Chorionic Villus Sampling
Chorionic Villus Sampling prenatal test was today. And – oh my – am I ever glad that’s over.
Basically, what happens is that the doctor snips out a teensy bit of the baby’s placenta and that – rather than baby-cells – gets tested for genetic problems. The advantage is that it’s a test that can be done very early, and the results are pretty damned definitive – they’re also available in 24 hours, unlike the week or so you sometimes have to wait to get amnio results back. And in the hands of a specialist, it’s as safe or safer than amnio. This all sounds great, right? Well, maybe it does until you take into account that there are only two ways that Doc is getting into your uterus to take a sample – it’s either cervically or trans-abdominally. Being the lucky girl that I am, I got to have both my CVSs done trans-abdominally. Needles instead of flexible catheters.
Seriously, I thought I was past worrying about needles by this stage of the game, but these were really big honkin’ needles. Not to worry anyone who’s considering this test, but it really sucked.
Not the needle-jab itself. That was no big deal. I mean, needles in the belly, yuck, but whatever. We’ve all done this by now, right? Once the pointy part is actually past that top layer of skin you just don’t feel it. Doc doesn’t even do the numbing cream thing, because really, skin just isn’t that sensitive. But my peritoneal lining? Let’s just say it’s a damned shame they couldn’t have slathered a numbing cream onto that, because it felt like the doctor’s entire hand was poking around in my belly up to, about, his wrist. (The Boy assures me it was just a needle, but I’m not entirely sure I believe him.)
Owie.
To be fair, Doc said that because of the angle of my uterus, he had to go in at an oblique angle, so that probably made it more uncomfortable than it would be normally.
And to be even more fair, it wasn’t like I was in writhing agony with tears running down my face (though I did whimper a couple of times.) It just felt gut-wrenchingly – if you’ll pardon the pun - wrong. Wrong to have anything moving around in there that wasn’t, you know, gas or half-digested food. The full-to-almost-leaking bladder didn’t help matters either. You know, staying tense so as not to wet myself sort of made it hard to relax those belly muscles when the time came to relax.
And then I got another jab because I’m rh-negative, and needed a rhogam shot. I just can’t get me enough of those needles!
Anyway, I’m glad it’s over. It sucked, but it still wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, and it was FAST. Took longer to wipe my entire lower body down with iodine & alcohol than it did to actually do both procedures. It will take even longer to remove all that iodine, I’m sure. Which I’m about to go do.
But all that said? I’m still really (really really) glad it’s over. Going to go try to catch up on some of the sleep I lost last night, worrying about this procedure. Sleep sounds like a really good thing right now…
so glad that’s over!
and so sorry it was ouchie and weird. (I BET!).
did not know about the full bladder part of it, I suck at that particularly with my mini thimble bladder.
Hope you have a great nap, sleep well sweet Susan,
Sure glad that is over!
one less thang.
xoxo
Kate
Ouch. I’m glad you’re on the other side of that now!
I hate full bladder procedures. I can’t decide if I’m a big wimp or if having a bladder the size of a teacup really does mean you suffer more.
I hope you have a great nap!
yuck that sounds painful and uncomfortable. I’m so sorry!
Ouch! I am glad it’s all over. I hated that rhogam shot too. It always seemed to sting!
I have been meaning to comment about the B12 supplement you take. In the past I took a liquid version of the B12 with Folic Acid pills I use now and it didn’t taste horrible. I don’t know if the Whole Foods in NYC carries this brand since it’s local here in TX, but the name is Bluebonnet and it comes in a bottle with a pink/purple label. Just a thought since you said the one you take is icky.
So true that it’s not the needle going in that hurts most, it’s moving it around when it’s in there. Hope you can take it easy the rest of the day.
Ugh ugh ugh. I remember that. The aspirating was the thing that got me, though. It was just, as you say, wrong. I had mine done on a Wednesday, I think, and they were supposed to call Friday with the results. The nurse assured me that they would call Friday. Definitely Friday. The results are never not in on Friday. So, you know, they don’t call on Friday. And so of course I call late Friday in total panic breakdown SURE that we were facing some horrifying genetic problem. And I have to leave a freaking message. No call back. And so by Monday I have whipped myself up into quite an apocalyptic state. When I finally get in touch with the nurse, she’s like “yeah, the lab was late.” Grrrr. But we had/have a healthy baby now, so it’s all okay.
Glad you are past that hurdle and surely with those young nubile eggs you have not a thing to worry about. Still, having those results helped me relax more during the remainder of the pregnancy. I hope they do the same for you!
I’m glad the CVS is over with. I hope you get the results you are hoping for.
Oh, that sounds horrible!! Taking it easy for the rest of the day, I hope? I’m glad it’s over and done with and you get the results quickly. I’m thinking of you.
Treat yourself to a nap after your nap and maybe a cup of cocoa to celebrate getting through the procedure.
hey, we’ve talked offline but just wanted to publicly post that I’m rooting for you and thinking of you and sending every best thought and wish your way that tomorrow be quick and not too traumatic.
Mo
Wow that sounds awful! Do you know if they use the same sort of needle as they do on the amnio? It sounded a lot the same, but of course I only had one shot. And compared to all the other yucky stuff we go through it is not that big of a deal! However you are certainly entitled to some treat or another – at the very least a nice snuggle with the whippet!
Oh sounds painful. Glad it’s over for you. Fingers crossed for the results and I hoep you sleep well!
Ick! But I’m glad it’s over too. I hope you get to enjoy the rest of the day lounging and napping and evelling in being pregnant!
Gah – I am so, so glad that it is over for you. I am glad that you will have the results soon and will be able to continue to move on – you are a rock star.
I am having an amnio tomorrow – and truth be told – I am more scared of that than pushing two big things out of a small space!
Susan Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 11:18 am
I hope the amnio goes smoothly and easily! (And sorry for the needle-phobic post right before you have to face the needle!)
Sounds so not fun, and way less pleasant than my second stretch & sweep today Glad it’s over and went well, and hope you get good results back.
Hopefully the anxious wait and decision-making will be over quickly. Best of luck to you.
I am so relieved for you that it’s over. I know many women do amnios or CVS and I’m always inspired by the requisite bravery. I had an ovarian cyst aspirated without anesthesia and the moment the needle pierced the peritoneum I thought I would propel vertically off the table, so I am humbled by you experiencing that feeling twice.
If I am ever blessed enough to be pregnant again, CVS will be in order. I have heard that they are most often done trans abdominally these days. What dictates which way they go in, do you know?
Susan Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Doc said that it’s completely dependent on where, within the uterus, the placenta is located. The way he explained it, if your cervix is home plate, then if the placenta is between home & first, or third & home, then you get it cervically. If it’s between first and third, then you get it abdominally. Lucky me, both placentas were between first & third…
Victoria Reply:
March 10th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
OK, that makes sense. I will file it away in the file marked “scary shit I hope to one day have to do”.
I’ve been reading your blog for so long, lurking I guess..But, I had to comment on the CVS procedure..I’m glad it went well. I had no idea they could go through the belly button…That would scare me less than doing it cervically! I guess the risks are that of an amnio?
Anyway, glad your well & so happy for you.
Susan Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Yeah, not through the belly-button so much, but about 2 inches to the side. Pretty much right where my Lovenox bruising is… And yeah, with a good practitioner, the risks are = amnio or a little less. Thank you for the good wishes – and for de-lurking!
So glad that it is over. You were really brave and I hope there is nothing but great news ahead. I so look forward to the day that we can all skip the constant poking with needles. When will that be? Summer? Autumn?
As if all that wasn’t bad enough, you had to have rhogam afterwards? Ugh. Hate the stuff. The burning, the skin falling off around the injection, the scarring… maybe I’m just a wuss.
Anyway, I’m glad the test is over and I hope everything is well!