Pregnancy 12 weeks + post IVF/infertility - General chat and support Thread 2

[Janefx40]

We've run out of room so let's start again.

New people welcome. The group aims to support those who are pregnant post difficulty.

All are welcome - we are aimed at 12 week plus as those early weeks are a different kind of roller coaster and another group exists for support then. However you are welcome here too if you want to join.

Some of us have been here a while and nearly ready to pop. Others already had their babies.

Welcome one and all xxx

@Barcelo18 🍾🍾🍾💐💐💐 what wonderful news. How amazing that he was born on 6/12 weighing 6lb 12!!! Sounds like you are doing really well expressing your colostrum.

Hope you are able to go home when you want to.

Xxxxx

@Barcelo18 Congratulations 🥰🥰🥰 All the best with the recovery, make sure u taking painkillers if u uncomfortable. So many babies 😍😍😍

@Barcelo18, congratulations on welcoming your son into the world! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 What a lovely blessing & a fantastic way to start the weekend! 😊 Hopefully you’ll be heading home soon to continue enjoying your little boy. 💙

@Barcelo18 congrats. Sooo happy for you! Hope you manage some rest even with all the noise going on next room. Xx

@Barcelo18 congratulations! So glad you are doing well and your little boy is well. Must be wonderful to finally meet him. Really happy for you.

I'm seeing my consultant on the 19th to discuss birth plans /induction etc, hoping they might say I can go to the midwife led unit as I'm off meds but might still have to be labor ward.

Anyone else got anything big this weekend or next week? Can't remember who is due next?!

How is everyone? Just wondering peoole’s experiences with Braxton Hicks? Are they painful?
My stomach was rock solid tonight, and I had slight stretching pains. Wondered if they were Braxton Hicks. But they were bearable- so maybe not!

Hope you’re all well. I’m nearly in the 3rd trimester! 😊

@Beherenow32 so glad to hear you are doing well and almost 3rd trimester!!! How time flies!
Regarding Braxton Hicks... well I still don’t know weather I had them or not as I expected pain but it never was painful just solid belly. Midwife tried to explain that BraxtonnHicks come on from sides, real contractions vertically. But as I had c section I can’t vouch if that’s true.

beherenow they sound like bracton hicks. My belly was really tight with them always seemed to happen when I was good shopping or walking 😂 you will know labour pains when you feel them 😳 xx

Hello everyone

@Beherenow32 I've only had Braxton Hicks once! It was like my whole belly was getting tighter. It was odd and a bit disconcerting but not painful. Could well be that. Welcome to 3rd trimester. Mine hasn't been much different to 2nd. A bit more tired and heavy but still ok. Hopefully you will be too.

@emalady sorry I didn't answer your question. No big events this past weekend or this week. Our next meeting is 19th too so we can compare notes. Fingers crossed for Birth Centre for you

I've been having lots of period type cramps. Not too painful but I may pop into Labour Unit if they continue

Xxx

jane I had these. Apparently your body is getting ready for labour, have you had the shooting pains up your privates? Took my breath away one day as it was so strong!
X

@Liverpool19 yes I have had some shooting pains in my nethers! And also some more general aching down there. I like the idea of my body getting ready for labour - even tho it won't actually get to do it most likely!!!

How are you getting on?

Thanks everyone. I’m convinced it was Braxton kicks. Over my womb area was solid!

@Janefx40 how many weeks are you now?? I can’t imagine being near the end.. and it actually all feeling a bit more real?! Hope all ok xx

Hi all! I'm new here. Reached 16 weeks today after several years of infertility and four early miscarriages. Have a history of anxiety but felt strangely relaxed through the first trimester. Now it's getting worse and worse as I think I'm realising it's real at last. Have had horrendous morning sickness to the point where I tore my oesophagus and started vomiting blood this week. Swollen and puffy and crampy and generally miserable. Have spent years being angry at people who complained about being pregnant but it's all I do now. I'm so miserable, tired and generally unhappy. I don't know what to do with myself. I'm sorry to arrive here and vent. It's lovely a group like this exists.

@felicityheather welcome, congratulations on 16 weeks. It's rubbish isn't it. I've had a very easy ride compared to lots of people here but after trying for years it's really hard to cope with a miserable pregnancy. Hope you have some anti sickness tablets now. I was still being sick quite late in pregnancy but it has got better. I'm also finding mindfulness and hypnobirthing helpful at letting go of expectations and not judging myself too much! Depends if you have a bit of a hippy streak!!

@janefx40 be interesting to see how different or similar our appointments are!

@beherenow32 I think I've had some braxton hicks tightening but not been that strong or painful. Often happens when I'm walking quickly /exerting myself.

Thanks @emalady. I'm quite interested in hypnobirthing but haven't done much research yet. Is there any help with pregnancy or does it focus on labour and birth strategies?

jane I had the aches down there’s too, I asked my midwife and she said it’s the added weight aswell as the head pushing down. Is her head down? Some days I felt like his head was going to fall out 🤣

We are good thank you, he’s a little dream still. I honestly don’t know what I done with my time before he came 😂 I’ve lost nearly all my baby weight in two weeks and I really think it’s down to my placenta pills. Couldn’t recommend them enough. How you feeling? X

@felicityheather I'm using natal hypnotherapy and there is a pregnancy relaxation track and a letting go of fear track to use before the birth preparation and labor companion tracks. I also read Mindful hypnobirthing which I found helpful. I also liked expecting better which is a book looking at statistics to do with pregnancy, might be a bit late now but I thought it was quite reassuring and might look again at some of the birth plan bits.

@liverpool19 glad everything is going well for you!

Thanks @emalady. I read debunking the myth which was all stats and that helped me massively in the first trimester.

Hello and welcome to the group felicityheather. I think we all at some point beat ourselves up when we complained about one of the downsides of pregnancy but we are entitled to and shouldn’t be do hard on ourselves.

I eventually got home Saturday afternoon after an horrendous few days in hospital. I tried and tried to breastfeed but there was very little being produced and the two midwifes who were meant to be helping me just ended up totally ruining my confidence and making me feel like a failure. I ended up reaching for a bottle the day after he was born when he was crying for food and he was so hungry and I wasn’t producing enough for him, I was producing very very little about .3ml and it was taking forever I was having to hand express and feed him by a syringe. The midwifes were just awful to me however there were a couple who were very helpful and non judgemental and I’ve startec again now I’m home and am feeding both bottle and if I can breast to see whether my milk starts to come through properly.

Anyway enough of the negative the baby I have waited for all these years is now here and he is a dream, I never ever imagined that I would feel the way I do. I just can’t stop holding him, looking at him and kissing him. I don’t know what I ever did with my life before him. We are totally and utterly besotted and it feels like we are living in a dream.

I hope you are all doing well xx

@Barcelo18 oh I totally get what you are saying! I also had two midwifes trying to express for my daughter and they actually were so lovely... but that didn’t help the situation. I only attempted few times since and have given up with breastfeeding. But yes, you don’t always get want you planned and breastfeeding was high on my list.
But regarding feelings towards the baby- yes, it’s strange. To me it felt like my love expanded and didn’t take away from anything I feel but increased in capacity... if that makes weird sense...
@felicityheather welcome! So lovely to see new people joining who can understand the hardships of getting pregnant and help each other through pregnancy!
😊

@Barcelo18 that's so lovely to hear about your bond with your tiny boy. Sounds like a gorgeous experience.

Shame about the mean midwives. Sounds like you have been very sensible to give him a bottle.

@felicityheather welcome. I did hypnobirthing. It is mostly about labour but could be helpful anyway. I do find the breathing very useful in other stressful situations. It is so hard to stay calm when you've had a hard time getting here. Hope the hypno helps.

@Liverpool19 I'd forgotten about placenta pills. Who did yours? Glad you are happy and feeling trim too!!

Xxx

@Liverpool19 amazing about your baby weight !!! I’m so so happy it worked for you! 😊😊😊
My weight even Tinkerbell wouldn’t be able to reverse... I’ve lost two stone and I have another three to go... I gained so much before and during pregnancy with all the hormones and pills! And my huge kangaroo pouch isn’t shifting at all yet ☹️

barcelo the main thing now is making sure both you and your baby are happy and healthy and if that means bottle feeding then so be it. I have on hungry horris on my hands and if I tried to breastfeed I don’t think I would of been able to keep up with him 😂 so bottles have worked out perfect for me. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

jane placenta plus done mine for me highly recommend them.

Hope everyone is well.

X

fox I think because I was so active during pregnancy it’s helped afterwards too and of course some days I’ve only managed one meal a day 😂 seriously where does all your time go 🤷🏼‍♀️

X

@Liverpool19 right? What is happening with time?! No time for food, shower or even toilet break!!! I walk every day about two miles- helps with fitness and keeps Alice asleep. Today I washed my hair at 2pm and only 15min ago I blow dryed it.,, only because my parents are coming over today.