October 2017 #4!

[BrioLover]

Hello everyone - shiny new thread!

Here is the listing - please correct me and I'll update

Piraterach – EDD 27th September. Team yellow
NotMyPenguin – EDD 27th September. Team yellow
RubertRoo – EDD 29th September Team Yellow
Blu3sky – EDD 29th September Team Yellow
mandScookiesrule – EDD 29th September. Team yellow
jeneral – EDD 29TH September. Team yellow
MoominMama22 – EDD 29th September. Team yellow
Presh88 - EDD 30th September. Team yellow
Mulberry2627 – EDD 30th September. Team yellow
Dinosaurkisses – EDD 30th September. Team yellow
Supersmith – EDD 1st October Team yellow
Stickaforkinimdone EDD - 1st October. Team yellow
Emmaluggs – EDD 1st October. Team yellow
MrsMcKeon – EDD 1st October. Team yellow
Hannahjoshaw – EDD 2nd October. Team yellow
Sbs6jb1 – EDD 2nd October. Team yellow
Lottbarn – EDD 2nd October Team Yellow
Mellymoo – EDD 3rd October Team Yellow
Addtothechaos – EDD 3rd October. Team yellow
Sj3rram – EDD 3rd October. Team yellow
Mummabubs – EDD 3rd October. Team yellow
10storeyloveson – EDD 4th October. Team yellow
Cineraria – EDD 4th October. Team yellow
gimbleInTheWabe – EDD 5th October. Team yellow
NannyOggsKnickers – EDD 5th October. Team yellow
Emberblu – EDD 5th October. Team yellow
Wapsmahoney – EDD 6th October. Team yellow
Greentreeseverywhere – EDD 6th October. Team yellow
Ememem84 – EDD 6th October Team Yellow
Silkybear – EDD 7TH October. Team yellow
Firsttimemummy24 – EDD 8th October Team Yellow
Powerpuff – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
Rainingcats – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
BrioLover – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
Tammie49 – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
Conkerchops – EDD 8th October. Team yellow
Lizzynic – EDD 9th October Team Yellow
Krakentoast – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
Rosalyn44 – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
Trytowin – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
CarpeDiem83 – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
Whyarealltheusernamestaken – EDD 9th October. Team yellow
Skisunsnow – EDD 10th October Team Yellow
Beansprout79 – EDD 10th October Team yellow
Kirsty8333 – EDD 10th October. Team yellow
HollyMay84 – EDD 10th October. Team yellow
MerlinsBeard87 – EDD 11th October. Team yellow
EmmaGarrick – EDD 11th October. Team yellow
Cath1212 – EDD 11th October. Team yellow
Greentreeseverywhere – EDD 12th October. Team yellow
Wishmeluck16 – EDD 13th October. Team yellow
Starfish83 – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
Pollybythesea – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
MrsCharlieD – EDD 13th October. Team yellow
Loopyaboutmy2boys – ELCS 13th October. Team yellow
Corrinax – EDD 13th October Team yellow
Starfish83 – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
Babycarmen – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
Asilikeit – EDD 14th October. Team yellow
JackiePaper – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
TippetyTapWriter - EDD 15th October. Team yellow
ALRM – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
Fingerscrossed – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
Anotherminime – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
Gracey1 – EDD 15th October. Team yellow
Critterpants – EDD 15th October Team yellow
Kitkatsplat – EDD 15th October Team Yellow
DaisyFranceLynch – EDD 16th October. Team yellow
TequilaSetAWatchman – EDD 16th October. Team yellow
Doomkittycleo – EDD 16th October. Team yellow
Ifelola – EDD 16th October. Team yellow
Mrsbumblebees – EDD 17th October Team yellow
Walikingdeadfan – EDD 17th October. Team yellow
Ppleasebob – EDD 17th October. Team yellow
Boxesoffrogs – EDD 17th October. Team yellow
Yellowstarred – EDD 18th October. Team Yellow
DrunkenFlamingo – EDD 18th October. Team yellow
Lovechild2016 – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Abcdemma – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Emjmoore – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Iemma321q – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Luna4689 – EDD 19th October. Team yellow
Leafs123 – EDD 19th October Team yellow
Rachieg88 – EDD 20th October. Team yellow
SophieGiroux – EDD 20th October. Team yellow
Amyappletree – EDD 20th October. Team yellow
SeatOfMyPants – EDD 21st October. Team yellow
ThatGirl82 – EDD 21st October. Team yellow
Glitterbubble – EDD 22nd October. Team yellow
Charmanar – EDD 22nd October. Team yellow
Mishmishmish – EDD 22nd October. Team yellow
Otter16 – EDD 22nd October. Team yellow
DrMum83 – EDD 23rd October. Team yellow
Yellowfrontdoor- EDD 23rd October Team yellow
Colourmylife – EDD 23rd October Team yellow
JanuaryJuniper –EDD 25th October. Team yellow
Witsender – EDD 25th October Team Yellow
Shellbell – EDD 26th October Team Yellow
UndersecretaryofWhimsy – EDD 26th October Team yellow
Confusedat23 – EDD 26th October Team yellow
Vitalite – EDD 27th October. Team yellow
Sammyw1997 – EDD 28th October Team yellow
Soapycomb – EDD 28th October Team yellow
LadySchop – EDD 28th October. Team yellow
Shinysparklythings – EDD 28th October. Team yellow
DebsOctBaby – EDD 28th October. Team yellow
Plzbesticky23 – EDD 28th October Team yellow
Greedyduck – EDD 29th October Team yellow
Autumnheart – EDD 29th October Team Yellow
88claire – EDD 30th October. Team yellow
Yoyozozo – EDD 30th October Team yellow
MrsMonkeyBear – EDD 31st October. Team yellow
Tigger83 – EDD 31st October. Team yellow
Calmisthemantra – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Miwelaisjacydo – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Donkey86 - EDD TBC. Team yellow
Dinosaursparklepup – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Chlo22 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Thepotatoesofdefiance – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Han1984 –EDD TBC. Team yellow
Rosiehukk4 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Sapphire1983 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Peabody81 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Twinklelittlestar1 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Rayna – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Firsttimenearcarrier2015 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Allykatz – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Punkpuffin – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Reddy4no2 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Fairraid – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Missm0use – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Xxmissbrightsidexx –EDD TBC. Team yellow
Rufus200 – EDD TBC. Team yellow
FluttershyStare – EDD TBC. Team yellow
Daydreamer88 – EDD TBC Team yellow
Oddsocksforeveryone – EDD TBC Team yellow

@boxesoffrogs Yeah, just checking how things are going, urine sample checked and gave me 3 leaflets... that's it really! Midwife said the 25 week appointment is longer. They didn't listen for heartbeat so I asked whether this was normal and my midwife said they don't like doing it and would rather be led by me feeling baby's movements (once that starts!) as that's more accurate than going on Doppler alone. Hope that helps? Xx

I can't remember much about the 16 week appt boxes but my midwife did look for heartbeat, which I know they do with huge caveats etc. Took ages to find DS, found a lot of placenta instead, but eventually heard it. Wish I'd recorded it.

Hello there everyone! And to all writers - tippetytap, kitkat and ifelola (and any hiding) - I wish you productivity. Mine's academic, I've been stuck in a few dead end teaching jobs at uni and this is my ticket to stardom (well, a job I might want). I wonder if it's too late already - been 2 years since I finished the PhD but there were a fair few things going on. Now I am determined, but finding it hard to get into. I wish I could write fiction. Humanities isn't my natural ground I don't think- I keep starting up bits of creative writing but then sideline them as I prioritise other things. I would like to write a novel one day - such an achievement. What's everyone else working on? And it's tough writing whilst pregnant - I lose my focus. But there's no way I'll complete anything come October. You know those stories about award winning new novelists who penned their first books on maternity whilst 'baby was napping' or 'they first started sleeping through'. Yeah. That'll never be me. All I got was silent reflux and 15 months of severe sleep deprivation. No flipping award in sight.

Pains have stopped and I think I feel movement again. Thanks for the reassurance last night everyone.

Boxes, my 16 week appointment covered blood pressure, urine testing, baby's heartbeat (heard but not for long enough to measure it accurately as the baby kept leaping around), planning for future appointments as we normally transition from hospital antenatal clinic to GP based antenatal care after this in my area but they are happy to let me remain with the antenatal clinic as I found my GP's midwife a bit pessimistic about my age last time. They also went over the nuchal scan results and the booking appointment blood test results.

I have a definite bump now, Juniper. I would say that it's obvious I'm pregnant to anyone looking and I have had congratulations from people who are generally quite tactful. Although, of course, it is not at all obvious to anyone who has a seat travelling on the tube while I'm standing up with DS on my back in the carrier, whilst carrying his nursery bag, my laptop bag and my handbag!

boxes at my appt today she just checked my urine for protein and listened for baby's heartbeat and asked if I had any questions and... that's it! She said that they don't always listen if the woman is 16 weeks but as I was 18 she said it's safer to do it now I think. But wow isn't hearing the heartbeat the best sound in the world?! I recorded t and have listened to t so many times already!

As for showing.. I still think I look bloated by DP assures me I have a baby bump. It's not hard yet, still quite squishy (im a size 14) and doesn't look like a preggo belly to me ha. It'll get there though :) I had nothing until about 14/15 weeks.

Fun times for me as my bathroom is being totally renovated at the mo and is going to look fab v soon but - I HAVE NO LOO!!! This is a nightmare for me ha.

Boxes I presume you have had your appointment now but ... I had my 16 week appointment yesterday. She told me they don't routinely check for the heartbeat until 25 week appointment, but she would check if I wanted her to. She said there is a strong possibility she might not be able to find it and if she couldn't, she wouldn't do anything about it. Consider if it would worry me more if that was the case. So I said no, as my scan is on 31st May anyway

Thanks for all the advice guys. Appreciate it. Wondering if it is just me, does anyone else feel thoroughly depressed? I seriously don't know what is wrong with me, I am so grumpy and on edge all the time. I have picked unnecessary fights with dp, I am totally over work, I am at the end of my tether with my gorgeous dog (she barks a bit, and I am literally at the point where I want to open the front door and just set her free).

I don't feel normal anymore, I feel like an absolute headcase. I want to cry all the time. And I do.

This baby is very wanted, and I hope upon hope that all is ok with it. I just can't help feeling something is going to go wrong with it. Got the 16 week appointment tomorrow, don't know whether to mention to my midwife what I am feeling like this.

I just feel totally like I am trapped, the last few months I have felt like I have been drifting through them. As if it has been happening to someone else.

Tonight is the first night that I have really sort of faced up to everything. I just don't know what to think/what to do, etc. I actually bought a bottle of wine earlier to have a glass. I haven't! But still.

Argh. Sorry. This should be such a happy, amazing time, and I don't know why I feel like this.

The more I think about maternity pay the more I'm dreading maternity leave I just can't afford it. I have no idea how I'm going to cope. My husband stole all our savings whilst I was ill with depression last year and wasn't keeping my finger on the pulse. I'm the main earner. The pregnancy wasn't planned, nor it being twins. My parents are being amazing but it's not their responsibility.

At my 16 week appt she did blood pressure no urine tho & I asked her a few questions I was worrying about. She did heartbeat too. I've noticed the last few days lots more peeing & waking up twice through the night & more stretching pains, my bump seems rounder I'm tall & thin though so it's quite noticeable now x

boxes - Firstly, it's not weird to feel different. Hormones did a complete number on me during my 1st trimester and I just felt NOTHING. Totally disconnected from everything. In hindsight I wish I HAD told my midwife and I WILL tell her when I next see her because I think it's important that if you have any leanings towards depression that they know and they can keep an eye on how you go especially post partum. It's really hard to realise how low you feel when you are in it, so well done for you for making this big step and realising there's something going on. Please do tell your midwife. It's very common and it will really help you to speak to a professional about it. It's nothing to feel ashamed of.

Seat, I wrote a modern crime book last year but now I want to write a sci-fi novel (I love sci-fi). Something a bit more "fluffy", as overall it took me 3 years to write and edit the last one - editing takes forever! But like you, my concentration has just vanished since becoming pregnant. I had so much time on my hands today where I could have got started but instead I just flop on the sofa like a wet fish. But don't give up and hang in there! What kind of academia?

Butterfly she should have done your urine. It was at my 16wk appt they pick up on my raised sugar hence having glucose tolerance tests yesterday

I'm 18 plus 1 today! The midwife did search for hb @16wk appt. Took so long to find me she almost gave up. It was really faint and not recordable :-( wanted to record it for dh.

Thanks Kitkat. I will mention it. Just can't believe I feel depressed so much about something I wanted. Dp is away and I feel very much on my own :-(

by bloods are still so low I'm more anemic then I was at booking appointment. iv been eating irony foods and my vitamins but nothing seems to be helping. it's now effecting my mood/feelings and I'm a crying mess! the midwife suggested an iron tonic. has anyone else taken it and recommend one?

Hey green try floradix liquid iron formula - it's liquid and less likely to back you up than tablets

@MSH2010 I did think she should've done urine but all she said was u would know if I had an infection & will do it next time 😁 & I hope you are ok with everything going on how awful of your husband. I'm sure you will manage try not to worry too much. We're currently in a hurry to get a mortgage before Maternity pay starts (or my bump gets too big) so ive been stressing a little about that we've been renovating a house next door to my in laws & need to get it finished soon.

Oh boxoffrogs I completely understand your post, please know that you are not alone!

In my case it has been more anxiety than depression, but I get exactly what you mean when you say you don't feel normal anymore, and it's a really horrible, scary feeling.

I would definitely encourage you to speak to your midwife, I am hoping to find the courage to speak to mine at my next appointment too as I understand that it is not uncommon and there is a lot of support out there when you ask for it. Just a word of advice though, I think you need to be quite clear with them - I have tried tentatively mentioning it to both my GP and midwife already but I think in my area they are just so busy and rushing to see the next appointment that if you end up just mumbling something like I did "well I have been feeling quite anxious" they have said oh yes that's quite normal and sort of dismissed it and I've not been brave enough yet to say no, it's not normal and tell them how bad it really is.

I basically feel like my hormones are out of control and I can't let myself get excited about the pregnancy for the fear of something going wrong. This came completely out the blue and I never expected to feel this way. Like you, my pregnancy is very much wanted, in fact I want it so badly that I have worked myself into a frenzy about "making a mistake" (eating a forbidden food, touching a surface in the house that the cats have contaminated etc...), alongside the other constant worry that something will just spontaneously go wrong. I can't concentrate on anything else and I feel like I'm not myself anymore. I can't relax and have fun with friends and family or even pay full attention to a conversation, all I can think about is what "mistakes" I might have made that day, or the outcome of the next scan or test. I cry all the time and have been driving my poor DH mad with my constant need for reassurance and crazy hygiene obsession.

I just want you to know you are not alone and I'm sure in time we will both feel a million times better. I think pregnancy does some strange things to your brain and hormones have a lot to answer for, but please don't suffer alone! I too just want to feel happy and excited, but for some reason my brain can't seem to let me at the moment.

Sorry this has turned into a rambling essay - I wish you all the best for your appointment and please know we are here to chat if you are feeling down

Hi all

So glad some of us have decided to stay on here and not move to Facebook. I'm now 17+5 and this will be my 2nd baby. Is there anyone else who is feeling that they have a lack of symptoms at the moment? Apart from being shattered all the time I don't have any others. Im also a little stressed that I haven't felt any movement yet and I know your supposed to feel it earlier in subsequent pregnancies. This coupled with the fact that the midwife didn't listen for a heart beat at my 16 week appointment is concerning me. Really need to get to the next scan ASAP!!!

Sending you hugs @boxesoffrogs and adding another voice to say you are not alone. I've experienced "depression" twice before in the past (I loathe psychiatric labels but that's another rant entirely!) so have felt anxious at times that I'll experience this again in relation to pregnancy. I don't think I'd say I'm feeling that low again, but my mood has definitely taken me by surprise during this journey so far. I badgered my poor DP (now DH) for two years as I was so broody and so desperate to have children, so this baby is very, very much planned and wanted. However I didn't prepare at all mentally for the concept of constant nausea/vomiting, the pain and discomfort of it all, hormones going absolutely haywire (I cried at a cleaning product advert the other day and literally anything sets me off) and to my biggest surprise I'm actually struggling at times with how my body is changing and how I know my life is never going to be the same again. Poor DH has been so surprised seeing me like this (we weren't together during my previous episodes of low mood) that he's already saying he thinks one child is enough for us as he doesn't think he can manage seeing me go through this again. I think only you know whether it's affecting you to the extent that you feel telling the midwife is necessary, be led by your gut. And know that there is no shame whatsoever in feeling like you do. I wonder if things will feel a bit more manageable when DP returns? Sending love xx

boxes I'm sorry sorry you're feeling this way :( definitely speak to your midwife/gp and insist they listen if they tell you it's just hormones.

I went through a bad bout when I was about 6-8 weeks pregnant. The baby was planned and I was really happy, but I felt like I didn't belong to my own body anymore and didn't know what was happening. I worried about the months to come, worried about the baby, the responsibility of having a child, the strain on my relationship when the baby is here, worried about how my partner felt now. Whilst it's gotten a little better on the anxiety front, this week I've felt on the verge of a breakdown. I had to go to the toilets at work on Tuesday for a little cry because I felt like I was going to tip over the edge. I'm speaking to HR today about it but don't expect much to be done.

Thank you all sorry to hear that some of you have also been feeling a bit off. Bloody hormones! Feeling a bit brighter this morning (nothing to do with the fact that I got a lie in and a few hours off work, oh no). Think I got a bit overwhelmed last night (got some family stuff going on as well, which doesn't help), and rode my horse for what will probably be one of the last times, and it just made me think about what I am going to have to give up. I know that sounds daft and really insignificant.

Just waiting for appointment now. Will see if I am brave enough to mention something to the midwife but I am a bit of a wimp, all very British with the 'it's all fine' type things.

Hope the rest of you are having a good day.

Boxes I can relate to the horse riding I was competing every weekend and now hardly riding at all. Mainly because my lad isn't safe to hack due to an eyesight problem. But it's heartbreaking. My husband doesn't understand how much being pregnant is making me give up

Sorry to boxes and everyone else feeling low and anxious. I felt terrible in first trimester, really really low and on the edge of clinical depression which I've had before. I think it is common unfortunately, combination of hormones, anxiety, fatigue and all the usual worries that go with such a life changing event. I did mention it to midwife and she took it seriously and I'm to go to gp if I feel I need help. My first baby and this one are very much wanted and planned for but I still feel moments of wtf have I done!! I think the idea we should all be happy and glowing 24/7 is a harmful myth. There will always be ups and downs. Hope you're all doing ok and have lots of support around you.

Hello fellow pregnant writers!! Though I don't feel much of one at the moment as can barely form a sentence. I've written 3 books, mostly chick lit type stuff though I hate the label. Not sure how else to describe it. Contemporary romance?! Not tried to get anything published yet as I know it's all a bit crap. Just a weirdly compulsive hobby at the moment.

iemma I'm 16+5 with my second and feeling symptom free other than sore boobs and general blerghness. Felt my first at 17 weeks so not sure why I'm not feeling this one yet. Sometimes I think I might feel something but it's so faint and infrequent I can't be sure. Want some kicks!

Having a fun morning here as ds has come down with vomiting bug :( pretty sure I'm next!

MSH2010 it's thoroughly depressing isn't it? My girl is on loan, and has been off for ages with back problems, only just got her back in action and she is working so well at the mo. I am going to miss her so much, and my little surrogate pony who I have been riding in the interim.

Had a great ride last night, it's weird how being at the yard just makes you forget everything else going on. These bloody men don't understand, do they? Sorry to hear your boy has sight problems.

Just got back from appointment. Very dull. Blood pressure, booked next appointment and that was about it. No listening to heartbeat or anything. I feel a bit cheated!

Although I'm really sorry to hear that some of us have been struggling with feeling low/depression/anxiety, I'm really grateful that you have been brave enough to share how you have been feeling. It's so reassuring to know I'm not the only one who has been feeling up and down with lots of worries. I think I compare myself to other pregnant women I see who appear so confident and relaxed and I wonder why I can't be like that!

mrs I think we all have worries, whether we show them or not. But I know what you mean about seeing all these other women striding through pregnancy. Makes me feel like there is something wrong with me, I should be on cloud nine and looking forward to the future. It's reassuring to know others are having similar feelings, even though it's not a nice thing to experience!

I've given up on the idea of going back into work this afternoon, they don't know I am pregnant yet so I just told them I won't have finished my (generic) appointment in time. Now I feel bad and guilty about that as well. But going to get into bed, try and have a sleep.