Due May 2015

spottybananas

Axel Lamp wrote: »

Wtf are bfp tr cb af etc????

They're abbreviations that I'm pretty sure aren't allowed on boards but I only used bfp because lots of others did bfp is Big Fat Positive, ie a positive pregnancy test. af is (cringes in preparation hate this phrase) Aunt Flo, period. No idea what the other ones you mentioned are.

Buttercup78

Witty name I'd ring your hospital first epescially if you're public. I rang as soon as I found out and actually have my 12 week appt. at 12 weeks the first week in Nov. you can always get your dr to send your letter in when you see them, but I'd ring the hospital first thing in the morning, are you going for combined care?

spottybananas

Buttercup78 wrote: »

Witty name I'd ring your hospital first epescially if you're public. I rang as soon as I found out and actually have my 12 week appt. at 12 weeks the first week in Nov. you can always get your dr to send your letter in when you see them, but I'd ring the hospital first thing in the morning, are you going for combined care?

I don't think that's possible with every hospital, with mine I can't ring and book the appt, I have to be referred by my gp.

Blingy

How did everyone decide on what level of care to go for? I think I'm going with holles st but mainly because of proximity to work. Looking into all options but not really sure what to go for.

spottybananas

Blingy wrote: »

How did everyone decide on what level of care to go for? I think I'm going with holles st but mainly because of proximity to work. Looking into all options but not really sure what to go for.

Where we live our choices are public or private, same hospital (only one local to us). We were planning on going public because we really don't see the benefits of going private and my doctor asked which we wanted and explained that really there was no difference here between both, as the consultant you have going private might not be able to attend the birth anyway if there is an emergency, and in this hospital the waiting times for appointments aren't long anyway going public, so not much is gained being private. I'd love a home birth but for the first I suppose it's best to go with a hospital one, my doctor said that the consultant she recommended is the one most inclined to encourage home births so we'll see.

Buttercup78

Yeah sorry meant to say not hospitals will work that way, but ring to see if yours does. The rotunda does and I think the other 2 in Dublin do too. Honestly private and semi private aren't worth the money IMO. I went through the public system last time and the only difference between it and semi p was maybe 30 mins less waiting time at appointments.
There's different options for public care too, combined where it's 50:50 with your gp, then it can be full consultant led, which sounds like you'll see a consultant but you never do unless you've complications. Then some places do a dominos system which is completely midwife lead, and supposedly great if you can get into it (I couldn't get into mine) then your hospital might have satellite clinics, hopefully I'll get to use those this time.

WittyName1

Buttercup78 wrote: »

Yeah sorry meant to say not hospitals will work that way, but ring to see if yours does. The rotunda does and I think the other 2 in Dublin do too. Honestly private and semi private aren't worth the money IMO. I went through the public system last time and the only difference between it and semi p was maybe 30 mins less waiting time at appointments.
There's different options for public care too, combined where it's 50:50 with your gp, then it can be full consultant led, which sounds like you'll see a consultant but you never do unless you've complications. Then some places do a dominos system which is completely midwife lead, and supposedly great if you can get into it (I couldn't get into mine) then your hospital might have satellite clinics, hopefully I'll get to use those this time.

Thanks for all of that info! I think I might go with The Coombe as my friends/relations have all chosen it. I will have to look into it a bit more though, and see if the Domino service is available where I am living.

It's great being able to get info from people on here like yourself who are going through it all at the same time.

I need to google any lists of do's and don'ts during pregnancy now, including any no-no foods.

Dolbert

Blingy wrote: »

How did everyone decide on what level of care to go for? I think I'm going with holles st but mainly because of proximity to work. Looking into all options but not really sure what to go for.

The Dublin hospitals are all of a similar standard tbh so go with the one closest to your workplace or home. I work up the road from the Rotunda so it was a no-brainer. You'll be glad of it when the appointments become more frequent near the end and you'll feel a *lot* less like travelling!

Buttercup78

Coombe now has a birthing pool too, I'd kill for a birthing pool!

angeldelight

We've gone private, mostly due to my weight making the pregnancy high risk - also there's the chance of a familial clotting issue which could further complicate things. I'm very interested in the pool, not sure for pushing but definitely for relief during earlier stages

spottybananas

Wittyname don't stress too much about dos and donts or take food lists too seriously, and make sure you are reading European ones not crazy over cautious American ones. Very few activities or foods are bad for you or completely off limits.

angeldelight

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/foods-to-avoid-pregnant.aspx#close

I'm using this page for foods - I trust the NHS and decided to pick one list and stick to it!

WittyName1

angeldelight wrote: »

I'm using this page for foods - I trust the NHS and decided to pick one list and stick to it!

Thanks for that! And thanks for the advice spottybananas.
Worryingly I've consumed some of the items on that list in the past week - some of the cheeses it lists, runny eggs and undercooked beef.
I will be avoiding them from now on though, and hoping there will be no issues from consuming them recently.

angeldelight

WittyName1 wrote: »

Thanks for that! And thanks for the advice spottybananas.
Worryingly I've consumed some of the items on that list in the past week - some of the cheeses it lists, runny eggs and undercooked beef.
I will be avoiding them from now on though, and hoping there will be no issues from consuming them recently.

Honestly I wouldn't worry about it - so many people don't even know they're pregnant yet at 4 weeks so are drinking, eating all sorts and taking medication that's not recommended in pregnancy and go on to have perfectly happy healthy babies

spottybananas

The fact that a friend of mine was 4 months pregnant before she realised/accepted it and partied, drank a crazy amount, smoked, probably took drugs, slept around and ate all manner of sh!te and now has a perfectly healthy 8 year old makes me less inclined to worry about a runny egg, rare glass of wine or a few minutes in a hot tub

Wittyname at this early stage the embryo is sustained by the yolk sac, theres no connection to you like the placenta or cord like there will be later on, so there is little risk. The week before I found out I hilariously had nearly everything youre not meant to, alcohol, soft cheese, medium steak, raw eggs in desserts, a 99, and at my scan last week there was a perfect heartbeat and teeny alien

Blingy

angeldelight wrote: »

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/foods-to-avoid-pregnant.aspx#close

I'm using this page for foods - I trust the NHS and decided to pick one list and stick to it!

Thanks for posting this. Very helpful as I hadn't a clue what I shouldn't be eating. Looks like pretty much everything is ok (I am not a cheese lover anyway).

OkeyDoke12

My girlfriends due in May sometime. She found out she was pregnant on the 11th September but couldn't really date it as she hasn't had a period since May after giving up the pill. Anyhow, last Friday she noticed some bleeding/spotting and went to straight to the rotunda where they done a scan which confirmed she was still pregnant and the pregnancy sac is in the right position but that was all they could really tell from the scan and that she was probably around 5 / 6 weeks. As of today she's had no bleeding or spotting thank god.

She received a letter from Drogheda hospital for her first scan which is due to take place this Thursday. Hopefully they can tell us more from the scan and a more accurate due date.

angeldelight

angeldelight wrote: »

Glad there's a few people joining in! I don't really have any symptoms at the minute which of course is making me panic, can't win! I'm somewhere between 7 + 1 or 7 + 5 depending on dates, would love some morning sickness or something to reassure me... Famous last words!

Yeah I take this back times a bazillion

Blingy

angeldelight wrote: »

Yeah I take this back times a bazillion

Oh no that doesn't sound good.
I am 4w + 5 and feeling very very tired. Nauseous at least once a day but it does seem to pass, thirsty all the time, very emotional today.
Fitted on a lovely winter jacket in dunnes today and nearly bought it but then thought what's the point it prob won't fit me by Xmas!!!

angeldelight

I'm 9 weeks today and the tiredness does seem to be back to normalish levels but it has been replaced by all day nausea and really strong food aversions meaning I'm not eating very much. I'm not actually getting sick so that's a positive. It's funny, we tried for so long for this baby and want it so much but still moaning all the time about symptoms!

Buttercup78

Yup I'm sitting here with my stomach rumbling but I know if I have even a mouthful of anything I'll be sick. I'm only 7 or so weeks, I barely knew I was pregnant last time, didn't have these issues at all.

_Queenbee_

I'm 8 weeks pregnant with our first baby and did the home test 3 weeks ago. I was delighted with the news, so was my other half but the last two weeks have been a nightmare with nausea/vomiting and feeling weak, not wanting to eat/drink.

Hit an all time low this morning and only want to stay in bed so my husband suggested i go to boards.ie and glad i found this thread!

I'm also seriously wondering why we got into this and then feel so guilty for having such a thought...

Good luck everyone. I do hope things get better because at the moment i just am seeing things from a sombre side.

spottybananas

Don't feel guilty, everyones entitled to mope and be miserable when they feel constantly sick!

Blingy

_Queenbee_ wrote: »

I'm 8 weeks pregnant with our first baby and did the home test 3 weeks ago. I was delighted with the news, so was my other half but the last two weeks have been a nightmare with nausea/vomiting and feeling weak, not wanting to eat/drink.

Hit an all time low this morning and only want to stay in bed so my husband suggested i go to boards.ie and glad i found this thread!

I'm also seriously wondering why we got into this and then feel so guilty for having such a thought...

Good luck everyone. I do hope things get better because at the moment i just am seeing things from a sombre side.

You should try and do something nice for yourself. Go for a nice walk, have a relaxing afternoon on the couch with a girly/or good movie, have a snooze on the couch, do some pampering, etc.

Hopefully your nausea will ease up soon and you'll start to feel more positive

My ibs has flared up which is not nice also having regular abdominal pain and some nausea and only at 5 weeks....long way to go.

WittyName1

Are any of you still taking pregnancy tests?
I've taken a couple since my first positive one. The Clear Blue one said 1-2 weeks the first time. I then did another one a few days later so that I could see if my hcg levels had risen. The test showed 2-3 weeks.
I'm trying to resist the urge to do another next week. I'm finding it hard to actually believe I'm pregnant I guess. Seeing the test say 3+ weeks might help confirm it in my mind and give me reassurance that all is going well until that all important first scan.

spottybananas

WittyName1 wrote: »

Are any of you still taking pregnancy tests?
I've taken a couple since my first positive one. The Clear Blue one said 1-2 weeks the first time. I then did another one a few days later so that I could see if my hcg levels had risen. The test showed 2-3 weeks.
I'm trying to resist the urge to do another next week. I'm finding it hard to actually believe I'm pregnant I guess. Seeing the test say 3+ weeks might help confirm it in my mind and give me reassurance that all is going well until that all important first scan.

I did a good few strip tests from finding out at 4 weeks to 6 weeks, that was when they ran out so I stopped then. Had a scan at 7-8 weeks which was great, 4-12 weeks would've been too long to wait with nothing happening!

Buttercup78

I took one a week after our positive just to use it up and it went positive extremely fast, and the positive line is stronger than the control line. Went to dr and got it confirmed and the combined care forms filled out, I had already made my first appointment in the Rotunda, so at least now the forms have gone in. Have an early scan in 2 weeks too, should be able to see the heartbeat then, so can't wait. Then we can start telling family, at least then they'll understand why I've been so rubbish the last few weeks.

WittyName1

Thanks for your replies spottybananas and Buttercup78.
Am I right in thinking the earliest a private scan can be done is 8 weeks?
I'm 5 weeks today. Gonna go to my gp tomorrow and organise my first official scan with The Coombe.

Blingy

WittyName1 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies spottybananas and Buttercup78.
Am I right in thinking the earliest a private scan can be done is 8 weeks?
I'm 5 weeks today. Gonna go to my gp tomorrow and organise my first official scan with The Coombe.

I am also wondering when is best for the early scan. Really don't want to wait till 12 weeks.

Buttercup78

If you go to babyscan.ie you can put your dates and it tells you the best time for the different scans.even if a babyscan isn't close it's a good little tool.

spottybananas

Some places do early scans from 6 weeks on but this is an internal scan until 8 weeks, most places do 8 weeks onwards, normal abdominal scan. I went at what was 8 weeks exactly by LMP but it measured at 7+4, she could see the yolk sac, a vaguely baby shaped blob (like a monkey nut!) and a strong heartbeat of 158. Ideally I would've liked to have it at 8-9 weeks just to see a bit more definition but that one was mainly so we could see if there was a viable heartbeat or not.

Only 2 weeks until my 12 week scan, which is great. Going by the early scan I'll only be 11 weeks on the day and the doctor said they want it to be done only from 12 weeks on, but it's 12 weeks going by doctor's estimation so I will keep quiet, hopefully they ask me to come back a week or two later

angeldelight

I have an early scan in the Coombe tomorrow afternoon - I was really excited but now it just feels surreal and like it's not really happening! I'll be 9ish weeks

WittyName1

angeldelight wrote: »

I have an early scan in the Coombe tomorrow afternoon - I was really excited but now it just feels surreal and like it's not really happening! I'll be 9ish weeks

Best of luck angeldelight!

Thanks for all of the info on this thread. The calculator on babyscan.ie is great. Hadn't seen that before. Will book a scan for somewhere between week 8 and 9.

Buttercup78

Yeah it's great that you can ask them to arrange it and contact you, I had an early scan with them last time. Was great I got a DVD of the scan, a report and some pictures.

crimsonsunset

Congrats to all you ladies expecting little bundles of joy, its so exciting.....I'm not 100% sure but I think I may be joining you...a BIG shock, I've just had my own little bundle of joy, a gorgeous baby boy 8 weeks ago so I definitely was not expecting this...and to top it all off I'm almost 40 and our only other 'child' is a 21 year old...sweet mother of God to go through it all twice in a row at my age...I'm kinda scared but excited as well tbh

angeldelight

Congratulations crimsonsunset!!

I had my scan today - saw the heartbeat fluttering away :-) had an internal one so it was very clear, feel like I can start to relax (a little!). Our consultant is really lovely, feel much more at ease now that I've met her

spottybananas

How was it seeing the heartbeat, how did your other half react? It's so crazy isn't it!

angeldelight

spottybananas wrote: »

How was it seeing the heartbeat, how did your other half react? It's so crazy isn't it!

He teared up - he's definitely the soppy one of us, I just beamed. He's wrecking my head now reading out everything from the folder the hospital gave us but I can't complain he's just happy!

Denise2007

Myself and my husband discovered we having a baby on Thursday after 2 years of trying. We are thrilled, baby due 23rd May. Have a doctors appointment on Tuesday. No idea what to expect, any guidance ??

V excited ! X

spottybananas

Congrats Denise, the gp will just do some of these a urine test, weigh you, feel your abdomen, calculate edd based on your cycle dates, and start the process of referring you to your chosen hospital. That's about it really, then you'll get 12 week scan appt in the post soon after.

Denise2007

Myself and my husband discovered we having a baby on Thursday after 2 years of trying. We are thrilled, baby due 23rd May. Have a doctors appointment on Tuesday. No idea what to expect, any guidance ??

V excited ! X

spottybananas

Denise2007 wrote: »

Myself and my husband discovered we having a baby on Thursday after 2 years of trying. We are thrilled, baby due 23rd May. Have a doctors appointment on Tuesday. No idea what to expect, any guidance ??

V excited ! X

I replied to your original post

angeldelight

Congrats Denise! Exactly as spottyb described above. If you're in Dublin and have a choice of hospitals think about which one you want to go to. Also think about public/semi-private/private before the GP appointment, I found that she just asked me what I had decided so if I hadnt decided already I wouldn't have known what to say

Denise2007

angeldelight wrote: »

Congrats Denise! Exactly as spottyb described above. If you're in Dublin and have a choice of hospitals think about which one you want to go to. Also think about public/semi-private/private before the GP appointment, I found that she just asked me what I had decided so if I hadnt decided already I wouldn't have known what to say

Thanks so much for that. Am still in a daze with the positive tests !

I am living in South Dublin so have started thinking of hospitals. Am thinking of Holles Street and maybe Semi-Private. Need to do a little more research as all a bit confusing !

Blingy

Denise2007 wrote: »

Thanks so much for that. Am still in a daze with the positive tests !

I am living in South Dublin so have started thinking of hospitals. Am thinking of Holles Street and maybe Semi-Private. Need to do a little more research as all a bit confusing !

It certainly is very confusing but the hospital websites have loads of info.
I have chosen semi private in holles st would have liked to go private for my first but it's just not gonna happen.
My first gp appointment entailed very little he didn't do a test just upped my thyroid meds and asked what hospital I had chosen and told me to just ring them and book in. Back in 6weeks for bloods but only because of my thyroid. I kinda expected more. He did give some advice but also said it was fine to enjoy one glass of wine with my dinner every so often ( thought that was a bit odd before the 12 wk mark and can't see myself having one).
Congrats Denise and best of luck with your choice of care.

spottybananas

Blingy wrote: »

I kinda expected more. He did give some advice but also said it was fine to enjoy one glass of wine with my dinner every so often ( thought that was a bit odd before the 12 wk mark and can't see myself having one).

There isn't really a whole lot that they can do/advise when confirming it, home tests are more sensitive than the tests they have, and it's still very early so there isn't much to say if you can self refer and don't need their advice on it.

Tbh I think that's fine advice about the wine, an odd glass won't make a difference before the 12 week mark (or after), if something's going to go wrong it won't be affected by a single glass of wine now and then. I think it's quite nice that your doctor isn't of the fear inducing "GIVE UP EVERYTHING YOU LOVE!" variety.

WittyName1

Welcome to the May group Denise

I'm due on 31st May with my first. Very exciting.
I didn't bother going to my gp. I contacted the hospital myself and am booked in for my first scan. We're thinking of going for an early scan ourselves around week 8 for some extra peace of mind.

No major symptoms here other than swollen boobs. All of my tops are feeling a little tight around my chest. Also my stomach gets bloated now and then too.
I'm treating every symptom as a good sign though. Hopefully I can remain this positive if morning sickness kicks in!

tink2

Hi hope everyone is doing well! I was just wondering if anyone is considering doing a nuchal scan with their first scan? I hadn't heard of it until two friends mentioned they had it done and am a bit stressed out wondering if we should have it done..my niece has a heart defect and am wondering if this is something better to be aware of or will it just cause extra stress through your pregnancy?

angeldelight

I think it's a very personal decision - our doctor asked us did we want any extra testing done and we said no but that's not to say it wouldn't be right for you. We are of the opinion that if something comes up we'll deal with it but we won't seek out extra worry and stress for ourselves. Again that's us, everyone is different.

Buttercup78

I think if you're going for an extra test I'd look moreso into the panorama or harmony tests. They're pricey but a bit more indepth. I'm 36 but I don't think we'd go for an extra test, the 20 week scan would more than likely show up anything, plus I don't think we'd be doing anything. We've a few genetic problems in our family, some pretty horrific and I'd be in bits from 13 weeks instead of 20 or so if that makes sense.