August 2016 (3) - scans fast approaching, teeny tiny bumps appearing, and sickness easing....we hope!

[FourForYouGlenCoco]

Well we filled the last thread up fast! Seems we talk a lot round these parts

Glad you're home lily :-) Have you got time off from work?

sophia I've been off work since the middle of December as I've not been able to really eat since then due to my Hyperemisis. It's been miserable, though I try to remember it means the baby is doing well. Meant to be back in the office on Thursday, but may need to wait and see about that.

Hi owlinatree

Scan buddies cool! And the same age...

Is it your first?

Hi bearhuggy, I think I will wait for the scan. I've felt so sick the last couple of days that I'm not as worried anymore!

Good to be on here

X

Thanks for all the congrats! Ooh I've got 2 due date buddies!

Glad you're back out lily can't believe the drama you're going through!

My sister who's in hospital has been diagnosed with aplastic anaemia. This is a serious blood condition. She going to be transferred to another hospital where they are going to try and suppress her immune system (what's left of it). If it works she might make new bone marrow but if it doesn't she will need a bone marrow transplant.

Me and my brothers will be tested for a match in the next few weeks as siblings have a 1/4 chance of the best match possible. If we're not a match she will need a donor.

I will need a local anaesthetic while pregnant in my hip area for the test. If I'm a match I won't be able to donate pregnant. Meanwhile my sister will be getting more sick. I really hope one of my brothers can help or that the other plan works!

She's having daily blood transfusions which may stop working over time. Me and my sister are about as close as twins. We're 16 months apart and she's my best friend. This really sucks! Sorry for rant!

So sorry jw. Sending you positive vibes and hopefully the first procedure works.

Sorry jw. Fx one of your brothers is a match.

silver no not my first, I've got a 20 month old too.

Thanks for the advice mrs and four. There are only seven of us in the company, and I am the first full time female employee. So I know they don't yet have an agreed maternity policy. Have been doing some research about typical benefits where companies do offer enhanced pay, and think I will definitely go in with a suggestion of what I am hoping for. Just got to work up the courage! Planning to bite the bullet this afternoon, assuming I can get my manager on his own at some point. Our office is open plan so often hard to get any privacy, we usually do appraisals etc at the pub round the corner! I've brought in some home made cookies in the hope that will soften the blow a bit

som At the moment I'm thinking of taking six months off entirely then going back two days a week for the following six months, then back full time after a year. DH Has recently undergone a career change and is currently only on an apprentice wage so by then we will really need a full time salary again.

Welcome silver sounds like you are going through all the usual joys! I'm 11+4 now and my nausea has almost entirely disappeared thankfully. Just been replaced by a voracious appetite, wind and burps!

Oh jw I'm so sorry, I can't begin to imagine what you are going through. I have a sister who's 18 months younger than me and sounds like you have a similar relationship to us. If she got ill I would be absolutely heart broken. Sending you lots of

Lily pleased to see you are home again. Take care

JW lovely scan pics but so sorry to read how poorly your Dsis is

Meds have stopped the worst of my sickness but not taken it away completely, and I'm still puking (although much less), retching and nauseous. Go to bed each day grateful that another day has passed... which is so not the way to be, but it helps me cope. Got booking in appt later this week. Feels like I've been pregnant for an eternity already 12 weeks not even booked yet!!

Glad to hear that you're out lilygirl You've had a rough old time of it.

JW35 sorry to hear about your sister. Really hope that the treatment works for her.

pea definitely tackle it sooner rather than later. You'll be able to plan better once you know where you stand. I had to negotiate on my first pregnancy as it was "at manager's discretion". It dragged out for ages and the uncertainty was the worst. In the end they came through and I got 6 months on full pay provided I would sign a claw-back agreement i.e. that if I left within a year of returning I'd have to repay the maternity pay. If you know you'll be happy to go back and stay, then you could offer that as a bargaining chip to try to get more.

somnambulator I took 9 months last time and this time I'm going to take 11 months. We'll have to save to cover the 5 months unpaid ( I'm the higher earner). This may well be our last child as I'd say there's only a 10% chance we decide to have a 3rd so I figure I may as well max out on the leave.

I have my harmony test this evening. Looking forward to getting another peep at baby. We'll tell people when we get the results. Nausea and tiredness are definitely easing.

JW I just saw your post about your sister, that's awful news for you, your posts have shown how close you are so I can't imagine how terrible you feel right now. I really hope your brothers are matches.

I'm starting to think I may need to go back to work after 3 or 4 months, but part time, as DH only brings in £200 a month and our bills are huge (scarily low savings too). I'm really sad about that, but not much I can do unfortunately.

Good luck pea I hope it goes well for you! Cookies sound awesome!

So sorry to hear about your sister Jw how stressful for you. Fingers crossed there will be a solution found and the worry will be over soon.

I have just signed up to NCT classes as was told that they quickly get booked up!

Thanks for all the support. I think I got myself a bit spooked reading up on my sisters condition. I'm usually so positive! Fx she will be fine, she such a tough cookie!

Talking of work I'm a stay at home mum at the moment, I left my job after my maternity for dd2 ran out in June last year. (I was an after school club manager). I'm currently on benefits which sucks but being pregnant a new job isn't on the horizon at the mo. My plans to move up north also on hold due to sisters illness.

I'm not sure about the short term future, I had considered childminding (I'm a nursery nurse) but with 2 under 2 that could be tricky! I'm also studying with the OU (psychology) but on a break.

I'm 13+3 today! Feeling fine! When does the 2nd trimester start?

Oh jw so sorry to hear about your sister, I really hope one or more of your other siblings is a match for her and treatment goes well. Sending you

good luck pea I have had a bit of an odd one with work, I am now leaving current job end of April and starting SMP mid May but have a couple of big freelance projects May/June so taking those and then will return freelance maybe 9 months after the baby, or see how we get on. Was originally planning on coming back to current job but very glad to have this 'out' now as wasn't feeling it but felt a bit trapped due to the pregnancy!

Hope Harmony goes well Elle - are lots of you doing this test? I am undecided given all tests and scans to date have been fine. I am 30, would you recommend doing it?

I am feeling lots of stretchy twangs today, also hunger is still off the chart!! Soup, focaccia and salad for lunch :)

Mrs I have also signed up to antenatal classes already, decided on a smaller group rather than my local NCT as it was so busy and classes all on the weekends.

Few more days until 2nd trimester jw !! Starts at the beginning of the 14th week.

13+4 over here

Jw so sorry to hear about your sister. Fingers crossed. Everyone's scans are amazing! Makes me so look forward to mine on Sunday!
I had my blood test today and when I gave the envelope the midwife gave me to the nurse she was surprised there wasn't more and said its usually a few and asked if it was my first as they usually do them around 8 weeks? Has anyone else had that? I was under the impression the blood was to do with checking for down syndrome along with my scan as that's what the midwife said but apparently it's just to check my blood type. She said "well it does say anti bodies too so maybe it's something to do with it" I'm so confused. I thought she'd know exactly what it's for or is that me being naive? I suppose she's just a nurse that is told to take blood and doesn't know the ins and outs

Fx for your sister jw sounds like a difficult time for the whole family. Xxx

Have any of you had your hair dyed since being preggers? I usually have it dyed to cover greys, but am doing a charity head shave in May and was planning to dye it different colours before I have it all off but the hairdresser says it will need to be bleached before its dyed so the colour takes. Not sure on the risks, from what I've found online there's not really much evidence either way. Anyone know any more about it? Sorry it's a bit off topic

Christine I don't really understand the bloods thing, but I know my
Midwife has taken them twice.
The first time (8 weeks) it was to check my blood group and rule out a load of diseases.
Then the second time (has to be after 10 weeks) is the one for the combined screening. Obviously in this instance it wasn't used for me - which to be honest my midwife seemed completely clueless about!

Santa I used to work for a home hair colour brand and the guidance we gave was to never colour your hair (or even help someone else colour theirs) while you are pregnant. I would imagine your hairdresser should know this?? Xxx

Hi Christine, I had first had my bloods taken at my initial booking in appointment at 10 weeks, they tested for my blood type and any abnormalities such as haemoglobin levels, Rh, HIV, Hepatitis B etc etc. The midwife took at least 4 different samples of blood and labeled them to be tested. I received the results of these tests at my 12 week scan appointment.

At the 12 week scan they took more blood and this was to be used alongside the syndrome testing which goes hand in hand with your scan. They also did a study for pre-eclampsia which was done alongside bloods, height, weight, BMI and a load of questions. Hope that helps?! I am sure today's will be tested for the first things I mentioned if it was your first test, then you will have another with your scan on Sunday.

Mrs I don't die my hair, but have heard it's not advised, purely down to the high concentration of chemicals you would be putting directly on your skin. Perhaps you could look to use some natural dye or hemp if it's just a temporary thing for charity? (Well done btw, such a great thing to do!! Let us know where we can sponsor you!!) This might help www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/949.aspx?CategoryID=54

I have to admit that I have had my hair dyed, there is no official guidance on it, and as so many people do it, i believe that if there was a real risk it would have proper, studied advice. Everything I saw suggests that there is no evidence but that if you are really concerned then don't do it. My hairdresser was aware and happy to do it. The biggest problem is that you can react to dye due to skin changes, and the colour may develop differently as your hair can be different texture etc.

JW I'm sorry about your sister and since wine is out.
MrsS I've dyed my hair, rinses, semi permanents and highlights in all my pregnancies, but if you're at all worried, check with your hairdresser, they will be in the know.
It's so hot here at the moment, overnight low of 21c, and our fan is too noisy to run at night, may have to to shopping today for a new one.

Oh and Christine we declined the testing so didn't have bloods at 12 weeks, just when I first found out which as someone else said is blood type and other things. I found out that my immunity to rubella was gone so had to get immunised again after DD2 was born. Interestingly my immunity was fine when pregnant the first time.

Thanks for your advice everyone! I'll have a word with the hairdresser and see what she says.

Thanks bear, it's really not something I'd usually do as I don't usually like to stand out from the crowd, but wanted to do something a bit different. I'm raising for cancer research uk as in May this year it will be 20 years since we lost my dad. Here's the link for anyone who's interested-no pressure though. I know money's tight for lots of people. https://www.justgiving.com/Eggparky/?utmmedium=email&utmmsource=ExactTarget&utmcampaign=201601099

Thanks for the link santa and I think its a brilliant idea for your Dad.
How long is your hair now? Maybe you could just do a dip dye on the ends so it's not touching your scalp? Or if you have light coloured hair already you could use a semi permanent natural dye in a crazy colour??!

It's boring brown bear, I'll consider that as an option depending on what the hairdresser says, I'm going to wait til after the scan anyway. I'm quite looking forward to it-an excuse to go a bit wild