Feb 2024 thread 4

[Mummapenguin20]

Thought I’d start new one as old one was full and couldn’t see the next one x

@Cheetocat sorry to hear you've had this stress. I don't think in UK they measure the nasal bone (it's just a yes/no if they have one) because it's not a great marker for downs. Hope your NIPT comes back quickly so you'll have reassurance.

If it help at all, just thinking about how big babies are at 20ish weeks, the nasal bone is always going to be super tiny. Feels like one of those things where the difference between 1st percentile to 99 percentile is only going to be a few mm so very open to measurements error depending on skill of sonographer, angle of baby etc. Your baby could actually have a 'normal' size nose anyway.

@Cheetocat I can’t offer reassurance re the nose bone but my risk was 1 in 13 but then NIPT came back low risk.
I know you will worry till you get the NIPT results (I certainly did) but try not to. Try to focus on how low the likely hood is despite the measurement.

I had my first scan since my stitch today and it was back up to 2.8 which is promising and then consultant was happy. 22+1 today.

Hope those with back pain / sickness etc find some relief

@LavenderSweetPea Yeah, it seems some places see it as important to measure and others don't. I'm Irish but in Portugal so just going with what is normal here.

You're right that babies are still quite tiny at this point, I guess it's easy for measurements to be a bit off, still so worrying though. I don't think I'd ever recover it I did amniocentesis and had complications when baby had nothing wrong. Baby looked so normal and healthy on the screen.

@Nemo145 Wow, I'm glad your NIPT came back less worrying, it's crazy that medicine is so advanced these days but there are still so many uncertainties at the same time.

Congrats on measuring up, that must be such a relief!

@Cheetocat Hopefully the NIPT can put your mind at rest 🙏

For those getting relief from pregnancy support belts and pillows, do you have any recommendations?

My SPD flared up massively yesterday after doing a toddler activity in the morning and shopping trip in afternoon, pain actually extended up my pelvis and mimicked labour pains so had to take to bed and could barely walk for the pain. Eased off now but got me worried about how the SPD is going to progress, when it was horrendous by end of my first pregnancy and it's started much earlier and worse this time. Already been using a pregnancy ball which does help.

Think I'm also going to have to push for a work risk assessment too as might need stuff in place in case need to work from home in third trimester, etc.

Does anyone mind sharing if they are on any medication?

Ive been prescribed sertraline, just to help me cope with the loss of Chris, the worry of another premature baby, raising the baby without a daddy etc etc.

I haven’t started it yet as I’m worried about the effects, though my GP and consultant said it’s safe.

Im concerned that as I reach 25 weeks when my daughter was born, that will ramp up my anxiety. I just don’t know which the lesser of the two evils is for baby.
Medication or my own grief and anxiety.

The way I see it is that people are out there taking meth and heroin with no regards for their babies but you're thinking carefully and taking something that will help you function and stabalise your feelings for yourself and your little ones, it's not ideal but plenty people have to do it and it's okay.

Hi @Nemo145, I'm not on it now for reasons which aren't pregnancy related, but have taken Sertraline previously and was told repeatedly by doctors that it would be safe all through pregnancy as and when I did get pregnant. I know people who have taken it at a reasonably high dose through pregnancy and have had completely healthy babies.

I found Sertraline a big help when I was struggling with various things, but takes about a month to get used to.

@Cheetocat sorry to hear about this worrying measurement . Will they do a rescan in a few weeks maybe?
everyone is right, so easy for these measurements to be off in my opinion.

I had soft markers and we are waiting for our rescan but Google has actually reassured me for a change as they are minimal on the border .

good luck with blood test xx

@Nemo145 i don’t mind at all, I’m also on sertraline 200mg and also quetiapine 250mg been on these for around a decade now. I have borderline personality disorder, anxiety & PTSD from my stillbirth last year. Also on folic acid and aspirin for pregnancy. I believe both sertraline and quetiapine are some of the most safe be to on during pregnancy. Medication is always weighed up by is the well being for mum and baby better on or off medication. So don’t worry just keep yourself well & seek help when you need it. Are you under perinatal mental health or a mental health team too? If not get an urgent referral put through by your GP or midwife xx

@Mangotango39 I've another scan booked for 30 weeks x

I'm really struggling with top of the bump pain when I walk a lot 😩
My maternity belt is helping my hip pain from walking but the bump pain hasn't long caused me to cry.

@Nemo145 I know someone who took setraline before, during and after her pregnancy (with twins) for a general anxiety disorder. Her doctor said it was safe in pregnancy, babies are here now and both healthy :)

@Nemo145 my last pregnancy I was on sertraline all the way through .. I was going to come off it but both doctor & midwife said I was absolutely fine to stay on it and if anything coming off it would of been worse for the baby as my anxiety would be hellish. I had a lovely pregnancy and my baby was and still is a happy healthy little one 😀

Ladies dare I ask… has anyone looked into buggies yet? I’m needing an all terrain one but no idea where to look! The prices have gone mad since I last had one 😩

+1 on being overwhelmed by buggy and car seat/ travel system options. If anyone already has had a little one, would be so useful if you could please share what you chose and what features are genuinely needed and useful vs how much is marketing. I am so overwhelmed by choice and no clue what is actually useful in reality.

I started looking, but keep stopping myself as still trying to take each day at a time. I’m going for a new baby shopping appointment at John Lewis in December, all being well, to try lots out. I’m tempted by the Babyzen Yoyo because I live in central London so have really limited space for it in the house, looks quite sturdy but collapses down.

Thank you for all the responses 😊

Looked into it and I think we'll get the Joie Stages car seat, I don't feel comfortable with travel systems, baby is not supposed to be in that position much and I feel like attaching the car seat to the buggy would just be an excuse to leave them in it longer,. Also we live in an apartment with no elevator so well want something really light to bring up and down. Though I must admit, I'm enjoying my partner carrying up the brunt of the food shopping and cleaning the cat litter while I'm in the family way. 🤣

I've ordered the bugaboo dragonfly - it's quite a newer model.

Really light for the size. Seat lies flat. Big basket. Pushes lovely.
but omg the FOLD!!!!!! So so easy!
Me and DP could do it one handed first try.

I didn't think we needed a big gigantic system.

Long story but we ended up getting our pram at 17 weeks!! Totally hadn’t wanted to get one that early but had been looking at the Cosatto giggle travel system and a brand new ex display one came up half price on their website!! Couldn’t turn that down! 🫣

I love it, super easy to assemble and switch around, folds pretty small and gets great reviews on handling. Plus super cute!! We got the mister fox design 🫣 and Fox is one of our potential boy names 🫣🫣

I have a pushchair already, too 🙃. I didn’t particularly research it or fall in love with one though. I’d just been looking occasionally on Facebook marketplace and a full travel system that looked nice came up for £100 which felt like a really good deal. If I don’t like it once baby is here I’ll sell it on and get something else. I’m planning on getting a joie stages car seat.

@Kelb79 i can 2nd the cosatto giggle, got one for my april 22 baby and will be using it again! Our design has wee trees and foxes on it, went neutral and had a girl and this little one is a girl too and not buying another one! Lol

Ooh I've ordered my pram and travel system too! I went with the Egg2 and I absolutely love it, just got to find a cot bed I like now x

@Kelb79 I had the cossatto giggle travel system for my first born and loved it. I then passed it on to a friend who also loved it. Unfortunately I now drive a Mini so had to consider something smaller otherwise I would definitely get another.

Second time round I have purchased a bugaboo cameleon 3 second hand. It's great! It folds small, has a mixture of all terrain and urban wheels and was an absolute bargain.

I spent a small fortune when I had my son and have made it my mission to purchase secondhand where I can with this one. Baby doesn't know the difference and they grow out of everything so quick!

I live relatively rurally and do a lot of dog walking in the south downs so I need an all terrain pushchair. I'm torn between the bugaboo fox 5 and the mamas and papas Ocarro. The fox 5 obviously a bit better but oh my god the price 😱anyone got any experience with either of these want to weigh in?