@frankiefumbles I'm really sorry to hear that you're having to go through this, and that you've already been through it once. I lost a pregnancy in April at 9 weeks and it was horrid. I hope the process isn't too awful for you and that, like me, you find yourself back on the antenatal boards very soon.
Delighted to hear about all the positive scans.
@JenLou1992 honestly, if you want to start a scrapbook then start one. I held off doing things like bump shots etc with DS because I was terrified that something would go wrong in the pregnancy. Now I really wish I had them. With the pregnancy I lost at 9 weeks earlier this year, I had already started keeping a diary etc. and I am so pleased I did because now I have a record of the whole experience, short-lived as it was. I shall be starting bump shots with this pregnancy this week. For me, if I lose it, having photos / diary entries isn't going to make it any worse. I think people sometimes think they might be tempting fate by doing things before 12 weeks but really, if it's not expensive (I wouldn't, for example, go and buy myself an expensive pram and car seat combo in the first trimester) then I don't see any reason not to! And yes, you should ring your GP and ask what their protocol is in your area. Some will ask you to self-refer to the midwife service, while others prefer you to come in and have a GP appointment first, and then they refer you. The receptionist should know. If they sound uncertain, ask to be passed on to a different receptionist (my last pregnancy, my GP's receptionist didn't have a clue and suggested I should contact them for the first time somewhere between 8 and 12 weeks... UM, NO!!!! The next receptionist I spoke to was horrified that I was 6 weeks and hadn't been in!)
@hamandpease I'm sorry you got judgy pants about an ELCS. That's awful. I would also like an ELCS as my first baby was induced at nearly 2 weeks overdue, and I ended up with an EMCS. Although it was actually a very good experience, I simply do not want to be in that situation again. I spoke to my GP about it with my last pregnancy that I miscarried, and she said she thought an ELCS would be absolutely fine.
@fuzzywuzzy01 wow, 9 stone down! You are a rock star! Honestly, I would try not to worry about the weight gain during pregnancy. If you remain active and eat sensibly you aren't likely to pile on weight. I'm sure you're already very practised at eating healthy and filling meals so that will make you even less likely to gain excess. I found swimming v good exercise - can you do that do you think? I swam up until 38 weeks pregnant last time and it was bloody lovely - took the weight right off me!
Like you and @RachaelT I am also without my mum, although mine died many years ago now when I was 19. I found the first pregnancy quite emotional - I wanted so badly to share it with her. Also, once DS was born I really really wished she could come and look after me for a bit! The hardest thing for me is that DS won't know his beautiful, wonderful grandmother. BUT I found that the experience of becoming a mother was also incredibly healing for my grief. Because I have to be a mother now, rather than a grieving child. I sing the same songs to DS that my mum sang to me when I was a little girl. I feel like everyting has come full circle, and it's brought with it a lovely sort of peace. I hope the same thing happens for the two of you.
I've taken another pregnancy test today and the line is definitely darker. I do hope this one sticks around!