Slightly late discovery of pregnancy (and a bit worried!)

[BellaCB]

I've just discovered I'm pregnant and, if my maths is right, I am 9 weeks (still had my first period so I didn't realise) so due in late Dec.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice for hurrying along doctors appointments etc? I had to register at a new doctors so I won't get my first appt until 1st June, and if things are as slow as they can sometimes be then I'm worried I'm not going to get referred for a scan in time. Also, even though I really can't imagine how, I suppose I could only have missed one period and so only be 5 weeks - in which case I'd rather know sooner than later! Has anyone else in this situation just had a private scan? I really don't want to wait 5 or 6 weeks to find out how pregnant I am.

And lastly, as I wasn't expecting to get pregnant (though is a very welcome surprise!) I haven't been remotely healthy for the past two months so I've not taken any vitamins, have been drinking and, worse, I've been smoking 8 cigarettes a day. At the moment I'm luckily not feeling sick or tired, but that is making this all a little surreal and so I'm finding quitting very hard - am chugging away the Niquitin at the moment. Has anyone else had this and want to reassure me that quitting will be ok and the baby will be fine?!

Bella

I wonder if this article might reassure you? www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/pregnantsmoking.htm

As I understand it, the main risk of smoking in really early pregnancy is miscarriage (which you've avoided). The main risk later is low birth weight, and this article says that women who stop smoking halfway through their pregnancies give birth to babies of the same weight as nonsmokers. (Obviously the whole emphasis of the piece is that you should give up, but you already know that.)

As for drinking, I think a lot of women are in your situation - I personally thought I'd got my period and drank for 3 nights on the run before realising it was breakthrough bleeding and I was actually pregnant. You could read Zoe Williams' account of her 2nd pregnancy - she drank, smoked, didn't take vitamins etc, until she realised at some crazily late stage like 20 weeks that she was actually pregnant. It's all in her book Bring It On Baby. Naturally, the baby was fine. She also debunks a lot of the myths about moderate alcohol consumption in pregnancy, which may make you feel better.

Best of luck with the rest of it!

I was 10 weeks when found out about dd. DH had been seriously ill in hospital, had an operation, and I barely even noticed the lack of periods and when I did I just thought it was through being stressed with an ill dh and two small boys to look after. Had also drunk a few glasses of red wine wine on occasion, I don't smoke, but I didn't look after myself whatsoever. DD not affected by any of it.

I didn't find out I was pregnant until i was 24 weeks. In those 24 weeks I drank and ate lots of "bad" stuff. I'm now 36+4 and looking forward to meeting my baby. The scan I had showed up no problems and the baby is a good size. I know it is easier said than done, but don't worry about it. You can't change it now and worrying is only going to make things worse by cranking up your stress levels. congratulations :o

You could try one of those clear blue tests, don't they tell you how far along you are in weeks?

Thanks all - good to hear that other people found out late and I'm not the only one feeling silly for not realising! scepticalexpat - thanks for the Zoe Williams tip, I had forgotten about her surprise second pregnancy so will go and read about that.

Now all I need is an excuse for why I'm neither drinking nor smoking at my DP's 30th birthday party this weekend....!

Remember your folic acid and congrats! :)

Really interested to know how you can be 24 weeks pregnant and not know?! This has me very curious!

Mmmmm cheese a VERY good friend of mine didnt find out until 31weeks

She had visited her GP the week before (at 30 weeks) with "classic pg symptoms" & had no idea, and GP didnt either.... came back a week later cause things GP prescribed didnt work, and only at that point was pg suggested.... GP had a feel and could feel a baby (no obviouse bump)
she was sent for a scan and found out she was 7 MONTHS pg

(I have no idea how anyone can not realise either but it happens!!!!)

24 and 31 weeks! Wow - I looked like I'd swallowed a melon at 20 weeks! :)

x

Don't worry, My dad used to work in A and E and he used to get some ladies in in labour never knowing they were even pregnant!! I used to think he was joking but............
When I was on the ward with my DD there was a girl opposite who had not known she was pregnant and just given birth the day before! How do they do it?!
You will be fine. I transferred in my first pregnancy so all my first appointments were quite late but thet will catch up once you have the first lot out of the way
And after quickly writing this I just saw nanny's post so that confirms I am not mad!!

Hi OP,
The only thing I'd think about is the timing of your first scan if you want the nuchal scan as that has to be done at quite a specific time (around 12 weeks, google it to find out specifically). Can you speak to the local antenatal service and explain the situation, they may be able to jog your GP surgery along.
I'm curious though - if you had a period, what is making you think you were pg before that came along? You could only be 5 weeks, which may explain why you still feel ok (though you could be one of the lucky ones who has no sickness etc)

Icouldoitbetter:
I know! It's driving me a little mad here. I'm about 80% certain I am 9 weeks pg as we had a little mishap nearly two months ago now, and that was mid-cycle. I also had the first period when I was pg a few years back (I actually didn't know I was pg then until I miscarried early). So I'm fairly certain that that was the only occasion I would have fallen pg - but, yes, there is still this little chance that I am only 5 weeks pg! So, obviously, if it is 9 weeks then there is a real rush for the scan as I would like the nuchal scan, but I suppose if the GP doesn't seem very bothered then I can fortunately afford for a private scan. But I'd also just like to know how pg I am, and not wait another 3 or 4 weeks to find out!