TTC/Pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 4

[digitalgirl]

A positive thread for all those diagnosed with High or Very High NK Cells and looking to start TTC or already pregnant on Prednisolone and/or Intralipid treatment.

Newcomers very much welcome!

Part 3 here

Part 2 here

Part 1 here

I do hope so euro thanks Hunni x

I wish I could take that post back. :( I hope I haven't worried you based on one line I read in a book.

It's something I brought up first euro so don't worry! I think it stood out for me for the opposite reason to you - that I have secretly been a bit terrified of natural birth and am curious about exploring slicing open options :) but I have no idea really and I know some people have strong opinions on it so I am watching and learning about birth all round. Stogan, no need to worry. Every single person you will ever meet has been given birth to. Thst's a lot if women giving birth! It's the most natural thing in the world. And ok, some people don't have very enjoyable experiences but they ate willing to do it all again so it can't be that bad...

battery sorry I xposted with you last night and missed your question.
It is tricky deciding what to do with regards to st mary's vs mr s. When I got my bfp I thought I wouldn't bother seeing mr s and just get the scans done at st marys. Unfortunately this coincided with free miscarrying on the treatment and it became apparent that if this were to happen to me then I felt I would be best treated under mr s as it is his treatment I am following - so i booked a scan with him at 9 weeks. Because I'm lucky enough to live in London I went to st marys for scans in between mr s starting at 8 weeks - but perhaps if I lived further away I might have only gone there once or twice (ie to make sure the pregnancy was on their system). I think even though you've been advised by st m's to remain on this aspirin for longer than mr s has suggested I think the bulk of your first trimester treatment is under mr s - so it's really a personal decision about whether you want him to follow the progress of your first trimester or whether you think you'll be fine without his support.

euro don't feel bad for mentioning the dr beer's thing about csections. I remember reading it myself and thinking mr s may suggest it - but after my 16 week graduation appointment he said that my pregnancy could now be treated as perfectly normal and low risk. Consultants at my local nhs hospital also think the same. In fact I seem to have less appointments than my colleague who is 5 weeks ahead of me with her second dc who's never had a miscarriage.

stogan I asked whether it was likely I'd go into labour early again and everyone has shrugged their shoulders saying maybe yes maybe no. Because ds was healthy when he was born (a good weight, good agpar score) and my placenta looked fine (nothing to suggest deteriorating placenta had caused pre-term labour) I'm very much low risk. I had a feeling ds would be early (though was hoping only 2 weeks early) and I'm going to make sure I'm prepared for another early arrival.

Right, Operation 40th birthday party is on the go!

Hi all, somany posts to catch up on and fab stories. Love all the birth ones...

Free fantastic news on your scan how nice have you started to tel people now? You can do the pic on Facebook thing ..

Pico. I know it was a few days ago but you were asking about intrepilids, I am under the NHs at sthelier and I'm on 40mg steroids and my intrepilids are done privately it's ok as the nurse comes to my home to do it.

I have had terrible trouble sleeping on the steroids, it's the early morning wake ups that kill me, I have a meditation cd I listen to for 30 mins which helps it stops me stressing.

Only 4 days till my next scan and I'm going mad I think, no symptoms at all stretching feelings stopped.. Arghhhh this will be such a milestone scan if it's all ok as we have never got this far before...
I'm off for an afternoon tea today to take my mind of it all...
Hope all are having a good weekend

Happy 40th to mr Digi! Are you trying out those boozey brownies yourself? I remember being overwhelmingly fond of the brandy sauce on christmas pudding this year. I think it got me a bit tipsy!

Battery I would agree with what Digi said, that it might be good to see him when on the treatment. I think he is quite used to people exploring their options. He did tell me off a bit for not seeing him when I was miscarrying but I think there was nothing he could do in thus case anyway. I have found his scans more detailed than St marys, for eg they have never told me the actual heart rate and their scans have been quicker and also the luxury if private health care means you get a much longer appointment. Of course you do pay for it. But then he might adjust your treatment too - eg he has decided I should have a fourth intralipids around 16 weeks and yesterday said he was still working out how long he will keep me on the hydroxy. But I do have v high level nkc so maybe with you it might be different.

It is incredible to think that after 20 weeks we are considered the same as everyone else. Imagine being normal :)

I dreamt last night that the heart beat had gone next scan and today feel totally non pregnant. No sickness. I guess it's natural that it goes at this stage but it's still going to freak me out! Cheerful, how are you feeling bring that you are the same stage as me? Some stories about feeling better around 12 weeks from you lot further along would also be handy!

Oh, btw, did I tell you mr s says it is OK TO GO ON HOLIDAY!!!

Crossed posts cornflakes, but completely relating to you re the varying symptoms! All I can say is that they do seem to vary. Oh and afternoon tea sounds like a v good idea. Good luck with the scan!! Come back as soon as you can and update us.

Hello, glad to hear Free has the all-clear regarding jetting off!
I am a football widow today and finding it increasingly a struggle (the minding ds part) - I am so exhausted and just want to lie in bed. I don't know how to cope with being back at work next week.
Also I still feel sick a lot - though it comes and go - and think I am once again going to miss out entirely on the "blooming" 2nd trimester!

euro please don't worry about scaring us, well I speak on behalf of myself anyway! I really really appreciate knowing of any risks / tendencies or whatever. I hate shocks and surprises and personally i like to know about these things so i can research and look out for them. I have to say generally it does not stress me out and I do like to know.

free I am thrilled for you that your scan has gone well again. I think i get almost as nervous as you when you have a scan with you being at the same stage as me.

I feel like I actually prefer not having too many scans. I feel a build up several days before that gets like a crescendo where I can think of nothing else. When i don't have a scan scheduled in that week i feel a lot calmer, like blissful ignorance or something. I know it sounds terribly pessimistic but the reassurance from a scan only really lasts a day as last pregnancy I had a scan at 9w 3 where all was hunky dory and at the 12 week scan i found out it must have died back on that day too.

Well I have my NT scan on Thursday and already am obsessing over it. I keep asking DH if he thinks it is still alive. I must be driving him mad but he is very patient with me, bless him. Fortuantely I will not be going to Fetal medical place with the horrible doctor last time so that does make it a bit less stressful. I honestly don't know if it's going to work out. I cannot imagine getting into the second trimester and equally I cannot (do not want to) imagine another miscarriage at this stage. I don't feel pregnant and even have tonnes of energy. The only thing I do have is a right belly on me that is becoming difficult to hide, especially at work. I know it's all bloat and fat and not proper bump but bloody hell. I have also put on 5lbs which is on the high side for 11 weeks i think. How much have you put on free if you don't mind me asking? I went out for a meal last night and put my jeans on with the top button undone and a bump band. Just after we left the house I made Dh stop the car to check they wouldn't fall down, which they did and I had to come back and get changed into my now only pair of jeans that fit.

I love hearing these birth stories. So how many have had pre-term? And why is C section more likely - because they tend to be pre-term or another reason? Last time i was pregnant I was pretty set on having a C section, now I have become slightly more hippy in my thinking I am really interested in this hypno birthing and potentially having my acupuncturist come and do a treatment during labour if necessary. However, I am open minded about it and can see both advantages and disadvantages of both natural and C section so will let the docs decide what's best at the time if I get that far.

battery - is it you that's in the Midlands asking about treatment? Isn't there a Dr Quenby that does NKCell treatment in Coventry or something?

comedy congrats on 20 weeks! I have only just realised that 20 weeks is only half way there (duh!). To me it seems so so far on, I was quite surprised when i worked out that even if i get as far as 20 weeks it is still only half way! Anyway, great that Dr S considers you a normal person at this stage now :-)

Hi Iggi - if it helps to know I'm feeling exactly the same - feeling very heavy and awkward can't believe this is how I am at twenty weeks thought I'd be like this at thirty! I'm waking up alot at night and not sleeping well - roll on May. Sorry to moan, on the other hand I really know how lucky I am to be at this stage - just sorry I'm not 'blooming' in any way!!

Hi cheerful - crossed posts - I have put on a huge amount of weight - I get the midwife to weigh me and write it down without telling me so that I can stay as blissfully ignorant as possible!! Symptoms also coming and going even at this point - feeling sick today but other days only feel ill as mealtimes approach.

Mr S thinks of me as 'normal' but NHS treating me as high risk due to death of ds / miscarriages and age so under consultant care which is quite good.

Iggi sorry to hear youre feeling poo. Yes it is a pain not t

Oh annoying iPhone...

It is a pain not to get that 2nd trim glow! Comedy it's amazing to be at 20 weeks too!!

Cheerful I complelety relate to you re both the weight gain, the bloat and also the scan reassurance lasting about 3 hours! Great that you feel good in a way- maybe (without the mcs etc) you are just one of these people who take pregnancy rather well? I've felt a lot less nauseous today and if course that worries me. Theoretically though at almost 12 weeks we are ok to start feeling better! The weight gain for me is difficult to quantify. Remind me to weigh myself when in London on Monday, but I definitely have a noticeable belly. In 2009 and 2010 I was super fit and a size 8 (am around 5ft 5, and before stepping up gym routine was a 10-12 but last years pregnancies, mcs, steroids meant I started this pregnancy heavier than before. I reckon I've put on at least half a stone.

Thanks for the advice - I think I will wait for the scan at St Marys on Wednesday - then if all is ok I will book to see Mr S. :)

For all those not feeling any symptoms - I have been feeling quite sick over the last few days and lots of pains too (stretchy I hope) but not a lot today, so I am living by the mantra 'symptoms come and go'

I visited my friend today with her new baby - the one who was born 2 weeks before mine would have been due :( it was ok, and he was very snuggly x

sue I hope you are ok today, and kittens I hope the swi is going well :)

ps don't even mention weigh gain or the random hair that has appeared on my chin!

Just popping on to say Happy birthday to Ari. I hope you have a lovely day. I'm just a day behind you, 42 tomorrow.

My SWI started off ok on the two double line days but yesterday was probably OV day and by the time I got home from our evening out I was too teary (combination of recent events and OH being a bit of a twat) to be in any sort of SWI mood. I've woken up really early this morning and we are supposed to be making up for the missed opportunity this morning but I'm upset with my OH and also still feeling down, so I'm either going to have to try and switch that off for a bit for 'a good cause' (although with my luck so far it's staring to feel more like a lost cause) or just accept that this month may be another month that I don't get pregnant.

Free ? Excellent news on the scan and the holiday! To try and reassure you a bit, I was freaking out when I started to feel better around the 12 week mark. It was quite sudden actually, the not feeling sick. The scans tailed off at that point too as I didn?t have a nuchal so I felt really worried until the 15 week one with Mr S. But around then I was starting to feel very slight movement too, which calmed me down a bit. (I think that?s quite early to feel movement ? I certainly didn?t get it that early with ds ? so don?t panic if you don?t feel it that soon.)

Digi ? Happy belated birthday to Mr Digi. Hope all the celebrations went well.

Interesting that a few of you went into labour early. I wonder if that is NKC related? I went 4 days overdue with ds. My waters broke on the Friday evening, the day before I was due to be induced because my blood pressure had gone up. Things didn?t really progress though as ds was back to back and it was really painful, and although they were great about humouring me that I might make it into the pool at some stage, I actually ended up being induced and with an epidural. Managed it all fine in the end though, but it wasn?t exactly the lavender-scented water-birth I?d envisaged beforehand. I did hypnobirthing too (and have all the CDs if anyone wants copies to try at home), and although I didn?t exactly breathe the baby out, I found it really helpful for keeping me calm.

Iggi and Comedy ? Sorry to hear you?re both struggling. I definitely don?t feel like I?m blooming this time around either. I definitely feel better since the Christmas break, but I?m still knackered a lot of the time. Do you think it?s just having a dc to look after? I?m really happy to be at this stage BTW so not moaning about it, but just letting you know we?re all in the same boat.

Kittens ? I hope you are settling in back home and doing OK (or as OK as you can be). Really hope this is your month.

Battery and Cheerful really good luck for then scans this coming week. Is there anyone else due for one?

Spent the day yesterday looking at houses, and nothing suitable (that we can afford anyway). We've now exhausted all the houses in the area that we're interested in and need to wait for something new to come up. Gah! It wouldn't be such a problem if we weren't up against it, time-wise but I think I have to acccept that we'll probably still be in this 1-bed flat when the baby arrives.

Morning I'm having a major panic and need some advice.....
I woke up this morning to some discharge might be tmi.... Butit was a jelly like discharge not blood butit had a brown tinge... I'm panicking as my last mc was the same.... Anyone else had this ?..
I've already prepared myself for the worst I thin perhaps that it's just not ever going to happen for me I'm 42 this year and eh is 44 ....

Happy Birthday Ari hope you are doing something nice.

Kittens sorry you are having a rough couple of days. After all you have been through it is natural for you to be teary and down. Don't put any pressure on yourself this month. Is it possible to talk to your husband and see if this puts you more in the mood. You have already had swi and they can live up to 5 days. So you can not always rule out that this will not be your month.

I am fine glad to have gotten through new year and christmas. Just dreading all of the talk of my SIL pregnancy that is all my MIL can talk about. Quite natural really since this will be her first GC. Am going out with friends later so that should be good.

I can not remember everyones news so congrats on the scans this week. Has anyone got any coming up?

Hello to everyone.

cornflakes - I'm not sure about your discharge but would be a good idea to have a scan if possible given miscarriage history. Can you call Louise and ask or go to your local EPU?

Given there is no blood there may be absolutely nothing to worry about. Please keep us updated.

Happy bday to mrdigi, ari and in anticipation kittens. kittens our swi not going too well as we were immersed in watching first series of "the wire" last night!!!! (yes we've discovered this tv series 9 years after the rest of the world). hopefully you will find the right moment today if you feel up to it.

cornflakes how upsetting. This is a round about way of putting it but I have had a number of mc and none started like that. Can you double up your progesterone if you are on it? But probably best to talk to an expert like coley says. Despite being pregnant or mc for most of the last 4 years and watching 6 seasons of greys anatomy I do have to remind myself occasionally that I have no medical qualifications.

lemon I am dreading my new SIL getting pregnant so I can only imagine what it's like. Hope you have a nice time out later. In our house everyone is still in pjs - our planned morning outing has been rescheduled to this afternoon!

Big wave to everyone else.

PQ we caught up with The Wire last year, having never seen a single episode before. I thought it was brilliant. Really well acted. Some of the dialogue is tough to understand, but the story comes through anyway.

kittens it sounds like you have managed swi within the "window" anyway, so I wouldn't put yourself under pressure at the moment.

cornflakes I have no practical advice but I hope everything is ok.

Waves to everyone else!

euro - after a tip off from a colleague, we watched it with the subtitles on!

Cornflakes just to say I have had so many scares in this pg I could start up my own fairground ride - none of them have come to anything. Someone at hosp could take a swab of your discharge to see what it is?

It's very frustrating not having my laptop as I feel like i can't post properly on iPhone but I am lurking and reading!

Cornflakes, have you had any more discharge? A personal question but had you by any chance SWI without the WI bit...? The only time I have had any discoloration was after that at around 7 weeks. It's quite common when pregnant - cervical erosion. That said I also know of people who have had full on bleeds throughout a lot if their pregnancies and no cause whatsoever has been found. When is your next scan?

Good luck to kittens, PQ and alll those swi! My tip is to get it out of the way before bedtime if you can. I know we are probably all old hands at it now though unfortunately.

Coley I think we were all glad to get Xmas etc out of the way. I nipped to the shops earlier (having a lazy day with papers so far) for milk in poorly disguised sleep-wear and it felt like a 'new day' out there. It's getting lighter by tens minutes a week which I love! It won't be long until it warms up and thongs automatically look a lot more positive.

Incidentally PQ and I are going to see if we can have a local meet up thus week? As we are both free-Ish this might be a week day day time thing but if euro or any other lovals to our neck of the woods fancies a coffee or similar do let us know! I am free every day except Thursday (big scary scan day).