Rumer's Story, part 17

Cardiology appointment

Tuesday 30th June to Wednesday 1st July 2015
26 weeks pregnant

So on the Tuesday, we went to our second cardiology appointment. Recalling how Professor Marshall had been happy to consider surgical options even in the most dire of situations last time, we were hopeful that he would remain open to considering these and other relevant treatments. However, we also knew that offering active treatment for babies with trisomy 18 was not usual practice in the UK, and we weren't sure whether the diagnosis would change his approach.

Rumer's Story, part 15

Not such a lethal diagnosis

Wednesday 24th to Saturday 27th June 2015
25 to 26 weeks pregnant

So we got on with our plans. We submitted an enquiry through the SOFT UK website. We ordered some tiny, tiny baby clothes online (from here and here), and Rumer's rainbow blanket.

Rumer's rainbow blanket!
We thought this would service nicely as her burial shroud.

Rumer's Story, part 14

Getting organised!

Tuesday 23rd to Wednesday 24th June 2015
25 weeks pregnant

So we arrived back from Berlin with motivation and a better sense of how to move forward: making a stillbirth plan had clarified some of the things we needed to get on with. Our 'to do' list went:

1. Practical arrangements for a home stillbirth
2. Buy clothes and things for the baby
3. Contact photography charities regarding photographs of the baby
4. Discuss what family would want in the event of a stillbirth
5. Explore the practicalities and legalities of home burial
6. Look for a doula
7. Prepare a birth bag

Rumer's Story, part 13

Berlin and a name!

Friday 19th to Tuesday 23rd June 2015
25 weeks pregnant

So we arrived at the hotel and checked in. We'd chosen the hotel because it had a vegan breakfast and a vegetarian restaurant attached (we always plan around the food) but it was a way out of town and not the most convenient. We ate that first night in the restaurant attached to the hotel - Bistro Bardot - and went to bed, not before checking in on the baby with the sonicaid. We knew she was a girl now, but we'd not yet named her. Our foray into the name books on our journey had got us to the letter B in name book number one.

Keeping it Simple - Caesarean section or vaginal birth?

Which is best for a baby with trisomy 18?

This is the Keeping it Simple summary - read the detailed version here.

This question comes up all the time on trisomy groups. It came up for us. Our initial plans were to have a caesarean section, but we eventually decided to opt for vaginal birth after a lot of discussion with different professionals and taking all our circumstances into account. What I would say is that there is no clear-cut answer as to which is the best option for a baby with trisomy 18.

Caesarean section or vaginal birth?

Which is best for a baby with trisomy 18?

This is the detailed version - read the Keeping it Simple summary here.

This question comes up all the time on trisomy groups. It came up for us. Our initial plans were to have a caesarean section, but we eventually decided to opt for vaginal birth after a lot of discussion with different professionals and taking all our circumstances into account. What I would say is that there is no clear-cut answer as to which is the best option for a baby with trisomy 18.