July 2015 - the thread in which bumps really start to appear...

[fattycow]

New thread, ladies!

Here is the stats list:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p3idkH2TaQYAy22I_N73k1_-G6Ezq67lAdhQvDjQkU0/edit?pli=1#gid=0

Looks like I've missed a lot while I've been off for a few days!

How is everyone?

I've got my 20 week scan tomorrow and I am unbelievably nervous. I've felt quite down and insecure for the past week or so, is this part and parcel of being pregnant?

Hi Stinky. I have my scan on thurs and feel the same!! I'm guessing. It's normal to feel like this tho... Any tips for staying calm?! I feel like the next couple of days will just be spent worrying!!!

Hi stinky and jenbird I’ve not got my 20w scan till 25th and I’m already worrying. You just have to remember it’s much more likely you will receive good news, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for bad news. Best to take someone with you if you can (hopefully the dad!). Sorry to hear about all the back pain sufferers. I suffer it pre-pregnancy so you have my sympathy. Tens machine works for me, but not sure if safe in pregnancy. Baths, lying flat on back and Pilates help too.

I’m definitely finding out the sex. I heard the probability of getting it correct at 20w is around 90-95% so you can be pretty confident what you’re going to have. We are struggling with boys names so I want to be prepared if it’s likely we are going to have a boy! I imagine we would want a surprise for our second baby though, just to mix it up.

A friend just had her scan and told the sonographer they didn’t want to know the sex. She then proceeded to tell the couple to ‘look away now then, as its pretty clear what sex it is from what I’m looking at’ ….effectively spelling out she could see a willy and they are having a boy! What an idiot!

I've missed a lot on here while I've been off for a few days dealing with fraud etc…

19 weeks today and still not feeling any movements.

Slinky, I was feeling very weird in the 15-16 week stage and almost called my midwife. However I waited it out till my 16 week appt and heard the heartbeat which calmed me considerably. I'm a late July date so not even 17 weeks till tomorrow, but I know my apprehension will just keep growing in the run up to the 20 week scan. So yes I would say perfectly normal to feel this way. Are you feeling movements yet?

Hope it all goes ok, as a PP said the most likely scenario is things will be fine.

Luckystar82 I asked a friend of mine who is a women's specialist physio about tens a week or so ago for someone else. She says it is not the first choice but it is fine to use in Pregnancy so long as you use the big pads. She gave me a lonk to the Physiotherapists guideline on it from their society which I will post below. It is pretty rambling with lots of abbreviations. From my quick read of it, essentially it says that TENS was used a lot until recently then someone suggested a theoretical link to potentially triggering contractions. However the research was reviewed and no evidence could be found, although there was one reported incidence with acupuncture. So they recommend making sure certain acupuncture points are avoided with TENS (the lower back is fine with big pads). They also say if tens did happen to cause contractions the effect would go if it was turned off. (I have seen it used in early labour a lot and have never seen anything but a pain relieving effect on contractions.) anyway there you go ....

pogp.csp.org.uk/…/acpwh-guidance-safe-use-transcutan…

As with everything best to seek advice of physio/mw if you are having back pain first as there are other things you can be doing too!

stinky, do you have any reason to think anything will be amiss with your scan? Don't worry too much about it hun, although yes, pg does sometimes bring out the worrier in a lot of women.... Definitely me, for sure! Just remember, this scan is primarily to detect for abnormalities (rather than what a lot of people think is just for sexing purposes!) and so the sonographer will be fantastic at their job and with you, especially if you explain your worry when you get in the room. Plus, if anything is found now (like heart defects or a missing kidney, for example), it will help you prepare for littlie's birth and his or her immediate care - sure, it may send your worrying over the edge but best you and your medical team are prepared. I think anyway!

ooh thanks for the info jmojo I haven't had any back pain in this pregnancy yet, in fact it's seems like my muscles are more relaxed. But I'm sure I will at some stage and it would be good if I could use some kind of tens machine. I probably need to get one suitable for pregnancy though as mine has fairly small pads..

This thread is filling up fast. Only 40 posts to go until the next one.

I agree with you broody - I would rather know if something is wrong so that it can be sorted. Think of all the babies who suffered and died unnecessarily years ago before there were scans. I've obviously been watching too much Call the Midwife recently!!

I was nervous before my 20 week scan as well. I couldn't help thinking 'what if'... Turns out the baby is healthy as can be! 10 fingers and 10 toes, all organs there, back and lip closed. Such a relief!

Also, I have started to talk to my bump!

I went to 'mums to be physio' this morning at my local hospital. Very informative, although did come away thinking I should probably have already known some of the things they told us already!

I have my second physio appointment tomorrow. They are going to massage me and probably give me some extra exercises to do. I cannot wait!

20 week scan today, all seems ok but couldnt see heart, diaphragm or lips properly so have another scan booked for a couple of weeks. Didnt find out what flavour it is, so hope my resolve will hold out through the next scan too.

Broody - the last sonographer was an arse and made me feel like I was putting him out just by being there!

My boss is giving me a really tough time at work about being pregnant so I'm stressed to the max and it seems to have unleashed all sorts of worries and anxieties!

Oh no :( that's awful!! I get that all people have off days but making you feel like that is just not on, especially when pregnancy is a stressful time anyway. What a twat. There's no reason for you getting the same knobber person again though next time. Or if you do, fx he's in a better mood next time!

lucky, I know! My mum said when she was having me, 21 36 years ago, scans were just been introduced and she only got one with me because she had had tb in her spine when she was a child and they needed to be sure all was well. For me, having had my consultation re downs testing today, all I want to know at my next scan is that baby has his or her organs in tact and that they're developing as they should be. Only two weeks and two days to panic myself into oblivion....

stinky, that is just horrible. I'm lucky that a midwife of the team I'm with does all my scans!

Thanks Broody, I hope a get a nicer one tomorrow! Wishing you all the best for your next scan x

Trying not to panic is so hard, isn't it?

broody how did your consultation go? Did it help talking though it all.

I think it's actually sensible to be worried about the anomaly scan, it shows that you understand what the scan is about so will be more prepared. Although nothing actually prepares you for the reality of them finding a problem. But for me personally I find knowing better than not knowing (having been through this before) as it helps plan any support the baby may need after birth.

Hi nature yes all went ok today, thank you. She was absolutely lovely and told us all about what ds is, what it could mean (or not, as there's so many different levels), health implications (heart and digestive issues are the most common ailments of those with ds). She didn't once try to push us into further testing and was very positive about my chances of everything being absolutely normal and healthy and made reference to the quad blood test being inaccurate. She was also very kind and compassionate about my miscarriage nearly a year ago and totally understood why we wouldn't do amnio or cvs testing due to the risk. So now, it's just a case of waiting it out until the anomaly scan and seeing what's what. We could have some soft markers for downs and baby is born perfectly normal but it could all be perfect on the scan and still have a downs baby after all - just like anyone really! I'm positive though and as long as baby is ok on the next scan, I'll finally go public! Xx

broody, I am happy to read you are so calm. Sounds like the doctor was really good at your appointment.

I went ahead and made us all a new thread, as I probably won't be around later on when this one gets full. Hope you all don't mind!

broody thats good news, I am pleased she was so supportive.

Thanks for the DVD recommendation mrsf - let me know how you get on.

Lucky Stinky and Jenbird my scan isn't till the 5th and I'm feeling really anxious too... Hoping that my midwife app on Fri will help to reassure me - it's my 16 week app (although I'll be almost 18 weeks). Definitely gonna ask to hear the heartbeat.

Great to hear your consultation went well broodi and that you're feeling so positive

Good luck at your 16 (18!) week appointment Clstow. I loved hearing the HB!

Good luck tomorrow stinky and clstow! It's so good having somewhere to share worries it def helps. I'm gonna concentrate on staying calm the next few days think that's best for me and the twins cos I heard they can sense stress . What will be will be. Night night all x