August 2019: thread 5, 20 week scans, bumps and cravings

[ScotsBaby2]

Morning all.

Thread 5!!! Lots of boys on the list.

UnicornDust, 28th July, DC2
Bakingabean, 29th-31st July, DC1
IrishCypriot, 31st July
MrsRyan15, 1st August, DC1
CalmerComber, 1st August, DC2&3 💛💛
Curlywurlywoo, 2nd August, DC1
Cobblestones, 2nd August, DC1
Emma1224, 3rd August
Ninunina, 3rd August, DC3
Whoopsies, 3rd August, DC2
Sunshine1987, 4th August
EverythingNow, 4th August, DC4
Chocolate89, 4th August, DC2
MrsH1990, August 4th
Kariana, 4th August
Elmamadegatita, 4th August
Fuppy, 4th August, DC2
Jokie, 5th August
Schmexy, 6th August, DC1
CautiousOptimist, 6th August, DC3
bubblegumunicorn, 7th August DC1
Blueberry2018, 7th August
MrsM2017, 8th August
Stylix1981, 8th August
Floriday, 9th August, DC2
abw94 9th August DC1
Clairelee17, 11th August, DC1
Marajade12, 11th August
MummaGiles, 11th August, DC2
Dolleymix, 11th-13th, DC2
Pixietheginger, 12th August
Queenoffox. 12th August, DC3 💙
Rachyrach300, 12th August
Trimusical, 12th August
ABearandABump, 13th August, DC2
Foodie68, 13th August
Mightypinkdms, 14th August, DC3
Poppy012, 15th August, DC3
Keebo, 15th August
Moonchild23, 15th August
Rachellev, 16th August
2dreamadream, 16th August
Jelliestogether, 17th August
ss3ajb, 17th August
Chiatta, 17th August, DC1
Bananamonkey, 18th Aug, DC2
Scotsbaby2, 18th August, DC2
LauraJustMe, 19th August
RaindropRoses 21st August DC2
Loveshinealight, 21st August
Sacrecoeur0712 23.08.19 DC3 💖
Rubbingbutnotscared, 28th August, DC3&4
Moncwf, 26th August; DC2
OctoberGirl91, 23rd August, DC3
PinkLady89x, 29th August, DC1
Kcjoe, 29th August, DC2
IVEgottheDECAF, 30th August, dc5

stylix1981 - thank you! Yes will try that!

Had my 20wk scan today and everything looked good. I cried! It's all suddenly a but real now. We stayed 💛 but before today I was pretty convinced it was a girl. Now I think it's s boy mostly because the profile of its mouth looked just my DH's! Definitely a good day today.

Ah congrats @keebo! That amazing you got such a good view!

Congratulations everyone on their great 20 week scans! I've got to wait a week and a half yet 😅.
I can't help but worry that I can't feel anything yet. I'm so sure I could feel baby move a few weeks ago but this week there's been 0 times. 🤔. I have been so busy this week and my class have been a nightmare so I've been shattered and stressed too. Heard the little heartbeat last Friday at midwife appointment but it only reassured me for like a day 🤦🏼‍♀️.
How are our bellies meant to feel? Mine feels quite hard today? And the hardness goes down to my pubic bit... is that normal? I'm feeling huge today! I've stopped weighing myself lol

I had a bit of a scare this morning. Noticed a bit of dry spotting when wiping after pee. Called triage and they asked me to come in. Did some checks. Urine bp fetal heart rate etc. Also took a swab from down there. Sent me home with reassurance that it should be ok. Especially as it was just the one time. Has anyone experienced this? Haven’t dtd so it can’t be that..

@Cobblestones Sorry for being dim but what is dry spotting? Do you mean like blood spots but not like bloody discharge?
You did the right thing going in and if they’re happy there’s nothing wrong that’s reassuring, was it perhaps torn or irritated skin?

@curylywurlywoo meaning brownish spotting like old blood rather than red.. they did have a look down there but didn’t see any lesions they said.. not sure if that rules out general dry irritated skin...

@Cobblestones yes! I've had it throughout the pregnancy on and off. I went to a gynae clinic for a speculum (😬) and a high swab, results came back fine and it's been put down to 'one of those things that happen'

I've been advised not to worry unless I'm in significant pain, of the blood soaks a Pad in an hour - if I didn't look when I wiped I'd never have noticed it.

Xx

Hello! May I join?!

I have been reading this and the July thread avidly, but didn't want to jinx myself by joining, ah!

We found out we were pregnant at the end of November and straight away I was very anxious. I am not an anxious person normally but this was just something else.

We had an early scan at 7 weeks and my bladder was so painful it wasn't that great an experience despite seeing the little flicker in the right location... It got worst when the sonographer told us I had an area of bleed nearby, and it might be a slight possibility that I miscarry... A very stressful experience.

I didn't have morning sickness for the first trimester, just very mild nausea, which I was very thankful about, as well as an incredible hunger... Even though I wasn't gaining that much weight then (where did that food go!?). My boobs also haven't gotten bigger AT ALL (bigger boobs were one thing I was actually really looking forward to in pregnancy tbh) just more droopy, veiny, and dark. This probably can be explained by what we found out later. Maybe.

We did the NIPT test at week 10 as we realised how anxious things in pregnancy were making us. Got blood sent off so we could hopefully get results before/around the 12 weeks scan and avoid any combined test results anxiety (I am 34 fyi, so not 'geriatric' but almost there...errrr!)

Had a bit of bleeding and sustained pain at 11 weeks so had an emergency scan which showed things looked good... So it was with quite a light heart that we went to our official 12 weeks scan - the 4th so far! - in late January... All looked good, Nuchal fold, nose etc... We were happy!

But the day after, we received the dreaded call from the hospital midwife telling us we were at high risk for Down's Syndrom, 1 in 64, from a combination of a few factors, the biggest one being my very low level of Papp-A (0.18 rather than 1 MOM - whatever it all means). This really shook us and we were pretty devastated.

We were still waiting for our NIPT results which were due any day... Unfortunately we received an email a couple of days later telling us the tests from my blood draw were inconclusive and we would need a redraw. Which we did... The following two weeks were horrible. I had just started a new job, but was so anxious about getting a dreaded phone call (which would mean bad news), it was hard to focus at all... I would breathe a sigh of relief every day at 4pm (cut-off for the phone call) and start the worry cycle again at 9am the day after. Awful.

Again, two weeks later, we got the news the tests were inconclusive. At this stage, we were just sick with worry, and decided, after talking at length with the midwife, to go for the amnio as at least the results would be almost certain, and with us in 3 days. I was - of course - super stressed before the amnio, which we did shortly after I turned 16 weeks, but it went well (amazing NHS staff), and luckily, 3 days later we got the news the baby didn't have any of the 3 main trisomies, and we got to learn he was a little boy!!! Our hearts leaped!

All this time, of course, I was reading about what low Papp-A means beyond DS indication, and I knew we weren't at the end of our worry journey (lol, the delightful worry journey). Due to my very low Papp-A (as opposed to just normal low), we were considered a high-risk pregnancy, and were planned to have a scan every month after the 20 week scan to check on growth and placenta. We had our 20 weeks scan last week and it went really really well... baby is looking good, and a very average size...

This has allowed the consultant to 'downgrade' us to a more medium risk pregnancy - which we are, funnily, so happy about. So, all going well with midwife measurements, we should only have 2 more scans, one at 32 weeks and one at 36. Maybe 40 if baby is tardy.

We are over the moon, and feel like we can really let ourselves be excited by the pregnancy... i bought a very overpriced little outfit as well as a nice baby journal to celebrate but that is it for now.

And now posting on the thread! An absolute novel! But I thought if it can help someone else with low Papp-A, then it is worth it.

I'd love to be part of the facebook group if you'll have me? I'll message you ScotsBaby2.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and thank you again for the support you've given me all these past weeks.

Hi @helloitsme84
What a journey you’ve been on already. It’s wonderful that you and your do can relax a bit and look forward to your lo.

I believe geriatric is for over 40’s now, as I’m 38 and don’t consider myself near it, I wouldn’t worry at 34.

What’s the difference between a high risk pregnancy and a medium risk pregnancy? The number of scans? Can you chose where you are going to give birth?
I’m high risk and would love to chose a water birth but don’t think that’ll be an option for me.

Hi @helloitsme84

This is my third baby with low PAPP-A, so I know how stressful it can be! I’m still high risk, but again - par for the course, I was allowed to have a “normal” water birth last time until my waters broke and had meconium in them 🙄 both previously pregnancies were big boys (8.12 and 9.6), both were late, both grew normally... so when they said it again, I just sighed and secretly am excited about the extra scans!

Anyway, it’s boy number 3 for me 💙💙💙 and all is good, measuring perfectly, if not a little big! I guess the best piece of advice I had years ago was that low PAPP-A is a marker, not a predetermined conclusion. Everyone was amazing the last two times, so I’m sure it will be great again 😁

Sorry for being missing in action. Last week of term here has been busy and stressful. Lambing is in full swing too so I'm solo parenting for the next few weeks. It's amazing how much mess a 1 year old can make. She's also decided she doesn't really like sleep anymore 🙄😴

Tiddler has been wriggling about more this week. I helped at a motorbike accident yesterday and totally forgot I was pregnant. I was concerned about baby girl in my car and motorcyclist. I've realised I have to also focus on little bump.

Bump has reduced in size significantly this week in that my maternity trousers are now falling off me. Might need to stick to leggings for a while.

Facebook group is busy so hard to keep up with both. I've added those who have sent me an email. Let me know if it hasn't worked.

@helloitsme84 what a stressful start to pregnancy. Hopefully the rest goes well and you get to enjoy the extra scans!

Hello everyone! It’s good to hear about all your 20 week scans, genders etc. Mine is on Monday.
I can really recommend pregnancy yoga. Have been going for a month or so now and it’s good to see other pregnant mums plus so relaxing.
Am feeling kicks now- at first they would really shock me, I’d be sitting in meetings and jump, colleagues must think I have a tic. Started a new job last month and just told my colleagues I’m going on maternity- one said ‘you’ve only been here five minutes’
Can anyone recommend any audiobooks for parenting? I’m listening to childbirth ones now (hypnobirthing) but want to swot up on stuff about actually looking after a baby. Feel shockingly unprepared. All we have bought so far for the baby is nothing.

Thank you @abearandabump that was so reassuring! Hope you don’t have any more episodes.. 😘

@helloitsme84 my goodness what a journey so far. The anxiety must have been so difficult to handle. I hope you had plenty of support around you. Hopefully now you can relax for the rest of the pregnancy.

@chiatta that last line made me laugh out loud! That’s exactly how I feel. Completely unprepared. As of last two days I’ve started my research. If I can identify which pram, car seat and nursery furniture such a changing table I want to buy based on reviews etc then I’ll feel a bit more incharge. I hope.

@chiatta there is an okay podcast called Mum Talk by Emma Jaulin. Giovanna Fletcher's podcast is good to listen to as well. I've also heard good things about the Motherkind podcast and The Scrummy Mummies podcast.

Can't help on audiobooks though. Sorry.

Sorry, I've been gone for a bit! I stopped getting email updates again. Glad to hear the 20 week scans have gone well! I had mine 2 weeks ago and all good, still team 💛 but got some lovely (my dh thinks creepy😂) 4d pictures! Anyone else starting to leak colostrum? I seem to have to change my top almost once a day!

Thanks @ScotsBaby2 I’ll check them out

DH and I went looking at prams yesterday! Completely clueless about it all (didn’t help that the shop only had 5 different models - think we need to travel further afield!) I need one that folds quite compact ideally (small boot) any suggestions from anyone who’s had babies before??
@Chocolate89 I’ve heard about this!! But it’s not happened to me yet and I honestly didn’t even know it was a thing until I watched a 22 week pregnancy vlog and the lady said she was leaking!

@curlywurlywoo I'm going to buy a babyjogger city mini with the deluxe pram bassinet. It's not the most gorgeous looking pram out there but I Had the bjcm double for dd2 and 3 and it was fantastic. One hand fold, small enough to go in the boot of our 7seater when all the seats were up.

I also used it until they were really big (3-4) on days out and it was roomy. So I know it will last me.

I'm going for the deluxe bassinet because it is bigger than the slightly cheaper one they do. This will be a big baby I'm sure so want to get the use of it.

I'm not getting a travel system (car seat that sits on frame) although my sis is lending me her maxi cosi because my experience with my first 3 was they were all so heavy I found it easier to just have a rear facing fixed seat after a month or so. So I plan to use my sister's to bring baby home from hospital, then buy a fixed group 0-1 seat if he's a whopper like his sisters.

22wks today. 2 more weeks til he's viable!
3 more weeks til I have to tell work my leave date.
5 weeks left of the second trimester.

He's moved into a regular-ish pattern of movement and I LOVE it!! I love feeling him wriggle and kick!

@EverythingNow thank you! I’m not particularly bothered what pram looks like really (although there are some gorgeous ones) my main priority is getting it into my car 😂
Will definitely have a look at what you’ve recommended!
I’m 23 weeks tomorrow, it’s going so fast! I feel a bit sad there’s no more scans, I know I could book at a private clinic and I’m grateful that there’s no medical need for additional scans but it was so exciting seeing baba!
And same, it’s so weird to feel it. In a good way! I’ve got a lovely round bump now too, so I feel well and truly pregnant baby still shocks me when he/she does a big kick/movement!

Anyone else feeling rubbishy hormonal today?

All I've done is cry, argue with everyone and cry a bit more. Mother's Day is usually hard for me, my mum gave me up for adoption when I was 9, most years I'm fine but this year it's really hitting me.

My DS has just thrown a bottle of water at me, and unintentionally hit my stomach so that sent me off in another wave of tears.

I'll be happy when today is over. 20 week scan tomorrow. Lovely feeling the odd little nudge from baby, that's the only thing picking me back up today.

Sorry for the depressing post. Just needed to get it out 😘.

I too am feeling very hormonal. I just seem to be trying to pick a fight all the time with my DH. I honestly feel like I did when I was a teenager.

If my DH threw a water bottle at me I would go ballistic!!

Hope your scan goes well tomorrow. Take a few moments today to list in your head things that are going well. That should help to turn it around for you xx

@abearandabump I’m with you on the hormonal. I was convinced yest that dh being quiet yesterday all day was because I had pissed him off or something and it didn’t help that I badgered him all day about it almost having a proper argument in the process. Turns out he was just tired from the long week.

Hope you’re in better spirits tomorrow 💕💐

@snowflake9 thank you! I'd somehow totally forgotten about hormones and have been crying at all sorts this last week. Some were genuine (anniversary of mc1 and what would have been due date of mc2), some totally out of the blue and for no real reason, or not one that would normally make me cry. But somehow I hadn't linked any of it to hormones - d'oh!