The Berry-Copter!!!

[Bunnygirlie]

The Berry thread - berries (over 30s) pregnant with first baby after trying 12+ months.

Support, advice and hand holding from the grads.

Don't forget to CLENCH!

How're you feeling today RP? Thinking about it, I'm not sure it is 1 in 200 chance of baby having downs. It sounds like that applies if you haven't had any other tests done, but not if you got a good combined score back. Did you have the harmony? Can't remember now... Have you managed to get hold of your midwife?

I've started to feel quite pregnant this week. Feel like I'm getting quite a bump, and I'm quite conscious of it, it feels quite heavy now! Also think DH felt a kick this morning, just a gentle one. 22 weeks! Defo in mat clothes now!

Have a nice time on your hols feather!! Where you off??

Cyprus, win! Just at a cafe with wifi so thought to check in.

How is everyone?

rp, are you ok?

Hi all, I'm feeling a lot better. DH and I have had some tearful talks resulting in the decision that we won't have amnio as if it's a 1:100 chance of MC versus a worst-case-scenario 1:200 risk of Downs, we don't think it's worth the risk. We could find the money for Harmony if we needed to but we think the risk is sufficiently low that right now, it doesn't seem worth it.

We may possibly go for a private foetal anomaly scan though, as the first one was so crap, and I just want to go through it with a proper explanation.

MW not available over the weekend but going to ring someone tomorrow. Will see what they say! In the worst case, my cons appt has been brought forward to the 29th so I'll have to wait till then at furthest.

Sorry you've had a stressful time RP. I was told that one soft marker is unlikely to be worrisome - it's when there are multiple markers detected that it's more worrying. The 20 week scan looks at a lot of potential markers and by the sound of it hasn't found any, which is a positive thing. Sorry your sonographer was so unhelpful and hope your midwife is more communicative! ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices) is said to be a really helpful source of advice and support so may be worth a try.

I got to speak to a specialist antenatal screening MW this morning and she was really lovely. She said that the hydronephrosis was a really common problem, and that the dino's was not that significant as many. She said we would have been seen by a consultant if the sonographer had judged it to be serious.

I didn't raise with her why he hadn't just explained that, as I didn't think it was fair to ask her to explain her colleague's actions, but that's the main thing sorted.

On the Downs risk, she said she didn't think one soft marker would significantly change my risk profile and they wouldn't recalculate it now. I wasn't sure whether that was in a we-only-do-it-once-and-that's-your-lot sort of way, or because the new info from the scan actually wouldn't alter my risk profile. But she said she'd been in the job 18mos and had seen plenty of babies with dilated renal pelves and none of them had been referred for additional Downs screening on the basis of that alone.

Phew! She said I could have an amnio if I wanted but I don't think it makes much sense.

She also said to run things by the consultant next week, which I will do, and I'm also going to say to DH I want a repeat foetal anomaly scan done privately in a couple of weeks, just to see the sex, bond a bit and wash away the taste of that scan. I just want to be able to feel reassured and happy about it all - I know how whingey that sounds

Oh my god rp that's not whingey at ALL, it's so important that you're happy and healthy for both yourself and dino. You've been so strong and I'm extremely impressed you resisted punching your idiot sonographer!!
Really, really glad your mw was able to talk properly about it all, and I hope it's helped. So unfair you were in that position of being given half information in the first place when you needed reassurance. Sending you belly hugs.
feather very jealous!! :) Hope you have a lovely holiday.
Hello to all the berries, hope you all had a grand weekend.

Glad you got some reassurance RP. I think we may go for a private anomaly scan for the same reasons as you.

How're you doing kitten? How far along now?

Is anyone else getting comments about their bump size?? Yesterday at the gym a woman said i looked 'neat' and like I'd just had a big lunch. Today the hairdresser said I didn't look 5 months pregnant. I'm sure people think it's a complement, but when you have possible growth limiting issues with placenta, I'd rather be blooming massive!!

Not had any comment on my bump yet except DH who peers at me complacently at intervals and says "Pregnant!"

Although I am wondering now about the least weird way to tell students, as it's pretty obvious if you're looking - and definitely will be obvious within about a fortnight. I think email? Hmmmm.

How old are your students RP? I found coming out at work quite awkward. It's quite a relief once it's done though! No more hiding!

win I'm doing okay thanks :) been feeling tired but okay tbh, but had a random nauseous day today. Am 10+4 at the mo, dating scan on Friday 10th when I'll be 12+6, eek!!
It's odd. I'm feeling very aware of my lower tummy. Best way I can describe it is that I feel "full", if that makes sense? I feel like I need a wee more urgently than I realistically need to go, feel full after a all meal, etc.

*small meal, even

Hello all! Knackering day at work even though I didn't do much It's graduation tomorrow, which is weirdly similarly tiring, even though you just sit on a stage wearing a hot, itchy robe and clapping at appropriate intervals.

win my students are university-age, so 18+. I ended up emailing my postgrads and I'll just wait for the freshers to figure it out on their own as I get fatter and fatter with each weekly lecture

kitten I have EXACTLY the same feeling. Like, if you drank a pint of liquid and had some soup, and then could feel the liquid bloating you out or sloshing around? But in your pelvis..... Doesn't hurt but you're aware of it. I got that for a while and think it's stretching. I also need to go for a wee in the night more than I should, but it's not cystitis.

rp I'm trying to drink more water, but I SWEAR I'm peeing out more fluid than goes in! Do pregnant women defy science?!
I have to decrease the amount of muesli I have of a morning - can't eat the usual amount now, so weird. Still feel hungry but can't stomach the same quantities. And yeah, I feel like I'm full up with a water balloon or a ball or something! Weirrrrrd.

How's everybody this weekend?

We have DPIL over this weekend but have had to come into office to sort some stuff out.

Seeing consultant again on Monday - must remember to write down Qs in advance....!

kitten I was thinking about your post, I feel 'full' but I don't generally have that much trouble peeing I think if you REALLY REALLY aren't peeing as much as you think you should be, or if you have any pain you should get tested for a UTI. You can generally just pop a sample into your GP surgery. It's no biggie and will probably come back clear but I worry about this stuff with my kidneys so get tested far more often than I need :)

feather hope your hol is going well.

bunny how are you? Nearly at the finish line?

We are staying with some friends this weekend who are expecting their second. I've borrowed their fetal doppler and I've just heard the heartbeat! So cool, DH heard it too. I'm 11 weeks but scan isn't until 9th Oct so it's nice to know it's still alive!

Ahh, lady that's so ace! Can't believe you are 11 weeks already. It's gone so quick!

rp glad that things have settled down at bit and your chat with the mw was informative.

Agree with you kitten on the portion sizes. I can hardly eat as much as I used to in one go. Little and often seems to be the way for me and that includes wee-ing too!

Holiday is lovely. So relaxed. Have started feeling the baby properly moving around too! OH even felt a kick the other day. Has anyone else felt anything yet? win? rp?

The only bad thing about this holiday is the fact that I am being eaten alive by mozzies. Can't use deet so using natural oils and they don't seem to be working. So I'm fat, brown and covered in bites. Lucky DH!

How are you all?

Glad you're enjoying the holiday feather! And so exciting feeling movement! Yes, I think what I'm feeling is movement, and DH has also felt a few kicks (or punches or head butts, not sure which). It's definitely reassuring! Lady, glad you found the heart beat! I loved my doppler in the early weeks! Can't believe you're 11 weeks already! Time flies when it's someone else's pregnancy!

I had an appointment with someone at the hospital last week about the placenta issues that came up on my 20 week scan, I got an extra cheeky quick scan which was lovely. Literally just to see the heart beat, but still very reassuring! The appointment itself was fine and kind of reassuring. Although convinced us we probably won't fly anywhere on holiday while I'm pg. shame. But plenty of holidays to be had later I suppose.

I'm 23 weeks pregnant! Unbelievable!!

rp quite the reverse, my body thinks peeing is the new big thing and can't get enough of it hehe!! Feels like for every pint of water I drink, I'm peeing two. Yaaay, haha....
Lady that's amazing!! So jealous! Ooh I can't wait to hear the heartbeat. Our dating scan isn't til a day after yours, doesn't it feel like ages away still?
Feather ooh holiday sounds lovely - bugs aside! - and congrats on feeling baby wiggles :)
Win yay for reassurance, lovely to hear.
Big hugs to you all and hope Monday hasn't been too much of a brute.

Win wowee! I'm 22+1 and it's weird!

The dino is kicking away now. I had an eye test today and he was thumping away in there throughout! Not enough to disturb but can definitely feel now.

In other news, I saw the consultant again and he was ace! He said the sonographer had been "talking nonsense" and the dino does not have hydronephrosis. Apparently that term is only used when it reaches a certain level of seriousness and we're nowhere near that. So he says it's not serious and my kidneys seem to be doing okay, and I can be discharged to midwife care also he said the risk of Downs is not increased and that the leaflet I found is not following national guidelines.

So all in all, phew!! I can enjoy being pg again and just worry that the dino is too active to be a good sleeper :)

Feather hope you are enjoying holiday. On the not eating as much front..... I had a baked potato and two pieces of pie for dinner

Lady and kitten when are your 12w scans? Anyone hear from Bunny?

I'm here I'm here!

Hi ladies, Sorry I haven't been in for a while.

RP so good to read all ok from consultant!

Lady 11weeks, awesome!!!

I'll be 40w on Friday! Madness that I'll have a baby this month!!!!! It's a struggle now though, very tiring getting up loads at night and feel like an elephant!

Yay bunny! Can't believe it's nearly time for baby bunny to arrive. Thinking of you!

rp you and your oh must be so relieved. I'm so happy for you. Stupid sonographer. Hope you plan on complaining as it's just not in, giving people the heebies like that.

kitten and lady when are your scans? Can't believe how quickly time is flying at the moment.

Had a major realisation that our baby will be here, on the planet, in about four months! More time in this pregnancy has passed than we have yet to go. This week is the first time I've been emotional all pregnancy. Been getting tearful at sunsets and blubbing when she kicks. Better out than in I suppose. I'm just so happy right now. Anyone else feeling this way?

Are you going to join us on fb? I can't keep up on here but would love to chat more and see pics of how you're getting on

Oooh fb, merkin? Do you have a bump gang? Hehe
My dating scan is Friday morning next week when I'll be 12+6, can't wait. Husby can't get out of work (boo) for it but my Mum is coming up to come with me (yay!), first time I'll have seen any of my family since announcing. We live in Stockport, same as the inlaws, so I see the PIL and the SILs and partners, kids etc frequently. But my lot are in Essex and I only see any of mine about three or four times a year. Been missing getting fussed by my Mum, so I'm looking forward to the attention hehe.
rp oooh it's def getting towards pie season, nom. My appetite is weird at the mo what with the constant hungry/sick/full feelings. I've actually lost 7lb in the last 2 months which isn't great. Don't get me wrong, I could do with losing that and much more, but it's just the timing.
Also, is anyone having trouble sleeping?? I seem to see every hour these nights, keep waking up uncomfortable or achy. Normally sleep on my right but trying to sleep on my left now. But I keep getting this weird tingling in my left hip like a soft pins and needles, followed by aches and numbness. What the hell, ladies? wah