#TTC1 - Second Wave grads thread!

[Mooseville]

Hello!!

This is a new wave of grads for those from #TTC1 - Those on the first grade thread are dealing with poonamis and crying babies, while we are still waving our FRER's and wondering if that line is really a figment of our imagination!

Feel free to join in, if you too are embarking on this crazy journey to parenthood!!

Hee. Yes Music, that date works - funnily enough Fertility Friend had told me my due date was August 9th and I think that was going from ovulation date not the date of my last period. I'd had a moan at FF for 'getting it wrong' when the GP told me August 11th, but looks now like FF was closer as my due date is now estimated at August 8th.

I was blown away by how developed it was too. Have to go back in 2 weeks for the nuchal scan, the lady scanning me today said I'd be amazed at the change in that time. She was also chuffed she got to do my first scan for my first baby - reckoned those were her favourites to do . It was honestly magic though. Weird to see it move so much when I couldn't feel a thing!

kav That's amazing! It's like a proper baby!!! I think I'm going to ask the FMC for commission - but they really are lovely there. I just wish I'd forked out for my 12 week one there too...

Isn't it crazy how much they move and you don't feel a thing!

In the wide awake club here as I couldn't get comfy. I did go to bed at 8.30 though so not sure what I expect! Rock n Roll Saturday!

So I haven't been on for a while as I've Been a massive worrier. Been having some pale brown spotting, I wore a panty liner and it was tiny but obviously I noticed it.
According to my LMP I would have been 8+1 today but I went to a private early scan today and was told I'm only 5-6 weeks but she could see the flicker of a heartbeat and told us to come back next weekend for a rescan. So that would mean I was only 2 weeks pregnant when I got my very positive heavily diluted urine pregnancy tests. And I've been feeling nauseous/frequent urination/ bloating & burping for 3-4 weeks.
Slightly concerned but I suppose I've just got to get through it.

Hi everyone, sorry not been on here for a bit. Going back to work has really made me notice the tiredness, I've been feeling like a zombie! Just been catching up...

Marmite the app I use is Take a Break Meditation Oasis. Sorry to hear you fell over, hope you're feeling ok now. Glad to hear you felt plenty of kicks hope you aren't sore today after massage.

NS I can't believe the size of the folder you have to carry around!!! Luckily I have a big work bag I can hide it in but seriously could they not make it A5 sized to be a little more discreet!

FXSkip hope the house move is going ok. I'm so pleased the scan went well!

Mouse thanks for the tip re Asda baby event. I'll put the April one in my diary.
My friend who knows we were TTC was trying for no2 & just before I got my BFP she found out she was having an early mc. We share everything about TTC & I was really nervous about whether or not to tell her. In the end she asked me as she knew I was due on that week - god knows how she'd remembered that. I told her I was going to test but said I hadn't told her as didn't want to upset her in case it was +ve. She said as she knew we'd been trying for a while she'd love it if there was some good news for one of us. You don't know how your friend will react but the main thing is to talk & be there for her. I too like Skips suggestion of how to tell her.
Sorry to hear you've been worrying. Hope you're feeling ok today xx

Kav what a wonderful clear picture! It's so amazing

Dixie hopefully knowing there's a heartbeat can give you some reassurance & at least they are scanning you again next weekend. Some spotting is normal so please try not to worry, although I know it's very hard xx

Oh skip and kav, beautiful scans. So happy for you both.

Thank you starmist for the story share. As my friend wasn't trying, she at first accepted it but when she went back for a scan yesterday they said baby had only just died. She was around the same weeks as I am. But she was being very poorly for the last 3 weeks. She said she's never really thought about having children but is now desperate. Which kinda threw me as I know they will be both overjoyed for us and very sad at the same time. I think it might be harder since the timeline is pretty much the same. I think we're going to tell them after our scan but before we make it public and tell them via text first so they can soak it in.

Toying with the idea of an early scan too, I'm guessing it would need to be an internal scan at around 8 weeks.

That sounds wise mouse

My scan was 7 +3 and they managed to do it through my tummy/groin and there's quite a bit of padding there!!!
She did say an internal would be clearer and kind of offered us one, but we were happy as we'd seen blob and heartbeat and she said it was a viable pregnancy!

kav look at that head!! That's an amazing scan pic, I cried at mine too but mines just a tiny smudge!!

mouse it may be partly the hormones making her feel desperate, I felt like that too after my mc and it does fade a little! Or you get more rational about it. The fact is it's going to be very hard for her no matter when you tell her, and unless she gets pregnant again soon she may be indifferent to your baby. I say this because it's how I felt about two of my closest friends who gave birth around the time of my mc. I felt like I was a bad luck omen, so stayed away, and hated them talking about it too much to me, I know it was hard for them but it was the only way I could deal with it. I spoke to them and explained why I was distant and they were both nice, one said 'ok, well you'll be the friend that keeps me normal and reminds me that I am not just a pregnant lady!' And ended up being grateful for the break from baby chat, but you are just going to have to take the lead from your friend and I would suggest only talking about baby stuff if she asks. It may be hard for both of you.

They usually manage to do them abdominally Mouse mine was at 7+6, I drank a pint of water an hour before the scan and got a lovely clear picture.

That's good to know ladies. Although I'm pretty chunky so if we decide to go for an early scan I'll prepare for both options.

i.e. Shave my bits.

Congrats Kav lovely scan! It is amazing seeing them look like an actual little baby! Was that not quite 12 weeks for you then?

Thanks star will check that app out. Had a bit of another stress meltdown last night so I could probably so with it! We did buy a car seat yesterday though! We may not have much else but at least baby's transport is sorted between that and pram! Feeling a bit stressed as people on the April due date thread are all starting to talk about having their hospital bag packed and putting their nursery furniture together both those things are still some way down my list!! I think it's fine though, will schedule in a shopping trip next week to start picking up some hospital bag essentials... it's still relatively early?! Think just some very keen organised people!! (And that's normally me!)

Sorry to hear that Dixie that must be worrying although as others have said spotting can be totally normal. Hope the wait until the next scan goes quickly for you

mouse I had a scan at 7+5 and she easily picked up a really clear picture abdominally. They do tell you to prepare for either though.

Went on the hospital maternity unit tour yesterday - made things seem very real!! Was a bit daunting! The midwife led birth centre bit was great though, lots of birthing pools, low level lighting etc, even an iPod dock in the room!

Hope everyone else is ok and Monday isn't too painful! I desperately need to wake up!!

Skip & Kav congrats on the lovely scans!

Dixi I had quite a bit of spottting at one point, lasted for a few weeks. Fx for you.

Marmite DH and I went to look at prams and car seats yesterday. Shop lady thought we were quite early looking at that 4 months before baby's due! But there's such a range of choices, we wanted to start looking now.

Ooh that's exciting Fishy! Have got any idea what you want yet? We only got ours already because there were some great deals in January sales! Plus like you say can take a while to narrow down to what you really want/need!

Does anyone have any relaxation tips or advice with regards to keeping stress down. Probably a silly question really but I'm usually a laid back person but since BFP I'm worrying in really big waves. One minute I'm perfectly fine and the next I'm desperately sad and panicked. I'm deep breathing and focusing on positive things but I've just got this bad feeling that baby isn't ok. I have no symptoms at all. 7 weeks today. X

I can't help with relaxation mouse But I would get yourself booked in for an early scan to stop you worrying. I find I'm calm after every appointment and then by two weeks later I'm anxious and ready for the next appointment to calm me down... I just really try to think positive, no symptoms is a nice sign of an easy pregnancy. There's no symptoms to suggest anything bad has happened so just enjoy it if you can?!

20 week scan was today. All went well. Baby was being awkward and we had to go for a twenty min walk half way through so it would move so they could get the measurements. Anterior placenta, where the placenta is at the front, so hence why I've not felt many movements.
The difference in the three scans is crazy! Although they didn't give us a very good photo really for this one!

The early scan was the best thing we did Mouse it will really help with the whole not knowing thing.

I've not had many symptoms either and I have to keep telling myself that unless there's some bleeding or pain then I just have to assume everything is okay. It's out of your hands now and the stress isn't good for little bean. It's easier said than done but try to enjoy the fact that you're having an easy pregnancy so far.

mouse I'm sorry you're feeling like that. Have you decided if you'll go for a reassurance scan? It helped me massively both times, the first time I just knew something wasn't right and I felt like an idiot trying to convince myself otherwise. If you can fork out the £100 or so it is well worth it. If not then here's some advice I picked up on an NLP course:
Each time you think a sad or negative thought, make a conscious effort to turn it around - e.g:
Brain: what if there's no baby and it all goes horribly wrong (or similar anxious thought)
Mouse: look here Brain, you've had no period for 73 days, you've had no severe pain. Whatever happens you'll be ok.

Then gradually you can start to slim down your responses, eventually just responding with 'whatever happens happens, you'll be ok' or something similar and then the negative thoughts become less of a habit over time.

Hope that helps, sorry for mega post if not. You can also speak to your GP about your anxiety and ask to be put on the waiting list for hypnotherapy or NLP or whatever your local NHS service is? Xx

Thank you that actually helps a lot. We've not made our mind up about an early scan because while I'm worrying I'm also trying to convince myself everything is perfectly fine and I can wait till 12 weeks when we will see an actual baby. Your positive thinking skip is a good technique. Thank you. MrsG I think it's something to seriously discuss, money isn't an issue at all thankfully as this has been a long time in the making, and moose, wowzers, what a wonderful scan. The last pic is making me smile from ear to ear. X

Awh great scan pics moose and so glad to hear everything went well! That's funny you had to go for a walk halfway through, baby was being awkward at mine too, they had the bed tipped up really far with head at the ground and feet in the air trying to get baby to move! Also had to lie on my side for some of it!
Did you keep the sex a surprise? I've also got an anterior placenta, you'll start feeling more strong movements soon.

Mouse I think you should book an early private scan if you can. It also helps with telling some people a bit earlier maybe?

Congrats on the scans skip, kav and moose! Super exciting times, really pleased they all went well.

Mouse, I'm sorry to hear you're struggling
Have you tried a mindfulness meditation? I need guided ones to listen to, otherwise I get distracted if I try and do them without soundtrack to hold me on course, but find these generally really good for distracting me from other things, and I bet you could find some on youtube. They can wary in length between 10 and 40 mins in my experience. If you have bodily tension a body scan might help you to relax muscles. Or this might sound silly (less so these days, since it's become a thing), but I find focusing on colouring in pretty relaxing. No symptoms doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem - my Mum had very few in her pregnancies from what I can gather. But I second the scan suggestion!

I've partly been quiet as morning sickness seems to have really got me now, needing to eat every hour or so, and even then not feeling great much of the time so in bed a fair bit. Not sure I'll make it to library tomorrow. Not actually vomited though, so thankful for that. We went to see Rogue One marmite: DH is trying to get me into Star Wars with some success. Had to sneakily eat during film

(food not allowed!), and even then had to take a loo break due to tummy funniness around nausea, but it was good!

skip how was your weekend otherwise?

Dixie Sorry to hear about your worry, as star said though, hopefully heartbeat is a good sign. FX for you.

kav, yey for hiccups and jigs, as well as for board games: I'll have to look the games up as I've not encountered them. Great that you have a weekly games night!

skip hooray for the blob and it seeming more real, really pleased for you.

Fishy, that's exciting about looking for stuff, I enjoy planning and needed to figure out finances at least vaguely, so I started online research pretty early. Where did you go? I think we'll just get cheap second hand buggy to save money as not really compatible with wheelchair use anyway so we'll focus on carrier and slings, but buggy might come in handy for DH sometimes. Not that I'm getting carried away...

6 weeks tomorrow and looking forward to new 'weird but cute' animal for size comparison on the pregnancy app! Each week seems to be passing so slowly at the mo. Really just want to hear that heartbeat at 8 + 3, though from what everyone here says I'll probably only be reassured for a couple of weeks!

Marmite I think we'll go with Uppababy Cruz. Lightweight and small are the main things I liked, plus easy to use! Did you get a car seat that works with your frame too? Which did you go for?

Mouse I had exactly the same, I'm normally so super chilled but spent most of my first 12 weeks in a silent worry. I found puzzles or easy-to-read books good, such as Lost In Translation. Something to take my mind off things basically. I didn't get an early scan because (sorry if I sound really negative) I know things could be fine one day and not the next. I took some comfort in the fact that there's nothing I could do either way, just to do my best keeping calm and moving forward one day at a time.

Moose yay on the awesome scan! Our 20 week scan wasn't a great picture either, 12 week one was probably the best. I'm another one with anterior placenta! Is it something about the time of year? Didn't start feeling definate movement until week 21.

Ns both John Lewis and Mothercare do this thing where you can book in to try push chairs, even trying to get them into your car boot! We went to John Lewis as that's our nearest, really useful experience being able to play hands-on with it all.

Ooh fishy we got the uppababy vista! - wanted something that was good for pavements and a bit more rugged/off-road terrain for walking! I love it, has a massive shopping basket too! Think uppababy is generally a really good make, and certainly the Vista seemed so easy to use compared to some others in similar category so sounds like that'll be a good choice for you in the Cruz! Yup, John Lewis included maxicosi adaptor so we bought the maxicosi cabrio car seat.

The Vista scared me a bit as it looked bigger and I was worried about using it on my own! But I'm wandering if I should give it another try as I want something that can handle country lanes as well as pavements!

Ladies, feeling much better. What a few hours difference makes. I listened to a pregnancy meditation video on the way home from work, just got home from the gym, something I've avoided since my BFP and I feel so much better. For every negative thought I pushed a positive one through. After tea I'm getting my colouring books out and crafting in my planner. I can do this!! Thank you. Xxx

Glad you're feeling better Mouse, sounds like that trip to the gym is just what you needed!

I was only supposed to be 10+1 at my scan Marmite, it was just a viability scan. As it turns out they thought I was 10+4 instead so I'm apparently 11 weeks tomorrow!

Lovely pics Moose!

I've been investigating pushchairs but not seriously yet as I don't want to tempt fate. Really like the look of the Cosatto Ooba in Fox Tale pattern though - it's so bright and vibrant in comparison to some of the plainer ones you see out there.

Guys what's all this talk of pushchairs - you're scaring me!!
Thanks ns my weekend was spent moving the rest of our stuff out of our old house and redecorating the new one - not exactly relaxing! But I am forced to be suited up to the max in masks and overalls and I'm not allowed on ladders (I am known to be v clumsy)
mouse amazing job of turning it around - it's great practice for the long 7~ months ahead and the years to follow!!