May 2018 thread 2: first trimester, early scans and first heartbeats

[cautiousoptimist1]

Ladies,

Welcome to thread 2 for babies due in May 2018.

Looking forward to early scans, seeing the first flutters and progressing further into the first trimester.

Seems a bit unfair to be telling you what the plan for your next pregnancy will be when you've only just finished the first!

I am hoping for MLU but my BMI is just over 30 and i don't know if that makes me high risk?

Yay noredwine scan pic looks fab!!!

Aw noredwine that's gorgeous :) so pleased all went well.
The nausea is something else this evening, nothing takes it away it's horrible! Hats off to those of you who have had this all the way through!

So pleased all ok noredwine!

Anyone else suffering from crippling indigestion?! New symptom over last few days. It’s awful to point I have cramps so bad I can only really lie down! Worse in evenings. That plus the nausea not a good combo. Don’t remember this from my first pregnancy...

noredwine yay scan, glad it went well!

I had my booking appt last week. All fine, she said if the anti sickness meds weren't working then to make a gp appt and try some different ones. Lots of different ones to try so I might do that if I can get an appt on my day off.

I asked about a c section. She said because I lost 5 pints of blood last time and had such problems healing because of it that I'd be under consultant care and I'd probably be offered a planned c section if I requested one. So I'll be thinking long and hard if it's definitely what I want. It's so hard, what I want would be a normal vaginal water birth, with minimal tearing and no problems healing and no birth injuries. But there's never a guarantee is there, it could go wrong again. I think I'll be requesting a c section but I'll see what the consultant says.

My scan is 23rd Oct when I'll be 11w5d. Only 2 weeks! I look pregnant already. It's all chubb because I can't stop eating to combat the sickness and heartburn. I was hoping to hide it as long as possible from work as I know they don't have the money to pay me maternity pay and employ someone to cover me. I do the books and they've made a loss for the past three months (and longer) so I know I'm in a vulnerable position. There's definitely no way I can keep it hidden until the qualifying week if I'm already showing! Bugger. On the plus side, my new local supermarket does great big tubs of salted caramel ice cream that's ideal for heartburn!

Hope everyone else is doing well. Soon we'll be out of the exhausting first trimester. Bring on trimester 2 with its glowing skin and lovely thick hair and energy and proper baby bumps

@MilfordFound Your employer shouldn’t be out of pocket when you go on mat leave. The government pays your mat leave and your employer pays your cover’s wages. At least that’s what my company did last time!

Yes MotherofBoy drinking Gaviscon straight! In heartburn hell here! Forgot how awful constant heartburn is!! On top of that bloody nausea and no appetite! I hate first trimester!!!!! Ps my app tells me we're 20% through the pregnancy right now! Check us out!

Yay noredwine, great scan pic!!

Tonic water is def fine for us to have, the proper Schweppes stuff with quinine in it is great for leg cramps (I think the own brand stuff leaves the quinine out). Not sure if Fever Tree does, I've always been too busy enjoying that brand with gin added! (Really need to buy some of that Seedlip non alco gin, it's meant to be great.)

Today I felt something approaching human for the first time in 2 or 3 weeks (I'm 8+3), bit more energy and far less queasy, long may that continue.

Ooh I missed noredwine's scan pic - how lovely!

Lovely scan noredwine! Was that at a private clinic?

Booking appointment tomorrow, any second timers got any tips for things to ask? I literally have no idea what I should be asking at this stage, seems weird to be thinking about the birth before the First scan, do they expect questions about it?

The thing is, as they stitching me up last time I asked if this means I couldn't have a home birth next time and they said 'oh there is no reason why you couldn't!'. So I'm surprised at this. I still don't know if I want the home birth but I hope it is still on the cards regardless of what she said.

Congrats noredwine!

gyoza I wouldn't worry about asking much at this appointment unless you've got questions - iirc at this appointment it's the midwife who asks allll the questions! They'll go through all your medical history & ask some questions about you personally (about domestic violence etc) as well as doing bloods & urine sample.

Mine is on Friday morning. I'm with the lovely community midwife team so I'll be seen by the same midwife for all appointments and she comes to my house, so no trekking around!

dorotha a lot of people don't realise this but legally if you want a home birth, you can have one (unlike the MLU as they can stop you going there). Every woman has a right to a home birth - although obviously most women take the advice they are given on board!

Worth remembering for those of you who want water births etc but might not be allowed MLU births.

Gyoza, they'll assess your medical history to determine whether you're low or high risk and will probably mention your options but won't expect a discussion as that decision can be made much later. You can of course ask the mw to tell you your options:

• how many birthing centres you can choose from
• how many birthing pools at x location
• what is the process for home birth if you're a candidate
• do your local hospitals allow a look around visit before you go in
• does your trust offer NHS antenatal classes and if so when to book them

Your midwife will probably go through the following with you but it's worth asking if something isn't clear;

• how often you'll be seen and who by
• the screening options available in your area
• foods to avoid and prenatal vitamins
• vaccinations required or recommended

Also be prepared for her to take blood. Some don't do it at the same appointment and I think Dorotha has to go to a hospital for blood so it varies by area but here they take it at the booking in appointment (if you agree of course!). Finally know some basics of your partners medical background, you don't need to take him with you but I seem to remember they will ask about the big conditions on both sides - your side is much more significant but I remember there being a little bit on his side too. Oh and they will ask about domestic violence so don't be shocked when that comes up!

That seems like a lot of waffle but I hope it helps!

Thanks that’s really helpful, good point to ask about antenatal classes etc. Just worried about looking unprepared but I’m sure they’re used to that!

11 weeks today and so anxious. This is an ivf baby and so I had daily progesterone pessaries. Finished those on the weekend (took an extra weeks worth as it was). Now so so worried about whether my body can sustain this pregnancy on its own. Felt really down last night, which freaked me out as low mood is usually a sign of my period being on the way. Have the odd cramp and twang. Anyone in a similar position? Any advice?
Think it's not helping that I'm in France for a wedding over the weekend and it feels as though I'll be really far from help if something goes wrong.

Hi everyone, I had my first scan yesterday putting me at 12+1 and due date 22 April, turns out I'm a little earlier than expected! Just wanted to say hang on in there. I was super anxious leading up to the scan (even had to self impose a forum/Internet ban) but it honestly feels better soon. Though TBH I think for the rest of my life I'm now going to be worrying about my child!

Whatamuddleduck - I have not had IVF so can't imagine how much more anxious you must be and I know how anxious I have been as an older first time potential mum. All I can say is a good friend of mine had IVF and at first attempt embryo took and she is now 20 odd weeks. You have every chance that it will all be fine and sing down occasionally is completely normal - hormones are all over the place in early pregnancy and yours even more so with your extra progesterone- finishing that is probably why you suddenly felt down! I would just enjoy the wedding and time away with other half and being entirely realistic if anything was to go wrong there is not a lot anyone can do anyway but that is a big if and I think actually taking your mind off it all by going to the wedding will do you good. Presumably you got to see heart beat early on as were IVF in which case you already know risk of mc is by 11 weeks very very low. Just try and relax and eat well and sleep well and try not to stress too much x

Oh and I have had loads of tummy pain and cramps and twangs - this morning I stretched quickly to turn off alarm and right side near ovary properly pinged!! And every time I sneeze it really really hurts!

Oh thank you nored. Your common sense really does help. I've just arrived at a conference, first session on perinatal mental health. I'm hoping it will be reassuring rather than terrifying. Although it's a safeguarding conference so my hopes aren't high. If it makes me feel worse I'm off!

Going for booking in now! Got to just DO THIS!!! Argh!!!!

It will all be ok LadyPug

gyoza they will def do a wee test so make sure you hold it and don’t go straight before the appt! Mostly it’s just paper pushing, maybe bloods like others said. I think they note preference for birth location but you don’t have proper discussion about birth options til about 34 weeks iirc.

whatamuddleduck I have just had my booking in appt this morning. I did IVF too and my midwife happened to warn me that my progesterone pessaries are probably dampening down mood swings and that these may get worse when I stop taking them. It sounds like you are experiencing exactly what she described.

I'm not due to stop the pessaries until week 12 and I'm only 9+3 today. If you are really worried I think you could ask the gp for another prescription, but from the sounds of it what you are experiencing is normal. Try not to worry x

Booking in appt all went really well! I’m consultant led and an elective c section is encouraged but she said I could always see if I go into labour naturally then if go 2 weeks over go straight to elective. Lots to think about. And I had the bloods taken!!!!! Wooooo hoooooo!!!