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???

Hope you’re okay, what a shock!! If I were you I’d just go to the pregnancy unit at your hospital, the asssessment unit/big bit where you go in pregnancy if you’re having bloods done/need reassurance. In my experience you’ll be waiting forever for 111 and they’ll just send you to A&E (not the best advice in this situation imo, I went to A&E for bleeding in my pregnancy and it was the biggest waste of 8 hours of my life ever, they just told me to go to EPU in the morning). Also much easier to explain in person, if you’re worried you’re in labour especially!

You’re not the first person to not know you’re pregnant and won’t be the last and it’s not you fault, anything with meds and drinking you shouldn’t feel guilty for as you didn’t know. Hope you get it all sorted today. X

Buy some pregnacare vitamins today and contact GP/midwife tomorrow. Not a&e, if you think that you are in labour go to maternity unit.

Gosh. Hope you’re ok. This must be a huge shock ❤️

What a shock! I'd be calling multiple places as soon as possible, to explain the situation as you've explained here, and see who can help you first 🩷

Is there someone who can be with you as an advocate, OP?

You must be understandably overwhelmed; a friend or family member who can be there to support you and insist on help on your behalf can be a godsend. With a history of early labour and cramps, you really do need to be checked out with as little stress to you as possible.

Hi OP, the key point here is that you are having new pain. That warrants an assessment today to see if you are in early labour or if something is wrong (although all may be well, please don't panic, but do get assessed today).

It would be different if you had realised you were pregnant but felt absolutely fine, which would be less urgent.

In some places you could phone the antenatal day unit, explain the situation and get seen by them directly. If not you will need to go to A&E as that is often the only way to be referred to on call Obstetrics at the weekend as a new patient. Once you have been triaged as having a positive pregnancy test, pain and no scan it should be straightforward that you will be seen by either Obstetrics (if they accept your dates) or Gynaecology.

I wouldn't wait for 111 to call back as it may take a long time and they are likely to tell you to attend A&E if you feel unwell and contact a midwife Monday if you feel fine. They might book you an ooh GP appt and GP might refer you onwards.... but that will be a longer process than going to A&E and depends on GP appts being available.

Go to your nearest labour ward/ DAU/MAU IN PERSON now.
Don't try to explain over the phone - it's not worth your time.
Go now, in person, see a midwife/ Dr in person and get checked over.
Go now. Do it.

No practical advice other than what has already been offered. Just wanted to say I hope everything goes well for you and you get some answers and have some support around you.

This.
Especially given the cramping and history of preterm labour, and complication of lithium.

I would book an appointment with your GP as a matter of urgency. Its not ideal but I don't see why there is any need for alarm medically speaking.

What does "sorry but no" mean?

I suspect it means get yourself to the nearest maternity unit asap. I agree.

Good luck OP!

I disagree.

History of pre term labour.

undiagnosed late pregnancy at around the same gestation as pre term labour.
no pre natal care
contra indicated drugs.
mild cramping- which in previous delivery ramped up very quickly to full labour.

i think an urgent assessment is warranted. Better than ignoring and having an unassisted preemie home birth.

In your position I'd go to a&e/walk in centre they will direct you to maternity, some waiting around but waiting for a 111 call is likely to take hours anyway, you may not get a scan immediately but they can listen for a heartbeat and monitor you.

Oh you poor thing! Have you got anyone IRL you can call to be with you? Calling 111 was a good shout. I would definitely try your DAU as well. They’ll be able to advise you.

@Goldflamingo

OP, do you have friends or relatives who could come round this afternoon, in case you need someone to look after your daughter while you go to the hospital if necessary?

Is there someone you can call and explain the situation to who can help?

111 is a good call for today. They will be able to advise you further. Try to keep as calm as possible. One step at a time. Tomorrow you can get the ball rolling with more help available. Obviously if you feel unwell then go to a and e. Hopefully you have some support IRL.

No, don’t phone… go in! It’s not a regular appointment you need. Triage midwives are available at hospital 24/7. You need to go, now.

Similar happened to me, although I wasn't quite so far along. I called the local maternity assessment unit and they had me go straight in to be checked. It was the number that people use later on in pregnancy for issues. They said not being registered was no problem, they see people all the time who aren't registered with them - e.g. visiting family in another part of the country.

I'm sure if you call them and explain you've just found out and have symptoms of potential early labour they will tell you to come in now.

Just call or go to the day assessment unit - don’t waste your trim messing about with 111. You could be being seen in DAU by the time they even call you back.

You have had no antinatal care, high risk pregnancy - they are not going to turn you away - the midwife’s will be as anxious as you to start getting some info in the system and run obs and tests to figure out what’s what, how far along, current status etc and make sure you and baby start getting the right care asap.

just call them or just go - it’s midwives you need now - anyone else is just a delay

An immediate scan doesn't make any difference now as it's too late for an abortion by your dates. Hopefully a midwife will contact you soon, they'll ve able to listen to babies heartbeat and arrange a scan then. Best of luck, there's time to get your head around it all before the birth but it must be a huge shock.

There’s some terrible advice on here. What does anyone think 111 will advise? They’ll say see a midwife.
A&E will refer ti maternity.
The only thing to do in this situation is to phone maternity triage/DAU or whatever it’s called in your hospital. Tell them you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, over 30 weeks gestation with abdominal pain and history of preterm labour. They will see you, ctg and obs, obstetric review and scan at nearest availability.

A scan now would date the pregnancy.

What a shock for you OP. I hope it all works out for you,