Plenty of chocolate and support all round - #5 posifrickintive thread for those pregnant after miscarriage

[Treaclepie19]

for those who feel well enough to eat it :)

Great news cloud, glad all is well!

Good to hear from you too purple, those early days are hard but it sounds like you're doing well.

Welcome to all the newbies, I hope you all have trouble-free pregnancies this time.

I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself today... after thinking I finally turned a corner with the exhaustion, headaches etc the last week or so, I've felt pretty awful again the last couple of days. Also feel like my bump is huge and getting in the way already and im only halfway through this pregnancy! And then there are the doubts of how I'm going to cope with a new baby and DD1 when I'm already a pretty crap mum at the moment as I'm constantly knackered... Sorry for the moan, just felt like I had to let it all out!

Thanks Metal! Just wanted to say I know exactly how you feel, half way through is a difficult time as you have been pregnant for so long but you still have what feels like ages to go. The second half definitely goes quicker though.
I also struggled to deal with dd1 during pregnancy due to feeling crap but when no2 comes along you won't be pregnant any more and you be back to your old self and will feel much more able to deal with them. DH said yesterday he can already see a big difference in me as I felt so crap and miserable during the whole pregnancy. I am tired now but it's not the same.

Ah thanks purple, that gives me hope!

metal I think you and I are at very similar times (I'm
21+2) and I was told by all my mum friends that in the second trimester I would feel amazing and have a second lease of life. Couldn't be further from the truth, I'm still suffering exhaustion and sickness. At least we are not alone ! X

I'm in a bit of a state this morning and wondering if anyone can give me some reassurance or a bit of hand holding? My DH has just gone away for a week with work and I've got this terrible feeling something is going to go wrong. I did an Internet cheapie test this morning and the line was much fainter than a couple of days ago. I did a FRER as well which was still very strong and came up straight away but the IC result is playing on my mind and I'm worrying that my hug levels are not rising. I know it's probably nothing to worry about and even if it is, there's nothing I can do to stop it but I'm just feeling a bit scared and lonely. Did anyone else have a similar experience in the first few weeks?

Hcg levels not hug levels! Although my hug levels are down at the moment as DH is away.

rebecca I'm a week and a half behind you (19+6 today) and definitely no second trimester bloom going on here! Sorry to hear you're still feeling rubbish too, but good to know its not just me.

tft try not to worry, ICs are notorious for having varying degrees of colour lines, even from the same batch, so a fainter line doesn't really mean anything. That said, I know I would've felt the same... those first few weeks are just so hard. Try and stay positive, today you are pregnant!

It's so hard not too worry isn't it tft? I have also found the ic to be very variable between batches, so i wouldn't read into it too much if the frer is still dark. It's just a horrible waiting game though at the beginning. Hand holding x

tft STOP TESTING! You will just send yourself mental. You ARE pregnant. I don't want to sound bossy as we have all been there, but it repeated tests really mean nothing. The first trimester is horrific but the odds are in your favour and today you are pregnant. I know how hard it is.

metal and rebecca I didn't start to feel better until 23-24 weeks and it lasted until about 30 weeks. And it isn't an amazing energy boost, it is more like after a migraine or a bug and you are just so grateful to feel even a little better.

Anyway tomorrow I am 37 weeks.... Can't really believe it. I just want her out safe now. I swing wildly from being terrified that I am about to go into labour, to being terrified that I won't go into labour before 40+11 and need to be induced. Along with the worry that something will go wrong

Tft, I'm the same and will just test and test. It's so nerve wracking but you know extra testing doesn't predict or change outcomes. Good things.... The FRERs just as dark....you've had no bleeding and no cramps. All positive great signs.

The way I've stopped my repeated testing this time is to do a CB digi. It said 2-3 weeks, which is what I am, so that has reassured me enough to step away from the ICs. Of course this could have backfired on me but I'm speaking as someone who is essentially helpless in the face of a pregnancy test! Maybe try that?

Whatever you do, just cut the ICs in half now, do it across the line where it shows positive, and put them in the bin. They really are hazardous to bloody health.

I'd been feeling pretty positive but suddenly today I'm all doom and gloom. I think because of the weird spotting I had. Is there anything I can do to put my mind at ease???

Hang in there suz. Break through bleeding (at the time your af is due) is definitely a thing (or could have been implantation). Have you got a scan booked?

No, I only tested on Friday so haven't had a chance to book a doctor's appointment yet. An hoping that since I don't really know my dates, and after bleeding and a mc, they might offer me an early scan.

Fingers crossed they will suz, I've heard of them doing that before

Thanks March, I hope so!

Thank you so much for your support. You are all right, I need to stop testing. The suggestion of cutting the ICs in half is a good one - I don't think I'll stop until all the sticks are gone. I will get the scissors out...

suz, hope you are feeling a bit better this eve. I am a nervous wreck at the moment too. The EPU are doing an early scan for me at 7 weeks. Apparently when I rang to book it they said it is only normally offered if you've had 2 or more mc but I was definitely told I could have one if I got pg again when I had the ERPC. Anyway, they said ok and it is booked for the 28th. Maybe you could ask and see if they'll do one for you?

Thanks Tft, that's encouraging, I'll definitely try! Sorry you're feeling so anxious too, hopefully the scan on the 28th will take some of that away.

cava hope you have a lovely week away and enjoy the start of mat leave

welcome suz, tft and boys, the early days are so hard, sending you all good vibes and tft* agree, stop testing, you will go insane!

cloud great news on scan , how far along are you now?

purple nice to hear from you, glad Jess is doing well, hope all is ok once DH has to go back to work.

metal sorry you aren't feeling great, don't beat yourself up about being a crap mum while you are tired, I am sure you're doing fine and a few days with a little more TV time is not going to do any harm. Hope you start to feel better again soon.

Thanks for advice on bras, have bought an non underwired one from Bravissimo, much comfier than expected. Has helped with the skin pain a little but seems like it might just be something to live with for the time being.

Wishing everyone a good week

Whoops! Well and truly lost you!
treacle for a pin to cause any problems with your bump it would have to be incredibly, incredibly long and go all the way in.

Welcome to all the new recruits! Fingers crossed for lots of really boring uneventful pregnancies.

Nothing terribly interesting to report here. 32 weeks now and time is rushing away - eeek. Lots to do still. Having to take iron now as bloods came back low on Hb, which apparently explains my recent obsession with eating salt (has to be sea salt - sounds gross but I like it so much I've had to get DH to hide it) and crunching ice cubes.

commander, that's v interesting to hear about a link between salt and low iron. I'm obsessed with salt too (mostly sea salt kettle chips) and hadn't even thought of a connection to my iron levels.

Due date today. Feeling a bit more energetic funnily enough, although walking etc still uncomfy. I'm going to tackle the kitchen units in a bit, they're coloured gloss and could do with a clean not really but I did the bathroom tiles yday so the units are the only thing that I could do!

Welcome to the newbies, I'm so sorry I ignored you before! I was slightly pre-occupied with my scanxiety... Good luck to you all, have a really boring and uneventful 8 months!

suz Ask you GP if they will arrange an early reassurance scan for you - mine was very understanding and really helpful, she managed to get me a scan at 8 weeks without any problems.

bythesea I am now 16+3 (I'm sticking with the NHS dating, even though the scan on Saturday was much more aligned with my original dating).

Emboldened by the good scan outcome, I have now brought the bag of maternity clothes down from the loft, sorted through them and started wearing the trousers (should be OK for normal tops for little longer, I hope!)... And decided that I will go and by a few more things, especially work clothes! I wore my mat clothes to death with DS, and you can tell
It is all becoming real now. I had my performance review this morning, and part of my objectives for the next 6 months is to arrange project handovers for my maternity leave, eeek! This is so surreal.
Also trying to decide when I'll announce my pregnancy at work, not sure I will be able to hold out until the 20-week scan. Still hoping that everyone thinks I'm just fat

You're right commander, my anxiety has just gone through the roof the past few weeks.

Still having pin worries today (as I keep dropping them/ using them near food and drink) but I'm trying to keep on top of it all as I need to finish the curtains for the nursery.

I'm off on holiday Saturday for a week so maybe that'll calm me down a bit.

Welcome newbies! Commander I've had salt cravings too and I'm very prone to them anyway with such low blood pressure. Hadn't heard could be an iron link before so will make sure to keep taking my pills - especially as I'm not getting much good in these days. Broody any signs of twinges yet? 39+4 here, took a long walk earlier to try to shuffle him along a bit. No luck yet.

Not much happening, little. I was sure things were starting last night as I had three contractions, each 14 mins apart, but then it stopped and nothing since. Apart from nausea, as per usual! Dd was born 11hrs 18mins after her due date so I'm still clinging on to the hope that this one will follow suit.

I'm still in a bit of denial about it all tbh. Which sounds totally ridiculous to say on my edd!! With dd, it was all I was focused on for months - despite working until 37 weeks and having the horse to distract me - but I felt so prepared. This time, because of having dd and worrying about her, I'm just not focused on the birth and haven't made time for yoga or hypnobirthing. This worries me because I'm hoping to go drug free again and in the mlu so need to be focused Oh well. Too late now!!

So tired from bonkers pregnancy dreams and peeing a million times during the night. Ah the joys of pregnancy! I want to bloom not feel wretched every day!! Today will be sponsored by cbeebies again no doubt!

Welcome newbies! Wishing you uneventful pregnancies

metal completely understand how you feel about coping with a baby and a toddler. Constant niggling worry for me. And I worry about ruining ds's Christmas with a baby. He knows we're trying to 'grow' one but isn't very impressed about it!

TFT definitely step away from the tests. They can drive you crazy!

suz hang on in there. The first few weeks are very scary. We're here if you're struggling

cloud I've had to invest in some new work maternity clothes cos my originals are so worn. Haven't dared wear them yet though. Slowly my pile of trousers and shorts that I can't fasten up is growing taller. Things are definitely feeling more and more real and still petrifying by the day.

commander I need tonnes of salt cos of my low blood pressure. Not heard the iron link but I'm low on that too so can believe it!

broody and little hope the babies don't keep you waiting too long!