Totally's Grads Part Deux - Let's handhold through pregnancy after MC

[LeeWT]

So many threads by so many names but this thread is a place to come after TTC after MC..

Deposit your worries in the box by the door and grab a cuppa! :-)

Congratulations Goodluckbear ! I'm not the best person to comment but others on here will be able to reassure you. I seem to think that at the very start of pregnancy the baby is taken care of by an increase in hormone rather than anything that you do or produce so any little indescrepenices prior to the BFP probably don't matter so much. Someone else will have to verify this for you though as I don't really know the details properly. My DD1, who is now 11, was pickled in red wine while I was smoking 20 a day. I conceived whilst taking the pill and not intending to...she was (and is) perfect in everyway. Needless to say I stopped smoking and drinking pretty swiftly and had a totally ordinary pregnancy and labour. This time my symptoms didn't really start until about week 6, from then on they picked up gradually with constant nausea peaking between 8 and 11 weeks. March was a long tough month...

Do your best to really enjoy your moment, you are having a baby and that is fab! SB

GLB - absolutely the same experience for me and my first...i didn't even realise i was preggers with her til wk 16ish and was totally caning it being 20 and all.....i was a raver too so really wasn't being best sensible about the things going into my body then....anyhoo the upshot being i packed all that gubbins up as soon as i realised i was uppo-the-spoutio and ellie is 5ft 6 already, longest legs in the world, superbright and about as wonderful as a ten year old could possibly be so i wouldn't worry too much....

Welcome and CONGRATS on graduating the TTC thread....no mean feat in itself....lovely to have you here....

Any news on effi?

Hi GLB, welcome and congratulations!

I'll second what everybody else said, plus a bit more specifically:
-alcohol: a) your bean only connects to your bloodstream at about 5 weeks I think. Anything you eat/drink before then does not directly affect bean.
-raw egg: This could indirectly affect your bean through making you sick with salmonella for instance. However, if it were going to make you sick, you'd be sick by now... and violently so!
-heat: sun/heat could give you skin cancer, or rashes, or "pregnancy mask" which is a pregnancy-typical skin pigmentation - that's why people worry about too much sun in pregnancy - but I don't see how it could affect your bean. Hot baths should be avoided in the early stages, but warm baths are fine. And the main reason for avoiding hot baths is that they can make you feel faint and fall. Any evidence that they may harm your baby is patchy at best. Oh, and hot baths, like hot tubs etc. can be inducive to infections such as fungal. Which can be uncomfortable, I suppose.
-PMT type pains before BFP: I think this is quite common. The fact that it didn't happen to you before doesn't mean anything - every pregnancy is different!
-Stress: If stress were soooo bad, then none of us post-MCers would ever have a successful pregnancy but if you do feel it is all getting too much and making you worry even more, perhaps try some relaxation techniques? I've just ordered myself the pregnancy-CD from the natal hypnotherapy people; could be an idea for you too?

Oh, and btw your not crazy - you sound very much like me and many others when we first got here

Congrats SAM

Hi GOODLUCK BEAR

Hope everyone else is well. I m stressed , not with pg, but stupid fucing people who get away with treating people like sht.,
Our knobhead neighbour,opposite us has put chunks of glass on a patch of his garden next to a public highway 4 of us drive up and down to our parking spaces.[basically, he s a knob who has a problem with animals we have 2 cats, my neighbour has 1 cat theres loads of cats on our estate].He has a problem as he feels a lot of cats are craping on his garden,His garden is like a massive litter tray.So we rung the police, after my neighbour had spoken to him he refused to remove the glass and said he was going to sue my neighbour for "harrassing" him in his home!!!!!!!!!!

The police visited him the day after he refused to remove the glass he was verbally aggressive to the police and said he was building a fence!!!!Soo 2 days on no glass removed rung the police tonight basically they said nothing they can do.Its a civil matter soo rung the council and they re going to "look" on to it!!!!!!!!!!

Thats 1 of the problems i ll fill u in on the other tomorrow!!!

Why can t people live like normal sane rational people????

Why do us law abidibg citizens always get penalised by arses????

ARH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh and there was supposed to be a b) regarding alcohol
being... even if your bean had already been connected to your bloodstream, there is no evidence that small amounts of alcohol harms your baby. There is no evidence that it doesn't, either, which is why it is advised against. However, the only harm that alcohol has been demonstrated to cause, is related to heave binge-drinking over a sustained time. The rest - all the cautions "against any alcohol at all right from the start" - is purely precautionary.

Louise...
liking your cat-friendly neighbourhood...
disliking your neighbour!

Hope things sort themselves out - relax lady!

Phew, thanks guys, will try to chill out now!! I've got an appointment with my GP on Friday so will set the ball rolling with the booking in appointment and all that jazz. This is going to be a slow 7 weeks....

I can't believe someone would deliberately put glass out like that, there's no call for it (what purpose could it serve apart from causing injuries?). What a crazy.

xxx

GLB totally agree it's going to be a slow few weeks! I've got my GP appt at 2.30 today and honestly it feels like the longest day ever. I'm really not sure what's going to be happening at it, DH is going to come purely so he feels involved - hopefully GP won't mind.

Hope everyone else is well .

Hello all,

Effi any news?

Very pleased for SamB - fantastic. Can't wait until I get to that point - and am very scared as well!

Hi GLB, good to see you again

Well, I've been to see my gp, who's referred me to the mw and we should hear within the week as I'm 'so far along' (7 weeks? Go figure, as they say).

Any cunning suggestions about battling morning, noon and night sickness? I really don't remember feeling this bad last time or with dd. I wake up in the night feeling like I need to vomit, for goodness' sake! I'm not actually physically sick, but feel as though it would be better if i DID iyswim. I'm wearing sea bands permanently, and it makes life carryonable BUT. This is AWFUL!

Has anyone got the list btw?

Unbuffy I felt just like that too. For me it was worst between weeks 8 and 11 - about 4 weeks in total. I am a full time teacher and it was really hard work getting through the days. I found it was worse if I was tired so I started going to bed as early as I could. Many days I just came home from school, ate asnd slept. I also found that eating very small quantities of food very frequently helped. Often though the first few mouthfuls were horrid as I felt so sick. Crackers were good as were all bland, non-descript foods. Although I'm having a bad day today, I haven't been particularly unwell now for a few days. Hang in there because it does go - just beyond 12 weeks I really did start to feel more ordinary again. I really sympathise with you hun, it is horrid.

Unbuffy really hope you find something that works for you re sickness.. that sounds really draining you poor thing.

I had my GP appt today and feel a lot calmer about my episode at the weekend so that's good. We will too hear from the midwife within the week and then I'll have my booking in appt and the infamous 12 week scan. Seems more real now. Just waiting waiting waiting! Really like how on this thread we have all been through the same thing. Def makes it easier.

Im back, and im calm(ish!)
Went to the hospital and spoke with the lovely midwife, one of my hormones was slightly low, which could indicate downs, nuchal reading was fine, my age etc, gave me the high risk, could have gone for c.v.b the next day, didnt want it though, so she gave us some time to consider amnio, which I think we're also going to decline, as it wouldnt affect our decision, and im more worried about the amnio and possibility of miscarrying, than I am about having a baby with downs syndrome, we've seen our little baby, wriggling, heart beating, growing, and after loosing several babies previously, I dont feel i would be able to end the life of this one. So it may take me a few weeks to really relax again, thats what were going to do, and even though we know that there is a high chance of having a baby with special needs, theres also a bloody good chance of us not.
And I also complained about that bitch of a sonographer while I was there!

Effilump, good for you. I bow to your strength and calm!

I just saw my GP who signed a form saying I was fit to fly. Leaving on Sunday... whoohoo, sunshine and beach, we're coming!

Effilump - glad you had a better second visit. Also glad you got in the feedback about the sonographer. Sounds like the midwife was great but I have read from other people that this organisation is great www.arc-uk.org/ if it's of interest.

Goodluckbear, so lovely to have you here!! As a loon, you'll fit right in. In fact, I think it is a prerequisite! Don't worry about those early weeks. All the months when I was doing the right thing - nothing. Only got my BFP after a very boozy Christmas and New Year.

Unbuffy - I found the seabands helped. Accupuncture was great but the effects only lasted a couple of days. Other than that, I found sucking on a boiled sweet got me through meetings etc. Mind you, I didn't have it as badly as you, poor thing.

Louisesh - your neighbour sounds delightful!

Sam at the scan - great news!

I've got so behind on this thread it's dreadful. Need to have a proper read and catch up but it's manic at work and my PILs arrive soon for a 6 week stay. So will need to wave a magic wand and tonne of cleaning products at our pigsty home this weekend.

Saw my midwife this week and heard the heartbeat (sorry meita!). All was well. Only slight thing is I'm rhesus negative and already have an antibody present ( I assume from my m/c). Midwife didn't seem to know much about it but after a long google (no surprise there) I think I'll book in with my GP to check it out. Being rhesus negative is fine, it's the existing antibody that is giving me a little concern.

Meita - have a lovely time!!

Effilump - that sounds really reassuring. I'm glad the midwife was nice, particularly after that awful sonographer. I hope I get Sam's sonographer, who sounded lovely!!

Still no symptoms apart from little period pain type feelings every so often. I thought my boobs were bigger by DH says no (after checking obviously). Wish I'd had a normal pregnancy so I know how I'm supposed to feel?!? Gah!!

And I'm totally annoyed with this lady from work, she's being really stupid and annoying!!

xxxxxxx

TFLS - crossed posts, it's good to be here, thanks for the welcome!!

xxx

TFLS - good to hear from you - sounds like you're being busy!
Regarding the Anti-D antibodies, didn't they give you a shot after your MC?
I would definitely talk to someone about it, and if your GP is not clued up, ask to be referred to a consultant. Without having done any googling, my understanding is that you'd want your baby monitored for anaemia, as your antibodies against your baby's blood type could cause anaemia. At the latest when it comes to birth and questions around induction, etc, people need to know that there might be an anaemia-issue.
On the other hand, you could find out what your DH's blood group is. If DH is also negative, you could be sure that your baby is negative too, ergo no problems (hmm but where then does your sensitivation come from? Have you ever had a blood transfusion or such?)
I'm also rhesus negative, DP is positive, and when I had the MC they gave me the anti-D shot, although it was very early. But that was in Switzerland, maybe they handle it differently here? Anyway I'm glad that the blood tests at the booking in appointment showed no sensitivation so I should be fine, will have a double-dose anti-D shot at week 28 and a shot after birth, that should do the trick.

Oh Meita - another rhesus negative! I apologise in advance for this bit being very, very boring to everyone else....

I've only just found out my blood type - never been checked before. It was never mentioned when I miscarried so I'm assuming that DH is positive and that's where the antibodies have come from. Never had a transfusion etc so can't think of another possibility.

I was relaxed reading about rhesus negative (just get the anti-D shot etc) until I found some info in the event that you had already been sensitised where it said there could be problems. The midwife inspired me with NO confidence - she had a look at my results and said "oh you're O negative and there is a funny note on the file with all this C+K gunk"! The breakdown specified they had found Anti-M which was clinically significant but unlikely to cause haemolytic disease of the newborn. Which sounds promising but it would help if the medical professional giving you the result knew what it meant! It was the "gunk" reference that sealed it! My iron result was great so I guess no sign of anaemia yet. Think it's time to see the GP (who is lovely) for a reassurance visit - just to stop me googling if nothing else!

Holiday sounds great! How many weeks will you be when you return? I guess you're past the cutoff when you need a certificate? I've just bought a maternity swimsuit - why are virtually all the choices in black or am I the only pregnant person who wants to be a colourful fat lump?

Goodluckbear - period like signs are totally normal - have to admit I still found them a little disconcerting. Being irritable is a pregnancy symptom if I'm anything to go by!!

Still haven't trailed back through this thead (annoyingly interupted by work!) but big hi to Cheepz - been thinking of you.

Yes TFLS - that would make sense. I didn't know my blood group either before the MC, but when I called the local hospital in Switzerland because I was bleeding, they said there was nothing they could do but what was my blood group? And made me go in for testing, and subsequently for the anti-D shot.

As I understand it, preventing Anti-D sensitivation is soooo much easier than treating it, which is why maternal health people are usually quite clued up about how to prevent it. Very few people still get sensitised and so bog standard health people usually don't have any experience with it. That would explain your MW's reaction! I agree that it isn't really confidence inspiring... But it's good to hear that your particular sensitivation is deemed not to be hugely dangerous. Still, I would want to discuss it with someone who knows what they are talking about!

Actually, I will be only 25 weeks on returning from holidays, so don't technically need any certificate. BUT check-in staff goes on size-of-bump primarily... and if in doubt, might want to see some paperwork. I just figured it would be easier to show them a short note signed by GP rather than going through my pregnancy notes with them and discussing/calculating how many weeks along a due date in August makes me now.
Oh and I got a nice and colourful maternity tankini from mothercare. The swimsuits I saw, on the other hand, were indeed all black.

Sorry all for boring Rh- discussions !

Meita - thanks for that. I guess the Swiss system is just more advanced! Glad you've got the certificate - we want you back!

Hello.... am nervously dipping my toe into the Grads thread to join you ladies. 6 weeks today and all is well (so far so good) Not made it this far before so am hoping this bean is a sticky, plus m/c thread is soooper busy, it's hard to keep up (as I'm a slacker and don't have access to mn at work) and I'm feeling a little guilty lurking about over there.

I've still not made it to the docs though, must pull my finger out and book an appointment for next week so I can get an early scan in.

Effi Thinking of you matey, hope all is well x

Good to 'see' you all again, lots of familiar 'faces' so it's not too nerve wracking! meita, tfls, louisesh, Effilump, upduffybuffy, samb123, zayja, LeeWT, MrsR, happygirl hellooooo! like a mad woman.

Barrenbrook I was looking at the mc thread last night and saw your bfp - I am so happy for you (I'm all hormonal and did shed a tear!). I really hope that you have the most uneventful 8 months, SB x

BB great to see you here! I've been wondering if we needed to ask one of the more recent graduates to go back to the TTC after MC thread and provide you with a pointer as to where we all are... Very big welcome to you, and huge congratulations!

Here's hoping it will all be very boring for you

Hi all
delighted to see some of the new grads moving over... it's too crowded on our thread so frankly sod off and play with the fat people .

Just to say hi to TFLS - lovely to hear from you on the 40+. I am also Rh-, found out when I had a threatened MC with DS. Had antiD through that pg at 28 and 34 weeks (I think weeks correct) and also after the birth. Also after my ERPC. Didn't have a shot this time, apparently only relevant if you have surgery or MC after 12 weeks (I did at 11+6!). Am no expert at all, but echo what Meita said, you must get the reassurance YOU need.

Also Effi, saw your original post and didn't feel I could reply as we've not really "met", but was SO pleased to read the update. Delighted for you.

Hi to all. Am not TTC at the mo, seeing a acupunturist weekly, getting a day21 test to check progesterone levels before we try again. And trying to focus on some other things than #2, like enjoying #1, and LIVING!!

Will check in again soon, but so pleased all moving along so well.

TTFN.

Welcome Barrenbrook - great to have another familiar face here.

Hope you are feeling well and great you are past where you have been previously. That was a big milestone for me also.

I'm 7 weeks today and all okay so far fingers crossed. Still extremely nervous, really really trying to be positive though. Get really excited sometimes and then I get a twinge and I'm like ok got to just take it easy until the 12 week scan.

My GP said no need for an early scan which is good I guess cos all is normal but I would have loved one but I guess it's good she thinks everything is ok. I'm still humming and hawing around whether to have a private scan.