October - into the second trimester!

[Needtobuildabridge]

Hi all,

Getting close to 4 threads filled - here's number 5!

@VictoriaBlossom I've heard the same - I think they're safe from the Ultrasound levels but if you hear the heartbeat one time then can't find it later it'll cause panic. I think the blood through the placenta can also mimic the heartbeat so can give false peace of mind - my experience is that they are always happy for you to go in and be monitored if you're worried about anything, so that's the the best option.

@iloveeggs you can get numbing throat sprays with lidocaine in them that work a treat! Safe to use in pregnancy too, just Google the specific brand in case there are any additional ingredients.

@VictoriaBlossom Dopplers can give false reassurance when you should be actually seeking advice instead of relying on them. Especially if you are not trained to use them. I wouldn't buy one.

@iloveeggs gargle warm salty water, it helps!

Thank you. In my eyes I was thinking exactly what you guys have been saying. But wanted some reassurance that it's not worth spending £60 on one 😂

@Alexandra07 I was only 10+1 when I went for my 12 week scan. She said they couldn’t perform the screening as baby only measured 35mm and it needed to be about 45 I think she said. So they rebooked me for another 2 weeks.

I would say you’ll probably be fine but if not they will just ask you to go back (bonus is you get to see baby again 😊). Some other girls here have had to go back too. Not because they were too early just when baby wasn’t cooperating so I think the midwives are used to asking people to come back 🙂 x

@DancingNancies @Alexandra07 Thanks so much girls, it feels like swallowing glass right now 😓

@VictoriaBlossom I was thinking of getting one but the reviews aren’t great tbh, i think it can give you false readings if you pick up something thinking its the heartbeat.
however my friends had one and they loved it! Xxx

Is that your 12 week? Best of luck. I know I can always book another private scan before the 20 week if I'm still feeling really anxious.

@OrionNebula Yep it's my 12 week but i'll be 13 weeks at that stage. I'd a scan at 6/8 and 12 weeks and all was good but can't help but worry and feel super anxious. Just having a bad day I think, waiting for the NIPT results, feeling super sick and run down too so I think it's all a factor.

It would be no harm to book a private scan at some stage if you get super anxious. Thinking of you, I know the anxious feeling.

Sorry that should be 6/8/11 weeks not 12

@Alexandra07 I had my 12 week scan today and I was 11+5 - they managed to successfully get all the measurements needed xx

@AlongcameLainey I’ve booked one for 27/04 when I’ll be 16+4 🥰

We’re on our way home from the wedding now - I’m starving so it’s a maccies on the way home! Things are definitely moving and stretching now (I’m 14 +2)

@OrionNebula I've also had periods of feeling really off and at times totally convinced that I've had a missed miscarriage, even though absolutely no evidence for it! 12 week scan is a week tomorrow, I would love a private scan this week but DS is off school and doesn't know yet so wouldn't want him coming in case bad news.

Can I ask, is there anyone here who normally gets acne/spots in their premenstrual period who also is getting it now? I normally only get spots just before my period and in my last pregnancy I had amazing skin. But this time I've been getting quite a few spots (those really annoying deep ones that never come to a head) even though I wear much less makeup and have a much better skincare routine than last time! It's one of the things making me worried that I have dropping hormone levels, silly I know because it's very common in pregnancy but wasn't my experience at all last time!

@Jealousofchiliheeler my skin has been terrible, exactly the same kind of spots as you too - and my previous 2 pregnancies I had the best skin I've ever had! 12w scan yesterday was absolutely fine so try not to worry 🙃

@Jealousofchiliheeler yes to the deep spots!!!!
Getting them on my cheeks and forehead.
Feel you on the mmc side of things, my 12 week scan is Monday and deep down I don't want to take my other half with me because of having him with me on the first scans last year and I felt like such a failure for having a miscarriage. He is so supportive and my absolute best friend but it doesn't stop me being filled with dread.

I feel you completely, I've barely had any symptoms which makes it hard too. Had sickness twice in the whole 11 weeks, the only thing I've got to identify me being pregnant is sore nips!

@Jealousofchiliheeler my skin is HORRENDOUS… I’ve had 2 scans already and all was fine. Had all my bloods done including NIPT and all was fine. I don’t think it’s due to decreasing hormones, quite the opposite? It is hormones playing havoc with your skin 🥹🥹🥹🥹

hope this reassures you x

Had our 12 week scan yesterday and all was well!! All that worrying and there was a cute little wriggly baby waving at us!

The NHS scan experience I wouldn't say was the best (baby was being a monkey and not co-operating!!) Our scan picture is pretty blurry and you can't see too much, but the main thing is baby is well!! The sonographer didn't really go into any detail apart from baby is healthy, measuring bang on 12 weeks, 2 arms and legs and a heartbeat.

They couldn't get the NT measurement because of baby's position, and wouldn't do the blood test without the scan... she said my only option now is getting it done at 16 weeks just via bloods (no scan) which I'm not really comfortable with waiting that long, so we've booked a private NIPT - the bonus is we're going to ask to find out the gender at the same time so we will know sooner than planned!

I'm interested to know anyone's experience with NIPT testing or if anyone has been through similar?

Like OP's I have been getting really bad skin, mainly on my upper back, I forgot about this from my first pregnancy! oh the joys!
I've got a few in my face but nothing horrendous just like normal time of the month spots but just all the time!

I've got my 12 week NHS scan late this afternoon with DH, mixture of excitement and nervousness. I had one at 8 weeks and saw the heartbeat but still a bit of anxiety around the tests!

If it seems all ok we will tell DD afterwards which is exciting

Great news @FirstTimeMamaB! I have my private NIPT this morning so will let you know about our experience.

I am assuming they always scan you first for an NIPT? We’re travelling a long way so really hoping for a scan and not just a blood test!

@FirstTimeMamaB I wasn't sure of dates with DC2 (no period between stopping the pill and positive test!) so by the time we had our 12w scan I was 14w and it was too late to do the NT via scan. I had the blood test at 16w on the NHS and all was fine. Obviously you've booked a private test anyway which is the best thing to do if youre anxious about it - but just to reassure you that just a blood test alone is still accurate!

Morning all. Any Irish girlies have their booking appointments through yet?? I'm 12 weeks today and registered 8 weeks ago and still nothing!

@FirstTimeMamaB I had a similar thing. Baby in total wrong position and wouldn't move. I have another scan though next week. Could they not get you back in ??

@DancingNancies @VictoriaBlossom @NSx thanks that is really reassuring!

Thank you my lovely!! Sooo pleased, my anxiety was sky high before we went in! Oh brilliant thank you so much, that would be great!!
Yeah the one we booked includes a scan and the blood tests! I think they all do. They try and get the NT measurement from the back of the neck first, then the bloods after (that was how the NHS was doing it yesterday!)

This is really great to know, thank you so much for your help!!! I think I was so thrown off and was just hoping to get it all done and was a bit panicked they couldn't do it!!

Thank god it's not just me! My baby was standing up... (Wtf?! Lol).
She did try and rescan, I went for a walk and drank loads more water to try and get baby to move. I coughed, laid on my side, nothing!! The baby would just not move no matter what I did!
I appreciate she tried twice but she didn't offer anything other than "we have to go to plan B and you just have to have bloods at your 16 week midwife appointment". I feel much better about it today and obviously we've booked the private one now but I just felt a bit like she couldn't get us out quick enough and she was quite blunt the whole way through.
Think I was just hoping for a bit of reassurance and felt like we left a bit confused and panicked that she couldn't do it!