End of Jan 2022 Babies, 1st pregnancy

[spttc]

Hi ladies, I just found out I'm pregnant 4 weeks 1 day just seeing if there's any other newly pregnant who are as excited, terrified, elated, and shocked as I am 😂🤰🏻💕 Due Jan 30th 2022 🤞🤞🤞

@ChelleV gosh 4 months! I wonder if she noticed how tired she was. I am certain I’ll have another “period” when im next due on (12 days time) … it’s been a very emotional weekend processing emotions lots of crying lots of worrying!

It’s strange as I haven’t drank any alcohol for nearly 2 years luckily and I was having caffeine but not a lot and really randomly about a month ago I switched to caffeine free Pepsi max and I was convinced having a Pepsi max at any point in the afternoon was making me sleep badly… I also checked my vitamins and was taking folic acid (and no vitamin A!) so it’s all a bit strange. I have ordered my official pregnancy vitamins now!

Oh no worried about no control over appointments. I absolutely don’t want to tell my employer before 12 week scan (and when I’m ready) but I am not in the type of job I can just swan off without details and I don’t want them to find out. Stressful!

@sociallydistained oh my I'd be in big trouble if that happened to me! Former alcohol & caffeine fiend!! I'd have had maybe 2 energy drinks a day lots of coffee etc. How do you know you are 8 weeks?

@Yorkiemum89 I have my booking appointment on Friday. My local maternity unit (South East) seem really on top of things. I’ve convinced DH that he doesn’t need to come so he’s going to take a walk around a nearby Tesco while he waits for me. I haven’t had a car for years so a bit reliant on husband taxi services.

Talking about appointment times, the booking appointment was arranged over the phone at a convenient time but my 12 week scan appointment was just sent to me with no option. I’ve told my line manager I’m expecting so that he didn’t wonder at the sudden appointments from someone who doesn’t normally go to the doctor!

In my experience you just get assigned an appointment for the scan (i got a letter in the post), and if it's not convenient you have to call the clinic/hospital yourself and ask to reschedule - so I think it's possible to change but it can be frustrating if they don't answer or don't have many other slots available for some reason 🙄
I am 8+4 today (according to early scan) and I have just done the blood, urine, height and weight check. A bit weird that she recorded 2 kg more than what the scale was showing... But I guess I won't even notice that when I will be a whale-sized pregnant lady 😅

I think it depends where you are, but in my area, you're just at their whim. And when I pointed out that I can't just leave the lab, and nor do I want to go through my medical history around colleagues, they reminded me I'm about to have at least 2 decades of sacrificing myself the baby so may as well get used to it. I was very close to swearing at them (very unlike me) and remind them that the baby likely needs clothes and heating so I kind of need to keep my job.

I had to tell my boss at 6 weeks, which is crazy early, but I was so exhausted and my morning sickness was quite severe, so it was incredibly obvious something was wrong. Then I had to go to EPAU (I live a 45 minute drive away so minimum of 2.5 hours away from work) so it's done now.

@sociallydistained have you read Expecting Better? Might put your mind at rest a little if you're worried about all those things. I bloody hate the pregnancy vitamins, they're huge, and the gummies do not mix well with my nausea.

@Tangfastic91 realistically they can book the scan any time from 10 to 14 weeks - perhaps it might be worth just letting them know you absolutely can't do those days in advance? Yes I think we're very similar! Private scan puts me at 8+5, but of course it can be off slightly.

@ChelleV I can't believe they told you that!! I would be furious! I hope you don't have to deal with the same person for the rest of the pregnancy!

@EsseKey I called back up and politely requested to speak with the other midwife only. For continuity of care due to anxiety and autism, was my excuse.

[quote spttc]@sociallydistained oh my I'd be in big trouble if that happened to me! Former alcohol & caffeine fiend!! I'd have had maybe 2 energy drinks a day lots of coffee etc. How do you know you are 8 weeks?[/quote]
Well I know the exact date of conception because it was an accident 🙈 and my cycle is clockwork and I went by what was the last official period… not the ones that have followed. I used due date calculator to work out so I am estimating but I think may be pretty accurate giving the information I know. I did a first response when first found out and then I got a clear blue digital on Saturday which stated 3+
Ive only known since Thursday evening so it’s been a whirlwind.

@sociallydistained ah right I was wondering if you'd had a scan! it will turn out to be the best accident of your life! 👌💯❤️

Thank you @spttc after the initial shock and a LOT of emotion I am starting to get excited. There is so much to sort out but my partner is so supportive and I’m feeling it’ll be okay. I’m working full time and doing a masters degree and now have a lot more to plan. People are going to be shocked 😳 I of course need to get in for my booking appointment and scan before I can feel it is 100 percent real. Only my partner and best friend know and it will remain that way until the scan. I have been tempted to go for an early one but I guess not too long to wait now anyway.

Was anyone a regular gym goer or into fitness and is keeping it up? I am trying! I have struggled through the last month not understanding why I don’t have my usual energy levels but determined to crack on. I’m going a little easier on myself now but determined to keep up some fitness if I can! I was trying to lose weight and I managed to get into the “normal” category just before I fell pregnant so again just trying to not use it as an excuse to gain loads of weight…. Easier said than done 😬

@sociallydistained before pregnancy I was a 3-4 (sometimes 5) times a week crossfit gym regular... when I fall pregnant the first time (January 2021) it happened at the same time as moving house, and being still in "lockdown" I didn't like the idea of joining a different gym, and with the pregnancy going I decided to lower the intensity and work out at home. I definitely lost some strenght/endurance but I was still doing it regularly...with this pregnancy (had a miscarriage in march, now 8 wk) I am absolutely out of energies, I am spending my time napping and every time I dare doing some gentle excercise I get belly cramps and even more nausea than before :( I feel like I am losing every single bit of strenght I had in my body and getting weight on now (which should not happen just yet!).
I can't wait for this phase to pass and to go back to a regular medium intensity excercise level, I miss that!

I was doing ultra marathon training. I was in great shape. I can't even muster any of that energy or motivation right now, all my focus is getting through the fatigue and nausea.

@sociallydistained Yes! I was powerlifting 4 times a week and going on reasonably long dog walks every day, but the past couple of weeks (I'm 8+1 today) I've just had no energy at all and haven't even thought about going to the gym, and my partner has been put on dog walking duty most days. It is really frustrating but everything I've read does say that the tiredness/fatigue should ease up in the second trimester so I'm just hoping that's the case and I can start training again. So even if you do need to take a break from exercising, hopefully it won't be for too long and you'll be able to get straight back into it ☺️ and congratulations! xx

@sociallydistained like the others here I used to train 5 times a week but have stopped at the moment. For loads of reasons.....fatigue & nausea, I also wouldn't step foot in a gym until Iv had my Covid vaccine. I think weeks 1-12 you really need to just get out walking, keep active but also rest & listen to your body. It's a fragile time in the pregnancy and sometimes taking it easy is the best option. I plan to start weightlifting again as soon as I'm vaccinated, I'll be past the 12 week mark then aswell. Iv actually lost weight due to nausea & no appetite so I'm not getting fat at least (not yet 😂🙈), and I make sure to walk for an hour every day no matter what. I'm definately losing strength but il get it back! Everybody is different if you feel safe & ok in a gym do it! But don't worry if you don't! It's only a few weeks if your life.

Good to hear you’re all quite similar to me. I had last week off because at the time I didn’t know I was pregnant and thought I had a bug or something and was determined to let my body rest 😂 I’m glad I did now. For now I’m taking it easy, listening to my body and trying to prioritise sleep. I did go to the gym this morning and did my usual leg day but with no progression. I’d usually try progressive overload and to increase weight but I know nows not the time. I was in there a few weeks ago doing all sorts and feeling sick with ni idea why 🤦🏻‍♀️

Like you say, walking and keeping active as we can whilst allowing for how knackered we are is the priority. I have quite an active job, but I am certainly taking more rest periods during the day when I can.

At least I know now and can work around it. I bought ginger biscuits today to help with the nausea. I love ginger! Another thing I did was intermittent fasting and that’s definitely off the cards as I need something for the nausea straight away. I find it keeps at bay if I eat little and often (not my style at all!)

Early scan today. The relief of the heartbeat 💓 😍 all looking great. She said maybe 2 days behind but she's not changing my due date just yet, as until around the 12 week mark it's hard to accurately say. Having another early scan in 2 weeks time. It's all included in my package so why not!

@spttc that's GREAT news! So glad to hear it all went well. Funnily enough, mine was 2 days behind too, but they're so small at this point it's hard to tell. How wonderful is that little heartbeat?!

@ChelleV yeh she said to me it's "2 days behind" but that can depend on cycle length, etc etc and at this stage it's really impossible to date exactly. I know thank god! Was delighted!

Seperately ....is anyone here having NIPT?

What is NIPT? Sorry I’m a newbie to all of this. I have just made the self referral today so at approx 9 weeks I hope I get the call soon 😬

@sociallydistained it's the tests for the chromosomal conditions that don't cause miscarriage but do cause disability (so Downs is the most likely, but also Patau's and Edwards', which are more disabling and usually lead to early infant death). Initially it's assessed by the length of the area by the baby's neck and if it's indicated then they do a blood test, but you can also have advanced testing privately (or if the NHS thinks you're at higher risk). I wouldn't know about it if I weren't sitting in a medical school and inclined to research everything all the time!

@spttc I'm having the NHS tests, nothing more advanced than that, but we already know we'd carry on regardless. Just to inform ourselves really.

Heya, nice to meet u all!
Has everyone heard from the midwives now for booking in? Im about 10+4 weeks now and haven’t heard yet although I registered a while ago with an online page my doctors sent me to.have tried to call them and left message.take care xXx

Yeh I'm very much in two minds as apparently it's not as accurate as they try to make out. If you can't get a definite answer what's the point?

Found this article : www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/health/non-invasive-prenatal-testing-of-babies-under-increased-scrutiny-1.4079717%3fmode=amp

Thanks @ChelleV I see. I think I’d have advanced tests if there were any concerns I guess.

Welcome @Penguin2021thats a pain. Ive only just filled in the online referral form today so I maybe shouldn’t be expecting a call ASAP then.