First Pregnancy - Early Pregnancy Tips

[AbbiL0u]

Hi all!

I am pregnant for the first time, and believe I’m around 6 weeks so understand it’s early days! Is anyone in a similar boat who would like to chat? :)

My main symptom seems to be cramping at the moment, and I’m really tired! I’m finding I’m overthinking everything - what to do at the gym, what to eat, whether to bend over, whether to sleep on my stomach etc. is this normal?!

I have been following a ‘what to do/expect’ week by week which does ease my worries, but really desperate for my first midwife appointment at 8 weeks for some clarification. I don’t even know what to expect from this appointment?!

Any tips or advice would be welcome, but also anyone in the same boat too! I am the first of my friends to be pregnant, and unsure who to speak to who will understand. :)

Firstly I'd say in regards to routine such as exercise and daily tasks, go about your day as you would have if you're not too tired etc. You can absolutely bend down and things, just soon you won't be able to lol cramping is really common so try not to worry. I had it bad from 6-9 weeks and all is well.
At your 8 week appointment you'll most likely have your bloods done, height and weight, medical history, last period that sort of thing. Some women are offered a scan I think if they're unsure of dates for example but its highly unlikely and your first one will be around 12 weeks.
I know it's a daunting time and a lot to take in but you'll be fine. You'll be given lots of information at your appointment and can express any worries to the midwives. I'm jealous because my first appointment this time round was by telephone due to covid precautions here, so my first appointment is this Friday and I'm nearly 13 weeks!

Oh and yes you can sleep on your stomach, this is only not recommended when you have a big baby bump. Do it while you can! Lol.

Thank you so much @Dreamer30, that’s really great information and I really appreciate it! 100% on board with the doing things while I still can haha :D

I really hope your appointment goes well on Friday! I am feeling lucky to be seen in person, I’m sorry you haven’t been able to so far! X

No problem and congratulations! 😊
Aw it's fine lol I passed the time by having 2 private scans and seeing baby early lol I'm on a few boards on here and a lot of women are in the same position and need to wait until their 12 week appointment to be seen. I think it just depends on your area. Good luck at your appointment:)x

Congratulations!
I'm 6 weeks, found out last week after 3 years of trying.

I've been tired and feeling sick but this week the cramps have ended.

I don't have my midwife appointment until I'm 10 weeks so we have booked a private scan at 8 weeks as feeling a little anxious and like it doesn't feel real yet.

@Idontwanttobe40

Congratulations! I'm 6 weeks, found out last week after 3 years of trying.

I've been tired and feeling sick but this week the cramps have ended.

I don't have my midwife appointment until I'm 10 weeks so we have booked a private scan at 8 weeks as feeling a little anxious and like it doesn't feel real yet.

Sorry that shouldn't have said that the cramps have ended. But they have definitely eased

@Idontwanttobe40

Congratulations! I'm 6 weeks, found out last week after 3 years of trying.

I've been tired and feeling sick but this week the cramps have ended.

I don't have my midwife appointment until I'm 10 weeks so we have booked a private scan at 8 weeks as feeling a little anxious and like it doesn't feel real yet.

Congratulations!!

Congratulations! I am in a similar position. Pregnant with my first baby and 5 weeks at the moment. I am also second guessing things, especially the stomach cramps so that's good to know! I have my booking appt in the diary for the first week of April so hopefully scan will be a couple of weeks after? Does this get organised at the booking appt? I feel lucky to be meeting my midwife in person, and will be pleased to talk to someone. Not sure about you, but at the moment I just feel queasy and tired, like I'm coming down with something. Doesn't really feel real!

@CornishSeaSwim

Congratulations! I am in a similar position. Pregnant with my first baby and 5 weeks at the moment. I am also second guessing things, especially the stomach cramps so that's good to know! I have my booking appt in the diary for the first week of April so hopefully scan will be a couple of weeks after? Does this get organised at the booking appt? I feel lucky to be meeting my midwife in person, and will be pleased to talk to someone. Not sure about you, but at the moment I just feel queasy and tired, like I'm coming down with something. Doesn't really feel real!

I'm the same! 4 weeks and I don't feel "cramps" exactly but I definitely feel something weird going on down there? Twinges? I'm also super tired, and I feel really hungry and really sick all the time? I feel really hot too even though I don't have a temperature. Very odd!

Meeting the midwife (NHS) in the first week of April, and also having an 8 week scan (private) that week too because I'm so paranoid something will go wrong...

PS CONGRATS!!

I am 13 weeks now so a bit further along, but just wanted to say I had loads of cramps through the earlier weeks. On one occasion it even woke me up during the night, it was so sharp and strong. They have mainly eased now, though I still sometimes feel some.

I found I definitely got hungry quicker too, had to eat every couple of hours otherwise I started to feel sick and starving at the same time.

Re exercise, I looked up the advice online and decided to continue as normal. The main thing seems to be not to push yourself harder than you would normally, so anything you normally do (as long as not dangerous/high chance of impact or falling) is fine, as long as you feel OK to do it.

Congratulations btw :)

PS. Booking appointment is just the midwife asking you a loooooad of questions for an hour or so....do you smoke, drink, have X,Y,Z health conditions, do any of your family have X,Y,Z, what's your job, what's your partner's job, do you have any children already etc etc. They also took my height and weighed me, and tested my urine and blood.

Thanks so much all for your comments and reassurance, and congratulations to all of you too! I hope you’re all feeling okay?

My anxiety has gone next level today as I have some brown discharge (sorry for TMI), googling says it might be okay but I’m in such a panic! I hope you’re all feeling okay?

It’s reassuring to know that I’m not the only one experiencing cramps. It’s so tough to know who to speak to about these things before meeting the midwife and first appointments! I can’t help but feel cramps and the brown discharge can’t be a good thing :( x

Might be worth speaking to your doctor if you can, I got an early scan for spotting and it turned out to be nothing :) Had it on at least 2 occasions. It can be quite normal.

@GlitteryGreen I’m glad everything was okay for you when it happened - did it happen just once or for a couple of days each time?

I’m definitely going to call the GP tomorrow, thank you!

@AbbiL0u For me, it happened three times I think but if I remember right I think it was just the one pink wipe each time, it didn't continue. But I think it can for some people and lots of sites say spotting can be common in early pregnancy.

My first instance was around 6 weeks too because I went for the scan a few days later and it was dated 6+5 so sometimes I think it can just be one of those things :) But worth getting referred if you can, just to put your mind at ease. Just be prepared they might just tell you to keep an eye on it and not offer EPU, I've read lots of ladies on here saying that's been the policy for them at their hospitals.

Congratulations 🎇. I'm a first timer, currently 4 weeks. Been trying for 5 years too so everything feels very alien. I'm super tired all the time and my appetite is insatiable haha. I do feel a bit queasy occasionally and I am seriously hoping that I as far as it goes! Xx

@GlitteryGreen That’s really reassuring thank you, and thank you for the advice about the referral side of things - I really do appreciate it and hope all going well with you now :)

@roobearbaby Congratulations! Everything crossed for a smooth ride! X