Due September 2022 (Thread 5!)

[IzzyLeigh]

Continuing on from thread 4!

@BlueSky57 I know it is only days in the difference it just feels so much further now that I'm starting to look forward to it. I haven't had a scan since my 12 week scan so now starting to feel nervous about things again. No real reason for it other than not knowing what's going on inside with any degree of certainty as haven't felt any movement yet that I'm aware of at least. I have been having some cramping/stretching feelings this week though which I'm taking as a positive. Have my 16 week midwife appointment on Wednesday so hopefully that will put my mind at ease for the last 4 weeks.

@MedbN I felt the same before my scan yesterday to be honest. There are many weeks of waiting and the not knowing what’s going on in between is so hard. I haven’t felt movement either so don’t worry!

@BlueSky57 aww don't worry. I've had the NIPT and I'm worried they may have got the sex wrong too. I am like that, always finding something to stress about. I convinced myself early on I had an ectopic, blighted ovum, molar and then anything and everything else

So sorry @izzyleigh xx

Thanks @Carebear99. It’s just such an anxious time! I am convinced I can see a penis in one of my scan pictures so now it’s making me doubt it’s a girl even though I can’t see a penis in the ‘between the legs’ picture!!

I had my midwife appointment this afternoon and I heard the heartbeat. I'm 15 weeks 4 days and she asked if I'd felt any movements. I said I wasn't sure as the fluttering may have just been wind 🤣 but when we listened to the heartbeat (and placenta!) it took her ages because the baby was so active and kept moving about. She said the flutterings are definitely movement.

She understood my anxiety and my reasons for wanting to have my private scan on Sunday but she also said if I'm anxious then I can arrange to have midwife appointment at 18 weeks to hear the heartbeat.

@IzzyLeigh I'm sorry for your loss, I had a cat for 10 years who I lost a few years ago, it's heartbreaking losing a pet x

@SoOverThisCrap your midwife sounds fab. Mine didn't offer to listen to the heartbeat and just said come back in 3 months.

@BlueSky57 you'll have you 20w scan soon they can confirm. I totally understand though, the nipt is 98 to 99% reliable on gender but I'm convinced it is wrong. They said a girl. The sonographer who did you scan is experienced in detecting the sex so I'm sure they are right.

@IzzyLeigh I'm so so sorry for you loss. I have 2 old dogs and they are like my children, I'll be devastated when they cross the rainbow bridge (one on my boys was nearly put to sleep a few years ago after being diagnosed with syrinomyelia, a debilitating spinal/ brain issue, luckily he's on gabapentin which is amazing). I'm really sorry for your loss of you doggy

@IzzyLeigh sending so much love your way, that's heartbreaking ❤️

@IzzyLeigh I am so so sorry for your loss, I think let yourself feel your feelings I'm sure it would be worse keeping it bottled up. Baby will be fine in there but you need to grieve xxx

@SoOverThisCrap your midwife sounds so good, wish they were all like that. Glad you got that reassurance. If she is willing to get you in at 18 weeks for a heartbeat check, to tide you over till 20 weeks and then it saves some cash on a scan, then in my opinion its worth it. I've had checkups every 2 weeks, but haven't seen the baby since 12 weeks. Everything has been a heartbeat check, and the 16 week was a cervix measurement where I never saw the little one (well I saw his bum bouncing in the bottom of the screen). My 20 week is in 10 days or so, and i'm finding the heartbeat checks reassuring enough to tide me over somehow. I am even steering clear of the doppler I have at home, which I can't use properly anyway lol. Hope you are feeling so much better now.

@IzzyLeigh so sorry to hear this. I'm a big pet person so understand how much of a part of your life pets are.

Iv had my 16 week scan 2 weeks ago but like many others on here im feeling that anxiety creeping back in!! Iv a scan next week (19 weeks) and then the anomaly scan the week after. Will be relieved when that's all done and hopefully all ok.
All I can think about is health of the baby, im one of the odd ones who doesn't care about sex or names. That's the surprise worth waiting for ❤️

@dkedm15 @TotoAnnihiliation @stimpyyouidiot @Em85kk @madeleine85 @annlee3817 @SoOverThisCrap @Carebear99 @Goodgoodthings @Poppypip1 @ShiningStarz thank you guys for all of your kind words and support. It really does mean the world and helps a lot to know that I’m not alone in grieving for my dog as much as I am. While I wish that no one else has ever had to go through this—especially while pregnant—it was reassuring to hear that some of you have and that the grief didn’t affect your pregnancies or your babies.

I guess I’ve just already been in such a heightened state of paranoia and anxiety because of all my previous spotting episodes that I’m just so concerned that taking on even the slightest extra bit of emotional distress would result in catastrophe. Especially because I read an article last week about how babies react to our moods in the womb (I really need to stop reading articles). I keep thinking about that and it’s terrifying to know that my lack of emotional control right now could be causing her even the slightest bit of harm. Honestly, after how unexpected and awful this was (and in conjunction with my spotting), I have been expecting the worst every time I’ve gone to the bathroom since—and I really didn’t think it was possible to expect the worst more than I already had been! So far so good though (that I know about). I have an appt on Friday and will get to hear her heartbeat again, so hopefully she’s still going strong in there despite everything. As fragile as babies can be, it’s easy to forget that they can also be so so so much stronger than we give them credit for. Thank goodness for that.

I'll stop being a downer now though, I promise
Thank you again, everyone. You guys are wonderful.

@IzzyLeigh glad you haven't got too long to wait to ease your worry

Terrible nights sleep, I think the lack of exercise with covid has kicked off my sciatica, was so sore last night and I had trapped wind, so was attempting to walk around downstairs at 1am to ease both. Hoping to force myself out for a walk today and will do some physio stuff to try and ease it, hate sciatica.

@annlee3817 sorry to hear you have sciatica, it is horrible when you have a bad night's sleep. Hope you go manage to get a walk today and a better sleep tonight

Last night yielded me some better sleep. Still not great as I couldn't get comfortable but I am relieved to have a bit of respite.

I've signed up to a breastfeeding course with the la Leche league. I wasn't able to feed DD myself but definitely want to give it a go this time.

Has anyone had their anomaly scan at 18 weeks exactly?
I have a private one booked for 18 weeks but could it to 19 weeks if that's better. NHS one is 20 weeks!

@ShiningStarz the NHS website states it can be done between 18 and 21 weeks

Thanks @annlee3817 I'll be 17+6 tomo so almost 18!!

@ShiningStarz that's so exciting that you're almost at the anomaly scan milestone! I can't wait to get that out of the way. Has anyone in the group had it yet with this pregnancy or is @ShiningStarz the first of us?

@IzzyLeigh I'll be going in early tomo at just about 18 weeks. The hospital one isn't for 2 weeks ans that is at the recommended 20 weeks. I'm just hoping at tomorrows appt they will be able to see what they need to see to be able to give me the reassurance all is ok. With no movement etc I'm just a wreck!!! I'm know I'm not the only one !!

[quote madeleine85]@SoOverThisCrap your midwife sounds so good, wish they were all like that. Glad you got that reassurance. If she is willing to get you in at 18 weeks for a heartbeat check, to tide you over till 20 weeks and then it saves some cash on a scan, then in my opinion its worth it. I've had checkups every 2 weeks, but haven't seen the baby since 12 weeks. Everything has been a heartbeat check, and the 16 week was a cervix measurement where I never saw the little one (well I saw his bum bouncing in the bottom of the screen). My 20 week is in 10 days or so, and i'm finding the heartbeat checks reassuring enough to tide me over somehow. I am even steering clear of the doppler I have at home, which I can't use properly anyway lol. Hope you are feeling so much better now.[/quote]
To be honest I'm leaning towards that now and cancelling my private scan on Sunday and just having a midwife checkup at 18 weeks. I have laid a deposit for the scan but it £20, so not too expensive...