Pregnant - now what?

[ScottishDiblet]

First time posting and would appreciate some advice. DH and I were actively trying and hurrah have had 2 positive pregnancy tests. Very early days though - just over 4 weeks since first day of last period. We are very happy but trying to be realistic about the chances of this continuing to pregnancy and an actual baby. I called the dr and asked if it was too soon to have a pre natal appointment. The receptionist didn't know if it was too early so she booked me in for a telephone consultation this week. I feel like the dr is just going to tell me to go away and come back in a month? I don't want to waste the dr's time (she is very grumpy and I'm slightly terrified of her). Also how on earth are we going to last for the next 2 months for the scan? I think about it every day and can't stop myself checking for a bleed ever time I go to the loo. How do you get through the first couple of months without worrying / thinking about it the whole time? Also we are not telling anyone except parents and sister until scan if we get to that stage. Everyone happy for us but very cautious.
Please do give me your advice. Many thanks.

Congratulations!

I remember being in the same position as you 15 weeks ago. We got our BFP and, instead of the crazy, excited jumping about that I imagined there would be it was more of a cautious daze.

I went to the doc the very next day and she was fairly disinterested and told me to make and apt for my first antenatal appointment for 8 weeks. This is called the 'booking in' appointment and takes about an hour. It's mainly filling in A LOT of forms but also you'll have your blood taken. I had to choose the hospital I wanted to give birth at (which seemed ridiculous at this point as I hardly felt pregnant!)

Your next appointment will be the 12 week scan (woooo!) where it all becomes real. And that's it for the first trimester.

I'm not going to lie, it's a difficult time. You're kind of left to your own devices and the wait until 12 weeks is painfully slow. I paid for a private scan at 8 weeks as I was convinced nothing was there. It cost £80 and was honestly the best £80 I've ever spent. It have me a milestone to focus on that was nearer than the 12 weeks. And once theyd seen the heart beating they told me I had a 98% chance of continuing with a successful pregnancy. I was still as nervous as anything about the 12 week scan but it broke the time up.

I think you've got the right attitude about being cautiously excited but just remember you chances of a successful pregnancy far outweigh the opposite. It will be the slowest 8 weeks of your life and you will be knicker watching constantly. If you feel ill just see it as a good sign that all is going well. If you feel fine (as I did!) DO NOT panic. So many people don't actually suffer from morning sickness at all.

You will also probably get cramps (although again, maybe not!) but don't panic about that either. It's your little bean nestling in for the duration.

Just get yourself busy and stay distracted because otherwise you'll go mad thinking about it. Take each day as it comes and each day will mean odds of a successful pregnancy go up and up and up.

Good luck! Exciting times!!

(it goes quicker after the 12 week scan, although it's still scary - Im 5 days away from my 20 week scan now and soooooo nervous, eeeek!)

Exactly what Whysoserious says! Exactly!

Hi, congratualtions on your pregnancy, what wonderful news! i know what you mean about those early days - you want to be cautious but being pregnant is all you can think about. i didn't really see my doc much throughout my pregnancy but didn't see the midwife until about 8 weeks.

if you feel a bit nervous around your doctor had you thought of asking to see a different one?

regarding the early weeks, things will calm down a bit so don't worry. try to take it easy because if all goes well you'll start to feel pretty rough soon :) and in the meantime you can always come on here to get your fix of pregnancy talk!!

I also went for a private scan at 8 weeks, cost me £50 and helped to put my mind at rest and break up the long wait! It really is the longest period of time ever! Congrats though, it's a very exciting time!!

I'm 40 weeks tomorrow and now just waiting for the little man to make an appearance!

Oh and if you're not already doing so, start taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid

Thank you so much. You are all lovely and I feel a bit better now. Might well pay for a private scan. Have been taking pregnacare conception and moving onto pregnacare plus omega 3. Only bought one pack as don't want to jinx. The dr I have the phone appt with is the only one at my (usually amazing) surgery that does pre natal care. I guess she will just tell me to make another appt at 8 weeks if I am still pg. thank you all again. I wish you all the very best of luck with your scans and babies. I might venture onto the feb 2012 thread if I am still pg next week. Xx

i know this might sound like a weird suggestion but if you make a plan to acheive something (non prgnancy related) for 8 weeks time and set yourself that deadline the time might fly a bit quicker, that's what my husband suggested to me early on and it really helped because there is nothing like a deadline approaching to speed up time but it can also give you something else to concentrate on - it should be something you enjoy though NOT something that will put you under stress. for me it was a craft project that needed to be done in time for a birthday.

hope that makes sense...

Hi Scottish I second all of the above. I found out at 3w4d which was a nightmare but at least you can look after yourself properly right from the start, avoid alcohol & certain foods etc. I've found a pregnancy app quite helpful to watch the days/weeks creeping up. I've had a lot of spotting and cramps and had to be scanned at 5w. Going back tomorrow at 6w5d and it's totally nerve wracking. However, my morning sickness started today so I'm taking that as a good sign. Try not to worry. Goodluck!

Thank you HZ - excellent idea. I will have a think about a project i can get stuck into. I'm tempted by looking for a new home but that's a bit of difficult one as we wouldn't really need to move unless we were having a baby.
Iwant - thank you for your message. I wanted to wish you luck for your scan and hope the morning sickness isn't too bad.
WhySo - best of luck with your scan. Are you going to find out the sex?
JBurge - any news? Such exciting times!
i feel like i'm bursting to tell everyone our secret but i know that's a terrible idea. I haven't had any symptoms yet but sort of hope i do soon so that it starts to feel real and that i can believe in it. thank you all again for your advice. any more tips out there?