Over 35 and cautiously hopeful

[Bumblebee413]

Hello @SnookyPook @RoseH36 and @Fullofconfusion ! I don’t know if there’s anyone I’ve missed- feel free to add. Just thought it might be nice to have a new space as we’re all fairly similar gestation wise and we’ve been through a fair amount together in the previous thread x

Hi all, first time Mumsnetter and first time mum here - hope it's OK to join!

I'm 36, and recently found out I'm pregnant. It was a bit of a surprise, but not at all an unwelcome one!

Officially at the moment I'm at 11w+5.. But I highly doubt that as periods were infrequent and irregular after coming off hormonal birth control last year. Looking at potential conception dates, I could be 11w+5, or I could be 6w+6 which my gut instinct tells me is more likely - symptoms only really started in the last 2-3 weeks and no nausea/sickness at all (yet). So unless I've been extremely lucky with the first trimester symptoms, I'm pretty sure I'm 6w+6.

But since NHS goes by lmp, I've got my booking appointment on Monday, and unless I get a 12 week scan with the nhs next week I'm planning on going for a private scan just to try and clear up the dates. So by this time next week I'll hopefully know a bit more about what's going on!

Congratulations and welcome @Apple22over7 and @N123C!

I have a suspicion I’m heading back to the GD life too @SouthwestSis. My GTTs at 14 and 24 weeks were fine, but baby is currently on the 97th centile at 31/40 and I had 2+ glucose (although this was after quite a sugary breakfast!). I’ve requested another GTT and my MW booked a scan but I’m less worried about the growth on its own, just when combined with the glucose… I don’t trust my body not to go diabetic again.

I know what you mean about the weight @RoseH36. I think I actually lost weight towards the end last time. This time around I’ve gained 10kg already.

@Bumblebee413 I'm glad you have another scan and have requested another GTT, you know your body so always worth checking if you think that's where it's heading.

I need to change my breakfast as I can't tolerate porridge anymore, got a 7.8 yesterday and a 9.1 today!

Bit peed off with HMRC, had a letter saying I've not paid enough NI contributions but rather than just say how much extra I need to pay I've got to wait for another letter, which could take up to 10 days, and then once I've paid I've got to wait a further 22 days for a decision to be made. It's a joke.

That’s so frustrating- why not one letter so you know where you stand??

You've done well managing porridge for so long but I guess it just adds another layer of thinking into it all on a morning when you’ve already got a little one to think about. I don’t think I could eat it at all last time. I think breakfast was some variation on an English with eggs and bacons or equivalent. Although- there were so almond flour pancakes that I used to make that were a really welcome change!

When do you go on mat leave? I’ve got my last working day as the 13th Sep (cutting it a bit close!) which I just realised is less than six weeks away! You having your little one has made it all seem very real too @SnookyPook! How are you settling in? X

@Bumblebee413 I know, surely they are making more work for themselves?

I'm honestly amazed I've gotten this far tolerating it. Going to try bacon on 1 piece of toast tomorrow. I ended up only having 2 hard boiled eggs with 1 piece of toast last time but it's the time it takes to prep, like you say it's not easy with another child to think about this time.

Haha the same day as you!!! I wondered if it's cutting it close too. As my travel business is based online through Facebook I'll be adding woman covering me to my page from the start of September though so if things happen early she's in place to take over. One less thing to think about.

@Bumblebee413 all good thank you! We got home last Monday at a week old after a battle with jaundice which required phototherapy. I just love him so much! We're adapting well to our bigger family and C-section recovery is going really well too. My older son is doing so well! He adores his brother. Has had some big emotions coming out randomly at various points but never aimed at his brother so taking that as a win! After the journey we had to get to this point, I find myself constantly looking at my little man and just feeling so thankful to be here with him. Feeling like a very lucky Mummy 🥰

Welcome @Apple22over7
Hope all goes well for your scan.

When are your scan and rpt GGT @Bumblebee413 ? My midwives can't get me in for repeat GTT now for 2 weeks but have been keeping my eye on my urine and had a couple of negatives. My bump also seems huge, I'm 25/40 tomorrow but haven't had fundal height measured yet so I may ask them to do that if I get another wee with glucose in.

I always found breakfast the hardest meal to control sugars @RoseH36 , hope you find something that works.

Lovely to hear your update @SnookyPook and that things are going well

Such a lovely update @SnookyPook 🥰🥰

My appointment is on Wednesday- I think I was lucky x

How did you get on with your appointment yesterday @Bumblebee413 ?
I managed to get my GTT moved a week sooner as they had a cancellation, so now it's gonna be this coming Monday,
Although that's my birthday....Happy birthday to me!
Had more sugar in my wee again this week so have just started following the GD diet again in earnest.
Meal and snack ideas welcome. I am already fed up of eating so much meat and cheese!

@SouthwestSis Don't overdo the GD diet at this stage or its likely to impact your GTT. I was told to eat normally when I asked to start testing. I've been able to still eat my usual evening meals, I use a lot of the Pinch of Nom recipes and they were fine for me last time too. Breakfast is currently 3 rashers of bacon on 1 piece of wholemeal toast. Tolerating that at the moment even if it is a faff to sort in the morning.

Lunchtimes are my nemesis, I've only been able to tolerate 2 meals for months, either wholewheat pasta with mayo & cheese (sometimes with chicken mixed in, I get the packs from the sandwich meat aisle) or I put tomato puree and cheese on wholewheat toast and grill it, then add salad (mixed leaves), chicken or bacon. I long to just go to a shop and pick a nice sandwich and some crisps.

Snacking I'm not great at and probably don't have as many in a day as I should but I don't like so many of the options. I've had a green apple with double cream on (I think of it as a de-contructed apple crumble). 2 hobnobs with cream cheese on top (weird combo, I saw it on the GD group, bit like a mini cheescake) or I've been ok with ice cream so will have some chocolate Halo Top with squirty cream on.

The GD has landed here too! 😂 just waiting to go in and get my goodie bag. So pleased to find a reason for feeling crappy the last two weeks. I feel like a newbie all over again. Last time it was just ‘Covid times, good luck’

@Bumblebee413 twinning with our due dates (or close enough) and now GD 😂😂. Good to have a reason for feeling crap though, it's surprising how you just know isn't it? I've been out for lunch today, desperately needed a change. Had an all day breakfast and got a 6.9 an hour later.... clearly I need one of these every week now 🤣🤣

Sounds like a plan @RoseH36! The appointment yesterday was a bit overwhelming. I think the home birth is out of the window due to the baby’s blood sugar measuring after, unless we just go in once the baby is born. Feels a little backwards though.

Just hoping I can stay diet controlled for the moment 🤞🏼sadly my pre breakfast readings are low so I suspect that may not happen x

@Bumblebee413 it's always hard when you can't have the type of birth you want. I'd wanted a water birth first time round but was told with GD I couldn't because of needing to be monitored.
This time round I've been a lot more relaxed about that side of things knowing I'd have to be on the consultant led unit again, as long as I can avoid another section I'll be happy.

Fingers crossed for you. I've had so many tears over what I can't eat, unbelievably fed up of such a limited diet. I have treated myself to chocolates from Hotel Chocolat for when baby arrives 😂

Hello, hope you don't mind me joining - I'm 38, and currently pregnant with #2, around 10wks. I have my dating scan next week, I suspect I'm only going to be 11wks along but I am desperate for a scan to confirm everything is okay.

I had an early loss last year, picked up on a private scan at 8wks. I've been too scared to go for a private scan this time, which I know is silly as it wasn't that that caused the loss, but I just kept thinking - if I go for an early scan, it could all be taken away again, I should just trust the NHS process...

Taking comfort that my symptoms have been knocking me sideways this time, really bad nausea and fatigue, which doesn't necessarily mean anything but is all I have at the moment!

Welcome @strawberry11
I also had a loss before my current pregnancy so know how you are feeling. You've just got to take each day as it comes haven't you.
I also felt super rough in first trimester, how old is your #1 now? Mine is 2.5yrs and very boisterous so definitely a handful to manage whilst pregnant!

I'm going to be 26 weeks tomorrow, seeing the midwife and nearly into 3rd trimester!

@SouthwestSis thank you! My son is nearly 3, I am finding it really hard work to keep up with him while I've felt like I have zero energy. Feeling bad that I can't be as fun as normal, but hopefully will all be worth it next year!
26 weeks is so exciting, are you feeling lots of kicks? I'm looking forward to hopefully getting to that point again.

@strawberry11 welcome! I'm 38 and just had no.2 almost 3 weeks ago now (!!) after losses last year. I also have a 3 1/2 year old so very similar set-up to you. Pregnancy after loss is tough but sending you lots of good vibes for a smooth journey this time. 💕

@strawberry11 welcome and sounds positive you having plenty of symptoms, as hard as they are to deal with alongside a toddler. You'll find several of us have been through losses on here, I went through 1 last year and two chemicals. It's very hard going.

You are right it will all be worth it though, I've got a 4 year old and had loads of things planned for over this summer with it being his last before starting school but because I've got SPD I've hardly been able to do anything.

On a separate note, how hard is it choosing a name?? We're set on a boys one but we can't agree on a girls name. I like Amber, he likes Sophie, which I'm not overly keen on. We did have others on the list that over the months have been taken off for one reason or another. Here's hoping it's a boy then there's no decision to be made 😂

Welcome @strawberry11 and congratulations! Those first weeks really drag when you’re so desperate to hear your baby is ok. I held out for my nhs scan too after hearing some bad experiences of private scans and not wanting to fund that, but it was very, very tough! Sounds like you’ve had some really reassuring symptoms.

@SnookyPook three weeks?? What?? How?? 😂

@RoseH36 the Hotel Chocolat is such a good idea! Absolute shop of dreams. The weird thing is, I’m not worried about the homebirth or getting a water birth or having an epidural, being high risk or having a c section if needed. There’s a place for all those things and I just want the pair of us to be safe. The thing that’s bothering me is a work thing. The high risk ward is so ‘public’. At home or even the low risk ward would be far more private, but with the high risk ward, my details would be on the ward board, the baby’s heart rate would be up on another huge screen and if someone opened up my notes on one of the computers: bam, up on another big screen. I work with a lot of lovely people and they’d all be interested and rooting for me and discussing my progress etc, but that all just feels a bit much. I can’t tell you why. I birthed on the ward I worked on last time and it was heaven, but I’m not as close to this team and I just feel like I want to go and hide in a corner. I’ve considered transferring hospitals, but wrongly or rightly, I feel like my hospital is safe and the others are unknown. I don’t think I’d be more relaxed there in other respects. I think I’m a bit of a control freak? 😞

So, my homework is to learn to get over myself. There’s nothing super exciting in my medical records and I do know that realistically at the time I won’t give a crap. I just can’t tell you why it’s bothering me now. I might have a word with the matron and see what she thinks/ if she can recommend anything.

Apologies for the essay x

@SnookyPook Ahh that's lovely to hear, congratulations! Yes I would be in the exact same boat if this pregnancy works out, my LO will be 3 1/2 when his sibling comes along. Hope you're getting on well with life with two!

@RoseH36 I think we put pressure on ourselves to do lots of fun with little ones but they don't always need it really - my son is just as happy with a trip to the park and a coffee shop as he is with a big day out! Hope your SPD isn't too bad. And that's funny about names, we have a definite girl's name but have no ideas for another boy's name - will have to get our thinking caps on if we get to that point and it is a boy!

@Bumblebee413 Thank you! I've seen some negative things about private scans too. I've done it twice before and unfortunately both times were bad news, which wasn't the fault of the scans, but I just have bad associations... just two more days until our first scan, I can't wait but also quite nervous.

@SnookyPook @RoseH36 @Bumblebee413
How lovely to find this thread. I remember you all from the previous thread on the conception board.
After my 4 losses over the last 12 months I am
Pregnant again and am 5+1 today.
Cautiously happy but also very nervous.
How are you all doing?
I have an early scan next Tuesday at epau and will be seen every 2 weeks again which is reassuring. Hoping to start progesterone if all is well at scan.

Congrats @SnookyPook x

@JC084 oh how lovely to see you on here and congratulations! Will be keeping everything crossed this is your time. Definitely get progesterone, I swear it's what has kept this little one going. I'm 33+1 and still can't quite believe it. That's great you'll be seen every 2 weeks. Are you able to get progesterone any earlier or not? It's always worth an ask.

@strawberry11 we really do put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Thankfully my son loves soft play so we've spent a lot of time in those as at least I can sit down. Hubby is off next week so planning a trip on a local steam train as again with it just being sat down I can manage that. It's been a lot more manageable this time round as I now work from home, I really struggled first time round and was on crutches by this point. Names really are so hard, we've gone through several more and still can't agree on one so think we'll leave it with the 2 we've got and toss a coin if needed 🤣🤣

@Bumblebee413 I blame Facebook, an ad popped up so I couldn't resist browsing and then chocolate just fell into the basket 😂😂.
That does make things more difficult for you if it's also where you work. Doesn't sound like a very private ward for high risk. I'm not sure if ours is all private rooms but the room I was initially taken into last time was private. I ended up needing a section but it did look set up to be one you could give birth in had things progressed naturally.

@RoseH36 thank you! I asked if I could have progesterone earlier but they said I can't have it until I've had my first scan and they know baby is in the right place. I have some at home from last time and am so tempted to start it but I know i should just wait and follow their advice. It's so hard waiting though. One week to go 🤞🏼

@JC084 this is where it's frustrating things vary by each trust, I was told to take them as soon as I got a positive test.