Pregnancy

23rd June 2021

A little Amber update… scan is a bit blurry (she’s a wriggler!) but beautiful strong heartbeat, growing well and weighing in at an estimated 1.10lbs

9th July 2021

Just had another scan I’m now 27 weeks +3 days. They said Amber was the most active baby they’d scanned today… as usual the sonographer was chasing her round to get measurements! Her growth seems to have slowed a bit, at 25 weeks she was measuring just over the 10th centile and today they estimate her to be around the 3rd centile (though on the W.H.O. they estimate the 5th). She’s weighing 2Ibs (894.09g) so I’m just hoping she catches up a little bit more by the next scan. Here’s the latest photos of my wee girl… (having a good stretch in one.. the sonographer was laughing at her!)

21st July 2021

My baby girl is sounding strong #keepinghope

22nd July 2021

@katieowl1700
My #pregnancy journey so far, from utter joy to the devastating news my little girl has #trisomy18 #edwardssyndrome #babygirl
♬ Loved You Before – Natalie Taylor

25th July 2021

When you’ve tried to be organised packing labour/baby/post-birth bags early and thought you’d been as ‘minimal’ as possible…the ‘stuff’ does not all fit in my safari labour bag, Ambers blanket, shawl and nappies will not fit in her yellow bag, I still have a couple of outfits to fit in my post-birth suitcase in case we have to go to Aberdeen quickly… hmmmm… conclusion… I am NOT a minimalist!

27th July 2021

30 weeks today Off for another scan..

Amber is doing really well As predicted my consultant had to chase her round whilst scanning because she won’t stay still! Amniotic fluid level is still high, (which is a concern but also common with Edwards Syndrome/Trisomy 18) so she’s swimming in there but her stomach, though still small is looking larger and more obvious than it did in my last two scans which is a positive… (I am praying she doesn’t have oesophageal atresia so this is a really important observation for me to hear ) And… her growth has improved, she is still tiny! BUT… she’s back up to the 10th centile which is back within normal fetal growth. A massive achievement for my little one and I’m proud of her already.Latest photos of my baby girl.. not quite as clear as last time but she is a wriggler!

12th August 2021

So had a lovely scan this morning and Coreigh got to see her little sister for the first time Scan picture was difficult to get today as Amber was in an awkward position so today we have…. A photo of her ear! She has a beautiful strong heartbeat, was wriggling around and her cord flow is good. My amniotic fluid levels have dropped slightly which is a bonus and though apparently they do fluctuate I’m taking it as a small ‘win’ because this is the first time it’s lower than at a previous scan. Her stomach has grown Again another positive, so much so even I could spot it on the scan! And the sonographer was delighted to tell me that Ambers growth has remained at the 10th centile, so yes she’s little but she is staying within normal growth for her age. They now estimate her to be around 3lbs15oz so she’s gained a whole lb in two weeks Baby girl is a little fighter

17th August 2021

33 weeks today My baby girl is a warrior queen

24th August 2021

Latest Amber update 34 weeks pregnant today! So some positives and one main concerning thing today. Ambers growth has slowed again She’s dropped back down to the 3rd centile size-wise which while not surprising with her diagnosis is still upsetting and hard to hear. She is putting on weight slowly but has only gained 3oz since my last scan and is now estimated to be around 4lbs2oz … still I have another 3 – 4 weeks before being induced so hopefully she will stay put until then and grow a bit more! Positives though… she has such a strong heartbeat and her cord flow is good! My fluid levels have increased slightly but are not up to previous high levels thankfully. Her kidneys are looking good, her heart though she has the VSD is looking strong and regular (this will be looked at properly after birth and potentially she may have surgery depending on how her health is overall) And best news for me today was her stomach size looks normal .. (I had a different sonographer today who said that has she not known about Ambers Trisomy 18 she wouldn’t have suspected there had ever been an issue with her stomach looking at it today )I have a big meeting tomorrow with my midwife, GP, fetal medicine, children’s hospice, health visitor and community nurse (I think that’s everyone!) about support for when (Being optimistic!) I bring Amber home. Scan not so clear today… she had her head hidden in my pelvis and her face turned away so we have a cute little cheek but no face view! We think she was sleeping and determined not to be disturbed