Saying hello

[comixminx]

Not entirely sure of all of the netiquette, but thought I'd say hello as a recent joiner. Actually I joined back in October, on a friend's recommendation - I was a bit fed up of TTC with no result (though a lot of that was impatience as we hadn't really been trying seriously for all that long in the grand scheme of things - since May).

Anyway just before Christmas I got a BFP, and while it still doesn't feel very real I'm starting to believe it more and more! And that means I'm about ready to turn to MN to see what others are saying and doing... I was very glad to see threads like this one, with other people saying they've had few or no symptoms - I almost did start wondering whether it was all just gone wrong with no sign...

I'm 6 weeks and 4 days so it's very early days, but as I had a brief bleed on the 2nd Jan (too much rich food giving me an upset tummy I reckon) I did have an early scan which said all was well, hence the actually starting to believe in it.

Other than that - well, I'm a late starter (39, first pg) and will be very interested to hear and read more on here...

hey!

i'm nearly 38 and have a 19mo and 5mo...

i didn't have any symptoms at all with either of them!!

Good luck for you, eh? I have slightly tender boobs and have had a bit of constipation but no MS. I didn't realise constipation was a symptom of pregnancy before looking it up!

Well, I have to admit:

I didn't know I was PG with DS (no. 1) until I was 22weeks and with DD (no. 2) I was 18 weeks.

I mean, I really REALLY didn't have any symptoms!! It does make pregnancy FLY by though!!!

blimey o'reilley! that's quite something indeed. Dare I ask about bleeding / periods then?

I had periods with DS - I was still taking the pill..

I didn't with DD - but I hadn't restarted my periods after DS so never really noticed.

how are YOU?

Oh, well, I'm fine enough to feel a bit of a fraud - plenty of energy, no queasiness. LMP 25th Nov and they say it'll be 7 weeks on Sunday, cor. Looking forward to getting stuck into the scans and stuff - in a way - in terms of it visibly progressing IYSWIM.

Was astounded by the NHS huge book o'pregnancy that my doc gave me when I went to see him the day after the early scan - had to smuggle it back into work after the appointment, hadn't told most people yet of course! Quite a read - kept me and DP busy for the evening, looking to see what was covered (bloomin' loads).

oh, yes... the scans are fun... (well, apart from the one where I found out about DS - that was actually pretty scary and I was pretty hysterical!!)

I went private once I found out about DS and had a lovely sonographer who checked EVERYTHING and really put my mind at rest thta all was OK. So, when I realised I was PG with DD, I went straight back to her... I'd done a test that morning and thought I was perhaps 6-8 weeks gone..

So, there I am - joking about not being so far along this time - and she says 'oh, no, you're not that far gone (22 weeks) - you're just 18 weeks... I nearly fell off the bed!! hahaha

But, of course, I was very lucky that I got to see my baby (and I found out the sex) as soon as I knew about the pregnancy!!

I also had a 35week scan for both the kids - because they were both born by CS and that was lovely. They just look like perfect gorgeous little bubs...

Good that you don't have any sickness... It must be really difficult not to feel like yoiu are going to burst not being able to tell people!!

Gosh, I can hardly imagine finding out so much in the middle of things! As you say it must have really cut out the waiting and the uncertainty! It must have been funny telling people - were they gobsmacked?

Actually I have told some people - I had to tell a friend at work that I was nipping out to buy a pregnancy test, and that was just before Christmas, so that started the secret coming out... then there were work implications that meant I had to tell my immediate manager (with a lot of caveats for it being so early, of course). Amusingly I've told more people at work than from any other bit of my life! But as I had had the early scan and they said it was very likely to all go ok after that, I felt on safer grounds to do so.

(When I say had to, I mean because of the excitement!)

Gosh, yes - I was the same.... Obviously, not so many worries, trying to keep it quiet, but with DS, we did have to go through a few hoops (I'd been on the pill / missed the tests / hadn't been taking FA / had drunk over Christmas - It was a lot to get our heads round.

TBH, in RL, I didn't go into the whole 'I didn't know' too much. And most people accepted that we wanted to wait until we knew everything was OK (My DH had a son who died at 4MO because of a genetic condition, so I think many people didn't want to pry IYSWIM)

telling people really makes it feel real... As does getting a bump, I suppose (I never got a bump with DS - not till about the last two weeks) and with DD I was still in my regular jeans until around 8 months...

Yes, I can see you wouldn't want/need to go into the 'I didn't know' bit - especially with the context... I'm glad I've told the people at work that I've told because as you say it makes it more real, but at the same time I don't want to tell any more people yet.

How are you finding MN??

I love it here! It can be a bit of a warren at times (especially AIBU?! ) but you know there are some great people here.

I've made loads of good friends and our post natal group (our LOs are 18 Months already!) is still going strong.

For me, (I live alone during the week) it's a lifeline when (i) one of the kids is ill and you don't know whether to panic or not (ii) one of them won't sleep and you need someone to talk to at 4 in the morning!!

You should look at the ante natal groups - there will be one for your due month (or, if there isn't, you can start one)... it's great support!!

I'm enjoying it! Finding it very addictive actually. I have now found the ante-natal group for September & joined - didn't find it right away but didn't take too long really. But there seems to always be lots of interesting stuff on the 'Active' page - drags me right in! How long have you been on MN and how did you find it?

I've been here since I found out about DS (so January 08). I really needed some support - most people have between 35 and 40 weeks to get their head around the idea of parenthood.. I had less than 20... bit fo a steep learning curve.

Plus, I was working contract work - as soon as I told them I was PG, they cancelled my contract. I was lucky - worked up until the day DS was born (LITERALLY!) so I got maternity allowance.

I've only worked occasionally since and I'm now retraining as a teacher...

So, yeah... MN was a lifeline for me in terms of advice, support, conversations (arguments! )

I've had a couple of name changes and used to be quite cautious of people 'knowing' who I am, but I can't get too fussed about it now.

I treat it as a public forum and don't write anything I wouldn't be happy to say to someone in the street / wouldn't stand by.

it is addictive - but believe me, those active convos don't move nearly quickly enough at 3am when you are desperate for someone to talk to!!

Yeah, it really sounds like a lifeline, I can see. Good for you.

I've got other internet presences that are at various points on the public-private spectrum; in a way I find MN liberating because I haven't linked it to anything that people already know me on (and it's not like Facebook of course, and I haven't linked MN and FB) so while it wouldn't be that difficult for someone to find me here it's unlikely that anyone would look. And like you I'd rather stick to writing things that could perfectly well work as public items, even if it's about stuff I haven't necessarily told people about.