TTC/ pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 3

[freelancegirl]

For those who are TTC/pregnant undergoing immunotherapy treatment. Current list as it stands, do feel free to come and join us, it's moving quickly round here!:

Tuesday 22nd November

TTC
Waiting to test
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, will be Ist try with Pred, Intralipids on bfp Testing from 21/11
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 after 2 month break/testing 29 Nov -2 Dec depending on my resolve.
Waiting to ovulate
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2 - ov 3 Dec (Pred and Intralipids at BFP)
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle1
batteryhen - High activation NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1
Suemays - V High NKC TTC/ov 30th Oct. TTC#2.
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2/ ov 25th-26th Nov/ 4th cycle of pred
pureequeen - High NKC TTC #2 again from November (BFP cycle one but mc)
eurochick - TTC#1 awaiting first appointment (in Nov)/ov expected 28-30 Nov.
BFPSeeker

BFP
2nd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 24+3 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 -19+1 Due 16/04/12 anomaly scan 23/11
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks ? 16+1 next scan 14/12
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 - 13+3 due 26/5/12 next scan 12/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 12+6 anomaly scan Jan

1st Trimester
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid - 11+4 next scan 28/11
Scooterchaser - V High NKC - BFP cycle1 - 8+1 Due 01/07/12. Scan 25/11
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. LMP18/10 - 4+6 - Scan 3/12
Arianhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 BFP 2nd pred cycle LMP19/10. 4+5 Scan 7/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). LMP17/10(Ov'd 3rd Nov) 4+5 Scan 6/12.
ChoccyPud - V High NKC / TTC #1 BFP 4th Pred cycle LMP20/10 4+4. Scan 3/12.

Having had a good online stalk of her now I have her details, I can confirm that kittens is gorgeous! A pure sex kitten :)

Iggi when I interviewed Mr S said that NK cells can cause second trimester losses but only if they have been untreated. It is the early damage, the one we are all doing our best to prevent and the one that you have hopefully now prevented, that is the issue. It's horrible to wait though I realise.

Ha ha, what was that from again? The Onedin line? Well, I don't know. It's where I've gone grey in a concentrated area rather than it being a pigment thing like vitiligo.

Can you chase up your results tomorrow iggi. Who is supposed to let you know? Your GP or midwife?

free, you're making me blush . Thank you. x

Morning! Charlotte Street Hotel is fine with me, I just need to work out a plan to get into town for 6ish - I find I'm practically falling asleep by 9/9.30 ATM so would want to get there early. Good plan free to share email addresses/names!

Btw, free, Don't know if you're off the caffeine anyway, but don't always drink caffeinated coffee when you are chilling in your various coffee shops - have you seen the latest scare stories on this morning's news?! I don't think it's anything that hasn't already occurred to us lot, but thought I'd mention just in case.

Mallen streak

Hilarious . . I think I even read that book when I was 13!! They were my Nan's..

9dpo for me a big temperature drop this morning

Not holding out much hope for my huge follicle this month!

How is everyone else doing TTC gang?

I wish I could meet you all today :( But I am far far away from the big smoke ....

duggs Now then - 9dpo ? Big dip? Implantation dip? It aint over yet you know!

I am 5dpo - big spike this morning - but probably due to the fact I awoke tangled in the duvet after some weird dreams!

Have agood day everyone else xx

lol Showing ages here, obviously I knew exactly what iggi meant by the Mallen streak. And I am now wildly curious to see this goddess sex kitten too, kittens will you PM me your website too please? :)

Also wildly jealous of your meet-up next week, hoping you all have another one later on that I can get to. It's not the location that's my prob, it's the time - but tbh I have my scan the next day, so I don't think I'll be the best of company come next Tuesday night anyway!

kittens that's my biggest fear too, the 12-week results - well ok, currently my second-biggest fear, the first biggest that I'll get to the scan next week and be told "well there's a pregnancy sac but nothing else". After that, though, of course is the chromosomal issue. kittens I really feel for you with everything you're coping with but you know, you're an incredibly strong woman, and we're all here for you no matter what - you don't have to face anything alone. Whatever you hit, we're here for you ... if only to suggest new and wonderous gastronomic delights to try

I was incredibly rebellious last night and had peanut butter pitta bread. I'm afraid I was in a "bugger it" mood, why the heck should I mess around when it may all go wrong anyway, and munched my way through with determined abandon (if you know what I mean).

This lack of sleep business is really doing my head in though - I'm still waking up from about 2:30 throughout the night, and it's taking its toll. I discovered this morning that I took a pred tablet last night instead of my thyroxine - oops! So I ended up with 45mg of pred yesterday, and no thyroxine. Oh well, won't kill me.

I am slightly confused here over this supposed suppression of my immune system. I very rarely ever get colds etc, as you might expect, but my DD and DP have both been suffering from a really bad, recurrent cold/cough/sneezes/sore throats etc for must be 3+ weeks now, and I've not caught it. Not so much of a sniffle. But if the intralipids and pred are effectively squashing my NK cells, why? Why haven't I caught it? I don't understand it, I thought I'd be succumbing to everything in sight!

free I also have the unusual wild hunger pangs and still feel vaguely nauseous all the time. Part of me says "yes, this is good" ... and the other, rationally balancing part of me says "means nothing, you had exactly the same even after you found out the baby had died last time". Humph. Why oh why can't we have at least ONE clear signal that things are at least progressing as they should up to now? Someone invent something, quick!

choccy i also saw the caffeine thing today too. Cue lots of googling how much caffeine in my daily decaf tea and choccy fixes! i actually had a bit of a strop with the guy in a coffee shop when I watched him use semi skimmed, not soy, and then blatantly insist it was soy milk. He didn't understand that some people have quite bad allergies to milk (ahem, actually, i don't but felt like making a point at the time!) and just said ' yeah, i get it, you don't like milk, whatever'. So I now don't have much faith in them actually giving me decaf when i ask for it too.

duggs sorry to hear about your temperature drop. I know not much consolation, but it would be nice to be able to drink in the lead up to Christmas at least. I can't stop thinking about mulled wine at the moment.

free - love that dress. I actually went shopping last weekend and bought a couple of things including this (which is no where near as short as it looks on the model. It comes to just above my knee but i'm only 5ft 4) shop.mango.com/GB/p/mango/clothing/dresses/graphic-dress/?id=51440559_69
I normally wear quite form-fitting shift dresses for work which are already showing my vile bloating so I'm trying to very subtly start wearing blouses and looser tops over skirts. I absolutely dread the idea of someone asking me at work if i am pregnant. Bearing in mind there is a colleague that often asks me loudly in front of everyone even if i'm not pregnant- then asks me why not etc etc (and even after I've lost over a stone) I am particularly paranoid about it. If anyone has any good covering-up-the-bloat tips, I am keen to hear them.

At my acupuncture session last night she said if I had any spotting or bleeding or cramping then i could call her immediately as there are some points she can do to calm down the uterus. Not sure she could really prevent a miscarriage but it might be useful to try it.

Oh I like that dress a lot cheerful ... and being that I'm only 5'3 myself, if it comes to just above your knee it might do well for me too :) I'm also struggling a bit to find work stuff, not so much for bloating but I'm definitely putting on some blobbiness I think, at least everything feels tight. Rubbish, really.

My acupuncturist on Tue told me that one of her clients went to see a colleague my acupuncturist had recommended when she herself was on holiday, her client was in the beginnings of miscarriage and the acupuncture sessions stopped it. She went on to have a healthy baby. I thought this interesting, you never know. Like you, I don't think anything could stop miscarriage if there's something actually wrong with the foetus, but if it's an imbalance or something in the mother, maybe?

ari, is your scan at NLC? If so, what time? I have my appt with Mr S there at 4.30.

I realised after I PM'd free with my web address that the white streak is actually blonde (as I was growing it out, and had dyed it to blend it in) in the pic I have on there and not very obvious.

I appreciate what you said about you lot being there for me. I feel a bit of a doom-monger when I come on and let off steam.

puree, I think of you often and wonder how you get through everything whilst going through this grief too. Do you find the counseling helpful? I am waiting for an appointment after my GP has referred me. Not heard anything yet.

With regards to Nuchal scans, someone was asking the name of the guy who invented them. His name is Prof. Kypros Nicolaides. He is at the FMC. I had mine done just at UCH's Fetal Medicine Centre. I didn't have the combined test as the nuchal fold was significantly increased to raise enough concern for them to send me straight for a CVS that same day both times. It was a pretty hellish time, I can tell you! I've been kind of low key about it on here, partly because mentioning it anywhere but the "safe" thread on the Antenatal Tests and Choices board can be inflammatory. There are a lot of pro-life people who like to come on and flame people for making the choices we have made. Also, some people are offended by the choice (which I can understand, but it is for each to make their own, obviously). The other reason is that recurrent miscarriage is enough to worry about without me highlighting other fears. That said, it is sort of a relief to talk about it.

charlie I can't believe how rude your colleague is, asking you that in front of everyone and asking why not. Regardless of circumstances, asking someone if they are pregnant when they are not is usually taken badly by most as it's generally taken as a comment on one's waistline. I would be tempted to say something along the lines of "No, I'm just a bit bloated because I'm constipated. Whoever thought we'd have something in common? We're both full of shit!"

Yes kittens, it's at NLC but at 1:30 and I have to get back to work after, just hope it's not another blubber session ... went straight back to work both times after my rubbish scans, suppose they're used to seeing me a bit weird at work!

Don't feel like a doom-monger kittens, goodness knows we've all got things to be gloomy about but I'd say you have more than most. You need safe places to let it out, and this is one of them! Ditto, I would say, to do with the nuchal test/what happens after - I think I can safely say that no-one here is going to judge anyone for difficult decisions. Pro-life is one thing - but you also have to weigh into that the life quality of the family bringing such a child into the world, and the life quality of the child itself. I honestly don't think anyone anywhere is in a position to judge anyone else as to the choices they make, everyone tries to do what is best at the time and that's all anyone can expect, I think. You talk all you like kittens, you won't be flamed here!

charlie I work with someone like that. When I was heavily pg with DD he made comments about me waddling (I'm only little in height, but was HUGE with DD). I just shrugged it off, he's just that kind of obnoxious person - but you shouldn't have to put up with that kind of comments. I do love kittens's response, it's fabulous - I shall do my best to remember it, and use it whenever next appropriate!!

Morning ladies. I was out at a conference all day yesterday and it looks like it wa a busy day on here!

I was so sorry to read Scooter's news.

Charlie the milk thing is quite shocking. I am lactose intolerant and a whole cup of milk would make me very ill indeed. What a twat that guy is.

The Charlotte St Hotel is a good location for me (in fact I am sneaking off there shortly to get my haircut v nearby). I should be able to make the meet up providing our "staycation" plans for that week don't clash.

FF is telling me I have ovulated so I am updating my stats.

TTC
Waiting to test
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle1 test 4 dec
Suemays - V High NKC TTC#2. OV 23 Nov, testing on 7th December, pred cycle no. 3
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2/ ov 25th-26th Nov 4th cycle of pred
batteryhen - High activation NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 Test 10 Dec
eurochick - TTC#1 Awaiting NKC results/period due 12 Dec.

Waiting to ovulate
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2 - ov 3 Dec (Pred and Intralipids at BFP)
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, #2, ov 10th Dec ish
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1
pureequeen - High NKC TTC #2 again from January (BFP cycle one but mc)
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC TTC in New Year
BFPSeeker -

BFP
2nd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 25+4 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 20+2 Due 16/04/12 MW appt 25/01
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks ? 17+2 next scan 14/12
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 - 14+4 due 26/5/12 next scan 12/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 14+0 anomaly scan Jan
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid -12+6 next scan?

1st Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 6+3 Scan 3/12
Arianhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 BFP 2nd pred cycle LMP19/10. 6+0 Scan 7/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). LMP17/10(Ov'd 3rd Nov) 5+6 Scan 8/12.
ChoccyPud - V High NKC / TTC #1 BFP 4th Pred cycle LMP20/10 5+5 Scan 3/12

I would love to meet you all on 6th but don't think it will work with my little one and hubby getting home from work in time. If you could include me on any emails or other info that would be great:)

Looks like I have already ovulated so will be testing same day as euro. Will start taking prednisolone tomorrow. I assume its OK to start 3DPO as my ovulation was much earlier this month?

TTC
Waiting to test
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle1 test 4 dec
Suemays - V High NKC TTC#2. OV 23 Nov, testing on 7th December, pred cycle no. 3
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2/ ov 25th-26th Nov 4th cycle of pred
batteryhen - High activation NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 Test 10 Dec
eurochick - TTC#1 Awaiting NKC results/period due 12 Dec.
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2 - Test 12 Dec

Waiting to ovulate
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, #2, ov 10th Dec ish
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1
pureequeen - High NKC TTC #2 again from January (BFP cycle one but mc)
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC TTC in New Year
BFPSeeker -

BFP
2nd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 25+4 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 20+2 Due 16/04/12 MW appt 25/01
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks ? 17+2 next scan 14/12
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 - 14+4 due 26/5/12 next scan 12/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 14+0 anomaly scan Jan
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid -12+6 next scan?

1st Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 6+3 Scan 3/12
Arianhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 BFP 2nd pred cycle LMP19/10. 6+0 Scan 7/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). LMP17/10(Ov'd 3rd Nov) 5+6 Scan 8/12.
ChoccyPud - V High NKC / TTC #1 BFP 4th Pred cycle LMP20/10 5+5 Scan 3/12

Ladies,

So far I have :

Free
Digi
Choccy
Pure
Euro
Kittens
Me

down for the Central London meet up next Tuesday.. is there anyone else I am missing (forgive me if you have told me recently)
I will PM you details.
x

Active thread members..

Stogan, Digi, Coconut, Comedy, Iggi and Brownie - 6 of you 2nd trimester pioneers.

Free, Ari, Cheerful and Choccy - 4 of you 1st trimester ladies.

10 PG in total.

Duggs, Sue, Snoopy, Battery, Cherry, Euro, Pure, Kittens, Hopeful,
Seeker, Coley

11 TTC in total.

Correct me if I am mistaken.

Stat-tastic Duggs good work

Grrr. I wrote a really long post this morning and then mn went offline and ate it! Left to go to the gym, got all the way there and had forgotten my bloody trainers!! Still haven't started any work yet today....

I have just read that caffeine thing Choccy. I am sensitive to caffeine anyway and rarely have it even when not pregnant. Occasionally I will ?use? a coffee to give me a pre-gym boost but not when pregnant. I?ve gone off decaf too. It?s always been decaf tea at home but I have gone off that as well. I will have a caffeine tea when I am out, but that?s usually one a day or less. Did you see the research was done on espressos? How many pregnant women are going into Starbucks and knocking back an espresso anyway?! Loving the image.

Duggs ? am with Battery on this one. The only time I ever charted, I had a huge temp dip at 9DPO and it was implantation. Watching you carefully! Battery, weird dreams, huh?? LOL! Am enjoying indulging in everyone else?s 2ww symptom spotting.

Am with you all on the Biggest Fear thing about the 12 week scan. And any other appointment for that matter. There are Daily Fears: constant knicker-checking, constant symptom spotting, constant lack of symptom spotting and Scheduled Fears: scans and (now I have had one) the feeling that it is all going to go wrong at the next one. And if not the next one, the one after that.

I don?t think the men folk in our lives can truly understand how we live with this 24/7. I really think I am almost literally thinking about this every waking minute of the day ? and most dreaming minutes of the day too. I mean they obviously are affected by it too but they don?t physically have it with them every single waking or dreaming second like we do. I had a big row this morning with DH (I think the last thing I did was shout a VERY naughty word at him over the heads of some rather confused looking commuters as we parted ways at the station). The row had started as I said I was thinking of cancelling dinner with a group of people arranged for a couple of weeks time. They are a group of his old friends and whilst I feel ok with some close friends knowing what I am going through, there?s no way I can get away with going out with these people, not drinking and them not assuming I am pregnant (they know about the 2 mcs this year). I don?t know about you guys but I am just so reluctant to want them to know I am pregnant again nd then know if I miscarry again. I just don?t want the attention.

I am going to tell a few people I am seeing on the weekend as I know they are also people I will tell if I miscarry but I just don?t want to discuss it in the wider circle if you know what I mean. Anyway, he was annoyed saying am I going to cancel every bloody occasion. When of course I am not ? I have a dinner this weekend and a good friend?s 40th bday party next weekend which am happily going along to. Basically, it was just a stress related argument rather than about the going out thing. There is understandably quite a bit of stress flying around!

Loving the Mango dress Cheerful. I too have a wardrobe full of shift dresses. Quite handy if they are a little bit big as they can hide the stomach but not good for the tighter ones. I have definitely bloated out in the last couple of days. I cannot believe your work colleague!!!! What an insensitive cow! I would have no idea of how to deal with that.

Coley, yes that is fine to start the Pred. I have seen so many people ask Mr S (myself included) because they have not been sure the exact day to start it. He just says start it when you feel might be the right time and it?s fine. Another 2ww coming up!

Re meet up, Duggs, I think Comedy can make it as well but not until a bit later, am I right?? I think you are right with the thread members summary. I do love these stats! I wish we could use them to come up with some great finding or theory. Hey we haven?t had any new members for a while. I wonder how BFPSeeker is getting on. Obviously there?s Hopeful too but she isn?t starting to TTC until after Christmas. Time goes quickly though doesn?t it! Except in early pregnancy of course, which seems to have a calendar of its own like Dog Years.

hi all, looking forward to seeing those who can make it on Tuesday. I might not get there until approx 7pm as I have to get DS and me home from work to SE London, meet babysitter then out again. DH is never home so I just make a point of booking babysitters otherwise I would never set foot outside home or work... If it's ok with you could you PM your # duggs and I will keep you updated?

kittens you were asking about counselling - I think it helps with our relationship but not the grief about the mc per se. If anyone can recommend a counsellor who is good at mc [or i hate to say it infertility or secondary infertility - I really don't like thinking about it in terms like that] I would be interested to hear from them. i am also glad you mentioned nuchal scans etc. I spend a lot of time thinking about that (when not even pregnant!! I am good at finding things to worry about).

For anyone interested in accupunture stories- just fwiw the two mmc I have had i had accupunture when i started spotting and it stopped it. But in both cases the fetus stopped developing later and in one case it was a blighted ovum which they tested and found a serious genetic defect. I think about that often and wished i had mc naturally at 5 weeks rather than having to have an operation weeks and weeks later.

So I guess in my view (and this is just my uninformed opinion) I think accupunture works - I have it now to help with stress etc - but just for me I don't think I will have it in the first trimester again as I think I have a high likelihood of chromosome abnormalities and I don't want to "mask" that. But for women with a weak implantation (say) and an otherwise healthy baby then I think it can be amazing.

free and all those worried about friends 'guessing' when you go out with them. Most of (if not all) my friends knew about my mc's, my treatment with Mr S. And most of them had the decency not to ask anything at parties or at dinner when there was a big group of us. Sometimes, one of them would corner me when others were out of ear shot and ask how things were going...when I wasn't pg I would just give them the full low down. When I was pg but not ready to say anything I just said yes, I'm still on the treatment and we're seeing how it goes. No-one ever had the nerve to ask me outright if I was pregnant. I had two weddings to go to when I was nearly 8 weeks pg and I didn't drink alcohol the entire time. No one questioned it. Apart from one friend's DH who kept trying to ply me with drink. She knew about the pg so I asked her why her DH kept trying to fill my cup and she said she hadn't told him! That's how discreet she was being! But I think, depending on your friends most people are sensitive and wouldn't dream of asking outright if you are pregnant. They might guess, but would most likely gossip amongst themselves. I think with our situation they're probably more worried that you'll say, well I was pg up until yesterday/last week.

I think if you draw too much attention to the fact that you're not drinking then it will invite questioning - but if you just order a soft drink without explanation most people won't ask. I found the people most likely to ask why I wasn't drinking were those who had no idea what I'd been through. But generally If I had to give an answer I would say I'm on some strong medication right now that alcohol doesn't really agree with. Again, no one would pry as to what that is in case it's something serious.

choccypud What's the coffee thing? I'm still drinking de-caf capps. Are they ok?

Interesting about the acupuncture Puree and others. I had it with my last one a couple of times but that one turned out to be a blighted ovum too. Well, actually I am not sure if that's what it was but the sac never grew and only a yolk sac was ever seen. I was fully intending to go back to it but just haven't got around to it, what with being away etc.

Sounds like most of your friends were really good Digi and to be honest most of mine will be too. For eg I will tell the group of 8 I am going to be with for dinner on Saturday, 3 of them already know anyway. But its just these friends are people who aren't in our immediate circle and it is a sit down, posh London meal that is usually a very boozy affair. They only know about the pregnancies and miscarriages through the Independent article as they are really not close friends at all and not the sort of people I would have told I was pregnant until they found out about it by osmosis (had I been a normal pregnant person). So that's why am thinking of backing out of this meal.

There is a party a week on Saturday which (presuming I am still pregnant then) I am just going to play it how you did at the weddings and not make a big deal of it. It's a busy pub and we will be getting drinks at the bar so it will be easier. And there are a lot of good friends there.

Does anyone else find that one of the problems is that those friends who are close but not soooo close often say congratulations when you tell them! As they think it means you are having a baby....

Talking of counselling - have I mentioned that DH is a counsellor...? Not that anyone should see him, but maybe further down the line he can use this whole experience to specialise! At least he would be able to nod along sagely when some poor person is talking about Roid Rage.

Woo! Am linking to the Daily Mail :)

Here is the caffeine article Digi. It's not about decaf so I wouldn't worry. Oh and what I said earlier - how many pregnant women do you see necking espressos...?

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2068326/Why-mothers-avoid-high-street-coffee.html

I confess I don't have the drinking problem with friends since they all know I don't drink anyway (just don't like it), but back when I was younger (feeling like an old-timer now) I'd just say I'm driving, and no-one ever batted an eyelid. digi's comment about it not agreeing with medication is a good one, I think people are quite understanding of things like that now.

That caffeine article did make me go on a quick search to see how much caffeine is in Nescafe ... although, and you're probably going to laugh, the only coffee I actually have is half a teaspoonful, maybe twice a day. I don't really like coffee, it's too bitter for me, but I kinda like it like that. Guess I'm not going to be breaking any caffeine highs :) (just FYI, apparently one tsp has 65mg caffeine).

free I think you have struck the nail squarely on the head. Much as our OHs may sympathise and can be fabulous in a support role, I don't think any of them can ever understand exactly what we go through, physically and mentally, 24/7. It doesn't leave my mind for a second, even when apparently buried in other things. It's there constantly - thoughts, fears, worries, concerns, on and on like a relentless loop.

I asked my OH just now if he had a FF button, there's just too damn much going on right now, I want to FF to the middle of January please. I fully appreciate I shouldn't be wishing my life away, but it's going to be stressfully hell for the next few weeks (also got DD's 5th birthday party that I'm organising for first weekend in Jan, which isn't easy in itself, although I'm not complaining of course), and I'd just rather not go through it, to be honest!

I was pregnant on my 40th birthday. I had a big party. My strategy was to get my OH or best friend to buy me a coke or lemonade/lime & soda and nurse that for most of the night. As you can only neck so many soft drinks in a night (vs spirits with mixers which seem to go down a lot faster!) I always appeared to have a drink on the go. If someone asked me if I wanted a drink I'd say "Oh no, it's ok, I've got one here and [insert name of whoever you can see at the bar] is just getting me one so I'll be fine for a bit." If they insist, order something spirit based that looks like what you're drinking and then palm it off on your DH/OH/close friend in the know. My OH and best mate were somewhat disappointed at the efficacy of my plan as they ended up with considerably less free drinks than they hoped for!

The hardest bit was stealthily running off around the corner to get my car when there were others waiting for cabs to the same area as me.

The other thing that works in my favour is that I often have to start work at an ungodly hour and work a lot of weekends so I just drive to the pub/party etc and blame my sobriety on a really early start. This also means I can slope off early when people start getting drunk and annoying which can be a problem to a sober onlooker!

Nobody has ever believed me when I've said I'm on antibiotics. But if you do want to use that excuse, the one you are on is Metronidazole. That's the one you definitely can't drink on!

A good excuse to use for not drinking is

'God I can't face another drink - I had a right skinful last night and only stopped throwing up at lunchtime' :)
has worked for me lots of times!