For those of us only JUST here!

[gem]

Its really quite on here today.
Well everything went well with our 9 week scan its was so lovely to see its now starting to look like a baby you could see its head and arm buds and leg buds taht were forming its now 2.2cm so I've been discharged from Jessops but they have said if Iam worried and cant get any help from my midwife then phone them and they will scan me which is reasuring to hear,the empty small sac is still there so it will either absorbe back in or I might get soem discharge and as long as I dont have any pain and its not fresh blood then I will be ok.
They have said my due date is 6th Jan but when I've looked at my discharge sheet its says start of treatment 20th April which is wrong as I ahd ec on 13th april and et on 16th April so I'm going to phone them in morning to see why they put 20th and to see if my due date changes.
I've got my booking in with midwife tomorrow at 2 so I will see how taht goes I hope I like her.
Iam so happy after seeing my baby,I wish I could have a scan every week!!
Hope everyone else is ok
Love Gemxxx
9week and 1 day

[Tracey S]

GEm

How wonderful and thrilling for you - very pleased. It's great when they start looking like babies isn't it instead of cashew nuts or sea horses - a pig and a horse and a baby all look the same - how odd????
Enjoy now and don't worry about dates too much - they tend to change but do ask
Love
Tracey
xxx

[bina]

Hi Tracey,
Need your help, desparately!
These symptoms (or their lack of it, actually!) are driving me crazy! I was being sick every morning for a whole week - until yesterday. For the last 2 mornings, there's been nothing, just a bit of a retching feeling, but nothing to write home about, really! Also, my boobs seem not to be so tender anymore...basically, I don't feel pregnant, just big (because of all that food I'd been stuffing my face with)! I'm really really worried now, because the sickness was such a good sign and now it's gone all of a sudden. So I'm wondering whether my little chestnut has died?
I seem to have some sort of tummy pain, but I might be imagining it..., to be perfectly honest!
Sorry to be so paranoid and manic, but it's all driving me around the bend, when really I should just be enjoying it, but it's too fragile!
Oh, also - the hospital (where I'm registered for delivery) has recalcuated my dates as well, and according to her I'm only in week 8 this week, not week 9 (as Gem and I thought), so that's a whole month of continuous worry now, when I thought I only had 3 more weeks.
Soz,
bina

[Dagny]

Hi Bina

Oh dear you are in a state aren't you? I had exactly the same worries as you did. One day I felt REALLY sick and then for a few days even a week I felt fine and hungry and my boobs didn't hurt (actually they never did) and I thought I had lost the baby and wasn't PG anymore. I prayed to feel sick and then WHAM!!! I was so sick I was taken into hospital for two and a half weeks on a drip I was sick 24/7 and couldn't leave the toilet for a minute.

Now, you may be a lucky one like Zoe who didn't have any symptoms or you could in a week or so end up like me and very sick. There are no rules about how sick you should or shouldn't be.

I can understand how you feel though and my heart goes out to you. Just keep up the fluids especially on hot days as your body needs lots of water and eat while you can, you never know tomorrow could be a different story and you may be a s sick as a dog!!!

Take care

Love Dagny xkx

[gem]

Bina
Try not to worry hun,I havent had any sickness at all so you should feel luckly that you have been sick and as dagny says the sickness does go on come,so please try not to worry but if you are still worried then phone your fertility clinic and I'm sure they willreasure you or scan you again,when I was discharged yesterday from my clinic they said if I start to panic then phone them and thye will scan me which is really reasuring to know they are there if I need them.Also my boobs were tender the 1st few weeks but for the last 3 weeks they havent been as tender but still veiny,I think what I'm trying to say is that our bodies are changing all the time and syptoms do come and go,dh and me are wishing for sickness but I'm trying not to worry too much about that and as I saw our baby yesterday looking very much alive with a lovely heart beating,so please try not to worry.
How can the hospital change your date? as the nurse said at my fertility clinic yesterday dont let the midwife change your dates as we know excatly when conception accured which for us was 13th April,which was ec day,so how can your hospital knock you back another week when each week is a huge milestone for us esp the 1st 12 weeks.
Our due date is 5th Jan I phoned the clinic up this morning and the nurse said sorry for writing the wrong date so our new date is the day before they gave us,so I assume any day around then I dont really care as long as our baby is born alive and heathly.
Well I'l have to go and get ready for my 1st midwife appointment.
I've also noticed my belly and boobs are getting dry so I've been appliying coco butter from body shop.
Hope everyone else is ok,and Bina try not to worry hun.
Love gemxxx
9 weeks and 2 days

[Helen Reid]

Bina

I don't really know you but i would just like to say that when i was pg the first time i was sick as a dog and my breasts were like bricks and so sore but this time i felt sick for the first few weeks and had sore breasts but it faded. I still felt sick some days and my breasts were sore on and off but your body is changing all the time. As gem says if you are really worried phone your clinic.

Try not to worry

Helen

[bina]

Thanks guys,
Very much appreciated! I know I should be grateful to have made it this far, but somehow this on-off thing with symptoms does not sit well with me;either you have or you don't. How can I be throwing up one day and then be totally 'normal'? Anyway, I'll try to relax (even though I'm finding that very hard!) and think of other things (even harder!!!)...
If I still feel this way next week, I'll phone my clinic again to have another scan (if only we could have one at home; I'd be looking every 5 minutes!).

Re: dates; well - my EC was also 13th April and ET 15th April, so I'm exactly like Gem, which is what my clinic said, but my EDD is 9th January. So when I told the EDD to the hospital (to book book in for a neckfold scan) this woman said that I'd only be 8 weeks this week. she had used a 'gestation wheel' and was quite condescending actually, but I could tell she had no idea how to work out the weeks for IVF women, only for normal pregnancies. So, not sure where I stand now, but I think I'll ignore her and go with my clinic, they are the experts after all!

By the way - is anyone doing the integrated nucchal scan (with blood test)? I'd like to, but looks like the timing is unfortunate ie work committments might mean I won't be able to do it..

Thanks once again for everyone's supportive words and thoughts! I wish I could repay you, but I just seem to be too much of an emotional panicker right now..!
Love to everyone,
bina

[Tracey S]

Bina

So sorry not around though the others have been fab as usual!!! Massive hug to you first and deep breathes - they are right of course. I totally understand what you are going through - it's a mare the first time and the first 12 wks are dreadful and then a lull and then more panic until you feel them flutter and then off again as they don't flutter all the time. Firstly the dates - some of them talk B*****S - sorry but they do! Remember some do not have a scan until 12 weeks and some these days even later so do it all on their last AF - you can do it on your ET minus two weeks and then forward 40 - some do it on EC but only 2 days different which in the grand scheme of things..................... Up until 8 weeks it is very hard for them to accurately date the baby as it still small and they come up with these weird formula -some ahead and some behind by a week when you know it's not possible. I don't want you thinking something is wrong because you are too small - I know you! By 12 weeks they get a much more accurate picture of size - they would have said by now if you were not developing as you should. Your dates will be like Gemma's. Ignore the stupid ones!
As for symptoms - remember we are all different - I remember when I was pg with Oliver I was sick one day and not the next - used to try and make myself sick by standing over a toilet at work! Also stopped for a while and then came back for my nuchal for a week and then went - it was more nausea than sickness - think I was only sick twice or three times! As for this time well different with the twins but we are all different and all different with each pg! Some are sick all the time some not at all and some inbetween. Remember different things are happening - for instance you might be more tired one day than another and therefore more sick. Your body can have a go at getting use to being pg and then woosh off those hormones go again! Also you will have a whole menagarie of pains and stomach type aches and wind type pains and stretchy things and crampy jobs - sorry not very descriptive but ignore them - you are reading things in to the pain now. Get a scan if you can and put your mind at rest but I think in a day or so you will be saying "I feel sick or tired or both" and even if you don't then great your body is getting used to being pg!
Let us know if there is anythign we can do and as for the nuchal then I had just the nuchal test and it is really good - can't remember how old you are but methinks not an old fossil like me so you should be fine
Love
Tracey
xxx

[gem]

Hi glad to see you are going to TRY and stop worring Bina,
It went ok with th emidwife she seems ok,gave me loads of leaflets and a bounty pack coupons which I'm going to get tomorrow from mother care.we ahev to decided weather or not to have the double blood test at 15 weeks mum things I should as my cousin was borne dwith spina bifida which when the midwife asked about family history I totally forgot to mention he was born a month after me so it was years ago and his sister and brother have gone on to have heathly children so I'm NOT going to worry abouit that but I will have to remember to mention it to her when I go back when on 15th July.What are you guys doing or done have you ahd the double test? our friends had it in March and teh results came back high risk at 70-1 so she had a anmio done and thankfully the results came back normal and her little girl is due in Aug but I can remembe rthe heartache the had to go through and if my results came back as high risk I dont know if I would go through with an anmio as dagny's experiance and the 2% risk of miscarrage scares me to death but I will have to discuss it with dh and see I will prob have the doulbe blood test and take it from there and keep remembering that most women with high risk go on to have heathy babies,but its just more things to worry about isnt it??
sorry for rambling on just wanted your views on the blood tests and sorry Dagny if I have upset you by mentioning you,hope you know what I mean?.
Guess what my date as changed again but this time it makes more sense as its what I thought it was all along-4th Jan 05.
When I told the midwife 5th Jan she said well that only makes you 9 weeks and 1 day,which us girls know a day makes a big difference I said well ec was on 13th April which was a tuesday so surely my due date should be on a tuesday to be excatly 40 weeks so she as changed it to 4th Jan but said when I have my 12 week scan at the hospital the consulant will find out exactly.
I ahev to be shared care with my drs and hospital due to my history as I'm a ivf preganacy,so we are now waiting for a appointment coming through from the hosp for our 12 week scan which will be in the next few weeks.
Sorry its been all about me,I will coem on after tea and try an dcatch up just wanted to come on an dtell you how it went with the midwife,I will ahev to go and finish tea off as dh as just come back from work.
Love Gemxxxx

[caz1]

Hello lovley ladies
Bina BINA!!!! - read your post today at work and have been DESPERATE To reply!!!! I could have written it ALL myself!! UNBELIEVABLE how similar we are feeling
Infact - confession - I was SOOOOO neurotic today, not sick, not tired etc (even convinced myself that some slightly yellow looking discharge in my pants was sinister - REALLY sorry for the detail but it needs to be said!!!!) that I went for a scan!!!!!!!!!! I only had the last one a week ago!! The woman at the clinic didn't stop laughing!
Anyway suffice it to say all was well. Very similar to Gems scan - HOOOORAY for you Gem!!
SOOO - all will be well with you too Bina - I really do think that we've just basically gone mad and we just have to deal with that !! HOW we'll survive until 12 weeks I do not know
Anyway -take it from me - DONT PANIC. The clinic seemed SO uninterested in symptoms that come and go - as Tracey and Dag and Helen say - its JUST norm. Hey - listen to me -suddenly the expert!!!!!!!!

Anyway - no other news - Gem I'm so pleased your scan went well. I am measuring about the same as you and am due 12 January if thats ANY help at all!!

Hey - one thing, originally, the clinic told me I could go in for nuchal scan 11-13 weeks. Am on holiday week 12 , and thought I'd go in before my holiday. But TODAY they said, no , 11 weeks is too early!!!!!!!!! I was really hoping to have the scan before we went away - when is everyone else having nuchal scan , or when did you more "advanced" ladies have it??

I guess I'll just have to be patient - which I am SO excellent at......NOT!!!!!!!

Big
X
cazx

[Fiona L]

bina

Snap, snap and snap though I'm not sure there's much point in writing as everyone else seems to have said it all! But for solidarity, I have had lots of days of not feeling pregnant. After my scan last week when they couldn't see the heartbeat as it was too early, all my nausea vanished. Some days I feel really nauseous and others, not at all. With my son, I had no nausea at all and with my daughter, far less than this. Every pregnancy and pregnant woman is different. I think we should all be issued with our own portable scan machines for 9 months so we could just check when we are nervous.

I'm not sure I would recommend Tracey's standing over the loo at work to make yourself sick though. A few months on and you'll be dropping things in it like her!!!!!!

Had my second scan yesterday at exactly 7 weeks and saw the heartbeat. Hurrah. Have promised DP I will try not to worry so much now which really means I will not tell him I am worrying so much!!!

Just look on the next few weeks as an endurance test. You just have to get through nit. Being paranoid is normal after what we've all been though.

Love Fiona

[gem]

Hi mums to be's
what is a nuchal scan and why hasnt my midwife mentioned it?????? she just mentioned the double blood test is any one else having this done its done around 15weeks?
Will my consulant mention it at the 12 week scan at the hospital,or is this the nuchal scan???
Caz what are you like going for another scan,I wish we could have a scan every week.
Fiona glad you saw the heartbeat we will all be asking you for advice as you are a dab hand at this.I've just had my 1st booking in with the midwife today Caz,Bina and Tania have you had your booking in with you midwifes?
Caz where are you going on your hoilday?
Hope everyone else is ok
Love gemxxxx
9 week and 2 days

[Tania]

Hi everyone

I am sorry I can't keep up with all of you so haven't been writing as much.

I have been very busy working and then can't sit anymore in front of the computer.

I have decided to definitely go on holiday because everyone, except my GP said so.

All of you have been talking about syptoms coming and going. I haven't really ever had any symptoms so it is quite hard to believe. i do feel tired but I thought that was due to working a lot. I felt ok about no symptoms then suddenly feel like doing another test.

I have never felt sick, haven't had sore boobs since just around ET. I have put on weight, but that started since I started the pessaries.

I got very confused with scans and what is when but as I understand it some hospitals only do the double or triple blood test and some do the nuchal scan and some both. My sister told me that she only did the blood test as she lives in Brighton and she would have had to come to London for a nuchal scan. I think I am having both. The later one, sounds a little risky and I would like to avoid it.

I saw my GP today and she has sent off for the scans and for a midwife appointment which I think is at a hospital. I suppose I will see her when I come back.

By the way in Brighton now my sister said the midwife is a man, what is that... a midhusband??

We have put our flat on the market today and the agents will be showing people around when we are on holiday. Maybe we will be moving to Brighton very soon.

love Tanya

[Tracey S]

Hi all

Glad to see all went well with you GEms and you Caz and Bina you are starting to relax again - until the next time Caz - I was 11 wks to the day - and had the nuchal - GEms it is the fold at the back of the neck called the nuchal fold that they measure and also look at the bridge of the nose - it is the best indicator in the country of downs as babies with downs - over 80% have a thickened nuchal fold. I have it free as my hospital - QMC in nottingham do it free for ladies over 35 or ladies with IVF - I hit both! Some are having to pay for it. Ask - you never know but it is very good and not at all invasive! Caz - they say 11wks it the earliest and when I turned up she was a bit suprised they had done it that week not the week after and said I might have to come back - when she saw the twins she said all fine and they were perfect to be measured so ask anyway and one less thing out the way.
Fiona - posted for you elsewhere but congrats - I am thrilled for you as you know!
Tania - don't worry about lack of symptoms - how lucky are you - the tiredness is probably due to pg too and think of the women who have no idea they are pg - they have no symptoms.
Take care you lot and DH is off today so will try and get to HArry Potter
Love
Tracey
xxx

[bina]

Hiya all!
Was just about to go into all the scan stuff, when Tracey just explained it all (what would we do without you??!)
Anyway, my nuccal integrated (ie with bloods) is booked at another hosp. (Great Portland, are they as good as they say on TV?) for the 23rd at the cost of £196 (£50 more than my delivery hospital) and having it done at 12 weeks according to the IVF clinic's dates, but week 11 according to the silly hosp. receptionist's (Tracey, you're right, some of them really talk B*******, especially when they know v. little about IVF women).

Feeling a litte pg today, only because I'm getting bigger because of all the carbs I keep feel like eating...been retching a bit (sorry!), so hope that's OK. If only we could have a scan every week - like Caz! Wow, I'm amazed you did that! I wish I had just done that! But because the IVF clinic have released me I feel a bit in limbo now.
Gem, got my midwife appointment on 15th - what do they do then? It's a midwife who works at the same hosp where I'll deliver, so hope that's useful.

Sorry, am rambling. Found out last night that a friend of mine had 3 unsuccessful IVF attempts and she did not tell a soul about it, not even her mum and sister (they are v. close). Gosh, some people have a v different way of coping.

So when will be paranoia really stop then? I can't help thinking that something's wrong because there aren't enough symptoms when they were there before.........!
Better go and look after DH and go shopping to take my mind off things..!
Happy weekend everyone!
bina