Pregnancy #54

[Kaybethkay]

36 weeks here and still waiting for that pregnancy glow everyone mentioned

 

[Hashtagnotspon]

There definitely does feel a pressure to enjoy pregnancy. But I didn't get pregnant to be pregnant I got pregnant because I want a child. The pregnancy is a means to an end and isn't my destination.

It's my anxiety in this first trimester that's my issue. And my husband keeps saying 'but you need to be able to enjoy it at some point' but I don't necessarily. I hope to, but I don't need that extra pressure.

 

[Renegade]

Just out of my 21 week scan. Everything was perfect but they couldn’t get a clear pic of the baby’s side profile as they wouldn’t move their hands to cooperate they did nothing but move, but not in the right way! All other checks are perfect but have to go back in two weeks for a side profile pic. She said she saw everything she needs to see and she is absolutely not worried as she saw it, but is required to get the pic. Of course I am secretly worried despite being told absolutely not to be whyyy is pregnancy so nerve wracking

 

[Jasminexx02]

So I’ve tested a couple more times!!
Top test 11DPO
second test 12 days PO
THIRD Pink (ignore the strip test) 13 days PO

I’ve started to have some brown/pink discharge when I wipe?? Xx

I still think you’re best of leaving it a few more days and just seeing if your period comes or not. I do see faint lines on the clear blue tests but the problem with testing early, as a lot of us know all too well, is that you may pick up a chemical pregnancy which you wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Just try to hold off for a couple of days as only time can really tell and by the time your period is due, if you are pregnant, the test would definitely be able to pick up an obvious line xx

 

[watermelon sugar]

 

[eppingforestbambi]

35 weeks now. 1 week left at work.
7 wakes up during the night for wees last night… a new record for me.
Legs so crampy and I’m now getting sciatica.
Got shouted at by a man yesterday for taking his seat outside the tube (it was empty but had his clipboard in it), I stood up and asked him if he plastic clipboard was more deserving of a seat and his face dropped when he realised I was 8 months pregnant. What a dick. I cried in my husband’s car when he got there.

So much to moan about, but I’m lying here and can feel my little bubba kick kick kick me and I’m just so grateful to have a healthy pregnancy. So many women don’t ever get to this stage, and it will all be worth it in the end.

 

[Jasminexx02]

Jesus Christ my sense of smell is off the scale I feel like my house smells like death, the fridge smells like death, my hand soap smells like literal shit and makes me wretch, I don’t even like my own scent right now, the smell of myself makes me feel violently ill, don’t even like the smell of my lovely woodwick candles, everything just fucking stinks I can’t cope

 

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

I know I was naive but I never thought pregnancy would be this worrying and nerve wracking ! I literally worry about every little symptom

 

[Kaybethkay]

Personally imo I think pregnancy tiredness is worse than the newborn tiredness. At least when baby is here you’re not in pain/uncomfortable while trying to sleep

 

[watermelon sugar]

Little babes kicks are getting so strong. My partner has felt her move a lot more last few days and even my nearly 4 year old has felt her kick

 

[Jellycat369]

I'm really struggling Have just over a week until baby's due date and this past weekend is likely to be our last weekend as a three. Had hoped to be able to do something fun with our little one but I felt awful. Feel like I have a sinus infection because my head is so swimmy but I'm also not sleeping because I'm having the most horrific nightmares and have been having panic attacks throughout the day too. Felt so upset and guilty for not being able to take my little one out on Saturday that I forced myself to go out yesterday and now feel really rough so don't feel up to doing much in my house. I'm at such a loss of what I should do. I don't feel ready for this baby and I don't feel like I'm being a good mum to my little one either

 

[raspberryjuice]

Our 4D scan was amazing highly recommend it to anyone in 2 minds about booking one

 

[Seeemm]

Had my scan, bubs is measuring a week behind but I expected that as I’m pretty sure I know when I conceived. The sonographer was able to find bubs and the heartbeat super fast scanning my stomach which I wasn’t expecting as I’m 7 weeks.

I’ve just come here with the same question I feel like it’s a bit early still (13 weeks) but I’m SO uncomfortable in bed I think I might have to admit defeat and get one. And tbh if I wasn’t preggers it would probably still be useful

Fallen in a bbhugme rabbit hole now trying to convince myself that £153 is a bargain when I work out cost per use over how many weeks I have left to use it any other recs before I buy it??

I think I’m gonna get one of the curved ones that can be tied together at the ends and used as a feeding pillow for the baby too. Only way I can justify the price of them.

 

[raspberryjuice]

After all of my symptoms disappeared last week and still haven't returned, added to the stress and panic of last night, I've caved and booked a private scan for tomorrow. If something is wrong I want to know sooner rather than waiting another 2 weeks for my 12 week nhs scan.

Good luck for tomorrow I’m sure everything will be ok but I’d have done exactly the same in your position.

Pregnancy is such a wild ride. I had extra private scans because my sickness was so bad and I was worrying about how it would impact baby. But then I also booked a scan when my sickness became controlled by meds for a few days because I was worried it wasn’t the meds and meant bad news. I did literally about 100 tests before my sickness kicked in, even though I knew they could still show positive if something was wrong. Even after my first couple of private scans I kept testing even though I knew it meant nothing really. I think I said on here before but we flew long haul a week after I found out I was pregnant. I took sooo many tests with me (and used them all), I bought extra tests in the airport before we went and took them there and on the plane. I took a test as soon as we landed, then as soon as we got to the hotel. In the day I was sneaking back from the room several times to do a test. Whenever we went anywhere I had a few of the little strip tests with me and would test every time I went to the toilet. It was obsessive but because I only had sore boobs and stretching cramps I was convinced something would go wrong. When my HG kicked in I tested less but then the worry switched from what if I’ve lost the baby to what if my sickness harms the baby.
Started bleeding and bought myself a Doppler and ended up listening every day even though I’ve got no clue what I’m actually listening to, but I had to hear that heart beat sound because I was going crazy. Booked another scan to check him.
A few days ago Baby Raspberry was kicking and rolling all night and all morning, then he went quiet for an hour and I started poking him like crazy and downing fizzy drinks and contemplating ringing triage even though he obviously just wanted some sleep after being so active. Contemplated booking a scan even though we’d had one the day before but then he woke up again.
What I’m trying to say with that ramble is the anxiety over everything pregnancy related is something else, no matter what your symptoms or lack of symptoms you will be worrying. So do what you have to do to reassure yourself. If that means lots of private scans then go for it, if you need to ring EPU or triage for reassurance then do it. Your body is going through something huge and if a scan or a phone call gives you peace of mind then it’s worth it. I am so envious of the people who can pee on a stick and go for their nhs scans and that’s it. But not all of us can be like that so just do your pregnancy however is comfortable for you, and seek as much reassurance as you need in whatever form that is

 

[Hashtagnotspon]

Got my screening results back for the trisonomies. 1 in 68 for all which is apparently high risk. Midwife was so great and saw me this afternoon to do the NIPT test (she only called this afternoon with the results). Trying not to get ahead of myself and stay positive but I never expected to have so many issues so soon into my pregnancy. It's so hard.

 

[watermelon sugar]

I think pregnancy is just one big worry - you have the first trimester where you’re constantly questioning your symptoms, I had 3 scans before I was 12 weeks but luckily 2 were at the EPU because I had spotting at 5 weeks. Then I was so paranoid a week before my 12 week scan I had a private scan at 11 weeks 5 days! But then once first trimester is over you get the time in between until you either have your 20 week scan or you start feeling them move and you’re wondering if everything is ok because you don’t even feel pregnant because your symptoms have eased! But then after 20 weeks you find yourself worrying because, Im constantly second guessing whether I’ve felt her move or not and worrying about movements in general. It’s just a worrying time and I’ve no idea how people enjoy their pregnancies It’ll start to get really expensive having scans constantly - let alone all the stuff you’re buying for baby anyway.

I spoke to my midwife at my booking appointment when she asked about my mental health and I mentioned I have anxiety anyway that I’m concerned would be heightened during pregnancy (plus I had post natal depression with my first but I fully believe having a covid lockdown baby played a huge part in that) but she put me in touch with a perinatal mental health midwife who i’ve spoken to 3 times so far and they’ve been very helpful so if anyone feels like their getting really anxious or depressed it’s worth speaking to your midwife and they can refer you to the perinatal mental health

If you can afford private scans I’d definitely recommend but agree with the they can only give relief at the time of the scan

 

[Elle Woods]

I felt because pregnancy was something I'd wanted for soooooo long, tried hard for, spent time upset for not being it was like extra pressure to enjoy and feel grateful for it.... then double the disappointment, guilt and almost shame for not. Like "This is what you wanted, you made your bed". I also felt a bit stupid for wanting something so bad but not realising the reality of it.
It took a long time to 'forgive' myself and say "yeah it's a bit shit, you didn't know, but how could you, you're allowed to feel like this".
Sorry for the merail, I guess I'm just saying be kind to yourself. Some people glide through it and some don't and you're allowed to feel crap if you don't, it doesn't mean you're not grateful.

BIB- I can relate to this so much. I longed to be pregnant and was so desperate for such a long time I felt like I wasn’t allowed to be feeling miserable with the symptoms and felt like I had to be positive all the time no matter how shit I was feeling. Like you, I soon realised that feeling upset about how shit I felt doesn’t make me ungrateful and I realised I’m allowed to feel this way.

I actually ended up distancing myself from a friend recently. I mentioned in passing in a chat that I was feeling really rotten and couldn’t wait to have some energy back and she responded by saying something along the lines of “can’t win with you, you moan when you’re not pregnant and moan when you are” . I found it super insensitive

 

[Kaybethkay]

37+5 and I went to mau with reduced movements tonight, had such a bad experience.

overheard the midwives talking about me and how I was a very anxious person (who wouldn’t be in this case?)

then the doctor came in and said reduced movements are normal as baby is running out of room. Erm no that is a lie and a myth!!! How can she as a doctor say that to someone?

Luckily I’m seeing my consultant in the morning anyway but it’s proper put me off going back if I need to!

every other visit I’ve had there has been fine and no problems but tonight was awful

 

[littlepup]

Spoiler: Depression

Anyone who’s feeling more that a bit blue, please see your doctor. I had pre natal depression last time, it’s no joke. I wish I’d have seen them sooner before I let it ruin the whole experience and create such self doubt when it needed have gotten that bad. There are medications available.
An aquaintance of mine was so bad she had invasive thoughts and became suicidal before getting help and is terrified of another pregnancy now.
It’s a very real condition but with very little exposure. If you google it, there’s so little to be found it can feel isolating and shameful. If you feel like you’re not coping, you’re not alone, help is available. It also has absolutely no bearing on your ability, bond or love as a mother. That was my biggest fear and it turned out to be completely unfounded.

 

[littlepup]

Pregnancy is the journey not the destination. No one would say you’re ungrateful because you don’t enjoy being crammed on a plane, knees around your ears. They might say ‘well, it’s gotta be done’ but not criticise not liking it.

I just say now, “I don’t do very well with pregnancy, I find it really hard. I’m excited for what’s coming but my body doesn’t respond well to this bit” - who can argue with that?!