Due end of Aug/Sept babies 🤞🏻

[LuckyStar511]

Hi all,
obvs still very early days. I’m currently 4+4 and just trying to enjoy it really. Just wondering if anyone wanted to join me to share early symptoms, how you’re managing to hide symptoms, how you’ll reveal your pregnancy to loved ones etc. and all the other bits and bobs on this journey 🥰

It's still an ultrasound. Definitely worth reading the actual research behind it to put your mind at ease. Being pregnant is really bad for anxiety. You start doubting everything.

Hope you are okay x

So the nausea now isn't too bad, but by teatime I either cook something and can't eat it or just don't fancy anything. And the one night I ate something I had bad stomach ache/pains and a lot of gas.

Is anyone the same? It's so difficult as need to eat little and often to not feel nauseous once hungry!

So sorry for everyone who’s had bad news/is feeling anxious about things today. The first trimester is really horrible in this regard.

I had my early scan today ,I was measuring 8+1 with heartbeat seen. The sonographer did point out that I have a large corpus luteum cyst which will probably rupture, trying not to be anxious about that and the potential for more bleeding.

Really hope those going for scans soon have a positive experience 🤞

Anyone stressing out about how they'll cope financial...my company provide 0 maternity benefits 🙄

@Soopyjoopy I believe ultrasound uses soundwaves not radiation.

@cinnamonbiscuit thats lovely news!
I’ve got my early scan on Friday which just so happens to be Friday 13th, trying not to overthink that!
Aside from that I’ve been having a nap during my lunch hour when working from home last week but I’m in the office two days this week and wondering how I’m going to manage! Feel like a toddler lol

@Nypie Trying not to stress, but we're both self employed so we just simply won't have any income when/if we're both taking time off...

In symptoms news, I've been feeling really lightheaded and dizzy lately whenever I get up, very uncomfortable!

Happy Sunday everyone. I have pain in my left side the past few days. Not unbearable but it’s making me panic as it’s only on one side and I know that’s the side I ovulated from. I thought normal cramps would be all over not just on the left.

Anyone else experiencing this? I had a scan on Friday which showed everything normal and a strong heartbeat so trying not to worry but I can’t lie, it’s making me want to book another scan just to check. I thought the cramps would come and go but this seems to be constant. Possibly related to digestion seeing as your lower colon is on that side but you know what it’s like when doctor google comes into action!!

@nypie do they provide statutory? They should do. How about your husbands / partners company? I’m a bit worried about my job security (they’ve restructured out pregnant people before) and may split parental leave so I do the first 10 weeks and my husband takes 15 weeks or so. I’d love a full year at home looking after the baby but it might just not be viable . I’d still breastfeed for 10 weeks fully and then mixed feeding afterwards

@Nypie We are! We are both employed by the same company but have no maternity benefits either (just SMP).

We’re just saving what we can in the run up and have estimated how much time off I can survive on, we’re not entitled to any benefits either really just child benefit at about £20 a week. What worries me is how we’re going to afford childcare when I go back to work!

Nypie I used to work evenings and weekends then moved into night shift job when my girls were little. All because my partner earns way more than me so I decided to work around him. I am afraid it's sacrifice we have to take as parents. We were also not entitled to benefits, back then living and renting in London it was tough. You can obviously try to pay for childcare but I would say unless you are on very good salary there is no point to work for free.

@Nypie im the same. Well we get 6 weeks full pay then it’s statutory. It’s going to be a huge adjustment but it’ll be worth the sacrifices we have to make I’m sure. Childcare is the next terrifying thought! 😱

I’m the same. Just statutory at my work too so I’ll have to save what I can. Childcare is the biggest cost issue

@Ellenn I’m so so sorry for your loss, and your words and outlook are so inspiring. ♥️ sending lots of love to you x

just catching up and to everyone who has talked about the anxiety, I’m with you! I’ve got my first scan on Thursday and feel like I’m a bag of nerves. I’ve had on off cramping and keep trying to tell myself it’s just everything making room etc.

im just so scared after my last lost that I’ll go to the toilet and see signs of mc again. With the last one I had a reassurance scan at 6 weeks and all was fine, then at 10 weeks we found out there was no heartbeat and it’s throwwwwwing me ♥️ sorry to be triggering to anyone reading - I’m just holding my breath to get past that point. I think it will be a really positive milestone, just praying that I can get there.

also weirdly feeling no nausea? With the last two pregnancies I had immediate sickness, with this I’ve just had a tired, dizzy feeling. Might mean nothing but 👀♥️

Babydustmamma fingers crossed for your scan, I'm sure everything goes well, on and off cramps are quite common in early pregnancy. Weirdly I started to experience tummy tightening today it sounds a bit to early but I try to not compare to previous pregnancies, as it was ages ago lol. Similar to you I just get tired, hungry more often and if I go for too long hungry I get headache and feel dizzy.

@Moni81 thanks lovely! You’re right actually about the leaving the gap between food and the dizziness! Need to remember to graze more often haha ♥️

thank you for the well wishes for the scan and reassurance ♥️ I must remember that every pregnancy is different!

Catching up on the thread. Sending love to those who have experienced loss and worry.

I'm very fortunate to have pretty great maternity cover at work (full pay for first 3 months, half pay for the next 3 months, then SMP). But I am worrying about childcare and we're also hoping to buy a house soon. Money worries just go hand in hand with raising a family really.

Time is going so slowly atm. And just seems to be a series of countdowns, countdown to first scan, countdown to meeting the midwife, countdown to telling people... But, trying to stay relaxed and positive and just take each day as it comes.

Anyone started with any food aversions or cravings yet?

Might have been a little dramatic there 😂😂😂 we get SMP. Its 6week on 90% and then the SMP rate which will go up in April, so thats good news my partner earns a decent wage and can get good commission but in this current climate its a lot harder. Im just worried about earning less than half of what I would and my own independence (first rodeo) but I know people make it work with less

@Notmulan that sucks about your job security its such a stressful time you don't need more stress! My companines being taken over so I'm worried about potentially being made redundant 🙄

@Cat1424 we also need to start saving more! Im pretty good with my money but DP not so much 😂 and I can be quite impulsive one side says save save save the other sides saying this is our last chance to travel without the responsibilities.

@laurapalmer22 that should honestly be against the law. Will you be able to get benefits?

@Moni81 it is very hard, we'll be in the same position living london. My biggest saving grace is that if my mum could just take the baby and raise as her own she probably would so child care won't be too expensive for us.

@ClaBro1 you're so right it will be worth it. And the next job I get maternity benefits will be the first thing I look at.

@Babydustmamma so sorry your feeling this way what a terrible experience to go through. Don't worry about being triggering just get it out. Im so hopefully for you and your bean. I also haven't had too much sickness very tired though and good test, lets count ourselves lucky for now xx

Also catching up with the thread, so sorry for anyone with bad news or those with worries and waiting for scans etc.

I'm 7+3 today, scan is booked in a weeks time and I feel like this week is my worst for anxiety that something is going to go wrong. Trying to just think what will be will be, and wish time could hurry up to get to the scan.

@DandelionPockets food aversions are one of the hardest things for me, I'm really struggling every night to decide on anything to eat, and most things I then do want to eat are not the healthiest! I'm usually such a planner with meal plans etc so I'm finding it really difficult never knowing what I want. I have to like get an idea in my head the night before and keep trying to tell myself that's what I want to eat so that I'll be able to eat it the next day 🙈

@DandelionPockets ohh 3 months would be great! We're also hoping to buy, where we live atm wouldn't be good to raise a baby.

Mine is mainly smell I smelt twiglets on my partners breath that was not pleasant he also made this fizzy drink concunction that I could smell even when he took it out of the room 🤢

@Nypie I'll get Maternity Allowance (same amount as SMP) but my partner won't get anything as far as we can tell. I think we'll be OK living off of savings and we're lucky to be in an industry that pays well. Still very unnerving, especially as we live in London too.

@DandelionPockets No food aversions for me yet but ever since I found out I was pregnant I've been craving vegetables, especially leafy greens, fruit, and generally healthy stuff like soup and ginger. I can only thank my body for being sensible at this stage because I'm sure it'll change in due time!

Hope everyone is doing ok, also catching up on the thread.

I have never heard of child benefit so did some Googling and it sounds like you get it if both partners earn less than £50,000 and then up to £60,000 you get part clawed back through a tax charge. If so that's a bonus as I had no idea about that!

Are there any other benefits or anything to be aware of?

I've not really thought about childcare yet but I know others have said it's expensive and they take more days off when returning from maternity leave due to it costing the same as childcare so may as well be at home with them.

Does anyone's partner work shifts, if so any idea on the best childcare for that as I've heard they usually want you to do set days but that just won't work for us!

@Havanalily1806 me too, the food I want is basically chips and nuggets which is weird because my favourite foods are normally curries and stir fries!

@Nypie oh you poor thing. I had to run out the kitchen this morning because the smell of sausages my partner was cooking made me feel really really ill! Dreading what will happen at work with some of the food colleagues bring in for lunches 😂

@laurapalmer22 oh wow, yeah definitely make the most of the healthy cravings!

@Owlgirl14 most nurseries, childminders and preschools etc you do have to do the same regular days as they have to make sure they have the correct staff to child ratios so they can’t really do it on an ad hoc basis

@Nypie you’ve made me laugh with the twig let’s 😂♥️ and yes, great way to look at it!

for everyone mentioning the maternity leave pay/rights, I’d really recommend pregnant then screwed! They’re such a great source of information and help - really pioneer for women and families and it’s women led (they’re on insta etc) x

Help! I’ve just had a huge breakdown looking for ‘office’ clothes to wear tomorrow. I’m only 8+4 and even trousers that were falling down before Christmas I can no longer fasten. Baggy dresses are no longer baggy either. I didn’t think I’d even got much of a bump yet!

Has anyone got any suggestions for best ways to hide it at work before I manage to get some new baggy clothes?