Babies Due April 2023 thread 5

[KennAdams]

Thought I'd make a new thread seen as last one is full already! 😊

@DBS94 Im glad you’re feeling a bit better today! I’m the opposite today, feeling super sorry for myself today.. it’s raining and miserable and im just going to spend the day with the animals 😂
I have cried this morning because i think ive upset the dog- i have a little shih-tzu rescue who is the most loving dog in the world, ive washed half her teddies today (as i always wash her teddies weekly!) and she sat next to the washer looking sad because her favourite teddy was in there…. So that’s obviously upset me and ive spent the last 20 minutes crying haha!!
She has now moved onto another teddy but im so upset i have upset the dog haha, hormones are crazy!!!

I have my follow up EPU scan on Thursday to make sure we have progressed from two weeks ago but my 12 weekish scan is booked for 6th October.
I have my booking appointment on the 22nd this month, ive told the boyfriend to not take time off work for the booking appointment but don’t know if i have made a mistake telling him not to come!

When is your NHS scan? X

@AliceinSlumberland I know what you mean about the emotions - I cry SO rarely but so many little things are setting me off at the moment! Feel like an emotional wreck 😆

@LauraA31 EPU should provide you with pictures, mine did! Not an actual “photograph” - but I got a print out of the report and about 5 pictures printed with that report

Joining from previous thread :)

I am also so emotional! Think my OH is wondering what he has got himself into 🤣 I can’t remember the last day I didn’t cry and most the time it’s over something tiny!

im having quite a lot of lower back pain and in my bum cheeks lol if that’s normal I don’t know! It feels so early on to be having difficulty walking I wonder whether baby is pressing on a nerve or something.. I have my booking in appointment on Thursday so will mention it then. I am 9+4 today and still feeling tired but can get though the day without needing an afternoon nap so that’s definitely better than I was! 8pm and I’m a goner for the night though lol

Hi all, just been catching up :)

@Wouldloveanother re birth plan, have you considered doing a bit of reading around this (if you haven't already!) just so you have an idea of what sorts of things you could ask for during an induction? I loved the Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill, really useful in figuring out ways to support labour (with or without induction) so if you've not read it, I recommend. I also found the Positive Birth Company hypnobirthing course great - there is a detailed module on induction again going over how to make the environment supportive of the process, and ways to manage it etc. I know you've done this all before so ignore me if this is all old news, but thought I'd suggest if you have an appointment to discuss soon :)

@ancienthouse how big was your last baby? I know that generally speaking, the size of the baby shouldn't affect your ability to birth naturally, unless something else is at play e.g. gestational diabetes. The guidance is actually not to induce for bigger babies in the absence of other risk factors. Often when we are unable to push baby out it's to do with positioning rather than size. My first labour was long and stop start due to baby's position. Good idea to refuse any interventions etc this time around if you go for a vbac, as this should support your body to do it's thing. Even sweeps and VEs can affect our progress negatively, all depends on how we react on a physical and emotional level to these sorts of things and everyone is different.

@DBS94 My NHS dating scan is when I'm 13+3 so in about 3 and a half weeks... feels ages away!! I'm 10 weeks today going off my early scan at EPAU.

@LauraA31 also feeling much more emotional that usual!

I am still feeling sick, spewing most evenings/afternoons and a little bit less ill in the mornings, I looked back at my 'notes' from DD's pregnancy and the sickness was actually worst 12-13 weeks 😢so if that happens again I'm still in for a good few weeks of this. It's felt diff this time though, definitely worse earlier on, and just worse in general - I suppose probably coz I'm more tired this time around.

Also, I've definitely had a bit of mild cramping recently and seem to have a little bump already! I am hoping it's just everything attaching more and stretching, but all the twinges can make me a bit worried. Anyone else feel they have a small bump already??

Hi all feels so weird to be in this limbo of waiting for that follow up scan my emotions are all over the place one minute I'm hopeful the next I'm convinced it's all over 🤷🏼‍♀️ I can't decide whether to try and get a second private scan at a different place before the one at EPU next week or just leave it. I haven't had my booking appointment or scan appointment through yet I presume they should come through soon though since I'm meant to be 9+1 according to LMP

I've just had my consultant referral through and feeling a bit emotional. Had previous treatment at colposcopy a few years ago so have been referred for an extra scan and believe I'll be seen monthly there after to check my cervix. I know it's very uncommon for something to happen but just feel like it's an extra thing to worry about x

Hey everyone! Just checking in. 8+2 today and feeling awful still. Todays weird food / only thing I can stomach was melon for breakfast and now cottage cheese and cucumber for lunch. Literally have not eaten cottage cheese in about 10 years and normally the texture makes me feel ill but the thought of anything else is turning my stomach.

I'm a bit worried because I've lost some weight and I know it's not advised in pregnancy but don't know what else I can really do. Only dropped a few lbs to 9st12 and still ok in my bmi range but worried if I carry on for the next 4 weeks - any ideas?

Got my scan date through for 9th October I'll be 12+1 ☺️

@Tropicana1 I lost about 4kg in my first trimester with my DS all was fine I think you just need to get in what you can when you can

@Tropicana1 sorry to hear you're struggling so much with the sickness 😥I have read it's common to lose weight at this stage so don't worry so long as you're a healthy weight and don't lose it too drastically!
I'm the opposite, permanently hungry but still no sickness so feel like I must be putting too much on..
Good to hear you've got your scan through! Mine's on the 4th when I'll be 12+4ish 😊

Hi all, going through it a bit at the moment, please let me know if you have any positive experiences to share to help ease my anxiety over the coming days!
I'd been spotting on and off and yesterday that turned to bleeding so I assumed the worst. Went to my appointment this morning that I've had booked for a couple of weeks. She did a scan and found a heartbeat and dated me 7 weeks, which is exactly what I would expect. She said we just have to wait and nature will decide. Google actually looks quite rosy about chances of pregnancy continuing despite the bleeding if a heartbeat has been seen, but it's obviously really worrying. I've been told to take magnesium and effectively be on bedrest. I've stopped feeling bloated and am feeling more myself again too, but I'm still really tired. Anyone had a similar experience ever? I'm also still nursing my nearly 2 Yr old, often excessively through the night, I know they say breastfeeding is safe, but do you think I should try to reduce the length of time as a precaution? Grateful for any thoughts during this lonely time when there is no one to talk to!

@MamaMenna when you say bleeding, has it been heavy? Like enough to fill a pad?

I've had on and off spotting throughout, spoke to midwife at my appointment last week who said it's not normal but it's very common and could be down to a number of reasons. Have you got your first midwife appt booked in?

@MamaMenna I'm sorry you're going through this, sounds very scary! Is the bleeding heavy or quite light? I've been through v similar....

Regarding breastfeeding, I know we have chatted before about this as I'm also still bf my DD. As you say, generally it's considered that BF in pregnancy is safe, however I do think for some people it can cause problems. This is due to the fact that breastfeeding increases the hormone prolactin, which in turn can decrease the production of the hormone progesterone. We need a high level of progesterone to maintain a pregnancy, so naturally, if it drops too low, it can cause miscarriage. Also, there has been research that shows a slightly elevated risk of mc if breastfeeding 'exclusively' - however I think this is hard to quantify, and if you're feeding through the night this could be similar to 'exclusively'. Every baby is different, I think basically if you are feeding a lot + through the night, this could elevate your risk slightly...

I had 3 miscarriages while BF my DD. The first two were v early on, around 5 weeks, so chemical pregnancies. At the time I was nursing through the night and on demand during the day. I then night weaned, and got pregnant again, and that pregnancy made it to 6+3. I started bleeding, we had a scan which showed the heartbeat, was given progesterone supplements then went home and told to bed rest, sadly the pregnancy passed the next day. At that time I was bf DD about 3-4 times a day. After that we dropped down to down to 2 feeds a day, and when I found out I was pregnant again, I dropped to just one which is where we are at now.

I know this is probably not want you want to hear, but just wanting to be honest about my experiences... everyone is different, I think everyone's ability to feed while pregnant is different too. Bleeding in early pregnancy can be a sign of low progesterone, so this could then be linked to BF as this can lower progesterone. Could you request progesterone suppositories? Have you had any previous losses? If you can I would night wean (I know it's hard 😥 ) and just drop down as much as you feel comfortable. No reason to say you can't keep bf, but it might give you some peace of mind + help to drop down. Happy to chat more if you want to DM me x

@MamaMenna i can’t help ease with your current anxiety but wanted to let you know you’re not alone, I am currently going through something similar - I had a private scan a week ago and saw the baby with a healthy heartbeat, the last 2 days I have had a really minimal amount of spotting (you have to look for it but it’s there!) so I have a scan with the EPU tomorrow.

both of my sisters had continuous spotting throughout their first trimester (where I only had 1 day with my first pregnancy) so it is common and doesn’t always mean the worst is going to happen but you can’t help but worry xx

@MamaMenna And yes spotting and bleeding in pregnancy can be very common indeed, so it could be nothing to do with BF. Hope you're ok, it's so hard being in a limbo like this.

@mummatara which reminds me, I'm thinking of you - it must be so hard not knowing where you are at right now. I think i'd probably try to get a private scan as I'd find it really hard not knowing for a week! The uterus position could very well be the reason they couldn't see more though xx

Checking in!

Thank you Skylark, no I’ve not done any proper reading so I will download it on the kindle - will be a nice distraction from the nausea. I was very laid back when DD was born, too laid back actually - I wish I’d been a bit more vocal because I would’ve done things differently. But hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it! At least I know what to expect now and the factors I’m likely to be able to control. We’re 10 weeks today 🥳 how are you feeling?
Still in bed most of the day, feeling so so rough 🥺

They’ve also just rearranged my first trimester scan, it’s now 4th October when I’ll be 13+1. So not really first trimester 🥴

Same! I’ve been crying over the Queen’s death (totally unlike me) and the theme tune to some of DD’s programs on CBeebies. I need to get a grip!

@Wouldloveanother hope you enjoy the book! Ahh sorry you are feeling grim still. I am also. Tend to be ok-ish in the mornings, but spewing 2-3 times on average in afternoons/evenings. Been going to bed at like 8pm every night just to escape the nausea. I seem to be able to keep dinner down usually, after a spew at about 6pm. So it's like spew, dinner, bed for me atm 😅Yes 10 weeks! Hard to believe. I definitely have a little bump already, do you? Are you having any twingey/crampy feelings? I am... thinking must be round ligament pain or stretching pains... hope so anyway. My scan is on 6 Oct so can relate - feels soooo far away still!!

Ah that's where you all are! Checking in x

@Skylark1990, I'm 9+1 and also have some cramping, pulling, stabbing etc down there pretty much everyday. Yesterday a weird pulling sensation started around lunchtime and lasted until late evening. But it's the period-like cramps that scare me the most. What are yours like?
Hope it's just because everything is expanding nicely down there!

@cheekysausage wow that scan is amazing, it's incredible how quickly they start to look like babies!!! I'm coming up to 8wks.
Time seems to be going so slowly, normally my weeks go so fast but I'm counting every day, wanting it to be a week closer. I don't think I'll start enjoying the pregnancy until after my 20wk scan as then I'll know everything is okay!

@Skylark1990 thanks lovely. I'm tentatively thinking I will go for one. I might try window to the womb has anyone used them? The place I went to on sat was just a small independent family run one so I'm worrying maybe it wasn't all that legit not quite sure what rules are in place for scanning clinics 🤔

I'm 11 weeks today and no date for my dating scan yet! Had my booking appointment on Wednesday and the midwife said that a scan appointment will be triggered from that, so I was really hoping it would arrive in the post today, but OH has said there's nothing from the postman today. Could really do with knowing soon so I can book the time off at work!