And the doctor said……

                                                       Originally written: January 21, 2012

On Monday, January 16^th I went in for my regular scheduled doctor’s appointment.  It just happened to be a coincidence that I had this appointment the day after my frightful visit to the ER but the timing could not have been more perfect.  I was scared to death of what the results of the test I was going for were going to say, but I think I was more so fearful of what the doctor might tell me about my visit to the ER the day before.

I started off in the room with the sonogram tech.  She began doing the sonogram part of the exam where they measure the fluid build up behind the neck of the developing baby.  I take it that an abnormal amount is a sign of a defect or chromosomal abnormality.  Luckily she said everything looked normal.  She took some other quick measurements and then listened to the heartbeat which she said was strong at 160 beats per minute.  I told her of my trip to the ER and that they found a clot behind the placenta and that there was another still there.  I informed her of the measurements and mentioned how they told me in the ER that I should have it checked to make sure it was not getting bigger.  After hearing this, she took a look and measured it for me and let me know that the measurements were the same.  She then went on to tell me that when she was pregnant with her first child almost 10 years ago she too had a subchorionic bleed.  The sonogram tech continued on to tell me that she actually bled a lot and in her case she needed to go on bed rest for a period of time but that her daughter was born completely healthy. She went on to tell me a bit more about her personal experience and I have to say that it made me feel a lot better.  I had read online that this could be a sign of all sorts of bad things that can happen but hearing from another person that went through a similar experience and went on to carry their child to term was somewhat reassuring.  But despite this reassurance, I still needed to see what the doctor had to say.

So after the sonogram, I went in to see the doctor where he drew my blood for the other part of the Ultrascreen.  I told him what happened over the weekend and showed him the reports from the hospital.  He did not seem too concerned.  I think in all honestly, my doctor was more annoyed that his associate who was on call at the hospital all weekend did not personally stop by to check on me than he was concerned with what actually happened.   Going in, I thought maybe he was going to restrict some of my activities or put me on bed rest which was my worst fear as I would die of boredom, but he did not. He told me to take it easy for about a week and if a week went on with no bleeding, I could resume all my regular activities.  He then told me that he should have the results of the Ultrascreen test in about a week and would call me with the results either way and that he would see me in a month.

 Yesterday, much sooner than I had expected, I received a call from the doctor’s office with the results.  The woman that called told me the results were normal.  Now I know after doing some research that they give you a percentage or odds of having a certain condition so when she told me that it was normal, I said, “What are you considering normal?  What were the percentages?”  She told me that it came up 1 in 441 for Down’s Syndrome and 1in 761 for the other Trisomies.  Now personally, I would like the odds for Down’s to be closer to 761 than 441, but my husband seems to feel comfortable with those numbers and I guess I am too.  I think I am going to forgo having an amniocentesis.  While it is more accurate and can check for things this test did not, it also runs a higher risk of miscarriage as it is more invasive.  After last weekend’s experience, I think I will choose to forgo anything that may put the baby at risk and possibly incur more bleeding and trips to the ER.   

The woman that called with the results told me that at the next visit they will do more blood work that will check for spina bifida and double check some of the results of this test.  Unless there appears to be a problem, I am going to pray for the best and not advocate for any further testing unnecessarily.

Until I write again……..