build up in your bloodstream, resulting in the most horrendous itching on your palms, feet and body. This meant I had to be induced on my due date, as cholestasis, although uncomfortable and frustrating for the mother, can actually be fatal to an unborn child.
I spent four days in hospital having the induction, which was a big, fat failure. My body was just not playing ball. On the fourth day I was beginning to get labour pains, and they decided that at half a centimetre dilated they may just be able to break my waters manually. They managed it - just - and then I was hooked up to a drip which forces your body into massive, gut crunching contractions. It was horrendous and I hated every second of it.
Eight hours, gas and air, pethedine and an epidural later, and I had still only dilated half a centimetre further. Suddenly there was a group of medics in my room, crowded around my notes making umming and ahhing noises and looking at me very seriously. Finally, one turned to me and said "Well, we don't seem to be making a lot of progress here. You could keep going for a bit longer - or if you wish we could do a cesarian now."
Resisting the urge to scream "GET IT OUT OF ME!!!" I gasped timidly "Oh yes, I'm quite tired now, maybe a cesarian would be a good idea" to which they all nodded understandingly.
So for all these reasons, it seems unlikely that I will be allowed to attempt a natural birth unless I happen to spontaneously go into labour. I have to admit, it's a massive relief - last time was an experience I am in no hurry to repeat.
Next on the agenda is my 12 week scan in a week's time, the prospect of which is exciting and terrifying at the same time. Then four days later I meet with my hospital consultant to discuss more of the same. Bring it on.
The first 'booking in' appointment with your midwife is usually a lengthy one - and this was no exception. There was medical history to be taken on both sides of the family, blood pressure checks and a recap of my last pregnancy and birth.
Today's meeting pretty much confirmed my suspicions - I am unlikely to be having a natural labour and birth. Let me recap on the events of last time to put you in the picture ...
With my son, I devloped obstetric cholestasis - a condition where bile salts build up in your bloodstream, resulting in the most horrendous itching on your palms, feet and body. This meant I had to be induced on my due date, as cholestasis, although uncomfortable and frustrating for the mother, can actually be fatal to an unborn child.
I spent four days in hospital having the induction, which was a big, fat failure. My body was just not playing ball. On the fourth day I was beginning to get labour pains, and they decided that at half a centimetre dilated they may just be able to break my waters manually. They managed it - just - and then I was hooked up to a drip which forces your body into massive, gut crunching contractions. It was horrendous and I hated every second of it.
Eight hours, gas and air, pethedine and an epidural later, and I had still only dilated half a centimetre further. Suddenly there was a group of medics in my room, crowded around my notes making umming and ahhing noises and looking at me very seriously. Finally, one turned to me and said "Well, we don't seem to be making a lot of progress here. You could keep going for a bit longer - or if you wish we could do a cesarian now."
Resisting the urge to scream "GET IT OUT OF ME!!!" I gasped timidly "Oh yes, I'm quite tired now, maybe a cesarian would be a good idea" to which they all nodded understandingly.
So for all these reasons, it seems unlikely that I will be allowed to attempt a natural birth unless I happen to spontaneously go into labour. I have to admit, it's a massive relief - last time was an experience I am in no hurry to repeat.
Next on the agenda is my 12 week scan in a week's time, the prospect of which is exciting and terrifying at the same time. Then four days later I meet with my hospital consultant to discuss more of the same. Bring it on.
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