Due May 2023 - thread two

[Flowersflowers121]

Hiiii everyone. Thread two as the first one filled up :)

I have been using a home doppler everyday to listen to the heartbeat before I get up in the morning since week 11 - I know I know most people think doppler is bad idea but personally since I always find it within seconds I feel very assuring until I can feel the move. My worry is of course if one day I wake up to no heartbeat it would be too late to rush to hospital......

I had my 16 week appointment today and was only in there about 5 minutes! I didn't get to hear the heartbeat, the midwife said it isn't something they do there anymore! Will just have to wait for my 20 week scan on 29th December.

I have been having a feeling in my tummy for around the last week but only a few times, told the midwife as she thinks it is the baby being in a position that rests on a muscle or nerve and that is what I can feel!

@CatMad22 and @IWillBeWaxingAnOwl I’m so glad your scans went well.

Sorry to those who haven’t heard the heartbeat, it seems to be very much hit and miss, depending where you are. I think these kind of things can be really disappointing though.

We had a private scan last night, to keep me going until my 20 week scan (16th December).

The baby was all curled up so we couldn’t see his/her face but we saw the heartbeat and the sonographer said the baby looked about the right size for 18+4. She pointed to the baby’s stomach and said it was a good size and she said that there was plenty of fluid around the baby. She could see the baby’s bladder and said that meant the baby was drinking and weeing!!!

It’s a good job we didn’t want to know the sex of the baby, as we couldn’t see much other than their spine!!

@Blue2020 @Zaalfruit
Thanks for your input, I would have been approx 11 weeks at the time of the scan image posted I did have another mid November. Still no talk just felt dismissed, no report just on my uterus measurements and Ovaries which was fine. I feel so challenged and then another person told me they could see a foot then another a femur. I feel like a pest but told to insist it be investigated further as bub might not be showing within the perimeters due to tilted uterus, no movement to date but would be approx 18 weeks and counting. My GP trips are getting to me mentally and I practically smile to myself knowing how predictable her text or narrative is going to be. This is Mid November someone told me they see a foot????? A femur as bones are usually bright but I fail to see this. Am I missing something. My health is otherwise great with pathology etc. Can't have TV as have had before and I leave spotting light pink for a day and half 2 days after the TV ultrasound therefore my GP agrees with me on one thing not to do TV anymore just abdo with full bladder. Kidneys, liver, spleen ovaries everything else is fine. I hope this child if there is one isn't squashed up or multiples distorting the pic. I would feel terrible but not at fault as no one is picking this up. I will attach the Nov scan for any feedback of feet or femur. Can you tell me the points they have marked out as no one explained again. TiA

@MissBee02 it might be useful to start a seperate thread in the pregnancy topic as I know it's been a long confusing journey for you so far, with lots of medical twists and turns.

1. what does the GP think is happening? You said dismissive - do they think you are not pregnant?
2. what do the sonographers think is happening? What do they say is in the images eg which organs etc?
3. follow up Q to the above - if GP and sonography don't think you are pregnant, what is their explanation for pregnancy levels of HCG and prolactin in the bloods? Have you been referred to gynaecology or endocrinology?
4. who said they could see a foot/femur? If they weren't a medical professional I would ignore this to be honest as scans are really hard to read if you aren't a professional.
5. spotting is only usually due to cervical irritation - its uncomfortable but doesn't risk your health or any potential babies health, so I'm confused why they wouldn't try a transvaginal scan to help clarify things.

Sorry if you've said any of this before!

@IWillBeWaxingAnOwl
I have been referred to an Ob/Gyn however the waiting list is 3 months +.
My firmed sister is a sono tech and told me to insist as they can see a foot and or femur. All pathology indicates pregnancy and urine tests different samples on different brands on different batches. I feel they will lock me up if I present again. Just going to wait for movement as I have heard my sis in law say that can't be made up it's a genuine feeling. I'm getting like butterfly feelings like I'm over excited or anxious weird feelings. I keep telling my GP who insists on concentrating on counselling for my past trauma as a priority. I just want to get straight answers. She spends an hr trying to counsell me for a past DV relationship it's ridiculous and I am trying to separate the 2. I will just wait it out. If a baby comes along they probably still won't believe me. I might as well get ready at home and set up. It's so frustrating. I do everything they ask and they don't have any words for me when I want to check. Thanks I will be ok. If I go about life as usual and something untoward happens to either which I pray it doesn't there will be a malpractice complaint made. Diabetes (partner and myself )and Rheumatic Heart Fever are with partner and asthma Xx

@MissBee02 I would feel so frustrated in your position ! With bloods that say "pregnant" I don't see why they are so focused on counselling (I mean definitely get that too, but it's no relevant to this! Also your GP wouldn't usually be qualified to offer counselling and shouldn't be...). Fingers crossed that it all becomes clear past 20weeks

@MissBee02 I second what @IWillBeWaxingAnOwl said about trying to start a new thread about this.
Pop all the history and details down in the initial post and maybe someone will have had a similar experience or they might be a midwife or sonographer even.
(Sorry if you’ve already done this, in the last hour or so.)
I don’t have any advice I’m sorry. I do really feel for you though, as it’s sounds horrific what you’ve been going through. The unknown is horrible.
I don’t know what to say, as I know very little medically. The only thing I can say is that I’ve got a retroverted uterus and they often have trouble seeing all of my baby. I had to have lots of TV scans. If the irritation and bleeding to the cervix doesn’t harm the baby (which I don’t think it does), would it not be worth trying it once more? I know it’s scary, having spotting etc. but it’s a fairly common thing and perhaps that isn’t as bad as not knowing what’s going on.
Has anyone tried listening to a heartbeat?

Thank you @i83 and @AlwaysTryingToHelp! I told work on Wednesday and they were lovely about it, nothing to worry about at all. I also have my 16 week midwife appointment on Tuesday, I'll be 17 + 2 though.

On another topic, has anyone had a pregnancy rash yet? I've had terrible itching on my boobs and neck on and off for a couple of weeks, I think a bath bomb has triggered it today. So so itchy :(

Doctors don't care so I've been treating it myself with creams. I'll show the midwife on Tuesday but wondered if anyone had any advice or has had similar?

@CatMad22 i had terrible itching all over my body in early pregnancy, which was caused by a reaction to Pregnacare. I stopped taking it and it wore off in a couple of days. Is it possible it’s something like that? Your body can change it’s tolerance to things.

I found oat baths really helped - put a sock full of oats on the bath tap so the water passes through them.

No problems with skin here @CatMad22 so no advice I'm afraid! Have you stayed moisturized with a basic cream eg E45?

I'm still super tired - half asleep at 6pm, slept 11-8am and still struggled to get out of bed!

Anyone else had bad lower back pain? Especially when I’ve been sitting on the floor (dog isn’t well so I’ve been giving her lots of cuddles!) and I genuinely struggle to get up again!

No back pain, but! I am struggling to put my socks on 😳 it's just such a huge effort to navigate my foot up to where I can reach it!

Yes @Awkwardusername - sciatic type pain down back and bum!

@CatMad22 I have had a small red rash on my breast, about the size of a 50p. I called the doctors and they saw me straight away. (I think because it was on my breast they were concerned). They gave me some antibiotic cream and it cleared up within a few days. At the weekend I have had two of the exact same patches come up on my stomach, I have started using the cream on those too and they are much better again today, It is called Fucidin Cream. The doctor told me it was probably because of the hormonal changes in my body!

@Awkwardusername I did have back pain yesterday but I think that was after decorating the Christmas tree on Saturday! I will defiantly get DH to take it down after Christmas! haha

@Awkwardusername I also get bad back pain just on one side of lower back, especially when I've been sitting down, certain chairs seem to make it worse than others!

Did anyone start feeling movement which then stopped?

I'm not sure if I should be worried. I felt things at 16 weeks, nothing this week and I'll be 18 weeks tomorrow.

FTM so no idea if this is normal?

I have nothing to indicate that anything is wrong, but I did trip up quite hard on Saturday.

@TheBeesKnee I think normal. Especially since they say don't expect movement until 20 wks and no pattern until 24 +. At the moment if they move at all you won't then feel them eg if they rotate a bit so feet are towards spine. So they could be moving just as much but not felt.

I think I've felt a couple of movements now - hard to say but I've had a couple of moments where I thought it felt like a little stroke from inside.

I finally told my manager that I'm pregnant and it was REALLY WEIRD.

He started off basically asking me if it was planned, I was so taken aback that I just garbled something about the timing not being ideal.

I'm now on annual leave for a week and I just feel so weird and awkward about the whole thing.

@Awkwardusername I have been suffering with back pain, lower spine I feel it’s my right leg movement that is cause of the pain. Sitting in certain positions or on lower sofa can make it worse. I’m only 16 weeks though and hope it doesn’t get worse as baby and bump get bigger.

@TheBeesKnee I’ve had intermittent movements felt. Sometimes I think “that so strong” and then I might not feel anything for a day or two. I’ve felt the little one flip once I’m sure and a few kicks. But nothing I can build a pattern on yet.
I’ve also been interested to find out how early movements are in 2nd pregnancy and if any earlier the second time.

Has anyone had to have early Gestational diabetes test? Or Low PAPPA?
I have my GTT test results back tomorrow and worried about the strict dieting again, but also worried about PAPPA and how smoothly this pregnancy will go.
Some women are so lucky to have it easy and breeze though it, no issues (my manager being one, she told me how easy she found pregnancy and birth) I feel like I always have issues. Although it’s only my 2nd experience

@TheBeesKnee thats really inappropriate! I don’t know why some people are obsessed with whether it was planned or not, I’ve been asked a few times, but it’s not in any way okay for your boss to ask you! That said it’s done now, it’s for the employer to make whatever arrangements they need to make, and you just need to enjoy your annual leave.

@MissNat13 This is my 2nd pregnancy, I’m 17 + 3 and haven’t felt any movements yet, not concerned though.

I also have low PAPP-A (0.34). Also not too worried about this. I had a couple of days of anxiety following the news but I’ve joined a FB support group and most of the women sharing their experience come back to report healthy weight babies born close to term, so I think in most cases it doesn’t cause too much issues. Also, and I know each pregnancy is different, but my first baby was a whopper at 9 lbs 8oz so I never imagined having a small baby - in fact I’d been worrying about pushing out a 10lber!!

Hows your pregnancy been so far? How old is your first?

@Janch13 I’m on a Facebook group for low PAPPA and most of them do have positive experiences apart from the odd post.
we’ve got private scan Monday so I’m looking forward to getting update on babys well-being and gender. Just waiting for my glucose blood results today.

i did feel more ill in the first trimester was definitely worse this time but now that’s past it’s better, apart from the back/hip pain

hope you pregnancy is going well

@raffika @AlwaysTryingToHelp @IWillBeWaxingAnOwl thank you for your replies! I worked out that my itchy skin was triggered by an out of date bath bomb (whoops!)

I bought Eucerin cream and it really helped, also used a mild hydrocortisone for a few days, plus swapped to Sanex shower gel, in case that helps anyone else!

I only take folic acid and vitamin D on their own so no reactions from those - does anyone take any 'superfood' or additional supplements? I've found with research that most of them are a no no during pregnancy - even companies who make vitamin/superfood drinks have responded to my question saying 'speak to your GP' so they won't confirm if something is safe or not.

I know I probably don't need them, I just want to add something else healthy to my diet.

I take a range of supplements @CatMad22 - vitamin b complex (that includes full dose folic acid), vit D, iron, magnesium & zinc, a probiotic and vegan omega 3s (DHA and EPA). If I don't have orange juice I also have a vit C tablet. My diet is pretty good and varied but mostly vegan so need some of the additional boosts! I was worried about low iron but all bloods game back spot on 🙂