March 2018 (Part 2)

[SheSaidHeSaid]

New thread as the old one is maxed out.

Link to old thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/2958194-march-2018?

That's great you've a scan booked LaSurprise, good luck for Tuesday

Ah, that's nice to know you're midwife is lovely dancingunicorn. I was a bit worried about that but mine is lovely too, puts me at ease. Going back on Tues for bloods (any tips on peeing into the ridiculously narrow sample tube?? Short of peeing into a measuring jug first? 🤣)

Also trying to cut down on the crisps Flatwhite I love them so much but I'm 7 weeks today and read there is a wee umbilical cord now! Made me realise I'd better try and eat healthier.

Hello ladies! I have not thrown up at all this weekend so far which makes me super happy! I did not do a thing this weekend and our flat is in a state but we really needed a relaxing weekend (OH had a very busy and stressful week at work).
On the bright side, I am off Friday as I have my booking appointment (OH cannot come) and I feel better in the evenings nausea wise.

As it's my 1st child, what can I expect at the booking appointment? What test are they doing? Any examination?

My booking appt was this week: I was asked to wee into an unfeasibly narrow jar (still unclear how I managed it); that was tested for nitrates, protein and sugar. There were 5 little pots of blood, but I know I had extra pot(s) for thyroid. Mostly it was going through loads of paper, weight & height, talking about other appointments needing to be booked etc. Loads of time for questions throughout and given a bunch if leaflets. I had questions written down and took notes of the important bits.
You'll need a bag that can take a thick A4 file.

@Gweatherwax I had a new sample pot I used throughout each pregnancy, used to wee into a jug and pour it in at home as if you pee into those sample pots your hand gets covered lol. I never did it at the drs for this reason 😊

Weather be prepared to wash your hands afterwards...?! Oops!

Orange they did bloods for sickle cell, hiv, infections etc. Urine tested for infections and protein. Blood pressure taken. Other than that, it's a run down of medical history, general overview of the care to expect throughout the pregnancy and what happens in your area. When/how to contact people if needed. Plus any questions you might have.

I'm officially 8 weeks today. Starting to feel a little bit real. Desperately hoping this one works out. Already love him (or her, but I think it's a him) so much already.

Thanks everyone, think I'll go for the jug option, thanks countdowntofour 😂

I didn't get my folder, we're apparantly going paper free up here supposed to get an email to create a log in etc to a portal.

Aaw 8 weeks, that's awesome dancingunicorn! Fx for all.

That's a brilliant milestone Dancing Unicorn. Officially a foetus not an embryo today for you!

Oo, same here weather. Got a tiny booklet but mostly just appointment dates! Need to check my emails!

Excited ee!! Yes, I'd forgotten that detail! 😃

Hi again, love and luck to all. Crap phone and crap internet so I really can't reply individually but
NCT I did with my first. Was rubbish but I made great friends. I also did NHS classes which were better and made great friends there too.
I had no nausea at all in either of my first 2 pregnancies and none so far this time.

Good to know @blinkineckmum, thanks. Maybe I'll try the NHS class first and early, see if we make friends, if not move to NCT. My partner is outside gossiping with our neighbours, which reminds me we are capable of making friends (we moved in 8 weeks ago). Although my midwife seemed to think mid-priced option Birth & Beyond (£150) was good, so might try that too.

Oh, just remembered I forgot to update on cfDNA (Harmony) test for Downs. Or forgot that I did. Anyway. I don't know if it's the same for everyone, but in our area they do a blood test and spinal fluid measurement, then automatically send it for a screening blood test equivalent to Harmony (cfDNA) if the risk is more than 1 in 800; that's done within the results week so you never know unless it's failed and they're then recommending amnio. They've also changed the boundaries to get a lot less false positives than previously. So although the test is 2 weeks later than I could get privately, it is a double test and therefore better. I was ready to pay the £400 thinking there was some real benefit, but now feel like it isn't worth it just for 2 weeks. Is that similar what others are thinking too, or did I misunderstand something vital? I'm higher risk due to my age, though the midwife reminded me the numbers are tiny anyway.

Loving hearing about everyone's appointments! I so wish mine was earlier!

Anyone else having really strong food aversions? I'm not a fussy eater at all, but all I seem to want now is salty food like scampi and chips, which obviously isn't ideal. I normally love Mexican food, stir fries full of veg, veggie curries etc, but the thought of all of my usual favourites is just turning my stomach. I'm also getting hungry really quickly.

I'm still having a fair bit of bleeding. I think I'm out to be honest, I feel like I am having a miscarriage. Feeling really low about it all tonight. Keep bursting into tears. Hospital have said no availability for a scan until my appt on Tuesday morning - so I've got just over 40 hours of this horrible limbo... dominos pizza is on it's way. Screw the healthy eating tonight... I'll eat my feelings a bit instead

Sorry to be such a downer on such a happy thread

So sorry to hear that @LaSurprise. I'm going to hold out hope for you anyway for now. Fingers staying crossed until Tuesday.

Sorry to hear that @LaSurprise. Thinking of you.

Oh I'm so so sorry @LaSurprise. You poor love. Thinking of you. Xxx

Meant to say @LaSurprise no need to apologise. Please feel free to talk to is on here if it helps. We are here to support you. Xx

Oh lasurprise I'm so sorry to hear that. Of course you're emotional, and glad you're ignoring healthy eating for now. Thinking of you. Desperately hoping the bleeding stops.

Thank you all, you're all so lovely! My DH keeps saying he doesn't know what to say and just feels so helpless and I said 'well so do I' because there's nothing anyone can do really is there?

Just wait and hope 💖

I'm so sorry LaSurprise. Wishing you strength and comfort for the long wait til Tues. 😘

I'm so sorry @LaSurprise You never know, it might not be anything to worry about. But Tuesday is a long time to wait

Equally, the nurse said to me at the EPU when I had miscarried that she thinks women know their bodies and know if it's going wrong. If you do think it's a mc, there's an amazingly helpful thread in the miscarriage topic about the practicalities which I found useful in that I knew what to expect. Dominos and eating your feelings is definitely reasonable for tonight, do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself.

for you, LaSurprise. Really hoping for a better outcome than you fear. Pretty sure that comfort food is mandatory under the circumstances.

lasurprise sorry to hear that
Please don't think the worst.. I had major bleeding around 8/9 weeks and i mean there was loads of fresh red blood. I thought i was out. I had a scan a few days later at 9+2 and there was my little wiggly bean waving her arms around. I went on to have 2 more lots of heavy bleeding.. never explained as anything other than break through bleeding from when af would have been due... so the midwife said.
Take care xx

@LaSurprise I am so sorry to hear that. I really really hope it's not a MC - and if you do need to rant/be sad/talk on here please don't think you're bringing us down - that's what we're all here for, to support each other.

The limbo is the worst - I had it for a week last year where I didn't know for sure either way, only had a gut feeling, and the not knowing makes it so much harder. Look after yourself, eat anything you fancy, try and keep yourself occupied as much as possible [easier said than done, I know] and try to stay away from Google, it will just mess with your head even more.

Will be thinking of you and sending all the positive vibes for Tuesday - if things do get worse and you want some practical advice, please PM me, I set up a website last year because I felt so strongly that there's nowhere for really practical advice [not a plug at all which is why I would never post the link here, just trying to think of ways to help]. I sincerely hope you don't need any of this advice and things end up taking a positive turn xxx