I'm about 6+3, but ovulated late at CD26. The midwife I spoke to said that didn't matter as they take it from the start of your cycle... I've been really struggling with anxiety since having a positive test at 11dpo. I'm 44 and have two daughters aged 14 and 11. In between them, I had 3 very early losses, so this is around the time a pregnancy might fail for me.
My first daughter was after fertility investigation and a laparoscopy where we got pregnant naturally, and second was taking clomid. I've been used to my fertility being medically managed to a large extent so was referred back and forth from GP to fertility then. All the GPs I had then have retired and they always did hCG blood tests for any confirmed pregnancy. The practice had 3-4 GPs and now only has one and had totally changed practice name without notifying the patients, so I've now switched practice. I'd called up to ask for hCG tests and the receptionist arranged it, then when I arrived I was told they don't do these. The GP ended up seeing me and doing a blood test as I was so upset. I switched practice on Friday to another practice that has 8 GPs and the receptionist wanted me to make an appointment straight away, really early on Tuesday morning. It's the anxiety that I'm really suffering with as at times it has felt unbearable over the past week, where other things are triggering me off to get really upset. That book looks like a really good recommendation.
I managed to arrange a lot this past Friday afternoon which is my half day off work, so got a named midwife who said all my appointments would be in the main hospital because of my age / history and they said to call the EPAU due to recurrent losses. They've arranged an assurance scan on the 1st September when I will be 8 weeks, but I would have gone private for one otherwise. I organised private blood tests as well, to get a second hCG test to check the doubling rate and to check my progesterone levels. Usually, once I know my bloods are either ok or crashing then I can be more realistic about my expectations. I have a second hCG blood test at a private Nuffield hospital on Wednesday to check the doubling rate and sent a finger prick blood test myself to Medichecks to check progesterone. Clinically there is no reason to do these, as they don't change anything other than the progesterone could be supplemented. I think the GP and MW will think I am being neurotic. There are NICE guidelines for progesterone supplementation though depending on how many losses you have had, so I was going to mention this too.
I can't feel excited and happy about it all yet. Maybe it gets easier each day. I have this sense of shame due to my age where all the risks are higher so feel like I'm giving health professionals more work to do. It took us 4 years to get pregnant or for my cycles to begin to regulate better in the last 2-3 years, which is very similar to how they were 15 years ago. Pregnancy for me tends to feel higher stakes early on by the time we eventually get a positive test. I think that heightens the anxiety. I have an 11-year-old skating around the room today who came along at the right time, so I do still have a tentative sense of belief that things will work out for the best. I've been reading, playing games and painting to try to keep my mind distracted.
The midwife at the EPAU said just to deal with how things are at present, day to day and to try not to worry about what ifs. My husband is good too. He is more bothered about me stressing out over something I can't control. I don't think the early pregnancy hormones help either and I said to him yesterday I have done everything I can right now so it's a waiting game.
Try to get organised with a midwife too, I think from week 6. The ones I spoke to were really good and phoned me back after I left a message, then my named midwife went through my full pregnancy history with me as a booking in appointment over the phone.