Graduates of the TTC After Pregnancy Loss thread. Aka: The Penguin Huddle

[MyHeartIsBrokeButIHaveSomeGlue]

This is a safe and supportive thread for ladies from the TTC after pregnancy loss thread who've had a BFP and are now negotiating the scary rollercoaster world of pregnancy after loss.

If you weren't on the original thread, have suffered a loss and are now pregnant please feel free to join the penguin huddle 🐧

Positive pants ON. Let’s get our rainbows ladies 🌈

I know its daft isn't it. Last pregnancy I was convinced I had diabetes as baby's abdomen was measuring quite big. 😂.

Is everyone getting the flu and whopping cough jab? I didn't last time and don't think I will this time. Please don't flame me I'm aware of the risks. I'm not anti vax as kid has had all his jabs once outside of womb. I've read that the efficacy of the flu jab can be as low as 15% as has to be the right virus to work.

I've already had the flu jab and will have all recommended vaccinations. We've had both flu and whooping cough in school the last few years so taking no chances...

Little Brother has measured consistently big through this pregnancy @rubyroot including a big abdomen amongst other things. However my close friend told me a few weeks ago that her baby's abdomen is off the scale and she has had to do a GTT and have regular scans. My point being that if any measurements truly were a concern they would monitor you or do further tests. If they don't have any concerns then you shouldn't either.

With regards to jabs I didn't have either last time simply as I missed them. I will have whooping cough in two weeks but won't be having flu. I have been told By GP friend that it actually doesn't protect against many strains, so I don't see the point.

I've had the whooping cough and flu jab. The flu jab is effective against the four strains they're predicting to be most common this year and I figure some protection is better than none. The flu (actual flu, not a bad cold that everyone thinks is the flu) is completely debilitating and can lead to stillbirth... I personally would hate myself if that happened and there was something I could have done to potentially prevent it. It's all personal preference really.

@janey15 are you primary?

Yes, although upper key stage two. They tend to keep their distance a bit more than younger kids but still cough and sneeze at you 🙈

I got the flu jab on Monday at work. Think i may have left it a few weeks if still in first trimester (obviously I have no scientific reasoning for doing that!) but just decided to get it before over thinking it. My arm hurt so much the next day and was a bit blue. Think I had slept on it. I just thought to myself, my whole body would hurt way more than this if i had flu!

I will be having both flu jab and whooping cough vaccines. I work in healthcare and this year's flu is set to be extremely virulent compared to previous years based on the trends from Australia. Given there is a significantly higher risk of death and complications in the baby I would get the vaccines even if the efficacy was very low, as I don't believe the risks of having the vaccine outweigh the risks of not having it, and even a small benefit for me and baby is worth it for me.

Significantly higher risk of death in pregnant women with influenza that is meant to read. Also definitely a good idea for school teachers to get it as kids have the nasal flu vaccine which is live so you'll be quite exposed to the live virus surrounded by children at work.

I'm having both vaccs, I'm asthmatic so I get the flu jab normally anyway and I just can't see any adverse effect compared to the risks.

Had a stressful day at home today with various animals going AWOL, sitting with the fire lit trying to chill out now!

@rubyroot I have a "neat" bump and did last time but after years of an unhealthy obsession with weight it's much more psychological than just deciding to embrace the change - I really wish I could just love how my body has changed believe me!

@strawberrye I don't work with kids who have the nasal vaccine. I've read that there is expected to be the same flu from Australia. This was the case last time I was pregnant too.
I didn't get either last time, just don't know if I'm tempting fate this time, but equally I just don't like putting this stuff in my bodym but gives me huge anxiety, whether that is rational or not!

Anyone else in late second/third trimester having real trouble sleeping? I would love just one night where I actually slept through without tossing and turning and finding myself wide awake!! I feel so shattered by the morning and doesn't help that DD wakes anywhere between half 5 and half 6! Come to the conclusion I'm not going to sleep again for at least five years 😫

I'll be getting the flu and whooping cough vaccines, assuming all goes well. IMO benefits far outweigh risks and have had them in previous pregnancies without issue. Won't be able to get the flu jab until I actually tell the NHS I'm pregnant though which I'm certainly not doing for a little while yet!

@MyHeartIsBrokeButIHaveSomeGlue nowhere near 2nd/3rd tri but I can't sleep now! Lying awake for hours at night at the moment, weird dreams when I do sleep. Kids are generally up shortly after 6 and I have to be up at 5 anyway two days a week for work so feeling absolutely shattered - and can't even have coffee! Woe. I'm quite enjoying slobbing in my pjs this morning but we have a trip to Eureka planned today so got to get us all sorted shortly and no doubt I'll be on my knees by this evening. Have you got a pregnancy pillow? Loved mine to help me get comfy (wish I'd kept it...!)

@rubyroot that's the trouble with anxiety - it's rarely rational. I don't think I've ever worried about anything 'rationally'. It's always way out of proportion to the risk.

@rubyroot that's the trouble with anxiety - it's rarely rational. I don't think I've ever worried about anything 'rationally'. It's always way out of proportion to the risk.

@strawberrye I didn't realise that about the nasal vaccine. Only one of mine had it last year as I think it's aimed at the younger ones but I'll have a read up about it now.

@Frillyfarmer I'm struggling a bit with my bloat for similar reasons. I have gone up about one dress size over the past 4 years with the fertility treatment but I always obsessively watch my weight. Unfortunately for me I think it's a result of growing up with my mum 😒 I don't seem to have put on weight anywhere but my stomach and boobs though.

@janey15 it's offered to all primary school age children, and school age children are likely to have it given in school rather than at GP. Being pregnant I'm not meant to be around the nasal flu vaccine at work, so it makes sense if you are going to be in a lot of contact with children who have the nasal flu vaccine for you to be protected. Also one of the main reasons why the NHS vaccinates children against flu now is that they are the biggest carriers of flu virus in our population, so it's to try and reduce spread to other vulnerable groups.

@strawberrye is that just while they're having the vaccine or afterwards as well? I've just read it's only dangerous from children 'shedding' the virus to people with a severely compromised immune system but they don't seem to be worried about pregnant women. Might see if I can ask the nurse before they do it...

@janey15 I think probably better to avoid when they are actually having the vaccine, I think once it's been given it should be OK

@janey15 you are right that the viral shedding which happens for a few days afterwards is only really a problem for people who are immunocompromised. Given pregnant women are mildly immunocompromised, if I were pregnant and surrounded by a large group of children who were shedding it after having the vaccine, I'd just see it as another reason to ensure i was vaccinated myself against influenza (as well as the standard reasons to have it in pregnancy). Hope that makes sense?

I agree @strawberrye I had the flu jab last week but will check the diary to see when it's being done.

Everything ladies. Sorry I've been absent over the weekend, been so busy! Have read and caught up with what I've missed.

@ChikiTIKI sorry your worried about your results. I think if worried and if you cab asked it then go for the NIPT to put your mind at rest.

@Frillyfarmer ignore any comments about bump, well that's what I've decided to do. It's lovely you have a nice neat bump, I'm convinced mine is half fat. People definitely can tell I'm pregnant now though.

@rubyroot I have both vaccinations booked in. Whooping cough is on Friday and flu vaccine in 2 weeks. After everything I've been through to get to this point I am taking whatever is recommended as I couldn't live with myself if anything happens to Bubsy and there was something I could have done to prevent it.

@Catconfusion that is such an adorable scan photo! That little foot is so cute!!!!!!!

@janey15 I hope you're feeling better today.