Catching up with those from TTC thread

[MrsC87]

Just wanted to catch up with everyone from the TTC thread. I know some of us have July due dates and others August due dates, so wanted to check in with you all!
How are you all doing?
@Delilah7 @Crossfitgirl @RanchoRelaxo @sunshine1987 @SullyWifey
Sorry if I have forgotten anyone, please add them in ❤️

@MrsLBear i understand the paranoia with no symptoms, while it's great not being nauseous or overly sore, it does add to the doubt. I've never been shy to poas so have been doing daily ICs, I don't think I can do many more though as there is now no difference the test line is stronger than the control line. I might drop down to just doing one every week or so, but they have been pretty helpful for reassurance. I'm pretty sure in a couple of weeks we'll both be regretting wishing symptoms on ourselves.

My BBT chart is just a slow rise, and HR is on the up too. I was thinking of stopping at 5w which is early next week, but I might quit while I'm ahead.

I've not heard anything about u/s scans being harmful. I'm planning on having one done privately (with qualified midwife) mid week 7 so 6w3d. Earlier than I would like, but we fly to LA on 7w1d and are away for a couple of weeks, including the day my last stopped developing, so just need some reassurance really. I'm going in for a scan at the epu around 9w just to check and be in the best place if anything needs doing. I'm massively over thinking things, but it's helping me manage my anxiety.

@mrsLbear haven't heard early scans doing any harm. What does the article say? I did one test a week after my first one and it was much stronger. Someone on a pregnancy thread said you can get a false negative due to a "hook effect" if you do one too far on as theres too much HCG or something? Not sure there's any truth in it, but here's a heads up anyway.
I haven't done any more (mainly as I have none!).
@gemmajen ahh don't bother temping you don't need to now anyway? I was so happy to stop temping. I bloody hated doing it every morning as it is! But yes a drop can be a sign of early MC so I figured I'd be panicking about every little variation if I continued.
The cramping is normal. I had them and they felt like the mother of all AFs, it didn't last long though but it felt so strange like I would come on my period any moment.

@crystalblaze ooh what do braxton hicks feel like? I always thought they were like fake Labour in the very late stages! Clearly wrong lol xxx

I always thought 'Braxton Hicks' was a band until my friend got them with her pregnancy so I had to pretend not to look stupid :)

@GemmaJen I had cramps around 4 to 5 weeks in the night mainly and a lot of pinching pains. I also stopped temping you will drive yourself crazy!

I read somewhere about private scans but they are no different to nhs ultrasound. I'm sure I read somewhere that it's the ones where they try to form those 3d images of the baby and they keep on scanning and scanning to get that image. Could be wrong though x

@GemmaJen haha so true. Watch this space. Will be kicking ourselves.
That's good, are you going to a private company? There are so many out there don't want to go to some weird place and have that first special moment ruined by a tacky room and being ushered in and out within 5 mins.

@Crossfitgirl tbh I didn't read it properly as I thought hmm it's the daily mail. Here's the link:
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2992481/amp/Ultrasound-used-capture-photos-expose-foetus-unknown-risks-ten-weeks-pregnancy.html
Like I said though could be complete and utter rubbish.
From the bay I can gather it's saying doing it too early can have an affect 🙄

@mrsof20118 mine is mainly at night too. Hoping it will stop soon as it sends my mind into overdrive and don't even get me started at the obsession with the contents of my knickers 😂

@MrsLBear yes it's a private company run by 3 midwives who also consult for the NHS. I went to them for my 11w scan on the last pregnancy, they were very caring and sensitive with the negative outcome, and referred me to my local epu for next steps. I'm based in the Midlands and they have 3 clinics in and around Coventry. I was glad I found out at 11w and not at my NHS scan, but would have liked to have known sooner, hence the extra scans this time, both for reassurance but also to do something if it's not good news.

@CookieWaffle love it! Not a bad band name at all 😆

@GemmaJen think cramps are definitely normal - I had lots of sharp pinchy pains in the early days.

@CookieWaffle love Braxton Hicks as a band name

I've only had a couple and they felt like really strong, weird tightening across my belly and my bump went really hard. Panicked at first as I had no idea what it was! Happened when I got up from sitting down for a while.

Just been to docs and it was nice to see the same one that referred me to the fertility clinic back in Oct and tell her I'm now pregnant!
Had to get some lactulose as I'm definitely constipated. Massively bloated, toilet stops are far and few between, and bleh. Apparently this gets worse the further along you get?! So much to look forward to 😂

@mrsLbear @Crossfitgirl @gemmajen there are studies showing that mice that have a high level of ultrasound had babies with abnormalities. No studies have been done in humans.

The rationale behind the NHS recommending against extra scans is that no-one knows where the safe limit lies. If you end up needing extra for medical reasons and you've already had extra in the early stages, they worry you'll be pushed over some sort of safe limit. But then some countries (I think Germany?) scan every month as standard.

One scan in isolation is definitely not a problem. There isn't enough evidence to say what is problematic (if anything) so all we can do is choose between hazy risk factors. Personally, I think that prioritising a known risk to your mental health over a nebulous and undefined risk that we don't know even applies to humans, sounds reasonable.

There's a good explanation in Expecting Better and I've come across it on some other evidence based podcasts too. Can't remember which ones though...

I follow a group on reddit and saw this lovely post with lots of feedback and advice and thought it might be of interest to some:
www.reddit.com/r/August2019Bumpers/comments/af0co3/from_the_august_2018_bumpers_with_love_our_tips?sort=confidence

@ChaosMoon this is interesting, it's always good to have extra info. Knowing the risk, I think I'm still going to be opting for extra scans, only one or two, as you say prioritising mental well-being over what hopefully appears to be a small risk.

Happy weekend!

So glad that works over for the week, I've been finding it impossible to concentrate. We finally booked our hotels for the holiday yesterday too. Now starting to look forward to it 😊

Ive got a team sport event today, followed by a Sunday sorting some plumbing out, thrilling 😆. Anyone doing anything exciting this weekend?

@GemmaJen that sounds really good. I have been trying to find one I like the look of locally but haven't had much luck yet.

@Crossfitgirl that must have been such a nice conversation to have!! (Telling her about the baby not your constipation I mean haha). I've actually had the opposite in a way. I'm regular like clock work which is unusual for me.

Thanks for the very informative post @ChaosMoon all makes total sense. Tbf I did take it with a pinch of salt as it was by the daily mail.

I've got a long over night flight home tonight which I'm dreading so much. My back is killing me atm. But looking forward to get home as we are telling DH parents tomorrow.

@GemmaJen my weekend isn't too exciting. It's filled travelling home and then copious amounts of washing before work on Monday.

How's everyone coping with the whole not drinking thing? Have you found it's changed your weekends much?
I have a few weekends coming up where we have got quite boozy affairs. My friend also suggested another weekend in Feb to go somewhere where you need to have a good drink and I quite frankly couldn't think of anything worse but how do I say no? We will be telling them at the end of the month anyway when we see them but I can't bat away every invitation until then.
My cousin just told me they are expecting a baby 9 days after us and the miracle of the story is that they were told they couldn't conceive about 8 years ago. Something to do with him - I never asked too much as I didn't want to upset her. Never been so happy for someone!! It's amazing what our bodies are able to do - defying science basically.

@gemmajen where you going on hol? We have a week off booked for the week after my scan (just happened to fall that way as we booked it ages ago) and are thinking canaries and romance!

@mrsLbear hope the flight is OK, how exciting to tell people! How many weeks are you? I'm 10 tomorrow, only just over 2 weeks til the scan now.

I keep thinking awful things like what if it's a MMC, what if it's bad news, or it's stopped developing or there is no baby. I'm even more nervous as we've told more people now too. It's probably normal to worry and I'm trying to push the worries to the side but just can't help it. Partly as my symptoms have mostly subsided too... I haven't told DH as I don't want him to worry either. Meh. Nothing I can do except wait though! What else can you do? No point booking a reassurance scan a week before the 12 week one. I feel bad that I am more worried than excited when I feel I should be more excited.

Re drinking, I luckily haven't really had any drinking occasions to avoid. We have a christening next weekend but the parents know I'm pregnant and for others there I'll just say I'm driving.

@cookiewaffle thanks for the link, I've saved it to my home screen. Pregnancy pillows all the way by the looks of it! Totally ordering some maternity clothes on payday!

@Crossfitgirl oh I'm very early 👀 5+3 but we always said we will tell both sets of parents because if somewhere were to happen we would tell them anyway. Not broadcasting it at all or anything. His mum is going to absolute wet herself though. I think it's completely normal to feel like you do. I have my days where I think the worst and other days where I'm far more positive. Just gotta keep telling ourselves that what will be will be and we can't do anything about it. I think even more so with your scan approaching too as I'd feel the same. It's almost like crunch time. Just gotta keep faith and know that you're progressing absolutely fine. It's like when you're TTC. You over analyse every twinge and feeling. I also think this is only the very beginning of a world of worry that will follow until the day we can't worry anymore.

Ah how lovely. Have you got your scan date?
I also can't wait to get home so I can contact whoever I need to. I've tried to self refer myself to the hospital I want to go to but I've not heard from them so don't know what's going on there.

Have you ladies heard of "Spritz for Bits".
Mind blown at what's available to buy!! 🤯

@crossfitgirl the closer I’m getting to the 12 week scan the more I’m worrying about that too, first trimester is definitely a stressful/anxious time xx

@Crossfitgirl and others try not to worry. Easier said than done I know, I was exactly the same before the 12 week scan. Fully expected to be told there was nothing there. I had basically no symptoms around that time either, but it's to be expected as the placenta is taking over so you feel significantly less crap.

Huge chances are everything is totally fine and it is amazing seeing your baby looking like an actual baby on the screen.

My advice is once you're past that point and if you're feeling okay, make the most of it! Second trimester has been a dream for me. I'm now getting into the final two weeks and juuuust starting to feel a bit crap at times. Can't do stuff as I normally would - My hips ache if I walk too far, I can't paint my toenails properly, I ache in bed and turning over is a bit of an effort. Definitely going to need to sort out a pregnancy pillow today I think.

Spending the weekend relaxing with DP which is much needed!

@Crossfitgirl let me know where you pick for your holiday. We are considering going away in Feb (depending how I'm feeling) so looking for good ideas!

@Crossfitgirl we're going to LA, never been before so super excited now that it actually feels like it's happening. Going to stay in Hollywood for a few nights, see Disneyland and hopefully the grifith observatory. Watching lots of LA based films to get in the spirit, currently watching lala land, think die hard is on the cards too. Let us know where you decide, the canaries sound lovely. Always good to get away 😊

@Crossfitgirl my symptoms have eased a bit now too and I'm feeling less sick most of the time. Of course I'm googling that to make sure it's OK and seems lots lose symptoms at 10 weeks but sometimes they come back with a vengeance!

Under 2 weeks til my 12 week scan and I'm feeling nervous. Out of every 30-40 posts I see saying it'll be fine I see the odd ones that werent and I end up focusing on those! Then I remember that so far this pregnancy has been in the grand scheme of things happily boringly normal and there's such a low chance of anything bad.

@CookieWaffle you will be absolutely fine But I think it's only natural to feel like that! What date is your scan?

Thanks @CrystalBlaze :) I just keep remembering risks are higher at my age. It's on 25th and I'll be 12+1, eek!

We've opted for a babymoon in the canaries too. We fly next weekend and I cannot wait!

@CrystalBlaze, I'm dealing with the toenail situation with pedicures. Definitely a pregnancy necessity. 😉

@Crossfitgirl @sunshine1987 @CookieWaffle I was just the same the week or so before my scan. I have no extra words of wisdom but we're here for a virtual handhold. And it's going to be amazing to see your babies for the first time!

Off for a swim and then hypnobirthing today!

Opted for the Canaries too for a Babymoon but not until March. May have a considerable bump by then. Still can't believe my 12 week scan is coming up this week x

Thanks for the reassurance ladies. Mine is on the 28th Jan, I'm hoping the next 2 weeks will fly by so there's less time to worry. Though I also don't want to wish away the pregnancy, it's such a magical time really! I guess there's no way to stop worrying and just wait for the scan.

We are thinking either lanzarote or tenerife, as we've been to the other canaries before. Just some winter sun, without a huge long flight!

Good luck with telling the folks mrsLbear, it's so awesome telling people. I'm seeing all my close girlfriends today, and telling them all! (2 already know) and I can't wait to see their reaction!

Have fun hyonobirthing @chaos let us know how it is!