I made the phone call today to the high risk clinic to let them know they should receive a referral for me from my current obstetrician in the next day or two. I felt I needed to pre-warn them I am already 10 weeks pregnant and will be needing to have our nuchal fold scan in two weeks time. Perhaps seems a bit pushy not waiting for them to contact me, but I had a friend who was referred to the high risk clinic at 10 weeks and by the time they processed her referral they had her scheduled for her nuchal fold scan at 14-15 weeks (which might be bordering on too late).
I was so impressed with the response from the team. I had three follow-up phone calls from them today. They hadn’t even received my referral yet, but looked up my hospital notes and read through them. It would have been mainly about my pre-term labour last year with our daughter. She lived for 35 hours. They had obviously read the notes in detail as mentioned the fact that I had no warning when I went into labour which is right. I’m told they showed my notes to a specialist in stillborn and neo-natal deaths, and came back to me with recommendations on switching to a multi-vitamin rather than high dose folic acid tablets I was currently taking and told me I needed to start taking baby aspirin immediately. They also suggested I could take an anti-nausea drug to help ease my morning sickness, but since I am pretty sensitive to even the slightest drugs at times I prefer to play it safe and just ride through it without risking any drugs. I already feel as though I am being well looked after… it’s so nice!!
Apparently I can expect to have an appointment sent to me in the next couple of days as they have already booked me in for a 12 week scan and with one of the obstetricians there. I was just so impressed with the swift response and how quickly everything has been sorted after just a short phone call this morning.
They have also advised me I will need to have an ‘internal’ examination on the same day of the 12 week scan to check the state of my cervix. In the past I have had a laser cone biopsy for treatment for pre-cancerous cells CIN II (a bad smear) so I guess I might have a slightly higher risk of this being a problem, since I have had part of my cervix removed. Apparently they will measure my cervix (oh joy, where do they keep the measuring tape), and if there is any hint of incompetence they will probably put in a surgical suture / stitch. I haven’t researched the risks involved in this procedure, but of course there are some. My obstetrician seemed to think it would be a good idea regardless if it could possibly reduce the chance of a premature birth again, so I guess I will just roll with what the experts think.
Anyway, apart from feeling sick still, I am feeling quite comforted with all the attention from the high risk clinic!
Still not out of the real danger zone yet, but certainly getting closer to it…
2ndgo's Blog 
That sounds like a great initial response from the unit. It must be very reassuring at this point. I am down for a nuchal fold scan on the 19th of August. It is still not the standard practise here in the UK (although it will be by 2011) and so we need to go private. What date is your next scan……week by week we go!
Yes, it is so nice to feel like I am going to be well looked after. How are you feeling about the waiting at the moment? Is it getting any easier as time goes on, or just as bad? Roll on that next scan… bet you wish the 19th would hurry up and get here. That’s really interesting that it isn’t standard practise in the UK to get a 12 week scan. I’d be getting a private scan too!
We need to wait for our letter to arrive with our appointment date and time but sounds like it will be in 2 weeks time.
You do get a 12 week scan (b/w 11-14 week) as part of the normal preganacy NHS care but it is not a nuchal scan. The NHS “scanners” have not been trained in the analysis yet and currently to assess the risk of Down’s etc they only use a blood test which is not as accurate. I am older (35) but not that old! I am off camping this weekend and I had hoped to have a 9 week scan before going but I am having one on the 7th Aug (and then the nuchal scan on the 19th). Both are private and I am hoping they will give me the reassurance I am after (for a while anyway!). I persuaded my husband to ring the assisted conception unit to ask about my lack/loss of the sicky feeling and they said not to worry. That is easier said than done.
I have my first midwife appointment on the 2nd Aug….not sure what they do there but I guess I will find out! I would like to have the reassurance that the “baby” is growing as it should do…..
Take care you you and your 0.2.