Poor OSCAR result

Today I'm feeling tensed because it is an important day for us.

We are going for our OSCAR test appoitntment. Waited for about 15 mins outside the counter and we are lead to the waiting area for the scan. I was asked to clear my urine before doing the scan, and I did. The wait was long as there are only two rooms available for scans. After about 45 mins, my name was called and I went into the scan room. The sonographer is a china lady and she asked me to lye on the bed while she performed the scan. While she is moving the scan on my tummy, I was looking at the monitor screen and her expression too. I can sense something is not right as she seems very impatient while doing the scan. She commented that there is some urine in my bladder and she couldn't see clearly, but she didn't ask me to clear my bladder 1st but continue to scan and take pictures. In the end she finally asked me to go clear my bladder as she couldn't trace the part she wants to scan. When I came back, she seems even more impatient and rough and keep shaking my tummy with the scan and I saw my baby swaying here and there in my tummy. I understand she wants to shift the baby position but at least she should warn me before doing that, so that I'm mentally prepared for it. After the scans was done, we waited at the waiting area and it took a long time before we are called again. We saw a few couples paying for their balance fee, but for me the nurse told me that I can't pay 1st as the doctor needs to speak to me 1st. From here, I knew something is not right.

I was sent to the counter by the nurse and shortly doctor called my name. She analysed the result with us and the only problem with the result is the T21 chromosome which is the measurement of the neck thickness too thick and the overall reading is 1 : 258. It should be above 1 :300 to be normal. This means there is a slight risk of down syndrome but she says it may not be true that baby is really down syndrome. It's just an indication that further test needs to be done. When we hear this from doctor, I was a bit lost and almost cried but I control myself. I turned to dear and I could feel that he is very sad too as I saw a pair of teary eyes.

Doctor offered us to do CVS test (chorionic villus sampling). It involves taking a sample of cells from the tissue of the placenta and test for the important chromosomes to confirm if baby has down syndrome. I had done some read up before the OSCAR test and I immediately agreed to go ahead for the test. But this carries a small risk of misarriage, according to her is 1 :1000. This test can only be conducted between 11 to 14 weeks. We went through the conselling for the CVS and we even opted for express result to be known within 3 days. The detailed report will only be out within 14 days which is too long a wait for us. For the express report, it will cover the 3 main chromosome T21, T18 and T13 and also one more chromosome to test for the gender of baby. I am scheduled on tues for the test and heard It is a bit taxing on the mother as there could be side effect from the needle and procedure. I will be given 2 days MC after that.

On the way home, we both felt very depressed and sad. Surprisingly, I'm not really hungry and no sign of nauseous also today. I guess my mood has affected my baby's appetite also. After lunch, we head home and we both slept and I felt drained off. But I felt better after a sleep and went to do some research regards to poor OSCAR test. It seems it is very common for people to get bad results from OSCAR test as it is not an accurate test. Because the results could be due to baby's position or sonographer's skill to detect the sign. So a more accurate test which is the CVS or Amniocentesis are the best option for detecting down syndome.

Dear was not very pleased with the sonograper, the way she handle me during the scan. I know he is sad but he feels the result is partly due to the skill of the sonographer. He wanted to file a complaint against her and hope she can improve her service to other patients.

I believe this is a test from GOD, to strengthen our relationship and also to know how much we treasure our baby. I have faith in him to protect my baby but still the fear can never eased till the result is out.

May GOD bless my baby to be well and healthy and this would be the best gift he has given us.

Options for OSCAR test

Today I went for my appointment to choose an option for OSCAR test.

I was given three options:

A - Blood test with 80% detection rate
B - Blood test and scan with 90% detection rate
C- Blood test and scan with 90% detection rate but it will take longer to know result.

Among the three options, the most expensive one is definitely option B. I still pick option B as I  get to know the result on the day of scan. I think that will be the best option for us so we can rest our mind at ease and celebrate our journey to the 2nd trimester after the result is out !!!

May God continue to bless us and baby on 31 Aug 12, Friday!

10 Weeks- Monitor baby's heartbeat

The 3 weeks waiting to see my baby again is such a long wait...and I can't feel at ease

As according to my gynae, 10 weeks gestation is the most crucial time to check if baby's heartbeat is still beating well. If I passed the 10 weeks, I'm almost safe.

Instead of hearing baby's heart beat, Dr. Lau did an ultrasound scan. And I was so excited to meet my little one again! =D

The doctor didn't show it to me when he was moving the scan on my tummy, he showed my hubby first and I'm the last one to meet my baby in the room. When I saw baby, I was surprised to see baby's hands waving vigourously at me! Baby is so active in my tummy but I couldn't feel his movement as baby is still very small. Baby's heartbeat is also beating well, with flicking light on his left side shown on the screen.  Baby look so different from the first time I met him/her, he/she is so much bigger size than before. I feel so happy and ease at heart when I saw him/her... =) Baby size is abit big and that tells why my appetite is so hugh o,0

 

 

Doctor also recommend me to do the OSCAR check for down symdrome and we have decided to go ahead with it. I will be referred to another doctor for the check and the next appointment with Dr Lau will be at 4 months gestation.