Worrying need support

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I am 18 weeks on my first pregnancy and have been sick from week 6 until now so feeling really low. To top it off this week I have some kind of virus so I'm more sick, have a painful throat and bad head cold. I also have conjunctivitis so this morning I went to see my gp.

I feel really down, I worry that I'm so sick how can my baby be healthy. I haven't felt any movement yet and people around me keep saying at 18 weeks thats worrying so I am panicking.

I tried to raise my worries with my gp this morning but she just seemed to laugh it off and told me to be patient. I have tried to speak to family and friends and they all seem to find morning sickness a bit of a joke, like it's not a real illness. My husband is great but he is working lots so I just feel very lonely and down, I really just want to feel better, feel my baby move and eat healthy.

Any helpful words that would cheer me up/ make me feel better would be appreciated.
X

Hi!

Totally normal to feel anxious. You're illness won't affect the baby, they are quite happy in their own little bubble. I didn't feel movement until 20 weeks with my first baby, but once you feel it you'll know about it!

Try not to worry too much, you should have another scan in the next week or two and no doubt will be feeling movement soon

Am sorry your feeling so low and unwell. I can relate having had severe M/S with all 4 of my pregnancies - infact at 21 weeks tomorrow its only within the past 2 weeks i have felt better and not dreaded getting up of a morning. With regards to baby moving despite being 4th pregnancy i only started feeling the odd flutter at around 19 weeks - now at 21 weeks its much regular. I don;t think its the norm to feel baby move before 20 weeks or so especially if its your first?

I'm sorry you feel so rotten, but honestly, a virus or cold type bug will not effect the baby (even if your tummy hurts when you sneeze!).

Also, totally normal not to be feeling the baby. I'm 17 weeks with my third and and only feeling faint flutters every few days, despite feeling my second regularly from 13 weeks. Every pregnancy is different and depending on your weight, baby's position, and your placenta, there's likely to be a perfectly normal reason why you aren't feeling anything yet. (With my first there was no slow build of movement - I felt nothing and then suddenly at 18 weeks I felt like someone was drumming strongly inside me. Most unusual).

Don't panic. I didn't feel any movement until about 20 weeks - pretty soon you'll be patting your tummy asking it to calm down so you can get some sleep...

When's your next appointment? 20 week scan coming up really soon? You'll be able to see them bouncing around in there!

I had various ailments during pregnancy - worst was a huge worsening of previously mild asthma, with a big attack that took a week of oral steroids to control. Otherwise just coughs, colds etc made worse by limitations on what you can take to feel better. Baby boy is almost 10 months old now, perfect and healthy in every way.

Even when you're ill, your body is always always protecting your baby - it's number one.

What makes you feel better when you're low? Warm bath, something nice to eat? Take care of yourself xxx

When you feel the baby move is also dependent on where the placenta is. If it's in the front, as it was for my first pregnancy, you might not feel movement until later than you might expect. The placenta being in the front is not a problem, but you will feel movement less, and you might not be able to put your hand on your belly and feel kicks from inside (I never did). My daughter is now almost 2.5, and right now is fighting a stomach bug she picked up at daycare, but otherwise she is healthy. If your doctor or midwife is not worried, you probably shouldn't be worried.

There are viruses and bacteria that can get through the placenta and affect your baby, but not all of them can do that. Again, if your doctor or midwife is not worried about what you've got, you probably shouldn't be either.

Poor you, I sympathise. I've been lucky with only minimal nausea, but am finding the second trimester a bit of a struggle - very tired and emotional. It must be awful to feel so ill of the time and it should never be trivialised.

I too am 18 weeks and am still not sure if I have felt baby move or not! I think I've felt a few flutters over past few weeks but they are so easy to confuse with indigestion so I don't know. But as everyone here says, it is entirely normal not to feel movement at 18 weeks. I'm realising that every pregnancy really is different and every 'you should feel/experience/be...' at different stages should come with a health warning that it's not the same for every person.

Hope you get to feeling better soon and try not to worry, just take very good care of yourself and put yourself first xx

No matter how rubbish you feel your body is working hard to look after your little one! I had a terrible cold at about 20 weeks pregnant and was off work for a week!! Bub is well protected in there :) ... Just make sure your staying well hydrated if your still being sick as this will make you feel worse! Baby flutters are different for each pregnancy, your little one will soon be keeping you up at night wiggling :)

Thanks for all the lovely messages I feel a lot better now. Think it's just takes one awkward comment from someone when you are feeling low to really get me worried so glad to hear Its quite normal not to feel the little bab yet. Can't wait for my scan in a couple of weeks x

Oh, and I'm pretty sure that getting worked up over one awkward comment is normal, too, especially in your first pregnancy.

But remember- people have had, and continue to have, pregnancies in some horrible conditions that resulted in babies healthy enough to grow up and have babies of their own. We're all descended from survivors of plagues, famines, and all sorts of things.

I didn't feel movement until closer to 20 weeks after my 20 week scan I think the sonographer must have woken it up cos it's not stopped kicking since

It could easily be that your placenta is at the front of your uterus too, so you might not feel movement for a while. AND you're feeling awful, but think of all of those antibodies you're producing that are going to your baby, your baby is going to be invincible!

You poor thing, that all sounds rotten but your baby will be FINE, it's lovely and safe in your nice, snug womb and he/she has everything he/she needs.

Sorry to hear your family have been insensitive.

I agree with MamaLazarou, it's not helpful of people saying this is worrying, that is worrying because they are not doctors or midwives and everyone's experience is different. My sis didn't feel her baby move til well over 25 weeks because the placenta was at the front.

I can't remember when mine started as I was so so sick I wasn't paying much attention, but I've had issues with blood sugar, now this morning at a check up, my blood pressure was awful, but the baby has been contentedly moving as normal throughout. If you feel worried about anything talk to th doc or midwife, they won't make you feel silly or tell you to go away.

The point I'm making I suppose is that I've had an awful time, but at all my checks the baby has been absolutely dandy, moving happily and growing. It seems to be that way sometimes!