The CBFM Graduates Vol 1

[StormBird]

We have got to know each other pretty well during our TTC journey's so have created this thread on Chocciechips advice (hope she doesn't mind!!) so we can all contintue to support one another through our pregnancies.

Welcome................

Hi guys
congrats keziah, boys are best - but be careful they pee all over, at any opportunity.
Just had my inlaws to stay for a week, constantly fussing over sam and driving us nuts. sams sleeps been even worse than usual after MIL got him used to being held; constantly, and not left to cry for a second....that first giant glass of wine tonight is going to taste GOOD....

Hello to Storm, kitty and boba - with your little boys, aww. Seems strange to think you are going through all the things one does with a new born baby - am sure time is very hard to get. I am so looking forward to that time too in a perverse sort of way!

kitty - thanks for the tip on boys, not my area of expertise . Sorry inlaws has made Sam get out of routine, am sure a glass of wine or two and mummy time will get him back to how he you want him!!

water - how are things for you?

How's everyone doing? x

bump

Hi boba am doing ok, 22 weeks - just beginning to feel little bubbles etc. Obviously anxious until scan at 28 weeks for growth due to placenta issues.

Think Kelpie is about 24 weeks now? and everyone else probably shattered with their little ones!!

How are you finding maternity leave Boba?

Awww lovely keziah - that's when you feel you're really getting to know them. I'm sure everything will be fine. x

It's hard work - very demanding and time consuming BUT all worth it when my wee man smiles at me - he's just started! x

Hi all,

Sorry so absent but seem to never have time to visit MN these days (unless its trying to figure out a solution to a worry!).

22 weeks already Keziah. Great news and ... gosh, time flies. Probably doesn't feel that way to you but my days are a blur ...

My days seem to be an endless round of feeding, nappy changing and sleeping. We're lucky in that she sleeps well at night, only wakes once. But breastfeeding for me has been hellish. Still persevering and struggling, but only just . boba how's feeding going for you?

Hope everyone is doing well.

Feeding fine now choccie but first 2 weeks were pretty bad. Zach's one hungry wee boy! Do you have a name for your wee girl now? How's the work situation? Hope everything sorted itself out in the end? x

Ooh yes, choccie what name did you choose? We haven't chosen a name yet, although have started to buy things for our little boy ... gosh, it takes up so much room!! Was wondering how many newborn clothes you found you needed, in the newborn size assuming an average size baby? So far have 3 babygros which I'm guessing isn't enough

Well done on persevering with breastfeeding choccie - I am hoping to feed soon, but no idea how I will go.

How lovely for those of you with little babies for their first Christmas ... am looking forward to having a bump this Christmas and hope our little one stays put (had a bit of a bleed this week and as placenta not fully working am aware may not get to 40 weeks, but really want a 2012 baby!!)

Hi ladies. I've moved over from the CBFM support thread. stats: age 34, baby no. 2. BFP 23/10/11, EDD 29/7/12.

I've not yet read the whole of this thread, but if it's anything like the CBFM one, I'm sure it will make this part of the process much easier. Somehow these early days of pregnancy are hard, as it is the time you feel most rubbish (well, it was for me last time) and you also don't really want to tell anyone why. Compared with last time I'm taking it all much more seriously, eating / not eating the right things, taking folic acid and vitamins, resting as much as I can (with a toddler to look after). Still horseriding, though will probably stop once I get a bump. Somehow I am more clued up to the risks (thanks mumsnet) and spend more time worrying about if everything is OK with, well, it. I can't really think of it as a baby yet, the baby is DS in the room next door!

keziah My last pregnancy involved lots of scans and concerns about foetal growth, placental function and fluid levels. culminated in loss of foetal movement, failed induction and a truly wonderful EMCS at 39 weeks (BTW definitely pushing for ELCS this time, excuse the pun). And a perfectly healthy if slightly small and sleepy baby. At one stage my consultant has warned me of needing induction at 32 weeks. So as support and encouragement for you keziah, that's my feel good story from last time.

As for getting stuff, especially clothes for baby, don't go mad, people will buy you lots of stuff, I had about 6 babygrows for DS. He was very small so DH went out after he was born and got tiny baby sized ones which he wore for about a month or so. Just because we all got a bit upset seeing him in ones that were so massive on him.

Hoping those of you with newborns are enjoying them, even at 3am. I am not looking forward to doing that again!

Welcome speinkles Here's to a happy and healthy nine months for you.

Keziah i'd second that advice. Don't buy too much until you meet your baby. I bought quite a lot of 'up to 1 month' stuff which lasted us until he was about 3 weeks then he had to move into 0-3 months. He's very tall so think he will be out of that in few weeks time! Keep thinking positively - you'll make it! x

boba - I think the danger for me is not buying enough as too nervous too , poor little one!!

Welcome sprinkles - congrats on your bfp. Think 3 of us here pregnant (I am 22 weeks now) and quite a few just had their babies (aww!!). I can't feel baby move yet, due to anterior placenta but the 20 week scan picked up my placenta not working properly on left side, hence scan at 28 weeks for growth. Had some bleeding last week, so had 3 hours at the hospital who reassured me cervix closed and no obvious sign of bleeding.

keziah the in and out of hospital stuff is so stressful, I don't know if you take every symptom more seriously the longer you tried to get pregnant. If so, going by last time, I expect to be making hospital my second home! I was in for several days at about 28 weeks, then at least weekly from about 31 weeks. In hindsight working full time did me no favours. I totally understand not buying anything much yet, there is actually no point. You can manage with hardly anything to start, and you can get the rest after baby comes. I bought nothing till 31 weeks when I thought I was going to be induced the following week (though still bought everything in newborn size, not realising that a 32 week baby needs much smaller clothes than that!). I'm also nervous about this time round and don't plan to get anything till after it comes. We have DS's old crib, and we can manage without a double buggy for a bit.

Yes, I have been told need reduced hours at work sprinkles so am only working 3 half days a week, so hope that helps. Agree the years it took to conceive this little one is making me more anxious and also more willing to work less etc. Was your first dc born at 32 weeks then? Wow. I am quite happy that they haven't made me go in and out too much yet, though guess if placenta still an issue at 28 weeks that will change. What is has made me do is to sort things at home (sort, not buy!) so if baby is earlier than 40 weeks am more organised. Nice long list of jobs for dh .

How many weeks are you sprinkles?

My next appointment is 24 week midwife, then a 28 week growth scan.

keziah DS made it to 39 weeks! He was only 5ib 11 oz / 2nd percentile but absolutely fine and was 50th percentile by 6 months. They never found out what the problem with the placenta was because they only send them to pathology if baby is less than 5 lb 5 oz.

Oh I'm only about 6 weeks gone. 34(ish) to go!

Hi ladies, I hope you remember me from the CBFM buddies thread. I went a bit AWOL for a while when we realised that perhaps we would need a bit more help than the CBFM could offer us.

It's so lovely to read some of your stories of your new babies and progressing pregnancies. It was really nice to have your support when we were trying to ttc with the CBFM, too.

I don't know if you recall but we ended up trying IUI with Clomid three times at the beginning of the year and these failed for us then we took a bit of a break to re-assess what we wanted to do and after much soul-searching decided that we would regret it if we didn't give everything a shot while we were still young enough for it to succeed. We already have DS [who is nearly four] and decided to have one go at IVF for a sibling before accepting and moving on.

So fast forward to October and I started down-regulating for IVF. This turned into ICSI on the day when DH's abnormals were a bit high and lo and behold, we got our BFP last week [two years and three months after starting to ttc]. It's very early so we have a lonnnnggggg way to go but I'm feeling optimistic. I should have a six week scan next week to find out if we are having a singleton or twins [two embies were put back as I'm over 35yo]. We also have two good snowbabies, too [our back up plan].

Wishing you all the very best. Keziah ... hoping that everything will be fine for you.

Hi Lychees - congrats on your BFP! Yes, do remember you (was on thread for rather a long time - and went down the ICSI route also!). How exciting to find out how many you are having - although at 6 weeks it is not always conclusive . It was 34mths ttc for us (ttc 1) although a long time before that without really "trying" - isn't it great when it works . What is nice about this thread is that most of us had to ttc for quite a while.

Thanks Lychees - am 23 weeks tomorrow, counting down to 24 - then do doubt to 28 weeks!! Are you on any medication until 12 weeks from the ivf clinic?

Wow Lychees congratulations!!!! So nice to hear all has turned out well for you.

Glad keziah has got a couple new pregnant pals here as we all seemed to pop around the same time! x

Hi everyone

Congrats to lychees thats fabulous news, by my reckoning a july baby? are you hoping for twins or just the one? being mother of a 9 week old i am almost back to thinking twins would be wonderful and adorable, 3 weeks ago i would not have wished one let alone two on my worst enemy!

keziah how are things with you, i skim read the thread a few days ago and it seems like you have been having some issues, i do hope everything is ok. when is your next scan/checkup? you will be so relieved when he comes out!

sprinkles congrats to you also i read your news a few days back when are you popping?

boba how are you getting on? how old is zach now im sure he is a week or two younger than sam and that you are approaching a time where life suddenly becomes a little less fraught?

things are good here. i have managed to successfully cut the NCT ties and generally try to avoid all 'new mum' activities and the whinging about how hard it is/competitiveness and enjoy my hermit like existence. i got so sick of it all and am now focusing on my OU study and hanging out with sam!

promise i will come on more often!

Thanks, Boba, Keziah and Kittyelise for the warm welcome.

Keziah, I am on Prednisolone [to surpress my slightly high natural killer cell count], Clexane jabs [to prevent blood clots], Aspirin [to keep my blood thin], progesterone jabs and progesterone pessaries [because my levels are a bit up and down]. I've got a black and blue belly and a numb, lumpy bum. Were you on meds, too early on?

Yey, waves to Ilovekitty - glad you are able to have time to do what you want to do!! We signed up to NCT classes (as no real NHS or other ones here) but I am very shy so don't think it will be an issue cutting ties that will not exist if need be! And it sounds as if things are settling with little Sam now. Gosh, you can think about twins so soon?!!

Just think - you will be so experienced (and ttc#2???) by the time I and others pop!! So please don't disappear - though totally understand first few months any time must be so so precious.

Lychees - sounds a good regime. Yes I had prednisilone to 12 weeks, clexane, aspirin (all for same reasons as you), the pessaries (joy!!) - all of those for 12 weeks. Well aspirin and clexane to continue due to my lovely stroke in March (long story!) and I have 5mg folic acid and thyroid meds too. Am afraid the tummy is still bruised - have weeks of it being ok, then I hit something and have a lovely lump and bruise... sigh!! It was SO nice to stop the prednisilone and pessaries though!! Yes, took them until 12 weeks.

Well 23+0 today - midwife next week, only seen her once so far (as she was on holiday for last one). Then count down for next scan!

Hi kitty Zach was 7 weeks yesterday and definitely more in the swing of things now! I know what you mean about avoiding 'new mum' things! Only thing we go to is Waterbabies which we started this week as Z loves the water. It was brilliant & can't wait for next week. Enjoying motherhood a lot more now but can't say I'm thinking of any more at the moment!!

Zach gets his jags next week, how did Sam take his? I'm a bit nervous about it. x

HI Ladies

Not sure if you will remember me from the CBFM thread. I needed to disappear for a while and have some much needed time out.

Just wanted to pop on and congratulate you all on your new arrivals and pregnancies. It's great to see that the tough time TTC did come to fruition for you all and it's given me quite a bit of hope.

For those who remember, I was referred for a laparoscopy and then I took some time away from Mumsnet. I had my lap in August, and I did get a definitive diagnosis as to why I hadn't got pregnant. I had a benign tubal cyst on my left side, which apparently is an embyonic remnant from my own development. It was pretty large and had caused significant anatomical distortion, and had damaged my left tube. Although the tube was patent (which was why my HSG was normal) it wasn't functional. Although my surgeon tried to extract the cyst and considered a tubal repair, he decided that the damage would increase the risk of ectopic significantly and so I had a left salpingectomy. I was pretty devastated. As I suspected, my abdomen was also full of adhesions following the infection I had after a burst appendix as a child, and my right ovary was stuck to the floor of my pelvis. The surgeon tried to divide the adhesions, but it's impossible to say now whether my right ovary is where is should be, adjacent to my right tube (which thankfully is healthy). So fast forward to now, and my surgeon has advised our best option is IVF. We've met all the criteria for NHS funding for one cycle, and we start our first cycle when my next period starts, which is due in 6 days time. I do finally feel relief that we've got a diagnosis and can move forward with the right treatment.

Anyway, sorry for the really long story there. Lychees it's really encouraging to see that IVF / ICSI has been successful for you. Congratulations and good luck for your scan. Fingers crossed I'll be following in your footsteps soon!

Keziah Gosh, can't believe you are 23 weeks now. It's flown by!

Wow KC you've been through a bit of a time of it You must feel relieved though, I know I did. I was told chances were extremely slim of conceiving from my right tube but that's the side Zach came from so miracles do happen! All the best for your ivf, please let us know how it goes.