Pregnancy After Miscarriage Part VIII - Knicker Checkers and Pad Patrollers welcome

[YouKnowNothingoftheCrunch]

Is that ok?

Lucky you Sydney I wish i was able to have naps, but in my job, no such luck wish is not good as i dont think ive ever felt this tired, i could just sleep anywhere at the moment. This didnt happen with my previous two mc so not sure if its good or bad?

Good on you Scarlotti for getting the maternity stuff, as im only 7+1 weeks im still fitting in my clothes, but im sure i gonna have to buy something, as am stuggling to fit my bras - is this normally the first thing you end up buying?

But then, i think, no i wont buy anything, not until after a scan, cause i dont want to jinx anything - you cant win can you!!

Hope all is going well for everyone

Ciara bra's are the first thing you'll need and almost straight away. It's important that you get well fitted ones so you have the right support.

Ladies - what are our thoughts on having a doppler at home? I've been looking on eBay and think £25 isn't much for reassurance as and when I need. Know that I'll have to chill if I can't find it and come back 15 mins later, but thought it might be a nice way for Ds to listen too as he won't come with me to any mw appts.
The Angel doppler seems to be the one that's reasonably priced - any experience of this one?

hello everyone

Tamlin very jealous of your P&Ts, I've trashed all three pushchairs I've owned (due to not driving I guess so major use) but someone has just given us their suitable from birth McLaren so now feel I can't spend money on a new one. I know it's good but still.

Ciara I have had hideous headaches every few days since 8 weeks, throbbing and lasting up to 4 days which paracetamol only dents, and they don't even go away when you sleep. I think it is hormonal (probably oestrogen) but you should get your blood pressure checked if they don't go away just in case. Cold packs are good too.

6 days since spotting stopped and even better, I now have a noticeable bump (obviously not when on public transport though no matter how far I stick it out!)

Hi Favourite Virtual Ones!

Non-pg related post here.

Scarlotti if you fancy a job at a uni they are always listed here. You could always start in a management or admin type role and retrain as a tutor. Good luck!

Hope everyone's doing ok at the mo - I'm feeling very relieved right now because I finally passed my UK Driving Test!!!!!

Took me (small voice) four attempts and I failed on parallel park every time

Jeez that was getting me down - I live in a village and was dreading using public transport with a baby.

sydney thanks for the info and congratulations on your driving test!

alana great news on the spotting stopping and the bump

Scarlotti, I've had similiar thoughts re. a doppler. I think that I'm a bit put off by the way that the midwife really used to struggle to find DS's hb with anterior placenta - what if I just put myself into a tizz every time when I don't find it right away?

Alana, I hope you stay spotting free!

Suze, congrats on your driver's licence! I really, really need to suck it up and try again, but I'm petrified (especially as the test is supposed to be much, much harder than it was when I first failed it over ten years ago). I do live in a small village, but I find the public transport is ok most of the time - we have a rail station with a direct line to Paddington, though, so poss that makes a bit of difference. I do wish that there was a way I could get to hypnobirthing or antenatal yoga classes in teh evening though - not possible unless DH drives me, and then what do we do about DS?

Am feeling tired and achy - my back hurts, my hips hurt, and my stretching-out belly hurts. I think pregnancy has to be unique in that it's simultaneously a much-desired state and also an affliction and a bore.

Tamlin hope you're feeling a bit better today. Agree with you re the doppler, I suspect it will be something I mull over for a while before doing anything about.

You struck a chord with me with the 'affliction and bore' comment. I think I am still trying not to engage with bean too much in case of the worst so sometimes it does feel like a burden rather than something wonderful. I feel the odd movement and it takes me by surprise and can make me feel cross that I've been reminded.
Sounds awful but hopefully I'm not the only one feeling this way.

Tamlin and Scarlotti I know you guys are further along than me (Im only 6+2)(got my dates wrong on previous message) but im really struggling with this pg (esp after 2 mc) and just think that everything is going to go wrong, so im almost pretending that its not happening.
Then i get a twinge, cramp, sickness and realise that it is, start getting my hopes up, and then realise that i shouldnt cause it could all go wrong again.

Then any cramp, i think it must be something going wrong, rather than a normal pg

I just dont know how to get through it - any ideas?

Sorry guys, just feeling incredibly low today.

Ciara are you planning to have any early scans? I had one at 6+3 and then another at 8+4. Whilst they didn't stop me worrying for more than the duration of the scan and a few hours, they did eliminate all the stress that had built up until then.
How is your dp/dh? Are you able to easily talk to him and share the burden? I didn't talk to mine really and I should have. I shut down emotionally and did myself no favours at all, even getting to the point where I thought maybe dh and I would be better apart.
It was only after the 12 week scan that I realised the problems were due to me shutting down, and not problems in the relationship or in my life.
The ladies on here were my life line and helped me stay sane.
I still worry and shut off a little, but not as much as before.
Guess it is baby steps all the way, literally
Hang in there, we're all here for you.

Scarlotti Thank you your message has really helped me
Im still in two minds about an early scan cause last time i had one at 8 weeks and all seemed ok but they wanted me back for another scan a week later, and at that one i found out that it had stop growing at 7 weeks - i now know the reason i was called back was that she thought it looked small and wanted to check, but she didnt tell me this, just that all was ok.
So that hit me really hard, cause i thought all was ok, and it all happened over the xmas period.

My dp is fantastic, is quite willing to sit and talk whenever i want and i can let all my frustrations out on him, but then i think its not fair on him, although i know he doesnt mind.
The trouble is, like you, im struggling to talk it through, and seem to be bottling it up, which i know is no good

I think your right that its baby steps the whole way, taking one day at a time.

Are period like cramps normal this early in pregnancy, cause ive had a cramp for most of the day, its not bad and not getting any worse, but its just there!!

Thank you for being there

Good afternoon my lovely knickerchecker friends!

Scarlotti I think that the 20 week mark will be a very big one for you, I just wish I could hurry it along for you. Feeling seperate from the bump is entirely natural Im sure, I still find it hard when strangers ask me when i am due as i often feel like replying 'well August apparently but we'll see if I make it that far' crazy ay?? As is often the case when our knickercheckers become 'mums' they remind us that they felt like us too and they are only just coming to terms with it all because they have an actual baby in their arms. Often i have spurges where i reeeeeally feel like its all going to happen, but then I go back to plodding along happily unaware... I am a Next Maternity girl too - thats where my sexy stretchy linens are from, I am keeping them no matter what - just for lounging round the house...

Sydney CONGRATUFLAMINLATIONS! On the pass! I am over the moon for you! and I am also VERY at your blinkin nap times! I can not sleep enough at the moment.. I am in bed at 7/8 every night at the moment - not actually sleeping but lying down as that is when the baby likes to play, usually for around 5 hours so if i get it out of the way early, he allows me to sleep until morning... He's not even here and already he's bossing me around with sleep patterns

Alana High five for the no spotting and for the little bump youve got... Hope you're well today.

Tamlin Reading your post, I nodded the whole way through the last bit... My whole body is aching at the moment and i feel like all i do in RL to DP is MOAN! I moan about leg muscles hurting, bump moving/changing shape/stretching, boobs changing - bras not fitting - being itchy 24/7 (i carry E45 around in my bag to moisturise in the toilet at work , none of my clothes fitting/looking right etc etc etc... I am with you on the Doppler front, often think i'd just get myself worrying for no reason most of the time...

Ciara Sorry to hear you're feeling so low today, I often wonder why we can't sleep for 9 months (40 weeks wareeeever) and just wake up with little baby in our arms without all the worrying inbetween. Do you know if you'll be going for an early scan? That was all that kept me going through my early stages - I have had scans at 7+4, 8+2, 9+4, 12+3, 13+6, 16+4, 19+6 and will be going for one in a couple of weeks... Please, please try not to worry/let your mind go into overdrive.. although its so hard to try and place your pregnancy at the back of your mind! I am sure i've managed to get to 25 weeks in a VERY big hazy daze.

I am feeling okay, apart from the steady sickness and beginning to need the loo in the night... and guess what, we FINALLY have our mortgage offer!!!!!!! I am the happiest girl in the world, we'll be out of MILs and into our new gorgeous house soon!!! Can you believe it!? We're going to have our own little room to (maybe) turn into a gorgeous nursery/boys room for our little one.

xx

Hi All

Wow - back on this thread (namechanger - was on couple of years ago)
Am 6+5. Have scan tomorrow. Don't feel that pg. Boobs feel er soft and soggy for a start. Bit nauseous and tired but that's all.

have had 3 mc and know I have 50-60% mc risk due to genetic disorder I carry. I have 1 affected child (life limited) and one unaffected child

this wasn't planned and am rather but still hope things pan out ok.

Ciara - understand how you feel

X-Posts (ciara & Scarolotti) It took me ages to finish mine... xx

Welcome flappy I really hope things pan out okay for you. You're in the right place none the less and pleased you found us again xx

Hi Flappy great name

Ciara I had vague cramping / heavy period like feelings on and off from 6 weeks until 15 weeks - I vaguely remember going to see my GP about it with my first pregnancy because everything just felt so heavy, so I think on its own it sounds fairly normal. Remember everything is stretching loads and it's already pretty crowded in your pelvis!

Finally does anyone have any good tips for itchiness? Woke up this morning with bleeding backs of legs which I must have been scratching in my sleep, and the sides of my tum are really getting on my nerves - don't think it's anything serious but have you used anything better than E45?

ashleigh Hooray for your mortgage!! MIL and her stinky fags will be long gone

welcome back to the thread flabby you're in good company

OMG - flappy not flabby

Hello lovely ladies, just wanted to let you know that I'm still here, having a lurk. I did a really long post 2 days ago to catch up with everyone properly but the b*stard computer deleted it, then added insult to injury by deleting the subsequent post which was just moaning about it deleting the first one!

I especially wanted to say thank you to LadyHelen and Ashleigh for your lovely comments I'm not sure I deserve them, but thank you nonetheless

I wish I had the energy to post properly now, but I really don't! In fact I think it's nearly my bedtime. Will hopefully be back tomorrow afternoon to see you all properly. Welcome to Flappy & special wishes to anyone stuck in the purgatory that is the 1st trimester, especially if you're also waiting for a scan. I promise you it won't last forever, it will just feel like it is!

Scarlotti I'd put on a stone by about 17 weeks, I think I'm now somewhere between 1.5 and 2 stones at 24.5 weeks - so much for only putting on 2 stone over the whole pg!! Oh well! Had fish & chips tonight so that should help... I hate feeling 'chunky', but in the scheme of things, as long as the baby's ok it doesn't really matter that her mummy looks like the side of a house! Just not great for my confidence...

Back soon, behave yourselves while I'm gone

Just come on here to report a slight show at lunchtime. This evening getting a few tightenings and pains... I wonder if this is it? The other two were 14 days and 11 days late so I am a bit shocked to have any twinges at all - not 40 weeks till Monday

I have too much planned for the next few days! Off for a bath in a moment to slow it all down.

Is it ok to join you?

About 8 years ago I had a missed miscarriage, I started spotting (which turned to red blood) at about 10 weeks, went to the EPU for blood tests and a scan, at which point they told me I was only just under 6 weeks pregnant and sent me away to come back a few days later to have my blood test done again..... as it turned out my hCG levels were low and dropping.... through incredible mis-management of my situation ... I continued to bleed , they continued to scan me for three weeks, and the sac stayed in place before they finally agreed to a D&C...... I then went on the have DD (who is now 3) with no problems/bleeding in early pregnancy, and managed to put the mmc behind me.

The story now is that I am pregnant again (approx 5+5) and I've just started brown spotting yesterday..... which has panicked me half to death.I'm dreading,but expecting, the blood to turn red so I am taking it really easy, I will see a doctor if it get worse.... but I don't live in the UK, so I'll need to make an appt so see a doc in the next few days unless it gets too bad and I have to go to the emergency room.

Should i give up doing everything? All exercise for now? Should I go to bed for a few days? Any other advice?

I'm Symptom waching like crazy... It now just the tiniest of streaks when I wipe mixed with CM (tmi) but I noticing every ache and twinge... including a bit of lower back pain. I panic when I feel a twinge, then panic if I think my preg symptoms are subsiding.

I'm so scared!

sorry it so long and thanks for listening. XX

Congratulations Cece!! Sounds very promising!! Keeping everything crossed for you - which you must not! Please keep us posted!

Fairy welcome. I'm sorry to hear what useless support you got 8 years ago, sadly for all of us on here the level of care you get still seems to be such a lottery, based on little more than your poostcode and luck. Congratulations on your pregnancy, but I'm sorry you're having the stress of spotting. The short answer is that it may indicate a problem - or it may not. There are plenty of ladies on here who have had spotting, and even red bleeding and clots and who have gone on to have perfectly healthy pg's. Equally, sometimes you get the very sad cases where people have no sign that there's anything wrong but the pg isn't progressing. That's what makes the early days so unbearable stressful, and why we'll all be here for you whenever you need us over the coming weeks. In terms of what to do or not do, you must just do whatever feels right to you. IMO/E whatever you do or won't do is very unlikely to make any difference, but I can understand why you would want to do whatever you can to feel you've given this pg the best possible chance. Does that make sense? Will you be able to get an early scan where you are? That, and a FANTASTIC consultant, were the only things that saved my sanity in the early days of this pg. I had a scan at 7+1 and then at 9+1, nuchal at 11+1, 15+1, 19+1 and now am on cold turkey at 24+6! Try not to panic about twinges, the only pg I've had that didn't have twinges was my first which ended up as a mmc. Twinges are good! LO is just getting comfy for the long haul I remember an antenatal thread a while ago called "We want symptoms/we don't want symptoms" and I think that just about sums it up for all of us!

Sorry for the long post, I hope it helps. Really ought to go and get ready for work now... Oh well, it's friday!

PS had a big sleep. Feel a bit better now. Can you tell?!?

Lola lovely to hear from you! Isn't it when you write heaps and then your pc crashes. Am with you on the chunky side of the street, feel it already at 15 weeks and it is knocking my confidence a bit to be honest. Am hoping to start developing a nice bump soon rather than just a large tummy

cece woohoo! Sounds like things are on the move to me These things always happen when you've booked up some nice things to do though!

Fairy welcome. Can't really say anymore than Lola as she's put it so well. I had brown spotting at 6 weeks and the scan at 6+3 showed a good heartbeat. It was cervical erosion in my case they think. Am still here at 15 weeks and as far as I know all is still well. Hang in there

Zzzooooooooooooooooommm?????????zzzooooooooooooooooom?.beep beep Look out world I?m legal and mobile ???.!

Hello ladies! Am loving being able to drive around, just thought I?d drop in to say hi.

Tamlin you have to do it ? it?s like time-travel for me, I could not believe the feeling driving home from work yesterday and getting there in half an hour (it could take up to two hours on the buses). I know it?s demoralising and everything at our advanced age but once you?ve passed it?s brilliant .

CeCe how exciting ? looks like you?ll be next! Be thinking of you ? are you a home or hospital birther? Let us know how you?re getting on!

Desertfairy you poor love ? early bleeding is so scary, especially when you?ve miscarried before, loads of us had it and we?re still here . As Lola says, help varies around the country but try and get a scan at your nearest Early Preg Unit. I had one at 6 weeks after light bleeding, then a big bleed, another scan at 8 weeks ? baby fine and still here at 23 weeks.

In fact just back from a midwife appointment and the baby was so active she was chasing the heartbeat all over my bump with her doppler

Ashleighbee hee hee for you mixing up your Ps and Bs. My students do that all the time and talk about things like drinking cans of ?Bebsi?. And huuuuuuuuuuuuge congratulations on the mortgage offer coming through! That?s fantastic news, well done. When are you moving in? How lovely to have a new MIL-free () house for a new baby

Welcome Flappy here?s hoping your stay is long and sticky. Good luck with your scan today.

Alana have you tried calendula cream? Works well for eczema so might be worth a shot.

Scarlotti, Lola, I feel your pain re weight gain. I?m a tall woman anyway so I feel really conspicuous now I??m getting bigger, I mean my bump and boobs are literally in some people?s faces, and OPBGs (Other People?s Big Gobs) really don?t help do they? This morning, from a male colleague ?wow, are they going to get much bigger - and look at your your bum ... ??

Answers for best retort on a postcard to Sydney Towers please - winner gets to say it to his face...

Hello everyone

So many things to say to everyone and my brain is mush so many apologies for missed information etc.

Flappy glad you're back, sounds like you've had a rough time of it, wishing you an event-free pregnancy.

Ashleigh hurray at your mortgage news! That is brilliant, hope MIL hasn't been too stinky at you

Sydney well done at getting your UK licence You do know that if male collegues make comments like that, it is legal to clout them across the head with a chair? Or say a Churchill-esque, "I may put on weight now, but in a few months I will be thin again; however you, my dear, will forever be an arse" I'm sure I was wittier when I could sleep.

Cece are you there? Has it happened? Hope you're holding your little one as I type

Scarlotti so glad you've started telling people - you sound a lot more settled with everything now, which is great. I hope your DH is still motivated to improve things.

Tamlin pregnancy is definitely a double-edged sword; superficially beautiful and deeply stressful and painful and icky and frustrating etc.

Scotlass glad things are still going so well with Nathan. Polly has been behaving herself so far. She's feeding well and only cries when she's hungry, so no complaints here We even had our first smile this morning (and I promise it wasn't wind). Long may it continue ()

Tink congratulations on your great scan! Stick yourself on that list the second you want to

Lola I don't feel like I'm ever going to get back to my pre-pregnancy size 10. It's even worse once the bump is removed and you can really see your new shape But, as you say, it's worth every extra ounce

Desertfairy, Lola has said it all really, welcome to the thread and feel free to share any worries you may have no matter how small.

Polly thank you I hope you'll be back here in no time x

Alana still reeling at your "friend"! I can't believe anyone would break a confidence just to divert attention Hope it hasn't made things too awkward for you.

Ciara, Scarlotti talks a lot of sense I think taking things as they come and looking to what is happening at the moment rather than worrying about what might happen in the future, is the only way to go. Hope you're feeling better.

I'm going to see if I can a picture up on my profile now, I may be some time

cheers for the welcome ladies

haha - flappy, flabby whatever really Not firm anyhow

I'm really twingey as well. Taking it as quite a positive sign

Scan today went great. Saw hb and measuring 4mm which put me at approx 6 weeks. LMP was 7 weeks ago tomorrow but I know I must have ovulated late (only one time I could have conceived - Oh the raciness and romance ) and that was day 18)

So everything crossed till the next milestone - another scan 2 weeks today. Have cvs pencilled in around 11 weeks but am feeling rather iffy about that

Good luck to everyone else here. Looks like there's a few graduates to come