support thread for women who are pregnant or TTC after a termination for abnormalities

[katiecubs]

Hi girls - i hope this becomes a useful area

I second that from katie - definitely email/call your midwife kittens and try and get some reassurance that way.

I really wish I could say something that would make the time pass quicker. But every twinge makes me worry, and I'm worrying the pain in my side (very feint and clearly from bending too far in pilates) means it's ectopic. One of the reasons I've stopped rushing to book my scans in is because at least when I don't have to look at the scan on the screen, I can keep my head in the sand and pretend everything is going fine. Ignorance in my case is indeed bliss. So I'm in no position to advise there. Sympathise - yes.

And symptom spotting is always a very dangerous occupation - there are many reasons symptoms can ease and then come back, or just ease altogether. Especially if you focus very hard on them.

I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with extra worries and I really hope your midwife has some more useful information for you. But it really does sound as though variation in dates and measurements can vary a lot and so there is a strong chance everything is absolutely fine.

Wrote a long message and then changed my mind! But if it's any comfort, Kittens, my pregnancy symptoms have fluctuated too. I'd go with contacting your midwife and just trying to hold on until the next scan. Easier said than done, I know...

Thanks again ladies. I have emailed midwife and in the meantime will try to get a grip instead of driving myself stupid!

Kitten, I don't know what to say, but just wanted to say I hope you can just get through the next couple of weeks until the next scan and try to put it out of your head. Understand entirely that this is hard. Have you googled this/done a thread search on it? Every time I've had a pregnancy problem I've tried to see how it's panned out for other people. You might get some reassurance that way.

Hi all. Just brief message as am exhausted and a bit scatter-brained due to drugs. She's here. Bella Rose. Weighed just under 3.5 kg. She is in the nursery, having oxygen as she has been 'working' to breathe. Apparently can be common with C-section. Will have to leave it at that for a bit as drifting off. Xxxx

Mishta, FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!! XXXXXXXXXXX

Am off to be induced today, All knitters to the bench please! Very worried about today.....xxx

Bella Rose - hello lovely girl.
Hello, hello, hello!
kisses
Auntie Bee
xxxxxxxx

Beautifal name Mistha congratulations!!! Look forwrad to hearing more about her later on when you have recovered a bit

Shangrila, glad you came to a decision you were most comfortable with. Hope it happens for you soon.

And good luck today Lins, will take my seat on the bench now xxx

Everyone thank you dearly for the warm welcome of Bella. Just letting you know have updated on 'mother thread' and am too tired to repeat self here.

Thinking of you Lins, looking forward to news

thinking also of everyone else, dear friends on the bench, thank you xxxx

Lins - am there on the bench with Katie, and keeping a watchful eye on Bella Rose also. Looking forward to more good news later! xx

Hello all, am visitng from the bench down the path.

Mishta - congratulations on Bella Rose. Hang in there Mishta, this will pass and your baby will be in your arms.

Lins - have labour pom poms and bunting out for you.

Shangrila - wow. What a mindblowing experience for you. I have labour pompoms and bunting for you too!

But mainly for Mishta, all will be well. Keep hanging in there, you are doing great.

Aahhh, congratulations Mishta. Lovely news and a beautiful name.

Good luck today Lins - will be sitting on the bench with a brolly waiting to hear your news.

Shangrila, glad the way things have turned out have made you feel calmer. When's your natural due date? You could try some camomile tea to calm your tummy and nerves. Also, don't the recommend bananas for babies with upset tummies? I'm just trying to think what you can have in the absence of real medicine.

Right ladies - shall we all talk on one thread today? This is all too confusing for Mishta in her recovery! Hop over to ours why not? And we will have to make a new one later on today anyway as we have nearly run out.
hugs to all
Bee xxxx

Thanks again everyone for your continued well wishes - just letting you know that I have taken up Bee's suggestion of posting on one thread at the moment, save repeating self. Have just posted update there not long ago. See you there, and thanks again for your much needed support xxx

Hello Ladies,

Its been a few days since a post from me, so here goes.

Mishta Congratulations on Bella. I bet she is gorgeous. Sending you my thoughts.

Lins Well done. Franklin is such a lovely name. I have to take it off my shortlist now

Shangrila I am a strong believer in fate. I hope things are going ok for you now.

In terms of my world, nothing much has happened. We went for another scan last Thursday and the consultant said he thinks that the skull is fine. We have another check on the 3rd of Feb but his words were very comforting and I am hoping that the next one is just a formality. I don't want to get too excited though as I feel I could be tempting fate.

It is really nice to hear so many positive stories and I am hoping that this thread will be good luck for us all.

Hope you are all well, sorry if I have missed anyone.

Morning all. After all the excitement of new babies over the weekend, I just wanted to check how the rest of my fellow weeny bean carriers are getting on? Allstars - so pleased the scan went well. Can I ask you something? I have a friend whose 12 week scan revealed anancephaly (sp?) a couple of months ago and she's just plucking up strength to try again. Someone recommended high dose folic acid for her and I was wondering if you'd heard/done the same at all?

Kittens - how are you doing now - hope you're ok? Are you still having another scan next week?

And Katie - only 2 more days to wait! God, the thought of it makes my stomach flip - I can only imagine how you must be feeling. Only two more days sweetie and then I so hope you have good news and a full set of chromosomes to celebrate. I hope you're ok?

I'm off to the doctors in a bit to announce myself and hopefully get something sorted for an early scan. I'm dreading that even, and it's just the first easy step. Such a challenge isn't it? Sounds like its worth it though, if Mishtabel and Lins are anything to go by. Fingers crossed we'll get there eventually. Love to all. x

Morning everybody ? hope you had nice weekends!

Allstar that great news on the scan so glad you are starting to feel much more positive. I?m sure the next scan on the 3rd is just one more final check for your own peace of mind ? hopefully then you can fully relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

Hi Littlepoot, I hope the doctor manages to sort your early scan out for you today ? how many weeks are you now? 6ish? Let us know how it goes.

Kittens hope you are ok and are managing to relax a little (hard I know), when is your next scan?

I?m ok but getting very nervous, this time in two days I will be sitting in the waiting room, just thinking of it makes me go cold. Please everybody keep your fingers crossed for me xxx

Hello everyone. I hope you're all doing ok and had a nice weekend. Lots of exciting news going on here!

Congratulations to Lins. So happy to hear your news!

Mishta, I hope all is going well with little Bella Rose and you've finally had a chance to hold her in your arms.

Good luck at the doc's LittlePoot. I hope they are helpful and sympathetic.

Katie, yes, your heart must be in your mouth right now. I wish you the best of luck. My scan last week was in the FMU and being there did make my stomach lurch somewhat, even before my stressful scan. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

As for me, well, some days I am fine and positive and some I am extremely anxious. I was fine most of the weekend as I've been keeping fairly busy and have felt a bit sick etc. Last night I was having bad cramps which made me really anxious but they seem to have calmed down at the moment. No bleeding, thankfully. If that does happen I really hope it waits 'til Wednesday as my OH has a really important interview on Tues and I don't want him to have a head f* to spoil his chances. I am trying very hard to keep a positive attitude about the situation although it worries me that I emailed my midwife on Thurs and had no answer, and no comments from anyone else "in the know" which makes me think of the addage "if you can't say something good, don't say anything at all". Only time will tell. My next scan is 3 Feb. They said that going by the current measurements that would be the earliest they would be able to see a heartbeat anyway.

Allstars, good news about your scan. Hopefully you're on the home straight now.

LittlePoot - forgot to say, I am taking the high dose Folic Acid - 5mg. My consultant said that there had been some trials and although there have been positive results there was no conclusive proof that it would prevent anomalies there is no harm in trying it. I know Shangrilla is a great believer in it and that others here have done quite a lot of research so I will let them add their findings too.

Hi girls,
I've just posted on the other thread so won't repeat it all here... xxxxx

Sending positive vibes out today for all those waiting... for scans, for time to pass, for little precious beans to grow.
Lots of love to you all on this rollercoaster. xxxx

Kittens, am glad you are managing to try and keep positive. I guess the difficulty is whoever you ask (midwife, doctor, us etc) no one can really give you a definitive answer.

I just hope that the next week and a bit passes as quickly as possible. Will be keeping everything crossed that they find a heartbeat at the scan (remember there is every possible chance that they will!) xx

Littlepoot Yes, 5mg is the recommended for anyone with a previous NTD. It is suggested you take it for 3 months pre-conception then up to 12 weeks pregnant. I have found studies that show it does make a difference to spina bifida etc but it has not been proven to reduce anencephaly or acrania. Duke University in America are IMO the specialists in this research. The chances of it re-occurring are 1 in 1000 instead of 1 in 10,000 so it is worth taking the tablets either way.

Kittens Thinking of you. It is good news that your signs are continuing. Fingers crossed for the 3rd.

Katiecubs I have my fingers crossed for you too.

Hope everyone else out there lurking or posting is fine.

Thank you. It's true Katie, no one can give me a difinitive answer. Except maybe a psychic ;-) (of whom I'm generally skeptical so that was just a joke!)

I guess I just want someone to be able to magically tell me everything will be ok. Ho hum. I suppose we are luckier than generations before us who just had to wait until the end and see what occurred!

Hi all.

Thanks very much for the info Allstars - I'll pass that on to my friend. Pretty harsh we thought that two of us in the same office had disasterous nuchal scans within a couple of months of eachother. The mini support group we became was helpful, but what awful circumstances to bring people closer together.

Anyway, doctors was good today. Well, mostly. I told her I was pregnant and she asked if I was happy about that, to which I responded by bursting into tears. And pretty much stayed that way for the rest of the appointment. What I did find out though was that the very helpful consultant who I had last time wrote a letter outlining that I'd need 'special care' (including an early dating scan) when I got pregnant again so the doctor has attached that to the forms she sends to the hospital. In theory, that should get things moving.

Kittens - I was having quite a lot of cramps over the weekend too, especially Friday. They seem to have gone now and there's been no bleeding. And my boobs are mahoosive and I could hardly keep my breakfast down - can't believe how happy those things make me! So maybe cramps are just stretching pains or something? Fingers crossed. I'm with you on the magic answers thing. I just want to be able to relax and be excited, but actually I'm terrified (with high blood pressure now as well it seems) and ready to burst into tears at any moment. When you find that reliable psychic - please pass them on. xx

Hi all, just dropping by, although I know 'officially' I don't belong to this thread anymore. However I will never forget the terrifyingness (not a word, I know) of being pregnant last time, and want to offer all the support I can.

Congratulations Allstars on the reassuring scan. Sounds like you should be able to be excited, but I understand your apprehension. Will be thinking of you on 3rd Feb.

Kittens will be thinking of you also 3rd Feb. Hope the time passes as quickly as possible for you. The waiting is the worst I reakon, but I agree with, was it Katie, who said it's good you're still getting symptoms. Cramping was always a normal part of early pregnancy for me and alot of others (I googled this one to death at some stage).

Littlepoot, did you manage to arrange early scan? Glad your last consultant seemed sensitive to your needs. Also good you have someone in RL that has an understanding of what you have been thru.

Katie, good luck for tomorrow. Will be thinking of you with fingers firmly crossed. Stay positive (you always sound positive to me)

And thank you girls for all your well wishes with Bella. I have hung onto and appreciated every word of support.

Take care xxx