Minsters Sidecar Bumping Along - ttc graduates thread 4

[lucyrp]

Hey girls! I've gone ahead and created a follow up thread for us all. Let's hope we have some more ladies joining us from over on the other thread! ❤️

@Vil10 NHS don't do NIPT tests for you. They do the NT screening: checking your baby's neck fluid at the 12 week scan, along with the blood test and some other questions. If that comes back as very high odds they may offer the NIPT test to confirm but most people have to go private and pay hundreds for it. I never got the NIPT. I don't think most people would unless there was anything to suggest the risk is high and you need to know.

@Vil10 what 2020 said. You pay for it privately. It's more thorough (tests for a lot more) and are much more accurate (99%) than the standard NHS tests and you can do them at 10 weeks already. OHs cousin (age 29 at the time) terminated her baby after finding out something wasn't right at the 12 week scan. Except it then took a week after the scan to get the NHS nipt done, then another 2 weeks for the results and consult and God knows how long to then wait for the TFMR. Basically it's scared me into thinking if there's something wrong I'd want to know asap rather than ending up waiting and bonding even more only to terminate as late as like week 18.

@paintfairy you do eat less from feeling sick, I couldn't stomach loadsa things so it's prob that. That'll all change soon my dear! I weighed in the other day...put 2 stone on in my 2nd trimester alone 🙈 I constantly felt starving and it hasn't stopped now either 😳
Ah I see! So extra scans for you towards the end then surely to keep an eye on that.
@DKDK123 I'm so so pleased for you, it's so nice to read that you can relax into your pregnancy now and you can believe! 🥰
@Vil10 it is both nerve racking and exciting. When is it again? And @2020mission is right re the nipt, it's not an nhs thing and it needs to be done before 12 weeks, usually at 10 I think. I never got it as I didn't know about it until after my 12 weeks! It's also good for finding out the sex early if you were eager for that but I think you're waiting for the surprise right?
@2020mission how are you hun? You must be 38 weeks coming up?

@2020mission @Juno231 ohh okay Thankyou girls!! I got mixed up! I won't be getting it, I was just curious if it was something I needed or they did etc! Understand your reasons for getting it though @Juno231

@becarefuloutthere it's on Thursday! Yess I'm keeping the sex a surprise, OH told me yesterday though that he thinks he'd want to find out, I said well tough sorry😂

@becarefuloutthere I'm generally feeling fine but still unsure about progressing with this induction on the 23rd 😅 I'm 38+3 today. If I agree to the induction I'm basically choosing to give the little guy a Christmas Day birthday and will likely be stuck in hospital from 23-26th December at least 😬 inductions always take days. My husband would only be able to visit twice a day for 2 slots which he has to call to book every morning (11-1pm, 3-5pm). I only know all this from speaking to other ladies who've been induced at the same hospital in the past few weeks. The hospital is terrible at giving information. I'd much prefer to hold off and let him come when he's ready - at least give him until my due date of 30th December. I'm just worried about choosing to admit myself to a shared ward for 2-3 days for something that may not even work, when I'm only being encouraged to do it due to my smaller height and mild excess fluid. Baby is head in pelvis in the right position and I don't believe he's that big because my bump isn't that big and I can feel him happily moving around so it's hard to believe the fluid is that bad. If he's too big anyway then surely I need a C-section. Are you doing ok @becarefuloutthere?

@Juno231 that's a fair point that not all doctors/midwives might care about Christmas due to their religions but I just have a feeling most would pick to have this time off.

I hope you're all feeling more positive about your pregnancies with every day that passes! I am struggling to keep up with this thread as I'm frantically trying to sort out Christmas presents, finish up with work and get everything sorted for baby ASAP as he could come soon 😅 it's really not an ideal time at all to be due.

If you decline the induction @2020mission will they give you extra monitoring? I can completely see why you're erring towards it!!

Two more early get ups after this one until Xmas time, was hard to drag myself out of bed this morning!

@2020mission I'm totally on board with your thinking! I wonder how strict they are with the visiting rules - they had a similar set up at the hospital my friend ended up in last year due do suddenly becoming blind and I would just waltz in before 9am and stay all day to take care of her anyway 😅. No one said a peep. Not something you want to risk obv but since then it's made me wonder if they work properly elsewhere 😆

Six weeks today and best of all - no work until the 4th! 🎉

@vil10 double check your local hospital btw as more and more of them are offering NIPT as an optional thing now!

How's everyone doing? And how many weeks is everyone now? I can't keep up. I'm 11+1 and feeling less sick, still constipated though. (

@larrythelizard I'm laughing at you too at you having a baby in 2022, when's your sister due? That's nice isn't it?

@paintfairy we don't decorate together. I decorate 😂

Wait your boiler has broken @Vil10 arghhhhhh it's only a few days left for your scan 🥰 the offers are right, the NIPT is a private test & around £500, I wouldn't have thought that it should be a worry for you as you are young so no high risk from being older. I waited til after my 12 week scan & thought if they couldn't get the measurements or came back high I'd do it like @2020mission said but we came back low risk so not necessary. I totally get @Juno231's worry though & we did it for DS (thinking I'm dead faulty so what if my baby is) but again after the 12 week scan

@DKDK123 that's so lovely that it feels real she's here to stay, was DS loving it! Declared her def Emily?

@2020mission that's a tough one for you to decide. Not sure what I'd do tbh but might hold off, you've always been borderline on the fluid haven't you? Whatever you decide we are behind you & it will be right xx

@Juno231 6 weeks boooooommm!!! Awesome 👏🏻 and off too whoop whoop

@feliznavidad2 18 weeks here now & actually starting to feel more queasy often but all good. Getting a little bump now too. Here's hoping that booking in def makes it feel real...as with the 💩 issues 😂

@Juno231 yessss to 6 weeks and being off work🥳 ooo okay yes I'll check thst later!!

@feliznavidad2 I'm 7+2 today, feeling okay, symptoms still coming and going but still retching and boobs get sore throughout the day then seem slightly better, and still getting a few little cramps! Glad you're starting to feel a little less sick!! And how exciting your booking appointment is today!! Will definitely make it feel more real!!

@Minster2012 yepp it's freezing!! Luckily when OH put in the en suite he did the shower as an electric one in case the boiler broke we'd still have a hot shower! But I'm having to take our washing to my mums today as the boiler man can't come out until tomorrow! Ahh I know, I hope these next few days go quick!! No it won't be something I'll be getting, and we aren't finding out the gender either so it isn't something I've really thought about!

Booking in appt is a good milestone to get to @feliznavidad2, let's hope you get a nice midwife!

@Juno231 jealous of you finishing work, im in until weds and can't be arsed, stuff to do today though!

@Vil10 ooh team yellow, exciting, I know DH would never want to find out, I completely would!

@Minster2012 18 weeks 🥳🥳🥳 hmm
I think it's nice about having a baby a similar time to my sister but in don't know how PFB she'll be and if she thinks it will steal her thunder? Ah well, not worth worrying about...!

Next order of CB week indicator tests arriving today, going to wait until the end of the week though. Swinging between thinking this pregnancy is bound to stick because it wasn't exactly planned and not ideal timing (aka Sod's law) and thinking it won't because my brain still is not accepting it's real! Xmas is actually coming at a good time as it's a good distraction!

@feliznavidad2 19 +5 here shit that's gone quick - so over half way for me as looking 37 weeks!

@Juno231 6 weeks, whooop! an exciting milestone for sure! and I totally get where you're coming from with the nipt test, I actually had a bit of a freak out when I got my screening results (and posted about it here ofc) I honestly found that the way they worded the letter was really distressing (basically, the NHS want to caveat anything they say so the language was in no way reassuring and when I spoke to my MW about it she refused to give me a direct answer). I still have a bit of anxiety around it even though I'm very much considered low risk by NHS standards, but I think that's mainly due to the fact that I'm a first time mum and tend to be quite anxious generally.

@Vil10 hope the boiler gets sorted quickly, this is probs the worst time for it to be on the blink!

@2020mission I think that makes total sense, and at the end of the day it's your body and your baby so you should be able to advocate for yourself. Have you asked your MW/Dr about holding off until the 30th?

@feliznavidad2 I'm 16+1 today, feeling much better than I have so far, only noticeable symptom now is fatigue and the occasional heartburn. Have you tried using something like a squatty potty/small stool/equivalent for the constipation?

@larrythelizard it's the other way around for us! At first OH was like yeah we won't find out now he keeps saying he wants to, "so he can prepare" 🤣 yeah I'd definitely leave the cb weeks a few more days, I'm so glad I did!

@whatwonder Thankyou!! Oh god I know, it's just typical isn't it!!

Has anyone found they're getting out of breath much easier and quicker in early pregnancy?? Im quite fit and active but found recently after walking up the stairs im proper out of breath!! I thought this stage only came when you had a big bump to lug around!! Googled it though and says it's caused by the increase in your progesterone levels!

@Vil10 I def got out of breath easier (and still do) so I think it's def a thing!! Good thinking on the electric shower OH!

@whatwonder it's great you are feeling better, come on 2nd trimester glow (although i think it's a load of crap MAFS up by a blind man as I'm DEF not glowing!)

@larrythelizard def not worth thinking about PFB with sister, I'm sure she'll make mores big deal about it than you! Also with you on leaving the weeks for a bit 🤞🏻

About to start wrapping some presents, and anyone got any tips of getting a car to not smell of sick after DS was sick in his seat yesterday I've washed all the seat & covers but the car def still has a whiff about it 😬

@Vil10 yup I get out of breath all the time now - if I check my Fitbit my heart is usually going mental at that point too. I reach 169bpm just walking at lunch sometimes!

@Minster2012 could you sprinkle baking soda overnight and hoover it up tomorrow?

Oh you have my sympathies @Minster2012 - DS threw up EVERYWHERE in the car at the end of Oct and it still smells. My top tips are strip the car seat as much as possible, zoflora and shake n vac. I hope you're more successful than me!

@Vil10 I had to be upside down at the gym this morning and I found it much harder than usual!

I was just brave and rang the surgery to get myself on the midwife list for the booking in appt, apparently I need to speak to the Dr first (I genuinely can't remember what happened first time round!). They're going to call tomorrow but I'm laughing already at what they're going to ask...what a waste of resources!

Oooo yes @Juno231 and @larrythelizard zoflora & baking soda should be the go to thank you!

@larrythelizard gosh you must be the only place in the country where they want you to speak to a GP! I think everyone kind of assumes you do that but then get told by most places "here's the details for self referral!" Def seems a waste of time and resources

@Minster2012 haha yes I'm calling BS on the pregnancy "glow" it's just nice to be able to eat vegetables and drink coffee again! Sorry about the car vom, hopefully the smell doesn't linger...

@larrythelizard how odd, but at least they're calling tomorrow and not making you wait too long?

@Vil10 I also had shortness of breath after going up stairs early on in pregnancy and I am (was?) pretty active. these hormones are no joke, I'm telling you!

Okay bringing back more cheese chat, is comte safe to eat during pregnancy? I had some over the weekend assuming it was fine because it's a hard cheese, only to be told that I shouldn't have eaten it by some well meaning but v annoying friends.

And one more thing, can round ligament pains feel like dull cramps? I've been having some period-like pains recently. They're very mild so trying not to read too much into them but not sure what they're from.

@whatwonder it's allowed! Hard cheeses are fine to eat even if unpasteurised. Even the NHS says so, it's not just my laissez faire attitude to pregnancy restrictions 😅

Actually I had an argument with DH last night when we went to bed about it. @DKDK123
I said to him I feel anxious about going. In case I feel ill. Because if I do I'll want to leave. And he started ranting at me saying there's no point in going then, and it looks rude if we just leave early. Which I don't see why you have to stay until the absolute final hour so as not to look rude. Then told me to not eat too much (I hate leaving food but i can never eat anywhere near what they usually give me, never mind now) but I pointed out its not really about that. Its just not predictable. He pisses me off as he always seems to worry what everyone else thinks, aside from me. So I just ignored him after that and said he can go on his own then, because I'm not going. 🤣
@becarefuloutthere I feel more sick if I don't eat. So I never stop. 😫 Today I ate toast for breakfast, then had a bacon and tomato cob late morning, and I've eaten some chocolate too.
@2020mission I think I'd be feeling the same way about an induction with that timing.
@Vil10 how does having no boiler stop you doing any washing? 🤔 We wouldn't be able to have a shower though if our boiler broke, its not electric. So would be a disaster.
@feliznavidad2 I'm 9 weeks today. My appointment is tomorrow.

I'm not that bad now but in the beginning I struggled with physical exercise. I felt like I was going to pass out just doing my usual stuff. It's easier now though. I also did check with DH about the 💛 and he's fine with that. I've still failed to tell my mum though......

@Minster2012 isn't it weird!! OH said it's because I've been eating all the Christmas chocolate🤣 I'm on Christmas wrapping today too, isn't it boring!! Oooo sick smell, like juno said, I'd always opt for baking soda!

@Juno231 yess me too!! I did a pt earlier and was warming up on the bike and I couldn't even talk to him I was so out of breath!!

@larrythelizard very strange isn't it! That's an odd way of doing it and like you say a waste of time and resources!!

@whatwonder I didn't even know it was a thing until I googled it, I thought OH was right and it was just a case of inhaling too much chocolate and salt and vinegar crisps🤣🤣 not too clued up on round ligament pain, I thought you could only get it later on but Minster told me you could get it early on too, I had it last week when I had a slight cold when I was coughing! If it helps though I'm still getting mild period like cramps and the odd dull ache every few days!

@paintfairy because for the clothes that can't go in the dryer I put on the radiator or on the maiden in the downstairs toilet (it's boiling in there when the heating is on) but obviously with no boiler there's no heating so can't dry some stuff! When do you think you'll tell your mum?

@Vil10 that makes more sense. I thought you meant your washer wouldn't work. 🧐🤣

I've just been reading on another post about covid restrictions coming in and what that means for pregnancy. Someone said back to having to do lfts before, and also you can only go alone. If DH can't come for my 12 week scan I'll be furious. How dare they deprive people of that? Will having a hysterical meltdown work? 🤔

@paintfairy I think they always allowed partners into the 12 and 20 week scans before and just didn't let them into the additional ones? Or was that just Scotland? 🤔

I called the hospital today as I've had no appointment letters through yet and there was no note of an induction booking! The lady just said she could see that I have a consultant appointment on the 22nd at 3pm which I assume is the sweep.