Just found out I’m pregnant I must be over 30 weeks I am scared!

[Goldflamingo]

Hi posting here as this thread seems to get the most traction.

I found out I was pregnant this morning. I haven’t had periods for 2 years as I’ve been on the pill and they’ve stopped them. I had no symptoms until recently. My belly is tiny, I’ve lost weight. I have been feeling so sick and dizzy, Saturday I went to a theme park with my daughter, I fainted and was sick everywhere. The medic came over and asked if there was any chance I could be pregnant and I laughed it off. I recovered and we went home.

Today I thought oh I will just take a test to rule it out. I was going shopping anyway so I didn’t specifically set out to buy a test, I just grabbed one with my shopping. I fully expected it to say negative, I was just doing it to humour myself. I knew there was an extremely slim chance but I was 99.99% sure it would be negative. I didn’t even look for 20 minutes as I was adamant it was a waste of time and would be negative. But no, two lines appeared. Because I left it so long I thought a possible false positive so I went out and got 6 more including a digi. All were dark positive and the digi said pregnant.

I went in to panic mode. I have not had sex in 30 weeks, the last time I had sex was November the 24th. I was dating somebody and things broke up after a few months as he moved abroad. I have not had sex or even dated since.

I called EPU, I explained the whole situation and they’ve said as I’m over 16 weeks, they can not take me under their care and I need to do an online referral for a midwife and urge the importance of the situation in my online referral. I have done an online referral and stressed they contact me asap. I can not find a direct number for the midwife’s, only the number for antenatal day Assesment unit. I don’t know what I should do, do I just go to a&e. Do I wait until the midwife’s have got back to me?

I am so scared. For all I know there’s more than one baby, the baby could be sick, the placenta could have developed incorrectly, the baby could be deformed, the baby could have a disability. Anything; because I haven’t been checked! So now I’m worrying!

I also drink a bottle of wine most weekends.

I am terrified something would have gone wrong but I’m in limbo until the midwife’s contact me back after they’ve received my referral. I don’t know what to do, do I go to A&E?? Am I going to be in trouble for not knowing until now?

I feel so uncomfortable sat here doing nothing about it until they’ve got back to me when I’m anywhere from 30-36 weeks pregnant. My other daughter was born at 33 weeks so I’m worrying!!!

please what do I do??? Do I go to a&e???

No it's true Voodoo - some medication is known to cause birth defects and so is recommended not to be prescribed to women of child bearing age unless there really is no alternative. Sodium valproate is one. Other psychiatric medications are assessed on a case by case basis with an assessment of the risk to the baby versus the benefits to the mother. Lithium would fall into this latter category.

Try not to worry about your medication, but you do need to be seen as soon as possible - are you under a mental health team at all?

What are the risks of using lithium in pregnancy?
Lithium use in pregnancy may increase the chance of the baby being born with a heart defect. Approximately 1 in every 100 babies born in the UK has a heart defect. This is called the background rate. Some studies suggest that around 2 in every 100 babies exposed in the womb to lithium are born with a heart defect. This still means that the vast majority of babies (98 out of every 100) born to women taking lithium have a normal heart. There is no strong evidence that lithium causes any other problems in pregnancy.
(Bumps)

I'm surprised the midwives have administered Codeine, it isn't generally recommended in pregnancy:

While it is clear that the majority of babies born to women taking codeine do not experience any long-term effects, some studies have shown that, very occasionally, codeine use in early pregnancy may be linked to heart defects and spina bifida in the baby. Further research is required to confirm these links.
Codeine used around the time of delivery can affect the baby for a while after birth, meaning that they may need to be looked after in a neonatal unit. The baby may be ‘jittery’, have feeding problems, and initially need some help with breathing. These problems usually settle within the first few days.
(Bumps)

Bloody hell @Goldflamingo I don't know how anyone gets their head around something like this! It must be such a shock, particularly as you aren't with the father and will have to tell him at some point. I hope things go okay for you and that you manage to go to term, if only to give you a few weeks to sort things out, prepare for the birth of your baby, arrange childcare and maternity leave, etc

@Shivermeoldtimbers she's not in early pregnancy and is also not about to deliver. Codeine is considered generally safe in pregnancy and prescribed when needed. No need to alarm OP unnecessarily.

@Shivermeoldtimbers codeine is given under supervision very commonly in pregnancy. Why are you acting like you know better than the QUALIFIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS caring for the OP? Give me strength! Stop bloody fear mongering, she’s been through enough.

Best wishes OP

No intention of alarming OP, just wouldn't take the risk myself. I also think she needs to speak to whoever is prescribing her Lithium to discuss whether the dose needs reducing or stopping or swapping to a different medication.

Well of course she will! She outlined all the possible things which could be an issue in her opening post, including the lithium, so is perfectly well aware of them. This all only happened yesterday! Give her some time, for goodness sake. The amount of hectoring on this thread of a woman who has found herself in a really difficult situation at no notice is really disturbing.

OP, I hope you’re comfortable now and being well looked after. We are all (well, almost all) rooting for you here, and hoping things come out okay for you.

Calm down.

I am absolutely certain that obs and gynae will be discuss the lithium with the on call psychiatrist and all appropriate professionals will be making a risks vs benefits decision on its use for the remainder of the pregnancy.

The doctors and professionals will decide what’s best for OP . You aren’t her doctor .

Let's hope so!

You have no idea whether or not I'm a qualified heath professional.

Of course they will.

I'm bipolar and had DD while on both mood stabilisers and serious amounts of prescribed (and needed) opiates.

Everything in my pregnancy was a multi-team process and all the different specialists had input. At no time was it suggested that any meds should have been reduced or stopped as that was not in anyone's best interest.

A bit of codeine at this stage of pregnancy is not a concern - which is why the OP was prescribed them.

all appropriate professionals will be making a risks vs benefits decision

They should be including OP's thoughts, opinions and wishes in that decision.

I truly doubt that you are.

In any case, I hope not.

Nice.

Are you ok? I’m stunned you’re on line dispensing medical advice. In this situation.

OP, I hope your scan today went well and was reassuring. Another one rooting for you here.
So glad you got the help you needed yesterday.

You don't think a patient should be included in the decision making process, particularly when it also concerns her unborn baby?

@Goldflamingo I hope you are comfortable, managed to get some sleep, and are getting the support you need to get your head round all this. Well done for sorting yourself the help you needed yesterday when you must've been in complete shock.

Please just stop.

You are exceptionally strong and you did so well sorting all of this yesterday, hope the scan went well and that you are able to start getting your head around it all!
Do ignore the previous poster copy-pasting about meds, you are under the care of the hospital and it seems they’re just relishing in trying to make you feel shit (for accepting painkillers you need that were dispensed by a medical professional, no less! What is with some people!)

All the best. X