#TTC1 - Second Wave grads thread the Second!

[kavanaughkj]

Hello all! Welcome to the second thread for the 'new wave' of grads from #TTC1 - the first wave ladies seem to have decamped en masse to Facebook now (I heard weaning mentioned last time I ventured onto it) so this is now officially the place to be!

We're pretty spread out over the pregnancy journey so far with some newbies and some about to pop I'll try to maintain a list so if anybody wants to leave details of due dates and whether you're Team Blue, Pink or Vanilla (I think we're pretty heavily skewed towards Pink at the moment) then leave your details and I'll amalgamate them!

As Moose mentioned in our last thread, please do feel free to join in if this is your first time walking this weird and wonderful path - there is no such thing as TMI and we're all learning off each other!

Great news poppet

Had my 28 week midwife appt yesterday. I always want to laugh when they measure me with a tape measure - feels so old fashioned! First growth scan is on Tuesday along with another cardiac scan as they couldn't get all the measurements last time. Feeling quite chilled about it now but wil probably be worrying the night before.

Hi wanting - glad your scan went well. Do you have any indicators of a high risk pregnancy? I do and that's why I have been booked for growth scans and the glucose test. I wouldn't worry about it - I always think it's a bonus to get the extra monitoring! Also, I eat ALL the sugar but I don't think that makes much of an impact on whether you develop gestational diabetes (from my very limited, unmedical knowledge!) I'd be interested to know what they said a or body shape and preeclampsia?

Have just seen that moose replied with a similar thing about sugar!

Sorry for the late welcome bluebell! Lovely to have you here I would echo everyone's advice here. The first few weeks seem to go by so slowly so the best thing you can do is try to keep yourself busy and give yourself milestones (like booking appointment, early scan if you choose to have one, reaching double digit weeks etc). Also, I have had disrupted sleep all the way through. It varies as to whether I can't get to sleep, wake up early, wake up in the middle of the night with leg cramps - anything goes really!

Hi seahawk! I'm also thinking of stopping work at 38 weeks although I'd obviously love to stop sooner. Glad it has worked well for you, marmite. Also, I think piper is a lovely name We have two top names - one is an older generation name and one is a much less traditional name. We have taken to calling the bump the more traditional name but I don't want that to mean that we get too used to using it and therefore discount the other one! It's difficult. You do so much exercise - I'm in awe! I went to pregnancy yoga for the first time this week and loved it. It was distinctly un strenuous but I liked meeting other pregnant ladies and starting to talk a bit about labour and birth. Feel like I need to introduce myself to the topic slowly! If like to start swimming too.

Starmist that's so annoying that there is a venue hire charge! Are you going to look for somewhere else? I still think afternoon tea is perfect for a shower. Grrr re that person commenting on your bump. I have had the same but in reverse - people telling me that I can't possibly be pregnant because I don't have a bump and I must be gestating baby in a cardboard box (they literally said that). I mentioned to someone yesterday that I was pregnant and they had a good laugh and thought I was joking. It upsets me because I worry that baby is not developing or is going to be too small. Why don't people show more tact??

Fishy I don't think you're overthinking it. I'd be worrying about leaving baby and about the breast feeding side too. Ultimately though at least you can control some of the arrangements and make them work for you as best you can. No-one is going to think you are being unreasonable if you have a few month old baby to care for!

Poppet so glad your scan went well! It's such a reassurance isn't it?

Who was it on here that was doing hypnobirthing? I'm thinking of buying a book and giving it a try.

Sorry to anyone I have missed! Happy Friday to all

Why are you having growth scans seahawk? (Sorry to be nosy). Are you having them at 28, 32 and 36 weeks?

Urgh starmist I hear you on the inappropriate bump/size comments, of course it's upsetting/makes you feel self conscious! I had loads of people, mainly work colleagues, telling me my bump was 'massive' most of the way through, though I'm measuring perfectly normal and haven't put weight on elsewhere. Also had this one particularly annoying woman at work who joked constantly that it must be twins as my bump apparently looked so big, even to the extent she still wrote this in my leaving card!!? It must be equally annoying in reverse Music can't believe they said that! I think people just panic sometimes around pregnant woman and don't know what to say so come out with something random and inappropriate!!
Size of bump is based on so many things other than size of baby, such as your core muscles, your body shape, the way the baby is lying, even where your placenta is! So just ignore all the unhelpful comments!

Glad the scan went well Poppet I love those earlier days scans, so exiting!

Yeah I think you're right Fishy, I did some panic googling last night and apparently some women just don't notice them so I'm going to tell myself they are happening, I've just not realised! The hen do is a tricky one. i guess once the baby is here you'll know more/be able to plan more and see how you feel.

music it was me doing hypnobirthing, well I've been using the Maggie Howell book and CD haven't been to any actual classes. I would also recommend the JuJu Sundin's Birth Skills book which I'm currently reading (hope I get to finish it!!) which I read about on the April due dates thread. It's a bit of a different approach than the hypnobirthing stuff but focuses on lots of active skills to deal with the pain. I figured it can't hurt to have a few different sets of 'toolkits'!

39 weeks today which is totally mind-bending. So weird to think baby could arrive today or in 3 weeks! Currently sitting drinking a raspberry leaf tea and watching my bump twitch with their hiccups!

Hope everyone is having a lovely Friday!

marmite can't believe you're almost there! So exciting.

music of course I don't mind you asking. I'm having the growth scans as at my 12 week scan my Papp a was really low in the blood test results. It can mean the placenta is a bit rubbish and there are growth issues later on but I'm quite chilled about it, loads of people who have it seem to have no issues at all. Like you say the extra reassurance is good and I'm hoping it means they won't let me go overdue by more than a couple of days which I'm
Sure I'll be glad of in July. I'm having them at 28, 32 and 36 weeks. Are you having them too?

That's interesting seahawk, thanks for sharing. I think one of the things that I'm realising is that no two pregnancies are alike and there are so many variables and things to consider! I'm having mine in those weeks to check baby's growth because of the medication that I am taking to regulate my Crohn's disease and because of my Crohn's disease itself. There aren't enough studies to say conclusively what impact my medication could have on the baby although most show no impact at all. Crohn's disease can be associated with pre term birth and low birth weights but again the evidence is limited. I am trying not to worry too much about it because there is nothing that I can do and my consultant recommended staying on the drug rather than coming off it and risking becoming much more ill during pregnancy as the risks of that are much better known and dangerous for me and the baby. So I feel happy that I have done the right thing for us by staying on it.

I think those are he standard weeks to do the growth scans music the midwife says I'm measuring exactly right which is reassuring - even if it is just a tape measure!

I forgot to say about yoga, I found it super easy at first but now at 28 weeks it's quite a workout! I'm hoping to go right to the end. My sister is over 12 weeks now so I'm making her come with me from next week. I also really recommend swimming.

My anti D jab was cancelled today as I am one day off 28 weeks. Work has been awful recently so I neglected to mention it and left at 3 to hang out in the sunshine with my nieces

Thanks for the replies regarding sleep patterns. Thankfully I slept a bit longer last night. Although I still feel shattered and can't sleep right now. At least I'm not out anywhere today so I can have a nap later if needed. Got some work I need to do so think I'll get up, make myself a caffeine free tea (not the nicest thing!!) and crack on. Hope you're all doing ok x

Gah! Neighbour just told me I look huge 😂 Am off buggy shopping today!

Does anyone else wish you could do digital that track every weeks progression? Haha. I did a digi on Tuesday which confirmed 1-2 weeks (so 3-4 technically, and I counted I was 3+5 then). I've just done another now at 4+2 and it says 2-3 so it's definitely progressing as it should which is a huge relief but I wish I could keep going after next week to see the updates hehe.

That would be good bluebell be careful with tests though, I did one at 8 weeks and got a very faint line which freaked me out and ruined my weekend. I've seen so many posts where people test again with clear blue and it doesn't progress or goes back to 1-2 weeks even bough nothing is wrong. 4-8 weeks is the worst time IMO as there's not much you can do to reassure yourself before a private scan and it's so hard to just wait. Try to distract yourself and remember you are pregnant and more than likely everything g will be fine!

We've decided on a bugaboo bee as I knew we probably would but it was good to see and try out different brands. Lots of people recommended the uppababy but I found it huge. I'd definitely recommend trying buggies out to find the one that is right for you

seahawk we're going for a bugaboo too, pricey but they seem to have great reviews and my friends who have it love it. Going yo go for a cameleon but would have gone for the bee if I was still living in london and hopping on and off busses and tubes.

bluebell I remember being totally paranoid about the very early days and tested once a week for the first 3 honestly I wish I hadn't as I just freaked myself out waiting for the line or the week to pop up! Try and relax if you can, I know it's really difficult. I googled stats on everything then and again it didn't help me, despite convincing myself that I was just being "informed". Friend told me "what will be will be", which I didn't take too well given how much I want this baby and how worried I was, but what she meant was there is little you can do to ensure a healthy baby at this stage, apart from the obvious food, drink and drug advice. Enjoy being pregnant.

music I've been told I'm a low risk pregnancy, so I think I'm just being paranoid! Also I've re-read my notes and they seem to imply the growth scan is just bc my 20 week scan was the first at this hospital - I've recently moved out of London and therefore am in a new area with a new nhs trust. My GP tested my urine for proteins ages ago when I was suffering a lot with migraines, but that's fine. And he was the one to say I was the wrong body shape - he seemed to suggest women with a large tummy/apple shape who are very overweight are more prone to pre-eclampsia. I'm a little overweight at around 26 him but it's well-spread; boobs and hips rather than just tummy. Is there a way of ensuring you don't develop gestational diabetes? Maybe I'll have a Google

Ha ha wanting step away from the google!

I loved the chameleon - if we had more money and a bigger house I'd have got a chameleon and a babyzen yoyo for tube etc but we don't so the bee is the perfect in between!

Happy Saturday everyone, I hope everyone's enjoying the lovely sunshine.

Bluebell I kept testing until around week 6. I read that the further along you are, the high concentration of HCG is too much for the test to cope with making them appear lighter (something to do with the control line stealing the dye) so it spooked me into stopping testing. I read this on Dr Google btw so I have no idea if it's actually true.

I don't think we'll ever stop worrying. It was only a week ago today that I had my reassurance scan and I'm already thinking what if something is wrong as my nausea hasn't been as bad this week. But then it came flooding back to make up for it this morning. It's so difficult to tell in the early months. I'm so looking forward to actually feeling him in there.

We drove out to Dovedale in the Peak District to have a walk in the sunshine today. There were sheep and lambs literally everywhere so we couldn't go walking! We walked up and down a long country lane then came back home. A bit of a disaster really!

Evening all. Thanks to those who gave their guidance on the tests. Really useful to know. I'm a real worrier so thought this may help me but actually I think you're right and I should stop testing. Hope you've all had a lovely day in the glorious sunshine

You're in good company for worrying bluebell it's so hard not to. It's easy to tell someone else not to worry but so hard not to yourself. I don't think I'll stop worrying until the baby is here and then I'll probably check it's still alive every 2 mins!

Tonks it is a worry when nausea subsides but it's normal. Mine faded then went between 9-11 weeks and my boobs got less sore. Googled am I still pregnant about a 1000 times! Then at 16 weeks I had a reassurance scan as I felt so good and was hardly showing. I literally could not believe anything was in there!

It does get easier though. Now I can feel movement and know that baby is "viable" I've chilled out a lot.

Can I start on a bit of a gross topic for a Sunday morning? (Sorry...) This morning I had what I can only describe as a gush of watery fluid which soaked through my knickers. I rushed to check that it wasn't blood (phew) and it seemed like part of it was watery and part milky like cervical mucus. Because of that I don't think it can be amniotic fluid but I just wanted to check whether this is something that any of you ladies have had at around 22 weeks or at any other point? I hadn't been exercising or anything and had only been up for half an hour.

I haven't had anything like that music I'd
probably get checked out just in case but maybe call your 24 hour number (probably the labour ward) to see what they advise. I have read threads about things like this and they advise using a pad to see if there is any more and monitoring it. I'm sure it will be fine and just another random thing your body does but def worth a phone call to see what the experts say

Hey guys, music I've had this sort of thing once or twice, around 18-19 weeks, it wasn't enough to make me think I'd peed myself but enough to soak pants. Worth a call to the midwife to calm your nerves for sure though

Thanks ladies. I did call the 24 hospital number and spoke to a lovely and very understanding midwife. She said it sounded like normal increase in CM and told me to put a pad on for 24 hours and monitor it (like you said!) and to call back at any time. I haven't had anything since and have felt baby moving so I am feeling pretty reassured. The call line was great. I really wasn't expecting that, especially on a Sunday!

Such a relief to hear that music and good to know it's normal too lol!! Glad everything is ok 👌

Glad to hear that music.

I'm feeling a bit hormonal and ready tonight - unusual for me. Might just be Sunday night blues after a lovely weekend!

Glad to hear all is ok music

Suffering badly from insomnia too. I usually drop off relatively easy after reading a few chapters of a book but then wake in the early hours and can't get back to sleep. Managed 4 hours last night I want this baby so much and am so grateful to be pregnant, but its tough!

Hi all, great news about the scans!

I survived the hen do! Luckily it was quite sedate and not overly boozy! Lasted till 12 both nights then slunk away to bed! But it was doable and not too bad! Was pleased to get home to my own bed and big pregnancy pillow though!

Glad it all went well and you had a good time Moose.

Music glad you got it sorted. I've found calling people for help when you're pregnant is really good, better than non-pregnant service by far! I'll miss that when this is over!

Wanting I was awake for 2 hours between 4-6 this morning, thankfully managed to nod off again (I don't start work until later today, yippee!). I know what you mean about hard work! I always thought pregnancy would be fairly easy, your body doing what it's designed to do, but there is a bit more to it than that.