Pregnancy after loss part 2

[LER2023]

After the lovely Hopingrae had created such a wonderful thread.

I wanted to carry this on, as many more women need that added extra support.

Previous thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/pregnancy/5016264-pregnancy-after-loss-support?page=1

Hope everyone can find some support on this thread x

Thanks @Uguberry and @Hopingrae - he was a vaginal birth so recovery has been pretty easy - my 3 yr old was especially happy that I could now pick her up so it was biggybacks everywhere from the day after he was born (probably not advised)! After 10+ weeks of stress and fear I instantly felt a weight lifted knowing he'd arrived safely and was being cared for by professionals. I can't fault the staff in neonatal one bit, they are miracle workers in my eyes!

@Traitors2024 huge congratulations. What a journey it has been for you! What’s his little name?

It took us 10 days to settle on the name... he's called Kai 😀

@Traitors2024 Yes though not normally an ideal situation, I can imagine after the journey you've been through what a relief it is for you, and finally feeling like you have control over keeping him safe ❤️ Has your daughter met him yet? I love that's she's so excited about being able to play with you again! With a name like Kai he's sure to one day become a fine young gentleman (based on Strictly's 😂)

@Traitors2024 thats such a great name!! Welcome to the world Kai. We have now had a Samuel and a Kai!

@SnookyPook how is little Samuel?

Yes,
She was delighted with him...she marched into the NICU the day after he was born asking "Which one is mine"!!

@Traitors2024 That's so sweet 😂❤️ She's going to be a great big sister

@Traitors2024 oh how wonderful that he's here safely!!! 😍 I'm so happy to hear this! And yes, that was a great weight! Only 5oz less than Samuel and 5 weeks earlier! 😲😄 I'm absolutely delighted that he is here safely and making good progress. Absolutely get you on the being relieved he's out safely. It just feels like the pressure has lifted doesn't it and you know they can get the care they need without it relying solely on your mum instinct etc! What a journey little Kai had.

@Nic2908 thanks for asking! Samuel is doing great! He's 9wks old now!! (Madness!!) - he seems to be thriving. Putting on weight appropriately but still small and sticking to his 0.4th centile! He was 8lbs1oz at the last weigh in last week (2 months old), which is smaller than lots of the newborns on our due date group! 😄 We've moved into the 'up to 1 month' clothes though from tiny baby and newborn and I think we'll be onto 0-3 soon - at least we're getting lots of wear out of things 😆 The best thing is that we've reached smiling and cooing phase - we're getting some adorable interactions that are just melting my heart!

Hope everyone else is doing well 💗

@SnookyPook Good to hear another lovely update from you and Samuel 😊 Sounds like you've got great use out of the tiny clothes! Slowly but surely he'll catch up, he's going the right way and that's what matters. I bet those chubby little smiles are adorable ❤️

I shouldn't really complain as everything seems to be progressing normally... and yet I feel kind of fed up at the moment. Never had the big second trimester energy boost, some days I've wanted to do a lot more and it felt good, but like today it's similar to that first trimester feeling of being lethargic, weak and wobbly and wanting to sleep the day away and see if tomorrow is better. Blood results from last week showed RBC just slightly low, so I'm hoping it's because of that and a few weeks of iron tablets will help. Also the glucose test came out with quite low blood sugar, and I'm grateful for it not being the other end but can't really find information on what that means and what can improve it. I know it's not good to search things but my OB never replied when I asked about it (and it doesn't seem urgent enough to call) so I'm just wanting some answers 😅 So there we go, sorry I'm feeling grumpy and needed a little rant!

@Nic2908 oh your poor soul. I hate that feeling knowing that it’s coming to when you should have given birth!
we’re coming up to our second anniversary of finding out and being so bloody excited about our first pregnancy. Christmas hits me worse as that’s when I had my first miscarriage.

I stopped worrying over everything. I was on holiday last week and drank until I was drunk every night. £500 later in 4 days between me and my partner😂

I’m on a 21 day course of antibiotics too, but I didn’t want it to stop me enjoying my holiday!
I might have forgotten to take the second dose every day😬

but we keep rolling!

I’ve got a feeling october will be our time as it will have been 6 months between our last pregnancy and I seem to fall pregnant every 6 months😂😂

still waiting on the miscarriage clinic. NHS being useful as always clearly.

first day back at work after a week off and we’ve got a hell of a week😭

glad to here that kai and Samuel are doing amazing! @Traitors2024 @SnookyPook! hope you’re both doing okay!!

@Hopingrae how are we so close to giving birth!! It only felt like 2 minutes ago since the first thread!!

Jumping on here in a bit of a panic tonight.
My blood pressure readings have been edging on higher and higher since my booking in appointment but I have been told all are still normal (never been given the figures...)
The last few weeks I've been quite poorly with heartburn and indigestion, somethings even on a empty stomach. Upper stomach gets very uncomfortable and tight, bloated feeling.
Yesterday I had spots/stars in my vision but it was after I bent down and up quickly to scoop something off the floor so I assumed I just moved too fast.
Today I've felt very odd, almost dizzy at some points.
I've had some lower stomach discomfort. I assumed baby pressure on pelvis but decided to dip my urine anyway (I am prone to a UTI hint why I have these sticks at home) and was alarmed to see white cells, protein and blood showing up in the readings. The white cells are +++ whereas the blood and protein are + so not as high.
I'm panicking about preeclampsia now as I know my symptoms are all fitting into that.
I have the midwives first thing in the morning so I am going to be checked over but just needed a bit of a vent.
I'm 28.5 weeks, 4th pregnancy 3rd baby after a late loss, never had preeclampsia but my BP did increase throughout pregnancies with all my babies.
I have read that discharge etc can effect the dipstick readings and, TMI, I do have a lot of that at the moment so I wonder if I've contaminated the sample somehow plus it was a dribble wee as I didn't really need. I do plan on retesting mid stream to hopefully rule out / confirm this potential contamination.
Has anyone on here had preeclampsia? Or similar issues?
I am that worried that I'm 100% certain by BP will be through the roof tomorrow AM regardless! How do they confirm preeclampsia, is it just protein and BP?

@OnNaturesCourse they would also do a blood test to confirm your protein/creatinine ratio and check liver and kidney function. I think they use protein and blood pressure together only if your BP is VERY high.

Been diagnosed with high BP myself since 21 weeks and have occasional protein in my urine. I was admitted when I had high readings and protein, which turned out to be a UTI. Wishing you the best for getting checked out tomorrow. It sounds like a UTI - Pre-eclampsia doesn't tend to come with blood and white blood cells I don't think.

Not an expert on any of this, just always in a panic about developing pre-eclampsia since they found my high BP...

Thanks @Orlahoping

I had base bloods done last week and all was normal but I'm not sure what these actually covered. My kidney and liver function was tested a month or so ago and was fine, but understand these things can quickly change.

Its just way where symptoms all start lining up and you just go into a panic. "buried yourself before dying" as my mother would tell me.

@OnNaturesCourse yes, I know that kind of anxiety well!
Hope the appointment goes ok today.

If you are concerned still ask them to do your bloods to rule it out, but it does sound like a UTI, which can spike your blood pressure. You don't have swelling or headaches? Those are the main signs of PE beyond high BP I think.

Also, if your BP does end up high make you they let you sit for a while before measuring again.

@OnNaturesCourse hope you get on OK this morning. I agree, it sounds like it could be a uti or something. Hopefully something that can be easily sorted out! I had a couple of utis with DS1. So anxiety provoking when things don't seem to be as they should be! I've had covid this past week, I assumed it was just a bad cold but tested as I was meant to have HV and midwife appointments and test was positive. I felt a lot more uneasy knowing it was covid even though my symptoms didn't change. Just gave me something else to worry about!! On the mend now though, phew.

@Onthedouble123 Haven't heard from you in a while, how have you been? Xxx

How is everyone getting along?

How far along are we all now?

I'm feeling chunky, tired and very ready for it to be December now (due mid Dec) Quite uncomfortable as baby is breech and sticking his bed head into my stomach all the time.

Hi, I'm 11 weeks today. I had a scare this morning, went for a wee and had pink blood when I wiped. Went to epu and baby was having a merry old time playing with their nose. So relieved. Feeling nauseous and tired all the time. I'm looking forward to the second trimester.

I bet your enjoying the indigestion that comes with Baby being that way. They have plenty of time to turn themselves around yet. How are you feeling?

27 weeks! Can't believe it. Had a couple of hospital admissions for high blood pressure, but doing alright.

First growth scan on Wednesday...really hope he's still on track.

Hope everyone is doing ok x

I'm glad baby is doing OK, I've had a few scares like that in pregnancies and the fear is unreal.

Indigestion is unbelievable - have you had a breech baby? I keep getting told it makes no difference but I never had indigestion this bad in my others, and I never feel hunger either as I always gel my stomach is squashed.

@Orlahoping oh I do hope they are keeping a good eye on you that can't be easy

No mine have always turned before birth. Get some peptac. It's like gaviscon but thicker and cheaper. I have crohns too and it's the only thing that helps my indigestion. Could have a hairy baby if it's bad so the saying goes.

They found a fibroid in my womb during the scan today but didn't seem too concerned about it.

I have a small fibroid too, they haven't been concerned with it so far.

I've tried all the liquids and nothing works so far

Hi ladies, I'm 36+6 now. Woken up with a lot of braxton hicks and upset stomach/bowel cramps and nausea. I've been having braxton hicks for weeks so trying to reassure myself it's just more of the same, but pretty uncomfortable! We had a big Chinese last night which may have been a mistake! My uterus is going solid across the top/middle and not feeling like period cramps so fairly sure it's not the start of something...🙏

@onnaturescourse Heartburn is so grim, I feel for you. I've had it a few times this trimester. Have you heard of the website spinning babies? My midwife recommended it, there's info about positions that can help get babies into a more comfortable/ head down position.

@donnawhat glad all ok at epu, what a relief! I had some spotting around the same time, it's so scary. Good that you could get checked. And not long until 12 week scan!

@orlahoping sorry you've had some hospital admissions, that must be worrying, but so glad they've keep an eye on you. Wish you all the best with your upcoming growth scan!