Pregnancy After Miscarriage Part IV------Welcome to Knicker Checker's Anonymous

[lackaDAISYcal]

Ooops, the thread filling up sneaked up on us didn't it!

Can't see another one yet...so here we are

Tryingnotot...that is fantastic news . I hope you can enjoy your weekend in Barcelona. I heart Barcelona and am v

Rant away lassie, rant away!! I won't be seen officially any more than standard as 'only 1 mc' seems not to excite the hc professsionals, but I have a really sympathetic GP who basically told me when I met her 3 weeks ago (as have moved) that if I wanted to see her every week for the rest of the 40 weeks I could!! this only works now that I am far enough on to hear the hb. But what keeps me sane as I think I was saying (sorry if repeating!) is regular visits of some kind to some one...eg last week I had antenatal appt at hosp; week before was GP appt due to water infection; week before that was midwife. Not having anything this week freaked me out hence GP visit!!

Not due to see midwife again til 25 (25!!) weeks and as I am 18 now that seems like a lifetime??!! Got 20 week scan in 3 weeks (at 21 weeks) and am having paid for scan next week - dh keen on having a dvd, I am not that interested but going along for the scan reassurance!! So that makes me feel calm, to know that I have scan next week; hosp scan 2 weeks after that; then GP said see her after 20 week scan.

Sounds a bit mad when I write it down but it works!! At early stage I had 7 week scan due to bleed; 9 week cos just after mmc time; then 12 week. That helped too - would have really struggled to go from 7 to 12 without as it was a really stressful time.

Sorry that was the long version!!

I hope scans are non invasive...

sorry, had a MN break to read charlottes web chapter 12 with DD.

It doesn't sound mad at all, it makes me really bloody mad how they dismiss any mc. Now you see by the time you get to be an old timer like me with 3 in a row unexplained they expect you to be nuts and the 'it's unlikely to happen again' gets met with a look. So when asked if I can manage to wait 2wks I cannot tell a lie and am going back next Thursday. Big milestone for me is 11+wks, think the EPU will be relieved too! I don't blame you for paying for private scan, good news is they can see via your belly and no more magic wand up your fanjo!!

Hi everyone,

Sotlass - Great news about your scan but I know what you mean about the reassurance being short lived. I really don't know when we will calm down, certainly not much calm going on here either! You made me laugh thinking about the "magic wand", what us ladies have to go through.

Dan - If your GP is happy enough for you to go often and it puts your mind at ease then don't feel bad about taking advantage of this. As we have found out the NHS seems to help those who shout loudest, or complains the most. It's good your new GP is understanding that certainly helps. I remember when pregnant with DD being shocked at the lack of appointments with the midwive so I am not surprised how long you have to wait till you see them next, doesn't exactly help with the "calm". So if in any doubt trot along to your GP and have a listen to that little bean.

Today I have not been feeling too bad, just so tired which I guess it a good sign. I am working N/S at the moment and really struggling might leave it a couple of weeks to see if I feel any better if not will try and change my shifts for the time being, not taking any chances that's for sure.

Morning!
Scotlass - glad all went well with your scan!

Dan - hb must be v reassuring. I could do with that at the moment but at 4+2 it's a bit early. I know many women wouldn't even know they were pg yet. Only because I'm so desperate and control freaky that I do!

Many of you talk about having a scan around the time of your mc or mmc. I had a mmc discovered at 12 weeks but they think the baby died at around 6 weeks. I'm hoping to be able to get a scan around both those dates but when you talk of the time when you mmc before, in my case would that be 6 or 12 weeks?

Am feeling a few stretching pains and have slightly sore boobs so hoping that's all good signs. Having said that though, last time I had symptoms right up until my ERPC at 12 weeks!

How's everyone else this morning?

SES, 7-8 weeks is best time to get a scan. This is because you will see a real baby shape and most importantly a heart beat. Before then it is not always certain if you will see heart beating.

Do be careful how many early scans you go for. It isnt a fully known science yet but they restrict scans because they are not 100% what the effects of too many scans are. I do not know very much about it to be honest and I hope someone who does can enlighten us but I do remember reading about it a while ago.
It is good news for all of you who are having positive scans at the moment. Brilliant

I'm really pleased to hear everybody's good news It is difficult to keep calm after a mc but as Ronny says, it does get slightly easier after 12 weeks, but then you do start worrying about other stuff
Ses I had a mmc detected at my 12-week dating scan last year and was told baby had probably died around 6 weeks. This time I had a scan at 7+3 (would recommend you wait until 7 weeks if you can to be sure of picking up a hb as an inconclusive scan will only make you feel worse ) At my booking-in appt at 11 weeks the mw managed to pick up baby's hb for a couple of seconds which also helped a lot (although that's not possible in all cases and she did warn me that if she couldn't pick it up it didn't mean anything). I then had a private nuchal scan at 12 weeks which was great and I think that's when DH and I really started to believe we were actually going to have a baby NHS dating scan followed a couple of days later so got to see the bean again. I would definitely recommend the early scan (7-8 weeks). It certainly saved my sanity. Good luck!

Oops, X-posted but at least we agree on 7-8 weeks being best time for a scan

crcri can I ask, did you have your early scan done on the NHS? I saw my GP yesterday and he said the only way we could do this, would be to claim I was bleeding or cramping, although he was happy to pretend I was to put my mind at rest. Just really keen to avoid that horrible early/normal pregnancy clinic overlap again.

Have a dull ache in lower abdomen on left side this morning (am only at 5 weeks), thought oh God here goes, but seem to be able to trace the pain to my lower back. Has anyone else had this, or should I really be panicking now? I'm guessing there's not much they can do this early on to check everything's OK?

Wish me luck for this afternoon! I'm off to see my GP and am hoping that he will take pity on me and offer me an early scan. I'm 7 weeks today according to my LMP. I'm still worrying on days when I don't feel so sick or tired or my boobs don't hurt as much. Roll on the 12 week scan....

Good luck Swaliswan! Ask your GP re early pregnancy services in your area, when I went to see GP after 1st mc he said he'd write in the referral letter to the hospital an early scan would be desirable, I got an appointment for 14wks which came through the post the day I'd been told I'd mc again at 11+wks. The EPU asked why I hadn't self referred, I had no idea they existed then!

Don't worry about your symptoms they really aren't a reliable indicator, really hope all is well for you >>>>>>

sussexoldspot - hope this makes you feel better: I had just what you describe, as well as pre-period-style almost-cramps, at 5 weeks till 8 weeks, and still occasionally now (10+3). I freaked out, as didn't have this last time, but then found out it's NORMAL - hurrah! . Also have had stiff lower back (right down at top of buttocks - why does that word always make me snigger?). Also didn't get this last time. I've embraced both these things as being different from last time, which can only be a good thing.

After my symptoms faded last week, queasiness and appetite both back with a vengeance yesterday. I put it down to having no acupuncture this week. So acupunture makes you feel better (fewer symptoms) and worse (oh my god, where are my symptoms)

Great that everyone's scans have been so positive.

xx

Oh, and good luck swaliswan - thinking of you. x

Hi all. Just checking in as I will be "off line" for the next week as we're going to centre parcs for the week. Can't wait!
I booked a facial before I knew I was pg. I am dying for a bit of pampering but do you think I should have it?

I've my appointment with the recurrent miscarriage specialist the week after - also booked before I found out I was pg - and they have now said they will scan me. I will be 6+4 on the day of the scan so am hoping hb will be visible.

Has anyone any tips on what to ask the specialist? DH and I have had tests before - before DS arrived so we know we are chromosonally OK so I guess those won't need to be repeated.

daisyj that has made me feel much better, thank you! Wish, though, that I could just hibernate for the next 7 weeks!

Know what you mean about buttocks. Gusset always does it for me.

swaliswan all the very best to you. I'll be following your posts with great interest.

sussexoldspot Unfortunately I had to go private for my early scan as GP said that after "only" one mc (her words) an early scan on the NHS wasn't justified. She referred me to the private hospital instead.
BTW I had the AF-style cramps etc in the early weeks of this pg too so I'm sure everything is fine.
Swaliswan Hope you get your early scan.
Ladyhelen Sorry, can't help with your queries although I don't think there's any problems with facials in pregnancy. Hope you have a lovely week away anyway.

Glad to hear some good news stories

I had 2 early scans on the NHS - the 1st one I asked the GP for a reassurance scan, and she said she'd send a request, but no guarantee I would get as the epu would prioritise those with symptoms, but I did get an appointment - I think it was around 7 weeks. Then i had another after a weekend of constant strong period pain, though the GP decided to lie and add bleeding to my symptoms to ensure I got another scan. So guess like everything it depends on your area.

Baby is due in 3weeks, 3 days - dd was here already by this time. And I still haven't packed a bag - just have a few things in a Tesco bag so far

House a state - in the middle of the slowest re-wiring ever, and electrician has gone on holiday for a week. Furniture is crammed together in various rooms, other belongings are in boxes and bags in the sitting room, and I'm sleeping on an inflatable bed in the upstairs hall. So, totally unprepared - I think it's denial about having to give birth

Splishsplosh, it is good to see someone else in baby denial. Goodluck to you. Are you term now? Or just about?
I have been assuming that this one will be late the same as DD's but knowing my luck the way things are going it will be next week

Ronshar - baby is due 28/09 - I assumed dd would be late but she was a month early... this one needs to stay put a few more weeks.. I'm giving it a firm talking to, but it is apparently 3/5 engaged, just hope it's not readying itself. Can't even decide on names!

All went well with the GP yesterday. He's referred me to the midwife and he offered me an early scan because of how anxious I feel following previous mc's. However, I surprised myself by turning it down! I know that you will probably all think that I'm mad but I did have a few reasons for it. I remember having early scans when I was pg with DD because of bleeding and they only reassured me for a short period of time. Plus, I won't get a scan until I'm 8+ weeks so they'll be able to do a dating scan. That isn't a bad thing but I don't want to have the NT part of the 12 week scan so I wouldn't get a 12 week scan if I'd already had a dating scan. I'd rather have a scan at 12 weeks and find out that everything is OK at a point when the chance of mc is significantly smaller. My friend has just had a mc at 11+2 and I think that this had affected how I feel about the early scans now. I don't think that I would cope if I saw a baby now, with a HB, and then went on to have a mc. Plus it would be really nice to just have a 'normal' first trimester without any extra attention. So far I haven't had any bleeding and everything seems to be OK. I've been told in the past that I'm difficult to scan early on because I have a retroverted uterus and even with a TV scan they struggled to get a good picture of DD. Up until I was 12 weeks with DD they couldn't get a good enough view to see how big she was properly. When they measured her at one point they questionned my dates and said that she was very small for dates. When I explained that DH was away with the army so I knew how pg I was, they tried to find her again and she had doubled in length in about 30 seconds!

Sorry to go on! I just needed to get it all out iykwim?

Popping in to say Hi to all those who remember me (and those who don't !) - thanks for your message Ronshar on the hut thread !

For those who do know me - just to let you know I can come and join this thread now. Am actually 13 weeks today but have been too scared to join any threads on MN just in case ! Have had 3 scans so far (2 private reassurance ones and NHS one yesterday) and alls well so far. Off to see the consultant this morning to discuss how they are going to monitor me going forward (pre-eclampsia/ IUGR in pregnancy with dd).

Hope everyone's well and look forward to catching up with you all.

Popping in to say Hi to all those who remember me (and those who don't !) - thanks for your message Ronshar on the hut thread !

For those who do know me - just to let you know I can come and join this thread now. Am actually 13 weeks today but have been too scared to join any threads on MN just in case ! Have had 3 scans so far (2 private reassurance ones and NHS one yesterday) and alls well so far. Off to see the consultant this morning to discuss how they are going to monitor me going forward (pre-eclampsia/ IUGR in pregnancy with dd).

Hope everyone's well and look forward to catching up with you all.

Oops so excited I posted twice

Hello everyone! I'd like to join in if I may!

I've just returned from having a scan, and have seen a live 7.5 week bean! As all my previous pregnancies (three of them) ended at 6 weeks, this is real progress, so I'm enjoying the happiness while it lasts and before the worry sets in again.

I recognise a few names on this thread from the March 2008 ante-natal thread, and from my short time on the MC Avengers thread last autumn. Congratulations to all of you, and to all the others on the thread I haven't "met" before.

Right, must now go and enjoy a day free of knicker checking.....

Congrats Wheelybug and Flossie

Time is definitely stood still in the Ses household (or so it seems).
Went and saw GP this morning and she's said to see MW for booking in as soon as there's an appointment, to get a blood test for thyroid problems and to get a scan at about 7 weeks.
I guess typing that it all seems rather positive but I think hormones have taken over and I've spent so much of last night and this morning struggling with tears as I'm so worried about something going wrong again. I'm also really scared of going for a scan but at the same time want to so I can get some reassurance.
Ramble, ramble, ramble!