Went to Melbourne on Tuesday for the first meeting with the Royal Womens to get bubs Gastroschisis diagnosed. On that side of things, it went awesomely. There's aparently only 5-6mm of bowel sticking out which is classified at 'very tiny'. So, we're happy about that!
But, (this might be a bit of a rant!) it was also discovered that I have Oligohydramnios. Which means that my amniotic fluid is low. Unfortunately they won't tell me how low. Everytime I asked a question I got told "I don't have those numbers" "I don't know" or "I cannot tell you". DP and I were getting extremely upset with this. The doctor at the U/S told me that I needed to have an amnio right now. I said no, because I felt that I didn't need one and I wanted more information on my baby, because all I was being told was to have an amnio and nothing else. Their reason for me needing an amnio was because of the Gastroschisis, Oligohydramnios, bub's small size, I have a tiny baby bump (which runs in my family, most of the women get no stomach at all, and if they do its not til around 35 weeks), and the fact that I'm 18.
Bub's small, they won't say how small but he's on the lower end of the scale. DP and are fine about that, also a family trait that baby's are small until later on in the pregnancy.
I was then sent round to Maternal Foetal Unit to see a OB, who unforuntaly as I said was very unhelpful. All he was concerned about was forcing me into having an amnio because of the "high risk" of chromosonal abnomalities, and they want to do an amnio for their own information. Again, he wouldn't tell me how high the risk of chromosonal abnormalities and after alot of fighting and guessing numbers from me he told me that the risk is just under 5%. So, I've got a 95% percent chance of a baby being completely normal and healthy. Another thing he was stuck on telling me what that the baby could die, but wouldn't tell me how high that chance is. There's that risk in any complicated pregnancy that the baby could die. My mother lost one at 21 weeks, clot in the umbilical cord. My sister lost her first one last year at 20 weeks, hypercoiling and thinning of the umbilical cord.
And they kept telling me that we have the option of termination. I couldn't kill my baby for no reason. It goes against everything I believe.
All I have to go on concerning the health of my baby is my gut feeling. I know in heart and soul that he's going to be ok. I just know it. And it sucks that no-one in the hospital will understand when I say that. My gut has been right on so many occasions.
I have to trust it. Bub is going to be fine.
I just really need some support right now. DP has barely spoke since the hospital. Last night he told me that he's worried that we're going to lose the baby.
We're both OK with the fact that the baby could have chromosonal abnormalities.
DP told me last night that his ex had abormalities and she was completely normal, apart from being mostly deaf.
so sorry you are having a tough time, but well done for standing up for yourself. You sounds like a very strong woman, I think this bub picked you to look out for him
I too am very impressed with you standing up for yourself. It is absolutely your right to not have an amnio, even if the doctors sometimes forget this.
Through the hospital you have access to social workers and the consumer advocate, so if you feel that you are not being listened to or you are not being given all the information you can make an appointment with the consumer advocate or a social worker and ask them to get the information you need. The consumer advocate s ph no is 8345 2290.
I don't normally post in here but thought i would have a look as i was looking for something completely different.
Firstly might i say without sounding too patronising that at 18 I had very little clue, and at now 32 i hope if faced with the same situation i would be as level headed and mature as you are in your post.
If as you say you know that this bub is ok, and things will turn out to be fine, follow your instincts - i rely on mine all the time and have come to learn over the years that sometimes its all you have got. so if you believe in what you are feeling so strongly - stick with it i say.
Demand more information, this is your body, and your baby and any decision that needs to be made should be an informed one - with both benefits and risks included. Don't feel forced to make a decision and if things don't turn out the way you thought they might, make decisions as they need to be made with your partner.
Too often as pregnant women and women in general we are forced into making decisions based on "medical opinion" when that opinion turns out to be misinformed and often wrong.
So hang in there, you are going to be ok (fingers crossed) and so will that little bub.
More potential problems with bub... need help.
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