Anyone due in April 2024? #2

[olderthanyouthink]

Setting up a new thread!

1st- greenvelvetdress rainbow baby #1
2nd-
3rd- Caitlin991 #2 Growinganaries #1 SurreyPsych #2
4th-
5th-
6th-
7th- LouH93 #1
8th- SeasideSunshineSussex #1
9th- Rainbow890, wiedehopf #1
10th-
11th-
12th- hopefulmum46 #1, Sangels267 #1
13th- GinAndBearIt90 #3 Faban#2
14th-
15th-
16th- Poppins2016 #3
Olderthanyouthink #3
Cinderz123 #2
17th-
18th- FingersCrossedXXX #2 🌈
19th-
20th- sugarplum33 #2
Emilyj13
21st- LBW1292 #1, CinderRosie #2
22nd-
23rd- BEL88 #2🌈 Janeykat #2 🌈
24th-
25th- PerfectPairOfPlums
26th- WanderingthroughWildflowers #1
27th-
28th-
29th-
30th

I've never had the flu vaccination before even though I'm eligible for it through work - I'm terrible with injections so I avoid them where possible! Probably will have it this time around, although I am quite wary of it as I know it can make you feel horrendous after having it. Not sure I would have another COVID booster if offered, considering the lack of good data on its long term benefits/harms.

@Poppins2016 I'm not sure that's true. I looked it up a month ago and pregnancy was one of the categories of vulnerability that counted as eligible for the autumn booster campaign. I'd check yourself rather than take her word for it (I'll try to find the info again too).

I had two doses of Pfizer during 2021 lockdowns while pregnant. I had no problems and was very grateful to have it. I have heard that Astrazeneca was rough on some pregnant women but I'm pretty sure it's no longer offered anyway?

@Poppins2016 it's here, on p. 24 of the guidance on the autumn booster programme
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1182341/Greenbook-chapter-14a-4September2023.pdf

@WolfMother326 that's interesting (and frustrating), I stand (very happily) corrected! Thank you. I'll bring it up with the midwife again when I next see her... and/or with the practice nurse when I have my flu vaccine in a couple of weeks time. I wonder whether she's perhaps unaware of the new guidance because there doesn't appear to have been a vaccine booster program over the summer... although one would hope she'd be up to date... 🤔

The info is also available here (for those who don't want to scroll through a pdf)!

https://healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/08/08/covid-autumn-booster-vaccine-2023-everything-you-need-to-know/

@hopefulmum46 @Greenvelvetdress just tagging you both as my earlier post was incorrect!

@CB23CB In my last pregnancy I had covid and flu at the same time at around 9 weeks. I was hospitalised as I literally could not breathe. Safe to say I will be having whatever vaccines are available to me this time to avoid such an experience!

Thanks everyone. I had the flu jab about 7 or 8 years ago and was unwell afterwards. Never had it since but I feel like it's not just me now.
My midwife appointment is the day after my doctors is doing a flu clinic which is a pain but I'd rather talk to them and then get the jab sorted afterwards.
Happy Wednesday everyone!

@sugarplum33 I was mostly feeling rough in the afternoon/evening, but as of yesterday and today it's looking like it's now a full day event 😅. Have to be in the office today too so that's just great haha.

@ASGIRC I was also worrying about not feeling rubbish - I take it back 😂 this baby is kicking my head in now.

I'll get whatever vaccines they offer me. I wouldn't normally qualify for a free flu vaccine but I have paid for one the past couple of years as I used to work with the public and wanted the extra protection. I know you're more vulnerable in pregnancy to flu so more than happy to have it.
I had all my covid vaccines and boosters but never really had any side effects so also happy to have that. I felt like death when I had covid so would be happy to try and limit that experience if I caught it again.

@WolfMother326 AstraZeneca was rough full stop! I wasn't pregnant when I had it but my god I felt unwell. I think that's partly what is making me reluctant to have a COVID booster, even though the Moderna I had afterwards was fine. Like @Bluesky85 and @CluelessInLondon have said it just feels a bit more of an unknown compared to the well established flu and whooping cough vaccines. I didn't think it would be offered to us but knowing that pregnant women are on the list I'll have to have a good think about it.

@Butterfliesandroses That sounds terrifying, you poor thing.

How is everyone doing this morning? My bedside table of snacks has made a reappearance and I've started today with a bag of mini cheddars in bed to ward off the sicky feeling. I feel like all I do all day is eat carbs to make myself feel better and I'm going to be the size of a house soon!

@Bugdem123 Oh god that's not good, I hope today isn't too bad for you.

I think that's the thing with the Covid jab, I felt terrible after my first vaccine but getting Covid itself was just a couple of days of mild cold symptoms for me so my view is probably skewed towards the vaccine being worse than the illness. Your vaccines were fine but Covid itself was awful so you're looking at it completely differently. With so many people having different experiences of having the vaccines and then getting Covid it's probably going to be a more divisive one!

@sugarplum33 me too 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I ate a whole baked camembert to myself the other night hahah and just keep eating slices of toast with butter 😂

Hey everyone! Hope you're all okay!
Has anyone any good remedies for constipation?? Im 7+1 and its really upsetting me that I haven't been able to go to the toilet in 3 days sorry tmi🥲 x

Has anyone been given iron tablets at their booking in appointment? The midwife gave me iron tablets and told me to take one a day. This was before they’ve actually tested my blood. It seems like a standard issue thing. However the leaflet that comes with them says don’t take before 13 weeks. I know if I call the midwife she’ll reiterate I need to take them as a precautionary measure. I’m a bit confused!

@Greenvelvetdress Omg that sounds so good 🤤

@Bexxy28 Have you tried prunes? I'm a bit bunged up myself 🥴

@Bluesky85 Ive got my booking in appointment this afternoon so I'll find out soon but I wasn't given any in my first pregnancy. If you're already taking a pregnancy supplement that contains iron and your bloods haven't yet indicated any issues I'm surprised they'd want you to start taking them but maybe advice has changed. Certainly iron tablets can cause constipation so if you're taking extra then get yourself on the prunes!

My midwife yesterday said to take folic acid and vitamin D but didn't say anything about iron. I said that I was a bit worried I might be anaemic so she recommended getting my booking bloods done as soon as possible but still didn't suggest taking iron as a precaution (I am on some as I'm taking Seven Seas pregnancy vitamins). Do you have a history of iron deficiency or anaemia?

@sugarplum33 yeah I did mention my pregnancy supplement already contains iron and she said it would only contain a small amount. Well had diarrhoea on and off for 5 weeks so would welcome a bit of solidity!

@hopefulmum46 no I have no history of anaemia so found it a bit weird, it seems quite a high dose too.

@Bluesky85 Yeah I don't think the supplements always contain the full recommended amount and I suppose it depends how much you are managing to eat iron rich foods. At least the constipation isn't so much of a concern 🤣

@Bexxy28 I’m getting bad constipation, I’ve been eating grapes, prunes and orange juice to help things. Normally would have a couple of strong coffees but that’s not allowed!

@sugarplum33 yes it was me who said the nausea comes at different times of day... I've had 8am-2pm nausea then ok for rest of the day other days I've felt sick all evening and night after being ok all day. I've felt quite retchy the last 2 mornings, I am getting up at 6:30am for work and commuting by car or bus which isn't helping. The weekend where I get a slower start I feel much better.

@CinderRosie Sounds very similar! You're 7+4 too aren't you? It's a bit tricky not knowing how you're going to feel each day to plan around it a bit. Last night I felt absolutely fine whereas normally that would be one of the worst times. Urgh the commuting is really hard, it's so miserable feeling so rubbish and nobody knowing. You've done 3 days of commuting now though so you're over half way through the week and can enjoy the rest at the weekend.

@sugarplum33 yep 7+4. Slowly crawling through this first trimester! I'm actually working on Saturday but DH will give me a lift so it's not quite so bad, then I'll have Sunday and Monday off. Cannot wait....

Morning all! 7+1 here and feeling absolutely knackered 😴

Looking for some views on how to choose where to book a private early scan. There are a few options near me and it would be good to know, from those of you who have done this already, what factors you think are important.

Option 1 has good appointment times, mostly good reviews, some negative reviews re their support with any issues at an early scan. Seems more focused on 4d/gender scans and selling extra products.

Option 2 has an internal scanner available, seems quite medical focused and mentions a lot that it is run by a consultant obstetrician supervising the sonographers. Very few online reviews. Limited appointment times which don't really suit, a big downside.

Option 3 has good reviews, but no internal scanner as far as I can tell, and seems a bit strict about not offering any follow up/repeat if you turn out to be less than 8 weeks and they can't see enough. I'm hoping to go when I'm 8+2, reasonably confident of dates.

Any insights from your own experience very much appreciated!

Morning ladies, hope you are all doing well.
I’ve had a bit of a rocky few days, had quite a bit of brown blood on Monday and managed to get a scan at epu yesterday afternoon. According to my LMP I would be 6+3 but was measuring 5 ‘and a bit’.

The midwife could see a pregnant sac and yolk and the beginnings of a pregnancy but not much else. I’ve to go back next week where the baby should have grown enough to see and measure. I’m worried that I’m just delaying bad news by another week. Has anyone had any experience of measuring behind? These first few weeks are torture!!

@Doodlestar Personally I would go to a place that can definitely offer an internal scan, in case they can't see much with an abdominal scan - I had a scan last weekend where they tried abdominal first but couldn't see enough so had to do internal, I wouldn't have wanted to be told 'sorry, we can't see very much and we can't scan internally so you'll have to leave'! Otherwise I'm not sure there are huge differences between the different providers of these services.

@xxcxdonxx I was measuring behind at my early scan - I was 7+5 based on LMP but they measured at 6+1 so 11 days behind. I was (and still am) quite worried about that as it seems like quite a lot, but I'm not 100% on my ovulation date as I wasn't tracking ovulation closely enough to be certain, and they did manage to see a heartbeat so that was a positive. Haven't decided yet whether to go for another scan yet or just wait for 12 weeks, but I've got my booking appointment on Monday so I'll decide after that. Fingers crossed for you that you get more assurance next week!

Is anyone else finding purple bruises on themselves I keep finding random ones in places I definitely haven’t hit like the inner thigh!
They’re quite lumpy like a really bad bruise 😩