CMV: The stealth virus

After trying for a baby for 2 years, we became pregnant with our first child just 2 days before we were due to sign the paperwork to undergo IVF treatment. I've been a midwife for 11 years, with experience mostly on the labour ward but also in teaching and community, so seeing people every day and hearing their ‘lucky’ stories of falling pregnant made my 2 years feel very long indeed. However, we too were lucky; we had no bleeding, no blood pressure issues, the Down syndrome screening came back very low and, despite sickness that lasted until 22 weeks and severe heartburn, I couldn't complain.

My midwife started measuring me at 26 weeks, when she picked up that I was small for dates. I also never felt my baby move. I started undergoing serial growth scans. I send women for these scans all the time and they generally come back fine, so I wasn't worried. My consultant did a TORCH (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, and HIV) blood screen for infections. I knew I was fit and healthy so, again, I wasn't worried.