The Graduates of TTC after pregnancy loss thread #2 "The Penguin Huddle " 🐧🐧🐧

[InDreamland]

Hello Ladies

Starting a new penguin huddle thread as the first one is getting very full. This is for those of us who've graduated from the conception boards.

Getting a BFP after pregnancy loss is not necessarily a happy time so this is a safe place to vent, worry and share news (good, hopefully, or bad).

I hope you are all here for the long-haul. But you are welcome no matter how briefly.
Others who are pregnant after loss but who weren't on the original thread are of course welcome too.

Let's start the roll call:

Me:
No living children, 3rd pregnancy, currently 8+3. Had early scan at 7 weeks that showed baby measuring right for 7w with a heartbeat. Got another early viability scan booked in for this Tuesday at 8+6. Really scared I've lost this one again.
2 previous pregnancies ended in mmc at 12+3 (baby stopped growing at 5 weeks) in July 2018 and mc (CP but hate that term) in November 2018. Before then had been TTC for 5 years so our journey has been 6 years since starting to TTC.

@KnitKitty @Yukka @rubyroot @Bluebelltulip @MyHeartisBrokeButIHaveSomeGlue @Amanda81 @boboelephant @Newbie21

Who have I missed?

Tentative congratulations @ReeReeR!

Congratulations @ReeReeR, symptoms can come and go at this stage as you know. My fingers are crossed for you. I'm now 17 weeks, got my first rainbow clinic appointment in just over a week.

@Navy123 good it's slowed down, pain can be normal at this stage too.

Thanks @Beaglemum93

@Bluebelltulip Thank you. I’m glad you’re doing well.

Congratulations @ReeReeR and I’m so sorry about your previous loss. I’m not far behind you. I’ve felt sick as a dog today and not quite 4 weeks yet. I lost my first pregnancy with a mmc and the sickness was from 6 weeks and was relentless. This time it’s come on much earlier. I did have hypermesis so I know I’m very sensitive. I think it’s quite normal to have days where the symptoms come and go. If it’s any help I was vomiting every day for 4 weeks after our baby passed before we found out during our scan. Symptoms can be a good sign or not sometimes. All you can do is take each day as it comes and trust your body. I really hope it works out for both of us and we get to stay on this thread and share our journey with these lovely ladies. Xx

Hi @ReeReeR, lovely to see you posting your fantastic news here. Nice strong lines too :)

@Catconfusion thanks. Nausea here too, but since we started trying I get it before af too - just for fun!

@ReeReeR so glad you are here and that your lines are progressing. Fx for you.

@Bluebelltulip good to know pain can be normal. I wonder if some of it is due to constipation (tmi sorry!) causing general discomfort.

Got gp booked for weds (earliest they could do 🙄) and going to beg for a scan. Problem is we go away the day I turn 6 weeks for a week! Such poor timing.

@Catconfusion Thank you. You’re completely right about taking it one day at a time and worrying doesn’t help x

Thanks @Squiff70 🙂

@Navy123 I have a sort of lower pelvic / abdominal pain on the left hand side just now and I’m thinking (and hoping) it is down to constipation or wind (sorry for TMI)

My nausea seems to have ramped up in the evenings now. Got my letter for my scan it's the 20th at 8 so I'll not have to wait around to long.

@ReeReeR I'm so pleased to see you here. Fingers crossed for your rainbow xx

@Navy123 you could ask for your HCG levels to be checked and a scan. I had spotting very early on with this pregnancy and had my HCG levels checked and a scan. The scan showed a gestational sac and yolk sac but it was too easy for heartbeat. I was going on holiday a day or 2 later and I was only 6 weeks so they booked me for a scan as soon as I got back at 8 weeks and heartbeat was there. The HCG levels were really helpful because it showed things seemed to be progressing as they should. I was so worried whilst away because I didn't see heartbeat before but the HCG levels kept me a bit more positive.

Tentatively poking my head in.... Tested again this morning at 14dpo and there's no mistaking the second pink line! Just compared it to Thursday's test and feeling a bit more confident.

Was a bit worried that my fmu wasn't strong enough because I'd been up at 3.30 for a wee. But, it's there :) Have been awake early these last few days but shattered in the afternoon / early evening. My boobs feel heavy and been feeling hungover. None of this started until I was about 4+5 last time.

By my lmp I am only 3+2 but I ovulated early this cycle so thinking I'm actually 4 weeks tomorrow.

When I was last at the epu they said to call when I get a positive and they'll book me in for an early scan. Praying this one is our 🌈

Thank you to everyone who commented on the other thread, didn't want to post too much there, but I've really appreciated all your support 💜

Nice to be here legitimately, rather than lurking 😊

Congratulations @VenusStarr that's a great line! Fingers crossed this is your rainbow and these first few weeks pass quickly for you x

Congratulations @VenusStarr

Arh congratulations @VenusStarr and great to see you on here! Xx

Also @VenusStarr I will be four weeks on Tuesday so we are very close. Fingers crossed for our 🌈 xx

Thank you @Catconfusion, we are close :)

Thank you @frillyfarmer @Bluebelltulip hope you're both well x

Welcome to @ReeReeR and @VenusStarr - great to see you both here from the other thread, and hope things go well for you both. Best of luck and wishing you both peace for the next few nerve-wracking days and weeks!

@ReeReeR and @VenusStarr so happy to see you both here. Long may it last 😁

Well after a week of stress dreams last night I dreamt I was ready to tell people. Am only 5+1 and right in my danger zone, so definitely NOT ready to tell people!

Congrtulations @VenusStarr - great to see you here!

They are great lines @VenusStarr! Congrats

Thanks everyone x

Can I just ask ladies, how did you stop poas in the early days? I have to say I think it’s because my last pregnancy was a chemical so I’ve become obsessed with comparing the lines. Luckily I’m getting lovely progression and a nice strong line for 12 dpo but I’m becoming paranoid it will suddenly disappear. I know there’s always the chance it won’t work out but I’m not sure poas every 4 hours is helping. Xx

@Catconfusion Are you POAS every day? If so can you extend the time between rather than just trying to stop eg allowing yourself to POAS a week today if you feel you need to and just waiting ‘til then. Chances are if you have no untoward pain or bleeding then everything is progressing as it should🤞 xx

@Catconfusion this is a difficult one to advise as I was told many times to stop POAS during my 2nd short pregnancy, but I didn't listen on some occassions. This pregnancy i only POAS 5 times, with 2 of those using the same urine on different brands...so really only 4 times. I did space these out between the first +HPT and 5+5 weeks, so say every 4 days. It was nice to see the line getting darker and the dye being filtered from the control line to the dye line...it felt good. However...when I had my HCG bloods done at the hospital I met a wonderful MW, who had had multiple MC's and was actually heavily pregnant when I saw her, and she told me you can have wonderful line progression and still MC. The only people that win with POAS is the companies that make them. This stopped me POAS straight away. I had actually bought more HPT to test after my blood tests before I saw the MW (beauty of amazon prime), but they remain in their packs unopened. There really is nothing to do at this early stage other than to wait it out, take care of yourself and remain positive. It is an agonising time and there is no level of control that we have. All, I would say is that if POAS is helping you mentally, then do it, but do it every 4 days or so to give your levels time to increase. If your numbers are high to begin with it can take up to 3 days for the levels to double. Are you asking the GP/MW for blood tests? Are you thinking of getting an early scan? Or is that not in your thoughts yet? Thinking of you xx

@Catconfusion I found I wanted to poas a lot this time whereas previously I'd done one test per pregnancy. I did every few days to start then once a week until about 7 weeks (when I'd missed my second period as I have short cycles). Amanda81 is right though it can't tell you if everything is ok.

@ReeReeR I hope that's all it is for you too! I've realised my hip pain may also be mattress related - we swapped with the spare room because I had such a bad back with our (£1000 ) mattress. Seems I just get different pain!

@Newbie21 yes that's a good idea, hopefully I can get that checked. Was that with gp or epu?

@VenusStarr glad to see you here! Lines looking good. Your epu sound lovely too.

@Catconfusion I agree with the others - try spacing them out more as time goes by. I did every day for 3 days, then missed a day, then 2 days. I'm going to test again tomorrow to see if it's got darker since I started spotting but I know it doesn't necessarily mean all is well.