November 2023 babies - thread 4

[AngeloMysterioso]

Here you go!

@CliniMama oooh interesting you mention a growth spurt at 15 weeks, I was exhausted last week and feel like yesterday my bump has really popped at 16+1!

I’m 18 weeks today & still not convinced on a baby being inside me! Very nervous for my 20 week scan also, that’s 2 weeks today! It’s funny, before I got pregnant I believed you have your 12 week scan then tell everyone your pregnant & then your 20 week scan is to tell you the sex! Lol.. in reality I have hardly told anybody & the fear of what actually gets checked at the 20 week scan has my anxiety through the roof! I have more energy now & zero symptoms - although I’ve been pretty symptomless anyway the whole way! Hoping after the 20 week scan anxiety fades.. although I’ve been saying this since week 4! Hope everybody is doing okay - we have all made it so far 🤍

@Sb86 same! I can’t believe the next appointment with the midwife is at 28 weeks, it feels very far away. I also think it may be an age thing, I’m definitely more of a worrier these days.

@Rebs23 yeah I was baffled as to why I was suddenly feeling so wiped out and had to take a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day this weekend! My bump is also now poppin!

@CliniMama I am the exact same! Completely exhausted and really struggling to work but that is the only symptom I have left, good to know the reason is baby is growing.
That's exciting, I have quite a bit of a belly so it will be a while before I show which is a bit annoying :D

@Travellingislife I am the exact same, I feel like I have had nothing that should indicate anything wrong yet my head is just constantly running through what ifs.
I do feel significantly better than my first trimester, anxiety wise, I hope that I will really really be able to setting at the 20 week scan, but then I have said this about every milestone! I've got a good 4 weeks to go still for my 20 week scan.

I got my screening results back today, all low risk, took 10 days from when they took the blood. However from working in a hospital I am acutely aware of how long it can take for various reasons, how big the lab is performing the tests, how much of a backlog they have and often the biggest delay being postage. If I send out patient letters it can take up to 4/5 days to make it out of the hospital due to volume of post and sorting etc etc.
Those who are still waiting I'd try and look at it as no news is good news, when my tests were done I was told 2-3 weeks for results on average and if there was a concern I would be contacted by telephone.
I'm headed towards the end of my third week signed off with multiple issues and hoping to go back on shorter hours on Monday. Can't lie I'm getting a bit bored now, especially as I'm really limited in what I can actually manage still, definitely waaaaay better than I was 2 weeks ago though!
Still waiting on my appointment for my 20 week scan as the dept was closed by the time I had seen my doctor last week, I've tried to ring the clinic quite a few times as I need to change the date of my GTT but they are super busy so never get an answer. Might just pop in when I'm back at work next week.

@FlyingHighFlyingLow I had the same worries and I was assured that although quad testing is only for downs the full anatomy 20 week scan would pick up for the other 2. Not ideal though to wait until 30 weeks especially if you had the test done and there’s been some mix up.
I couldn’t even get in for a scan until 14 weeks and that was the first time I’d had any sort of appointment, not great at all!
I hope that there’s not been a mix up and you get the results soon x

Glad to find the fourth thread! Am 16+4 and although I'm experiencing severe bloating, when it goes down I have 0 bump which is not doing my anxiety any good! I have an appointment at 18 weeks so hoping to hear or see something then! Anomaly scan isn't until 21+ 2!

I’m sorry for you all who were hoping for use of a Doppler to hear the heartbeat. They’re very liberal with use of the Doppler here, my doctor and OBGYN have been using it as early as 8 weeks, at every appointment. I even got my appointment wrong for my doc and turned up like 2 weeks early and she was like “I don’t need to see you yet but let’s go in and listen to the heartbeat so you can hear it”. Not sure why they are so stingey with it back home.

I have my next OBGYN appointment next week, and my 19 week scan on June 12.
I had been losing weight the entire time but after a 14 day road trip with my parents and eating out 2-3x a day I have officially gained 7lb. Can’t work out if I have a small bump or I just got chubby hehe.

@Psqueak87 I'm definitely with you in the possibly chubby camp 🤣 made the switch to actual maternity trousers today as I'm fed up of wearing trakkies everyday and even those aren't overly comfy. There is definitely a defined bump that I and my partner can feel lower down below my belly button and am just telling myself the rest is because it's pushing everything upwards not just pure chub 🤣🤣

I found a clothes tip by accident today.

I have some tights which only have one seam front and back. I managed to put them on the wrong way.... But they fit so much better! I haven't got much of a bum, so having the roomy side at the front was much comfier.
-if anyone wants to avoid maternity tights a bit longer it's worth a go!

@Psqueak87 ah that's great to have the reassurance and to have gained a little weight! I'm just feeling 0 now since my last scan at 12 weeks so if I don't get a scan or hear heartbeat at 18 weeks I'll book a private one!

@JD90 I have the same kind of hard area below my bellybutton. When I lie down and feel it feels rounded for sure.

I haven’t caved to the maternity jeans yet, my mom jeans still fit as I bought them really big, but someone in work taught me a trick with my skinny jeans to use a hairband to tie the button through the button hole. I think that has bought me a couple of extra weeks!

Im almost 18 weeks now, still no movements felt.

@ExcitedandNervousC1 yeah I’d be doing the same, it’s worth the money for piece of mind.

I considered buying a Doppler just to listen every night but thought it would probably cause more anxiety if I couldn’t find the heartbeat so I decided to leave it.

@Psqueak87 I considered buying a doppler too but I'm the same, I would completely panic 😂

I was hoping for summer I would just be able to buy bigger size dresses etc than bothering too much with maternity clothes, I am a bit bigger so finding maternity clothes in bigger sizes has been a struggle and I live in leggings and comfy things anyway!

Only 15+3 but I am already struggling to get comfortable enough to sleep and waking up multiple times. Think I may get a pregnancy pillow a bit early 😅

@TMI2000 I’m 15+4 and we’ve already got the pregnancy pillow out 😂 I’m starting to find that if I’m on side I need something between my knees.

I can't wait to get the pregnancy pillow out, DH is not so keen on it 😂

I'm only 14+3, first baby and I'm starting to wake up uncomfy. I'm usually a front sleeper but the pressure is already uncomfy so trying my side but it hurts my back! Then I end up rolling onto my back, but I've never been able to sleep on my back without feeling like I'm suffocating (thanks to my 34K boobs - pray for me if pregnancy makes them bigger) so then I wake up. I'm debating pillow fortress.

The combined test saga continues. Rang around this morning again to be told my results still aren't in. They think leave it another 2 weeks then they'll chase. Come off the phone, the letterbox goes and its my result (all low chance 🥳)! The result the midwives, GP and hospital all claim aren't back yet 🧐. So now I'm torn between being happy and wondering if there is a screw up and they aren't my results somehow?

I'm the same 14+4 and I'm struggling to sleep too I'm sleeping on my back propped up . I've spoken to my midwife and she said it was fine to sleep on back my boob are heavy & tender and this is my 3rd baby xx

HI everyone I'm 14+4 , I'm just wondering when you did you start to feel baby move? Felt flutters .

This is my 3rd baby so wasn't sure if you felt them earlier On?

Thank you hope everyone is ok xx

@LeeanneD11 I've been feeling bits here and there, mostly in the evenings when I'm sitting still. Since about 16w, second pregnancy.

Has anyone started feeling braxton hicks? Stomach went solid this evening and uncomfortable for a few minutes, thinking I've been getting this for a few days now looking back. But 18w seems really early?

Hey everyone, today my tummy has felt a but achey, i feel like I've really popped in last day or two, I felt pressure in my down below as well, is this normal? I'm not sure just a but uncomfortable and I'm worried that's not normal ? I'm 16+4

@FlyingHighFlyingLow if you received the letter today its possible that a similar letter landed at your gp today also and hasn't been logged into their system yet. As most places have to send their combined tests out to a different area for testing it may be as simple as they also get results in the post and not automatically on their computer system. Try not to panic, it's super unlikely you've got a letter with all your details and someone else's results! Glad you've got them though.

@38andtrying I’ve had the same this waking up this morning and I think it’s all normal. Pains down there and up the side can also be attributed to the round ligaments stretching but also your uterus is growing bigger. If you’re really concerned speak to your midwife as I’m certainly no expert just doing endless reading talking to friends further a long than me as I’ve never experienced this before!

Hi all joining in here if thats okay? I'm due Nov 17th so 16+1 with my first little miracle. I have PCOS and only one ovary, have had 3 failed IVF attempts in the past, so falling naturally with this little one without actively trying has been both a shock and a complete blessing!
I'm 41 so an older mum, but so far all is looking good. At the12 week scan baby was very active which the sonographer commented on, as he was struggling to get the measurements he need because baby just wouldn't hold still, he sent me to the loo in the end as couldn't hold any longer with him pushing away above my bladder😂, but it did the trick as was able to get the measurements needed after that!. I was worried about having the screening test because of my age bumping up the risk, but glad I did as results from measurements and bloods have come back as low risk.

Saw midwife yesterday and got to listen to the heartbeat, which was nice and stong. Not sure if this is standard in my trust, or just the fact that the midwife had just been given a new doppler and as I was her first appointment she was very keen to try it out!