The berry copter thread for all your clenching and hand holding needs

[BlindKitty]

Small print: ideally pg with #1 and had ttc for >12months although let's face it, we ain't as fussy as we used to be, just as long as you're nice

5 second generation berry babies and LOADS more to follow

RP...foody has given a brief update on Facebook but no details yet. Its a blue one

Ah I don't do Fbk. Currently waiting for a friend to arrive for 3 nights and reading a "pregnancy bible" donated by colleague. Parts of it are hilarious! There is one chapter out of about 32 on fathers. DH says that is just the way it should be, he's done his bit

yay another boy!

rp I don't do fb either and can't quite work out how it would work. Do you all know each other's real names and faces? Can you tell I am a fb Virgin lol at your dh.

Ahh blindkitty it must feel like the end of an era. I was going to ask where do berries go onto post baby?

Hmm, all the downs tests sound quite scary. In one way I think I would want them. When are they offered? Is it later on?

Super quick update -
We got home this eve, baby feeding well, almostall the staff were amazing throughout
cannot believe we are in our bed with babylicious in the crib!

All very much in love and enjoying getting to know each other

bushy feather the fb group is better than mn! You could always set up fake names (think pornstar names, the more imaginative, the better). I don't regular post anywhere but here. There's a grads thread but I've never bothered with it

Us grads dont post much on MN as we are all on FB. We do indeed know each others names and share pics of the babies, we are even planning some meet ups in the future.

Those first few weeks are so very special, enjoy every second and take lots of little videos and photos as they change so so quickly.

Facebook virgins are still welcome. You could join Facebook under a fake name so nobody you know in real life would know you were on there. We have a private group on there that means we can post pictures etc without anybody seeing. I get suspicious you are famous if you're not on Facebook (am convinced puppy is a celeb!)

Regards the downs testing; you will get a leaflet at your booking in appointment which explains the tests the NHS offer. If you want private tests (eg harmony which isn't offered by the NHS) you need to research that yourself. It is a big decision and worth having a discussion with your DH soonish about whether you want to know and what you would do

bushy like merk said talk to DH ref downs tests. We didn't have the private ones just the NHS one that they do with the 12 week scan. My MW gave me info at my booking in appt which was 9 weeks and I had to let her know as you need a longer scan slot. It's just scan measurements and blood test so not scary. If our chance had been higher then we might have looked at the private tests too.

Morning all! Glad the new mums are doing well x

On harmony vs NHS screening, it's a really tricky choice. The advantage of the Harmony test is that it gives you a more definite result that's very nearly as reliable as amnio/cvs, without any of the risks that the invasive tests have. But it's expensive and takes about a fortnight to get the results at the moment. In my case I had a high risk result for all three trisomies at my NHS scan, couldn't contemplate the risk of invasive procedures and had a hellish 8 days of suspense before the Harmony results came back clear.

So in my case I really wished I'd done the harmony test at 10 weeks, before the normal screening, as I'm sure the wait for the results wouldn't have been as bad if I hadn't been worried by the high risk result first. But of course if I'd done it that way round and had a low risk result, that would have been £400 I didn't need to spend!

Other factors to consider is your age - I'm 37 so that gave me a higher baseline result anyway - and whether the results would make a difference; we wouldn't have terminated for Downs but the other two trisomies sermed so much worse that we probably would have. Thankfully all was clear on the Harmony test and then the 20 week scan!

Anyway, hope that helps - feel free to ask if there's anything you want to ask about the harmony test!

Foody, glad you're enjoying getting to know babylicious - must be such an intensely special time!

Had our first NCT class last night - didn't find out a lot that was new (and I want to do a bit more research about some of the new claims!) but it was a lovely group of people and really nice to be able to talk (and laugh) about things with people in similar situations. I think it's also nice for the men to be involved and feel that they do have a role! (You might want to book your DH in, RP!)

Sad news in Berry HQ

It is awful about Barking. I was so convinced she would be coming over here this week. :(

I'm heartbroken for her, I'm always chuffed for a berry BFP but I've 'known' a few of them for a long long time now and I just want them in this chopper!

V sad for her, was really hoping but good news come September by the sound of things for lots of Ivf etc. The chopper may be bulging by then!

My tummy is feeling very tight and def like stuff is going on in there, anyone else newish noticing that? It was a week ago yesterday that had scan so 7 weeks now. Looked up on internet and it said it's about the size of a blueberry! The berry connection made me smile!

Have found I don't have that much appetite at lunchtime for my sandwich but hungry throughout day so grazing is better. Don't think I've felt sick so much as a bit woozy and not really wanting to eat sandwich and worrying about whether that's sickness. Drinking lots! Quite tired too, woke up yesterday very confused, asking my dh what day it was, was well upset when realised I had to go to work!!

I'm so gutted for her. I was so hoping she'd be here now.

bushy feeling a bit sick but nothing too bad. Got a crazy head spin when I got up yesterday. I'm grazing too as full meals seem really off putting at the moment. There's a tightness in my lower belly - underneath my belly button. Is that what you mean? and still getting twinges in my left side - assuming that's the corpus luteum pumping out progesterone. I'm seven weeks + 1 today. I smiled at the blueberry thing too. I'm seriously giving thought to getting a scan next week as my anxiety levels are off the scale that something will go wrong...

Feather go. Seriously. I looked up scans in my area just to know the prices, and the cheapest was £39, with basic viability scans going up to about £99. It would be so worth it.

Bushy when you get sick you'll know about it, trust me! Yesterday had a slice of toast for breakfast, and 2 M&S croissants for lunch (random croissant craving), then about 5pm started feeling rank, and was on my knees in the loo around 7. Couldn't stomach water or the lovely dinner DH had prepared so sat on the recliner in the living room feeling sorry for myself until about 9.30 when I went to bed! ......And it's looking like rinse and repeat for tonight

Oh and feather I am 7+4 so assuming all goes well, we will be in this together :)

Think you're right rp - might just book myself in for next Friday as I have the day off. Was going to Glastonbury, but I won't be now as camping and mud and madness seems too hectic. Have you decided if you'll have extra scans?

Yes, hope it works out for us! Amazing! Me, you and bushy will be due days apart.

Ps. Sorry you're feeling so rubbish rp - how awful. Are you actually being sick? Stay hydrated!

V brief stop in...will post properly when laid in bed for hours trying to get E to sleep later!
Just wanted to say RP keep eating and drinking. Anything at all and even if it makes you sick; it's really important. Also try to get a multivit that has folic acid down on a morning before you get ill

Well the advice I read in the pregnancy bible to use cola sweets to calm nausea has just been colourfully refuted, first at work (thank god everyone else had gone home) and again at home. Trying to get through it before my houseguest gets home in 15 min!!

Merk I've taking frolic acid for ages but should probably stock up on multi vit. Will try water later but I think it is another dinnerless evening chez Peasant. Still have to cook for houseguest, natch

I don't recommend apples either...they're grim when they come back up

Regards scans...just a warning. The anxious feeling only goes for a day or 2 max after a scan before returning in full force. So have as many scans as you need/want/can afford but please don't expect to feel less anxious - I certainly didn't feel relaxed until about 32 weeks and then you just worry about the birth. I guess I'm saying that the worry is normal, it won't go, scans only help for a brief time and therefore you need to try and find some way of managing it the rest of the time. (Don't google if you can help it)!

Oh and the tiredness is INDESCRIBABLE in the first tri. I promise it gets easier but if I were you I would expect to cancel lots of plans in the upcoming weeks

So lovely to have some new grads.

rp I'd love some of that 'frolic' acid you got there

Thanks merk. Know what you mean re scans and I know that the anxiety will come right back after. I just don't know what else to do. The good thing is that I've come home to find a letter from the hospital with my first midwife appointment on July 2. Makes it all feel a bit more real and like there is some sort of plan starting to take shape. I feel a little out of my depth and out of control of it everything. I guess I just need to learn let go and trust that if it's meant to be, it will be....

Oh, geez, would you listen to me! Somebody break out a violin!