Hi again ladies,
first of all, thanks so much for your support!
TFLS, Effilump, Boodle - I took up your suggestion and spent lots of time trying to find out about private blood tests, how and where to get them, how much they would cost and when I could expect results.
Then it occurred to me to call the midwife hotline and see what they say. When I mentioned the possibility of slapped cheek, they asked me to come in immediately; so I went, and they took blood for the test right then and there. They seemed to think it was reasonably urgent, which I found, strangely perhaps, to be very reassuring. But still, 10 working days i.e. two weeks until results come in. When I got home I cancelled the GP-blood test and soon after got some replies from people I had been e-mailing about private blood tests - they cost between £100 and £150 , however, they get results in in two to three days... DP and I had a long and careful think about it. Then decided to go for it. If it turns out I do have the virus, I'll be glad for knowing it sooner; if it turns out I don't, it's good news too! So, another trip and another blood test this morning, expecting results on Thursday.
I feel strangely calm about it all now, and a bit like I behaved like an over-anxious scared 1st-timer (I guess that's what I am though ). I'm pretty sure that everything will be fine, but I'm also glad that we've covered all bases.
cheepz so sorry to hear you have slapped cheek worries too. You are of course absolutely right that in most cases everything turns out to be fine. Here's hoping that it will for you too.
Particularly sorry to hear about your spotting. I do hope it it turns out to be nothing, or just your friable cervix. Everything crossed for you.
allergies Hmm, something to think about. I get contact dermatitis from Pirithione Zinc, which is in many anti-dandruff shampoos - took me forever to figure out what it was. Also hayfever season has started for me (I react to tree pollen) and it's good to know that I should expect my body to behave differently now that I'm pregnant.
louise you must be starting to feel like a pincushion! But as long as it works, right? I totally understand how scans can be worrying... I try to stick to the thought that scan or no scan, it won't affect your pregnancy either way. Compared to what you're doing - growing and nurturing a baby - scans are terribly inconsequential.
jollster good to hear from you, thanks for dropping in! Glad that you don't need surgery, though I'm sure it wasn't easy this way either. Big hugs to you.
sarahlou have you tried ginger beer? Herbal teas? I had times when I found it very hard to drink too. I tried to always have a glass of something nearby and to drink sips at a time, because I simply couldn't manage to drink more. But lots of sips add up to a glass full eventually!
freezing I decided against a private early scan too. Desperately trying to have a pregnancy as normal as possible. Also with the thought that it wouldn't really help either way - knowing that the baby has no heartbeat sooner won't make it come alive again, iyswim. And knowing that he/she does have a heartbeat won't stop me worrying for long. On the other hand, sticking to the two regular NHS scans only does sort of weigh them down with importance.
TFLS Hope you're not getting too nervous. Deep breaths!
Oh and cheepz again... have been thinking of our LOs who would have been just about due now. How different things would have been.