Anyone else with a November 2018 baby yet?

[MeredithShepherd]

This is my 2nd dc. We weren’t trying so unexpected but I’ve had a feeling something was going on for the last week. Tested this morning and got a BFP.

So it’s DC2 (already have a 4 year old DS)
Due date 5/11/18 I think

My feb 2014 group is fab and I’ve made some lovely friends on there so hoping to do the same this time all being well!

@Teaisnecessary no problem at all! I should have done it myself first thing anyway but I was mildly overwhelmed with even posting in the thread & didn't even see there was a list 😂

@emelene
I’m struggling with sleep too - it was one of the things that prompted me to POAS! Often can’t nod off til 1am then awake at 5. So silly as I’m really exhausted already. Hoping it’ll pass soon as it did with my previous pregnancies.

@Teaisnecessary - glad it's not just me! When did yours pass last time? I'm finding it so disconcerting just waking up for no reason!

Is anyone else having bladder pains? I think I may have a UTI and am worrying about little bean now...

Got my blood results back from last Thursday after the minor spotting I had last week, hcg very much at the expected level for my dates, having the test repeated this Thursday to check the levels are also rising as expected. I've had no more spotting since last week, and what I did have was very minor, so fingers crossed things seem ok

@MochiBean if you're worried about a UTI it's definitely worth contacting your GP so they can get it sorted quickly.

@SakuraSunrise I have a GP appt tonight, just not looking forward to the next 5 hours of worry and being uncomfortable

Just made my booking in appointment for 19th April, it's at 10 weeks here. By this stage with my daughter I was already being sick so I feel a bit strange that apart from sore boobs I feel nothing really! I did 4 tests so I think I'm definitely pregnant

Definitely can relate to not being able to sleep! I struggle to fall asleep some nights, eventually fall asleep gone midnight and then wake up at 6am-7am 😩

So, the general NHS guidelines are to let your GP know as soon as you are pregnant. Where I used to live, as soon as you tested to be pregnant you filled in a form to register with the midwife service, and then they got in touch with your 8 week appointment. I've just rung the surgery here though and they said to wait until 8-12 weeks! I queried this as it sounded a little odd, and I don't want to be ringing up at 8 weeks to find that there are no appointments that week... The receptionist then said I could ring up at 6 weeks to make an appointment for 8 weeks. So that's okay I guess?! God, I thought having number two would be easier because I'd know everything. Perhaps not!

Had my booking appointment this morning. Didn't take as long as last time since most of my info was in the system already. It's changed a bit since last time so I'll get my 12-week scan appointment through the post soon (mw ordered it while we were there) rather than her ringing up for the appointment there and then. Still, hopefully should know date soon.

My mw will be the same one I had for DD which will be nice as she was fantastic. She was on holiday today though so I actually saw another mw who was the first one to visit after DD was born. Was lovely to catch up. Will see my previous mw for 16-week appointment which I have to ring up for after my 12-week scan. Will also be getting a referral to the consultant mw as I had quite a traumatic birth with DD and the consultant mw will be able to advise me on my options and put a care plan in place for when that time comes round again.

Was telling mw about the long wait a lot of you have to see a mw and she was saying 8-12 weeks is completely against NICE guidelines. Apparently the guidelines are to book women in ASAP after they have a positive pregnancy test. But she said hopefully these areas will be updating their processes soon so that they comply. Not much comfort to those of you with a long wait but thought some of you might be interested.

Now, just got to get early scan done on Thursday. Keeping everything crossed!

@tinybump18 it’s so frustrating isn’t it?!

@Emelene - I wish I could remember! I think for me it was maybe just the first few weeks - certainly it had long gone by the time I was having my 12 week scan etc. I found squeezing a nap in when I could really helped (and with the inexplicable exhaustion that comes with the 1st trimester generally!). Weirdly I could nod off much more easily in the afternoon or evening than at night.

That's interesting @sarahhh1984 about it being against the guidelines. I thought it sounded a bit backwards that I couldn't at least register with the midwife service, but I am in Devon, so there you go.... Life obviously runs at a different pace here!

Lovely that you have a good midwife service with lots of continuity. With DS, I saw something like 8 different midwives before giving birth. The first midwife I saw promptly retired, and after that they had loads of trouble with staffing the service (I was in Somerset then). I felt it was a bit of a shame to not be able to build a relationship with a midwife - and to have to go through my medical history every time! But I think that's also often how it works in busier places like London? In that you have lots of different midwives and it's very unlikely that one will follow you through your whole pregnancy.

I guess if something went wrong then I would call my GP and get a referral to an EPU. But I do feel a bit twitchy not being 'officially' pregnant, if you know what I mean! It doesn't help with it not sinking in! I'm still mulling over when to tell people, and other than a couple of friends who already know, I think I'll sit on it a while longer until it feels more real.

Hmm, I was wondering when to make my booking in appt. Last time around I called at 4 weeks, was seen at 5 and had a dating scan at 6, I think. But maternity services in my area have been restructured since then so I’m not sure what to expect.

@sarahhh1984
I also had a traumatic birth with my first (in my case ended in an emergency section) & found my appointment with the Consultant Midwife second time around really cathartic. It was interesting seeing my birth notes - there were key things in there I had been unaware of at the time. I thought it was going to be upsetting going through it all again but found it actually helped me get over it and feel more positive about DS2’s birth.

Sorry @Happ7Bunny I just saw your response to me! My mum passed away when I was a teenager so I know how hard it is going through your first pregnancy without your mum to ask questions or to hold your hand. How many sisters do you have? Do they have children - might they be of some support? Oh - and did you take a test this morning? :)

@Saraswati - I know a couple of people who have accidentally got pregnant while on the pill. Definitely a shock, but also in a weird way kind of nice to not have had the potential stress of trying to conceive?! So glad that you have a lovely partner this time round. Your first experience must have been very hard.

Ooo @Teaisnecessary I had an emergency section too after an induction. It was definitely NOT the labour and birth I was imagining, but I have made my peace with it now. May I ask whether you had a VBAC or Caesarean for DS2? At the moment I can't imagine having anything other than another C-section, but I feel like I should be a bit more open-minded...

I didn't know about ringing the doctors & sorting out an appointment yet as my BFP was definitely there but quite faint both yesterday and today so I'm relatively convinced it's a chemical pregnancy... I don't know when I'll convince myself otherwise but I've told my Mum I'll be getting a digital test on CD28 which is Thursday... until then I don't want to trouble the doctors with it unless it's a really clear line on the ICs I have at home tomorrow.

Is that weird? I'm slightly freaking out about the whole thing even though it's something I've wanted as long as I can remember, I just really don't want to do anything to mess it up even though I know it's almost beyond my control anyway!

@BadBadBeans I hope you get your appointment sooner rather than later. It seems to me the lengthy wait just piles stress on to mums-to-be in early pregnancy, which is the last thing you need! That's a shame you didn't get that consistency with a mw last time. Hopefully you will this time. Where I am is quite suburban so although Liverpool Women's is very busy, I think the community mw service in our area operates with just two mws, so you have pretty good consistency.

@Teaisnecessary Sorry to hear you had a traumatic birth too! I had forceps delivery followed by being whisked off to surgery for my placenta to be removed and to have a blood transfusion (to all the first timers, this is incredibly unlikely to happen to you - I was very unlucky - so don't let this scare you!). I had a postnatal debrief with the consultant mw when DD was a couple of months old and we went through my notes then. It was so cathartic and gave a lot of closure, so I'm glad you found the same! She recommended seeking a referral if I was to have another baby so that she could put together a care plan for me and to help me choose the right birth plan for me. Looking forward to it as I think it will ease a lot of anxiety. My community mw today was really good too as she said they could find counselling for me if I found myself feeling scared or anxious.

@Badbadbeans
When I first fell pregnant I was adamant I wanted another section - I couldn’t face another experience like the first. But the hospital were very supportive of VBAC, and over time, and after a couple of appointments with the Consultant (who very patiently answered our many questions & could give me all the stats) I decided to compromise, and book in for an elective at 39 weeks, but to give it a go naturally if my labour kicked off before then. The caveat being that I did not want to be induced. I literally agonised over it for months though!

After all that though, DS2 had his own ideas, and my waters broke just before 38 weeks - then nothing, not a single contraction! So I had a semi-elective at that point, which was a lovely experience. I was told in the operating room that were I ever to fall pregnant again, it would need to be a section and I’m happy with that. I occasionally get a pang of the green-eyed monster when I hear about other’s lovely water birth experiences. But like you, I made peace with it. Good luck with your decision - it’s a tough one!

@badbadbeans thanks yes it was rather awful! But I'm so happy now with my partner and he is so great with my daughter I don't think a baby is such a big step for him. I get your point, I would have probably been too scared to start even trying so my body has taken a leap of faith for me! My daughter was planned but I got pregnant within 2 weeks of trying so I can't say I know how that feels. It must be agony for those trying for ages.

I hope you get the birth you want whatever you decide! I was lucky to have a wonderful birth experience first time (water birth no drugs, although episiotomy at the end). I'm weirdly looking forward to that bit?! Id like to do it at home this time. Not sure how to approach the topic of home birth with my partner as he may be horrified so I think I'll park that discussion for a while

Hi Badbadbeans
Thank you for your reply. 2 older sister's and 1 with 25 year old son.
Did test but don't think enough wee went on it etc.. so nothing recorded. Getting another one after work.
Funny, my partner said this morning to wait not to bother doing test! 😂 I told him I've blooming waited 2 week's since I've felt different! Men!
Still trying to get used to how to use mumsnet website. I'll get it soon 😊
Let you know as soon as I know.
Thanks for your reply again.

@Teaisnecessary @BadBadBeans @sarahhh1984
It's really interesting to hear your stories. I had an emergency section after a failed induction too and it's making me quite anxious. I want to request another section to avoid the trauma of another emergency section. Was advised by consultants at the time to have an elective section. Worried I'll be pushed to try VBAC, so thank you for reassuring.

@sarahhh1984
Oh my goodness, that sounds horrendous! I’m so glad you got the support you needed though and that they are being so proactive with your birth plan. And you’re surely due some better luck this time around!

@foreverretro
Really sorry you’re feeling worried. I’m
no expert at all, but I think it can be quite normal for the line to be faint when you’re still a couple of days from missed AF? I’ve certainly found the darkness of the line can vary quite a bit depending on how much water I’ve had to drink, the brand of test etc. I think your plan sounds like a good one & hope you get the reassurance you need very soon. Try to be kind to yourself in the meantime. Maybe something good on Netflix or another distraction to help pass the time?

@sarahhh1984 is your early scan due to your spotting? I had spotting yday, called 111 who recommended me pop down to an out of hours A&E last night, and had an early scan this morning. Showed the sac but nothing else which I think at this stage (5 weeks ish) is absolutely normal. So a bit relieved... I think. Although still a bit of light brown spotting :(

That should read out of hours GP.