July 2018 Babies

[HarryPotterandtheSAHM]

I thought I’d start this thread now as I can’t see one yet! I got my bfp this weekend on a digital and estimate my due date to be 1st of July, but I have long cycles so I’m anticipating it changing at a dating scan. Anyone else with me for end of June or beginning of July 2018?

@BlueeSpottyTiger, the scan was all good, really going to make a concerted effort to worry less and just be happy for the pregnancy more. If I had to do it over I’d give myself more time between the early miscarriage, but at the time I was just focussed on carrying on.

Another scan next week and I get handed over to normal care! I’m excited about that (and not having to have nightly injections)

So for sickness does anyone take vitamin B6? I hadn’t heard of it when I was pregnant with my DD 5 years ago in the UK? I know I should be eating healthy but right now I’m just craving carbs and salt.

I'm also having the harmony test (I'm 33).

I think the harmony will soon be viewed in the same way as the NT - a standard test for all pregnancies.

@NimbleKnitter when the harmony comes in on the NHS it will be used as a 'second line test' everyone will still be offered the NT and bloods (combined test) as they are now but those with a risk result will be offered The Harmony as an additional test.
The benefits of it being offered on the NHS for everyone is that the services, including the laboratories, will be monitored and regulated and everyone will be working to the same standards (and it will be free for everyone who wants it!) there is no regulation of private providers who offer the test and currently types of tests offered and standards vary dramatically.

Yep, which is how the NT test was introduced wasn't it? High risk first?

Which makes total sense

@NimbleKnitter when the NT test was officially introduced in the NHS it was offered to everyone but a number of NHS Trusts started to offer it to certain groups of women before this, a bit like the harmony now!

I think it would be great if it's offered on the nhs, It's so expensive though. I don't think everyone should be offered it unless the combined test comes back high risk.

I've had to call in sick, This was supposed to be my first day back in after 6 days off including holiday. Since monday I've just been lay on the sofa or being sick.. i can't do it!

When are you having your Harmony test @NimbleKnitter?

I haven't told anyone in real life that I'm pregnant (apart from 2 friends who were finalising their wedding date for 2 weeks after I'm due) but a friend who had the Harmony test when she was pregnant said she was surprised at the level of hostility it engendered from some other people, usually women - have you experienced this? I don't really understand it, but she said some people thought she was trying to play God even though those same people were availing of all of the diagnostic tests available to them on the NHS...

I'm having it at 11+1 (my 10 weeks falls over Christmas and new year)

(And quite happy to play god. We've discussed it and we would have a termination on medical grounds if the tests showed anything)

Happy the wrong word. Comfortable

Okay, mine is next week so I'll let you know how I get on! Hope the results are quick... having a scan the same day which I'm nervous about...

Had our scan today and everything as of now, is completely fine and how it should be.

Heartbeat was 156bpm and baby measured at 8 weeks - putting my due date back from 16/7 to 20/7 but she also did say that more accurate date would be given at the 12 week scan.

So I'm hoping for a better night's sleep tonight and I now know I haven't made any of this up!

Best £49 ever spent. I'd upload a picture but it seems the app really doesn't want me to and it just fails to post every time. It is essential a blob though 😂

Congrats to everyone with your scans it’s amazing seeing baby isn’t it! Is anyone else feeling totally rubbish?! The sickness and wretching is really taking its toll I am absolutely exhausted 😩 when I get home from work all I do is sleep!

Congratulations on the blob Farrar!! you must be so relieved, it's the "did I make it up" thing that worries me too! Lovely to hear all is well, how exciting

Hey guys ! How are you all doing ? I'm just over 7 weeks now and def starting to get a bit of morning sickness (which I'm weirdly a bit relieved about as at least it feels like things must be progressing a bit even if that's not really very accurate ) but not too bad and very intermittent so far . Have fallen asleep at 9 a few times too but that might just be me using the pregnancy as an excuse to unleash my laziness :p .

Getting a private scan on 23rd so two weeks time - wish time would hurry up as really want to know that everything is ok! All being well we have both sets of parents and siblings over for Christmas so hoping to be able to able to tell good news! (My mum already knows and is desperate to tell my dad but sworn to secrecy!)

Hey ladies & huge congratulations to you all! I've been lurking on several sites trying to find as much info as I can on getting through the anxiety of the 1st trimester, (first timer here) and finally feel ready to join a convo rather than just absorbing info.
I got my BFP 5/6 weeks ago and going by my FDLP should've been over 13 weeks by now, however had the dating scan last week and only 8+3 (always been very irregular but had no idea it could be so different) - SO disappointing to be put back 4 wks but at the same time over the moon that the tiny blob on the screen had a heartbeat. We were so ready to tell friends and family but now have another long & arduous couple of weeks wait. Managed to get the next scan moved from after Christmas to just before so hoping everything is still OK and can reveal all over xmas. Trying not to get too excited until the 12 wk mark as still early days and still panic with every little pain/discomfort and still checking loo paper every time. Also concerned as had barely any nausea and no sickness, I realise that will sound like a blessing to any of you suffering but i just dont feel pregnant at all (apart from bigger boobs, tiredness and nagging poor DH) Really hoping the constant worry fades after 12 wk scan.
Wondered if anyone can help re exercise? I've always trained almost daily with heavy weights and high intensity workouts & since finding out have stopped completely but desperate to get back now not feeling so tired constantly but don't know what is/isn't safe re weight lifting. I'm not one for swimming/yoga/gentle exercise, and feeling horribly unfit and porky, no bump, just chub! Any advice would be much appreciated!

That must be frustrating being put back several weeks @InstructionsRequired but at least there was a heartbeat etc and that's the most important bit :)

Congratulations @InstructionsRequired!!!

I am in exactly the same boat with regards to exercise, I did a lot of high intensity training? Field hockey and Muay Thai, 5 times a week and the. Weight training 3 times a week, and would swim between 1-2 miles. Since the nausea and tiredness hit I have managed 3 sessions in the gym in 2 months. Don’t feel like myself and desperate to get back to some routine for both my physical and mental health. I have given myself until January when I am in the 2nd trimester to build back up again as I am praying the nausea will be gone. I’ve found it very hard but very important to rest and listen to my body during the start of this pregnancy and although I feel frumpy and not myself I know it’s been the right decision for me. Although Still can’t wait to get back and get my heart pumping!!!!!

@instructionsrequired the same thing (date being put back) happened to me with my DD. I thought I was going in for the 12 week scan but was only measuring around 8 weeks. It was frustrating! But she's now a health, cheeky, wonderful two year old so all was well in the end

Re exercise: could you ask one of the trainers at your gym?

@18mnthsandcounting I feel the same with the sickness! Im miserable and bored of it. I'm normally a really active person but have no energy now.

The worst part for me is looking after two toddlers as soon as I'm back from work, so not getting enough rest AND feeling guilty at the same time for not being a very fun mum!

I hate this part of pregnancy but it will get much better. Hang in there!

@InstructionsRequired Congratulations! But I totally get it (although for me it’s running). My brother & his wife run a boot camp with A LOT of lifting and have had pregnant women train throughout pregnancy, you just have to listen to your body, maybe go a little lighter than previously, be extra mindful of form as the main risk is injury to yourself due to the relaxin loosening joints and also balance changing. There’s a lot of advice online for modifications or talk to a coach at your gym, recent studies have shown just how much quicker your recovery can be when fitter and stronger and also that the baby can actually benefit by the mothers doing controlled high intensity exercise.

And now I’m going to follow @lgh05’s advice and listen to my body and have a nap! I went to the gym this morning so feel great that I did it and hoping to get back into the swing of it by 12 weeks and not being so nervous each time I exercise, I have two friends that both ran throughout their pregnancy so they keep me sane “no you can’t shake the baby off...”

Hi everyone,
So I just found out I am pregnant a few days ago whilst I was completing my registration for NHS GP services. The nurse insisted on doing a pregnancy test before the usual Pap smear cos I was 17days late but I explained I had just moved to the UK last month and been so busy getting settled that I wasn't surprised I was late. I am usually very regular 30-31days cycle but I've been late before last year with two 52 day cycle.

We were not trying to conceive as we had just gotten married in June, was up for the relocation (we were separated for abt 2mths after the wedding) and had been practising NFP. Personally I also suspected I have endometriosis. We had also discussed this and feel due to our age, we probably won't get pregnant easily and we're ok w not having kids.

So this is a huge surprise. We are still trying to wrap our minds around this especially since I don't really know any girlfriends here who have kids.

So I'm supposed to be scheduling a visit w a midwife here, as told by my gP nurse. This is different for me cos in my country, I would have just gone straight to my gynaecologist (most private healthcare is affordable) and got a scan.

From what I understand from the NHS website, the midwife is not going to give me a scan? I'm 7.5weeks past my last menstrual period and according to online calculators, I am supposedly due 30July.

I'm very unfamiliar w the terms used here too, why are there 6+2 for example in terms of weeks?
Also, what can I expect in prenatal scans or care in the UK? (I'm originally from Singapore). Will I get an ultrasound scan? What tests Shd I be asking for to be done, especially considerinf my age (33)? Thank u for sharing abt the Harmony test, I hope I can ask for this with my midwife (whom I'm calling to book with tomorrow). Shd my husband also come along for the appt and request for some sort of testing for any sort of heriditary genetics ? We have never done any tests on ourselves before although neither of our families have big illnesses, maybe some hypertension from my dad but he is also of age.

Aside from my husband, I don't really have anyone to talk to especially since we have heard an t announcing till 12 weeks so neither of our family knows and I don't really have any friends here either. I have friends back home who are mums but our healthcare is very different there I feel or maybe I'm just more familiar w how it works, and to be fair, I don't remember much of anything they shared before cos I wasn't planning for kids.

I am now even unsure how to proceed w my job interviews here. I left my comfortable job back home to be with him here and if indeed I'm pregnant (can't quite still believe?), they probably won't hire me here anymore.

I've done a clearblue weeks test In addition to the GP's test and it puts me as pregnant 3+ meaning to say I have conceived 5-7wks ago. I have some very mild cramps, very tender breasts and seem to feel bloated and need to go to the loo a lot more. But otherwise, aside from a bout of fatigue a week ago (we were moving so I attributed it to that), I've been feeling fine, no nausea and happily doing Zumba and yoga classes (but I notice everyone kinda keeps to themselves. I'm also shy I guess)

Some other questions I have :
How accessible is healthcare here? Is it easy to get the midwife appt? When will a gynaecologist step in to see me? And can I ask for additional scans at NHS (which we pay for separately)? Or do I have to do this privately? What tests Shd I be requesting to do?
We have no idea how things work here really and I am hoping to have some ppl to chat w here and understand how things work better.

Hi @Daphne33 , congratulations!

I can't answer all of your questions right now as I am only 10 weeks myself (so have yet to have any proper input from the NHS) but I'll start on some of them:

You need to make your booking appointment with midwives as your GP nurse has said. The booking appointment will involve form-filling and providing information about both sides of the family as I understand it. You won't get a scan until 12 weeks. You can pay for a private scan or any additional private investigations (eg the Harmony test) - these will not be done through the NHS but with a private medical services provider you will need to find yourself.

You should be able to get an appointment with a midwife without difficulty (but not necessarily for exactly when you want it, that's not how it works). Healthcare is very accessible (I don't know anything about your immigration status so I'm assuming you're entitled to access the NHS).

Being 33 will not qualify you for any additional tests - this isn't especially old!

@daphne33 wow that must have been quite a shock! What timing. But it'll all be fine

I'm pregnant with my third baby and am also originally from another (European) country. Both my kids were born in the UK.

You will probably have your first appointment with a midwife before 10 weeks and then your first scan at around 12 weeks (between 11 and 14 weeks). At this scan a few tests are performed and you will be given a due date based on how big your baby measures at that point.

The second scan will be around 20 weeks scan, and it is called the anomaly scan. Baby's organs etc are checked out during this scan to make sure everything is growing as it should. You will also be able to find out the sex of your baby during this scan, if you want to know.

You won't be offered any more scans through the NHS unless there is a medical reason for a scan. I once had a low lying placenta so was offered another scan at 34 weeks to check if the placenta had moved up. Another reason could be if your baby isn't moving enough in later pregnancy, or if your pregnancy is high Rist for some reason.

Some people don't want to wait until 12 weeks to have their first scan, and they therefore opt for a private scan (Google "pregnancy scan" with your post code and you should see some options). You can have private scans later on in pregnancy too of you like. Where I live (London) the scans are around £80.

In the UK, women don't regularly go to gynecologist. It took me some time to get my head around this too! If I want a checkup, I usually phone the local family planning/sexual health clinic, where they can run all sorts of checks. However, this isn't relevant for pregnancy. If your pregnancy is unproblematicodt of your care will come from midwifes.

Oh, and 6+2 means 6 weeks and 2 days. I am currently 7+5, and due on the 25h July (I think! I keep mixing up the dates).

Good luck settling in and finding answers to all your questions.

Hi ladies, hope you all had a good weekend. I had my scan yesterday and everything is well, I saw a little heartbeat flickering away very quickly, and there is definitely only one in there! It was such a relief I feel like I can finally start enjoying it. They put me back a week compared to where I thought I was, so my due date is now 24th July.

Congratulations to Daphne, sounds like you have a lot going on at the moment and it must have been quite a surprise. The other ladies have answered most of your questions but the one thing I would add is that the baby will help to integrate you into your community and make new friends, have a look at some antenatal clubs in your area, or pregnancy yoga etc. It's probably a but early to join that sort of thing but time will soon pass.

Good luck everyone 😊