October 2017-come one come all!

[Stickaforkinimdone]

Am I the first one here?! Positive pregnancy test yesterday
Baby number 2 ETA 1st october
Do come and join me!

I'm South London too, Gimble. Right on the outskirts, though. I'll be at Kings for the scans only. We go to the PRUH in Orpington for delivery, Beckenham Beacon for early antenatal appointments and our local GP for all antenatal appointments after twenty weeks, so it's a real mixture. I got very confused when I was pregnant with my son.

Hello! Please can I join?

I just got my BFP yesterday - estimated due date of October 16, based on ovulation date - and am still a bit shell-shocked.

DH and I have a 21 month old son, but had only just started thinking about trying for a second. We didn't think it would happen so quickly. I'm a bit anxious about how we will be able to manage two.

No symptoms yet but have come down with a horrible cold which happened early in my first pregnancy too - weakened immune system?

@gimble and @cineraria - also in South London though not quite as far south, I will probably be at Thomas's or C&W.

It's so confusing how the registering process is seemingly different in every area! Is there anyone else in Scotland here? I'm tentatively quite excited about the new baby box scheme.

Hello and congratulations to new people :)

Last night I woke up at 3am with painful cramping, and thought, oh no, it's all over... but it stopped quite quickly and there hasn't been any blood at all, so I'm really hoping it was just that I ate something funny or my uterus was having a particularly good stretch or something. I don't know, I'm trying not to worry but it's hard.

Good morning folks,

Is it OK if I join you? Going to start with a bit of question in the hope that some of you lovely people might offer your thoughts?

I found out I was pregnant quite early (on 26th January); this was CD20. My last AF started on 7th January, but I ovulated early in my cycle on about CD11 (Tuesday 17th January). If I conceived then (also adding in the dates that we DTD!), I am 4 weeks and 2 days pregnant. Do I have to calculate my pregnancy from the 1st day of AF (as I ovulated early)? It's a little tricky as last month was DH's and my first month of TTC (baby #1), so not quite sure of my cycle length. Apparently, if I have a 'normal' luteal phase, AF would have been due earlier this week on CD25 (Tuesday 31st January).

I did a CB digital yesterday and ER test this morning just to be sure (pics attached). Now must start actually believing that I am pregnant!

Thanks in advance for any advice, and congratulations to you all.

Saph xx

Hey, I'm south London too! Between lewisham and kings, so not sure where I'll end up. It's really confusing how the system seems to vary so much even in quite a small area.

Sapphire, I think the GP or midwife, whoever you see first will calculate from LMP anyway until the 12 week scan, even if you know you ovulate early or late in your cycle, especially if you don't know your average length and there is only a few days in it. At the scan you may be surprised by the date they suggest anyway.

With DS, I knew I ovulated a few days late and right he was due 1st Oct but GP went by LMP and said 29th Sept and the twelve week scan put him at the 27th, so earlier than either of our predictions. Even then he came a day early!

Thanks, Cineraria, that's really helpful. xx

Hi everyone - good to "meet" you all.

I am about 5 weeks, I think. Generally feeling OK but very tired and terrible skin. Nice to be able to talk about it openly as I haven't spoken to anyone about it IRL except my husband. It took us nearly a year to get pregnant this time (we already have a 2.5yr old DD) so I am feeling super paranoid about symptoms waxing and waning.

I'm a Kent lass so not far from you guys either! I work close to Guys and know South London pretty well.

Welcome to all the new faces, congratulations on the positive tests!

I'm in London too, but north/Central.

Woo! Glad there's so many s.londoners here
Had some funny symptoms today, I had a tugging pain earlier and now I feel like someone's leaning on my cervix and also back pain to boot. And pea my skin had also totally broken out! I've got about 6 really painful spots and my skin is usually fine apart from a few when I'm due on. However, very little nausea and no vomiting so far so I guess I can't complain.

Anyone been in contact with their midwife yet? I'm still waiting for my call back after I referred myself. Does the midwife arrange your 12 week scan date?

Wow this thread has got busy
My midwife called me yesterday to arrange my booking in appointment for 3 weeks time - it's at my home which I thought was quite unusual because don't they do bloods/weights etc? Can't see them doing at home but maybe it's a chance to check us out early hahah!

Self referred to the Whittington (Archway).....Just got dating scan appointment for end of March - seems likes ages. booked an early scan at 8 weeks and will book a harmony for 10 weeks.....that should have it covered ;0)
Letter saying midwife with contact re booking appointment...
Live and work in north London

Liking all these N. Londoners. I live in Kentish Town and will almost certainly have the baby at UCH

Ah its nice to see the thread filling up! I had filled out the self referral form online for local midwife service but after experiencing tummy cramps today and just generally feeling a bit urghh decided to make a doctors appointment for next week as well .... think I just need some reassurance that my symptoms are normal. I also really want to book myself in for an early pregnancy scan in a few weeks time .... DH is not that keen and wants to hold out for 12 week scan!

I am in Watford .... so not that far away from London!

Hi everyone, you seem like a lovely bunch, can I join? Got my bfp yesterday after trying since the summer and still can't quite believe it's real! I'm a midwife and a sonographer so I keep worrying about all the things that I know can go wrong, need to take a chill pill lol! I've worked out my edd is 15th October xx

I've just emailed the Fetal Medicine Centre to book an early scan (for 6/7? weeks - not sure when makes the most sense) and a Harmony Test for 10 weeks. I went to them last time and they were great.

I still have to make my booking-in appointment so will try to call the doctor tomorrow.

It feels very different from my first pregnancy. Last time we were so excited it was all we could talk about - this time it feels more matter of fact since we're so busy with work and DC1. I don't think the reality is going to sink in until after the scans.

Hi everyone am I OK to hop on board? Bfp today at 12dpo. Edd is 13th October. Dc2 for us, we already have ds who will be 3 in june.

Welcome and congrats to all the new joiners

That's strange that she's coming round presh although she may still take blood. I know my nanny had to get some injections at home and the nurse opened a wrapped, sterilised needle etc so perhaps that's what they do?

What's the harmony test Daisy? I have heard of it but I don't know the ins and outs. May have to look in to getting an early scan booked too, although I have a feeling he'd rather wait for the 12 week scan. Is there a place anybody suggests that is good?

Also just on the train back from seeing The Glass Menagerie at the duke of York theatre which was fabulous so if you're a thespy then it had my recommendation!

Also Jackie I think you'll be very popular now you've said you're a midwife! Immy copy of 'How to grow a baby' by clemmie hooper arrived today... does it have your seal of approval as a fellow midwife?!

Do we have a Facebook group yet? My June 2014 group has one and it's been my lifeline. We still talk every day now, we've had meet ups and all sorts. It's been fab.

presh my first MW is at home this time too....must be a West Midlands change in policy as that wasn't the case in 2014. I have to go for blood tests at the hospital this week and then booking in appt is 15 Feb

Ooh yes what exactly is the harmony test?

We have a Facebook group for my Feb 2014 bus, it's been ace although I will be holding off joining any new groups until after 12 weeks!

@gimble - The Harmony test is a blood test which you can do at around ten weeks (it's a brand name, I think the generic name is NIPT - non-invasive prenatal testing?) It can detect whether or not your baby has a chromosomal abnormality with close to 100pc accuracy - so not quite as accurate as an amnio but there is no risk to the baby. It can also tell the sex of your baby, if you want to find out.

At the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley Street they do a package - Harmony at 10 weeks, then you come back two weeks later for the results (your blood is sent to the US for analysis) and get another scan, nuchal fold measurement etc.

I think the NHS has been considering rolling it out but I don't think it is widely available at present except at private clinics.