July Bus Graduates ❤️

[SmileyT]

Okay I'm still super nervous but time to take the plunge and started a Grad bus for the recent BFPs from the main thread. According to NHS calculator I'm due 18th March and it's #1 for me 😬

@Cocoblue22
@LittleRa
@Dipsy77
@Noble89
@Skip86

I should be 5+1 but I am still getting 1-2 weeks on clear blue so I'm terrified and sat in bed crying 😭

@SmileyT thank you! I think my EDD will be the 31st March but based on ovulation I reckon it’s likely to move to early April at the scan but we’ll see 😊.

When are you all due?

@Cocoblue22 I’m 4+4 so super early days here.

@Bl0ndi3 I’m sure everything’s okay, if it helps I’ve heard those weeks tests aren’t always the most accurate but I’ve never actually used them personally.

@Bl0ndi3 try not to worry those tests can be really inaccurate and some people's hcg rises a lot slower than normal if you google 'normal' ranges of hcg levels it's a massive range im sure it will change soon. I didn't get 2-3 until I was 5+1 so you are prob just right on the cusp of getting it too x

@Kristy17 I'm due 16th March x

@Bl0ndi3 yeah I read that highlights aren't really a risk aswell as they don't touch hour scalp so even the minimal chemicals won't get into your body 👌🏾 ahh please try not to worry you said that your cheap test were showing a stronger line didn't you? So you know it is getting higher... I know it's so much easier said than done not to let it bother you though, when did you get your 1st 1-2weeks? x

@Cocoblue22 yeah so the hospital I picked has 8 rooms in the birthing suite and 4 have pools, the other hospital has 4 rooms all with pools so not much difference really, I just got confused 😂 haha ahh glad you could tell a friend, it's good to be able to share. Yeah I think my two closest friends know but they won't ask but will probably tell them after early scan. Tbh even if everything isn't well after early scan I'll tell them so don't know why I'm not now, kinda like keeping it just the two of us for now. I'm not too bad, starting 'healthy eating' AGAIN today to try and reduce the bloat and tiredness and going to attempt some form of workout routine this week aswell 😴 apart from the lack of sleep I'm feeling okay though. 6+3 for me ☺️ x

@Kristy17 18th March based on ovulation date but again may shift at scan x

I took two cheap tests one today with the weeks test (bottom one) / and one last night and they're pretty faint too but they're a different brand to what I've used before and not FMU either so I am just hoping that's the reason and I should just stop POAS but I'm absolutely terrified now!

@SmileyT ah I see well with 4 pools you're pretty likely to get one tbf! Yeah I get the wanting to keep it to yourselves it's been nice just us knowing (apart from now two friends I've confided in) but it was also so nice being able to talk openly to my friend on Friday about it. And also I agree if something went wrong I'd tell them anyway. Going to tell our immediate family after the early scan I think x

@Bl0ndi3 I did an IC and it looked faint like that yet my FRER was really dark so I just thought it was coz they were cheap ones. Honestly I bet if you do the weeks one again in a few days it will read 2-3. If you read reviews online tho they aren't very accurate and it says that's not how they should be used but I don't know how they think people are going to use them 🤷🏼‍♀️ and I didn't get 3+ until after I was 6w so mine was later than some of the other ladies on here too. Try not to worry I know it's hard x

@Cocoblue22 I think I am done with the weeks tests now they've given me nothing but anxiety sat waiting for the numbers to come up. I am tempted to get some more FRER tho to test the theory that these are just cheap rubbish tests.

I am tempted to ring the doctors and ask for blood test to check HCG levels but I'll see how I feel tomorrow.

I've looked up normal ranges of HCG for 5 weeks pregnant and the range is so stupidly huge like 18-7,430 or something daft.

@Bl0ndi3 exactly there's no 'normal' and all they would do with bloods is do them now and again later and check it has risen it's a rise they look for the actual number gives them no indication because every woman is different. Try not to stress. Are you having any symptoms? X

@Cocoblue22 my boobs are sore and I get cramps here and there but nothing major, I wee a lot and I occasionally feel groggy and exhausted, but I wouldn't say I have super obvious symptoms either.

@Bl0ndi3 all sounds really positive x

@Bl0ndi3 if you are having symptoms I wouldn't stress too much about it (I can understand it's a really really anxious time for you atm) you can defo ask doc for hcg levels as maybe that will give you reassurance as I am having those as well 🙂

@Cocoblue22 @SmileyT @LittleRa thank you ladies for being there ♥️♥️♥️♥️- this bean is taking me on a rollercoaster.

DH asked me to POAS early this morning which I did then we cried & cuddled for a good 40mins as the IC was fainter than yesterdays. After calming down DH suggested we do CB again with the same sample just to be sure (I'm 4w6d)

Lo and behold this is yesterday's CB (2-3) vs today's CB...( 3+) I guess I'm now 5w then!?
🤯🤯🤯

IC are horrible! Anyone know if leaving the sample in my bathroom could affect results?

I'm really hoping for a miracle and that the beta blood test confirms rising HCG too and my symptoms reappear miraculously x

@Mococo1 ahh this really is the best news, this is definitely why Drs tell us not to carry on testing 🙈 and leaving it for 40mins won't make a difference to hcg level 👌🏾 glad you have the bloods booked for today aswell so you can just confirm that everything is good and hopefully start to enjoy it. Don't get me wrong after a MC it's so hard to relax but I've just decided that until it's confirmed otherwise I'm going to assume everything is perfect ❤️ And I'm sure if you speak to a midwife they will tell you how many people that aren't ttc don't even know they are pregnant because early on most symptoms come and go and most are quite mild. In my last pregnancy I wasn't ttc and didn't take a test until 6weeks and honestly before that I didn't notice any major changes. Keep positive my lovely xx

@Bl0ndi3 if it will make you feel better I'd definitely speak to GP about hcg level tests, did you book an early scan in the end? Sorry can't remember x

@Cocoblue22 tbh it all feels so far away but just picked the hospital that I felt was best for me, location, rating and neonatal wise (just in case as we were all early). So many factors that determine where I'll actually end up giving birth but honestly as long as me and baby are healthy I'll get over any birth. Exciting you get to tell the family next week x

@SmileyT I've booked a scan for 9 weeks x

@Mococo1 as far as I'm aware no leaving it in the pot wouldn't affect anything! It's great you got 3+ I'm sure everything is absolutely fine with your little bean. ICs are really not the best and cheap for a reason. Try not to worry. I have everything crossed for you 🤞🏻 x

@SmileyT you definitely have the right attitude and I 100% agree as long as both you and baby are fine it really doesn't matter what the birth is like. As I said I would do it all over again despite mine not being the best as long as I made the same recovery I could go through it all again because having a baby is completely worth it x

@Bl0ndi3 yay for booking scan what date is that then? I would of preferred to wait an extra week or two for mine but since we are spending the wknd with DH family they would know because we will be going out for dinner and I would normally have wine! It's such a tell tale sign! So wanted to check things looked good before telling them. I don't know how I went to 12+5 without a scan last time and everyone knew as soon as I found out at 4 weeks due to family events and not drinking 🙄 x

@Cocoblue22 it's the 22nd August :) It's made me feel better booking it even though it's 4 weeks away 😞

@Bl0ndi3 good atleast it has made you feel a bit better!

I was thinking IF my results come back okay from bloods:

• I wi self refer to the hosp online
• Was also thinking il try to book the second HCG test for Friday or something (will drag it out nicely to 6 weeks) then I defo know we're working on something if results are fine
• Attempt to get a private scan at 7weeks? Is that a good time?
• Then if I make it that far I should have a MW appt around 8/9 weeks?

What do u ladies think - I'm trying to break up the little hurdles to go through to get me through mentally as I'm still so uncertain x

Yay @Mococo1 💕 I had a little inkling deep down all would be well with you, though I know it is difficult not to worry especially if you’ve had things happen in the past. When you said about symptoms disappearing; to be honest I don’t really have any symptoms- I’ve felt tired and bloated but I can feel tired and bloated when not pregnant! (That doesn’t mean I haven’t been milking the tiredness to DP 😆)

Those speaking about water births/pools. Obviously I wrote before about my water birth experience last time. Honestly, I thought it was horrendous at the time, I can remember saying “OMG how does anyone go back and do that again?!” but in retrospect compared to stories I’ve heard from friends including blood transfusions, being totally out of it on drugs, third degree tears and internal stitches etc, I’ve realised how good mine actually was in comparison. Honestly I had 2 paracetamol afterwards and that was it. But like I said, as long as your baby gets here happy and healthy that’s the goal.
I will definitely try for a water birth again this time. I am older and fatter so hopefully that won’t work against me for the water. I have two hospitals to choose from- the one where I had DD last time which has a midwife unit with some pool rooms and also has a ward, which I did transfer to for 2 nights after giving birth in the midwife unit due to DD low birth weight (she was something like 200g below the discharge weight). And then the other also has rooms with pools etc and is really new- it wasn’t finished being built last time when I had DD 6 years ago. Both are probably equal distance in different directions. When I was deciding for DD (there was another choice then which is much closer but only midwife unit, no ward, and has closed maternity services now when they transferred to the big new hospital, midwife appointment still based there though) I remember going for a tour of both to help decide! They showed us rooms and everything! Can’t see that happening now.
I think I’m 6+2 based on dates on LMP and cycle length- I had long cycles though. I have midwife booking in appointment 11th August.

@Bl0ndi3 that's exciting and nice to look forward to! X

@Mococo1 that sounds like a good plan. I've got my scan at 7+1 and then my midwife appointment at 8+2 not sure when my hospital scan will be yet it was at 12+5 with ds but I guess it depends how busy they are I think it can be any time 10-13 weeks. And then I was thinking I'll book a gender scan for 16 weeks then the 20 week hospital one then have a 4d one at about 28 weeks which I'm hoping by then our parents will be able to come to I had one with ds at 26/27 weeks and it was lovely our mums cried! I'm 28 weeks the week before Xmas so might try and book it for the day before Xmas eve or something. It's deffo a good idea to have small goals to look forward to and break up the waiting. In between at your midwife appointments you'll hear baby's heartbeat too with the Doppler so that's also really nice x

@LittleRa even when I was pg with DS 3years back they said at ours policy had changed and they no longer did a tour of labour ward but I just chose our local hospital anyway because it was closest and I was worried about not getting there in time (before I had a three day labour 🤣) x

So as I was writing this I just got the biggest wave of nausea I actually nearly threw up ran to the kitchen and scoffed down a bag of pom bears....worked for now wonder how long until it's back hopefully I'll last until our Sunday lunch! X

@Cocoblue22 @LittleRa yeah I think it's all down to so many different factors... it's impossible to know before you get into that room what it will be like. At the end of the day most people only have do it a few times in their life so it's just a probability game as to how it all goes x

@Bl0ndi3 ahh glad you have a date to look forward to and 9 weeks will be a nice pic for you aswell x

@LittleRa I'm the same as you, I feel tired but can't really decide if I'm that much more tired than usual or I'm just embracing it much more 😂

@Mococo1 sounds like you have a good plan, what time are your bloods? will they not do your levels 2 days apart with the bloods or can you chose? Definitely get yourself referred and get that private scan booked if it will give you some added reassurance. I've gone for 8weeks for my private scan just because of when my MC was last time, but think the risks reduce to just below 10% at 7, so seems like a good time. Then will have MW around 9/10weeks, dating scan is booked for 12+4, then gender scan at 16 and 20week NHS scan, then go on holiday at 22weeks ☺️ I've done the same thing with loads of mini-milestones, makes times not seem too drawn out x

@Cocoblue22 can't beat Pom bears, I've just eaten 3 Oreo biscuits, day 1 of healthy eating is a struggle with a sofa day when I've been up since 5am 😂

@SmileyT you sound like youve mapped the full pregnancy out like me! Urghhh feel so sick today hoping my Sunday lunch later will sort me out! Your holiday at 22weeks will be nice you'll have a lovely sized bump at that point x

Morning ladies,

I was MIA yesterday as had my friends baby shower followed by a birthday BBQ for my MIL which was lovely!

Firstly huge congratulations @FairyLights2 and anyone else I've missed by accident! It's hard to remember when I'm writing this out 😂

I'm 5+3 today so EDD 25th March and the nausea seems to not be as bad. Weirdly I'm not freaking out about it. I know symptoms can come and go and there's no signs anything is wrong as my tests have progressed nicely so for now I'm just grateful to be feeling a tad better!

@Bl0ndi3 like others have said I completely understand the worry over the CB but the normal range is so huge they're really not reliable. I think they can be great if you're one of the lucky ones who get the resulyyou expect but they can also cause huge anxiety when there's no need as everything is fine! If you can avoid any further testing I would. Of you can't I'd say go with a reliable brand like FRER and restrict testing to every 48 hours to allow for a reasonable rise in HCG between tests.

Oh my gosh @Mococo1 I was reading back through and saw your worries and it gave me a real lump in my throat. Being pregnant again after a loss is so tough as you're just waiting for the carpet to be pulled from under you so I'm so happy to have seen your CB put your mind at rest. Perhaps stay away from testing now? That's what I'm going to do and try to remember symptoms are no indication as to how things are going. I tell myself every day worrying isn't going to chantthe outcome and I deserve to enjoy this experience. Until someone tells me there's a problem I won't torture myself by imagining there is.

Also love the idea of breaking things down into smaller milestones. I've been doing that and it's definitely helped keep my anxiety at bay. My next one will be my early scan which should be in the next 2-3 weeks.

I'm going to have a nice relaxing Sunday I think!