October 2018 Babies club

Cash_Q

I got the flu vaccine back in November which I do every year as I have asthma, really glad I got it because everyone seems to be sick!

Thanks mirrorwall I've a blood test with GP in 2 weeks to check my thyroid so I'll ask them to check for chicken pox immunity then. I had it when I was small as did all 4 of my siblings, would that make me immune? I'd just heard that it's a danger when pregnant but don't know why etc

catrionanic

My GP recommended I get the flu vaccine so I did.

Nausea has kicked in over here, but thankfully it’s not as bad as last time (yet - it’s started a bit earlier this time so I’m hoping that doesn’t mean it’ll get worse). My 12 month old has a tummy bug so yesterday was delightful. Between cleaning puke off him and me, and changing the most awful nappies, and driving two hours up the road with him (he threw up all over himself and it got into every crevice of the car seat - that was a joy to clean), it was a tough day. One of the nappies smelt so horrific that I had to run to the toilet and retch as I was so close to vomiting myself!

Otherwise all seems ok though. Have booked a private scan for when I’ll be around 8 weeks (Evie in the Beacon are doing them for free between 7 and 12 weeks!) so am looking forward to that!

shesty

Bread soda is great for getting rid of the smell of that in a car or car seat....I've been that soldier.It's beyond yuck!

Jodee08

Hi all!
I’m excitedly joining having got my BFP on Monday. I’m due October 26th so not even 5 week yet. It’s mad to know so early! ☺️
I’m already a Mammy of a 4 year old with special needs and 2 year old. It’s gonna be a busy house in October!
Big congrats to everyone!

catrionanic

welcome to the group! So exciting for your kids to have a wee brother or sister!

catrionanic wrote: »

12 in the club so far!

October due dates are:
Awny - 2nd
Clacla82 - 9th
Lunamoon - 10th
Mirrorwall14 - 13th
Panda18 - 14th
Catrionanic - 18th
FA12345 - 21st
Shortie_chik - 21st
Cash_Q - 21st
Jodee08 - 26th

mirrorwall14

Welcome Jodee! I've had the flu vaccine but I'm an asthmatic so had it last November.

Catrionanic, free scans? Really?! I've one booked for a Saturday for convenience but free is tempting....

shortie_chik

clacla82 wrote: »

Wondering did any of you get the flu vaccine? Wasn't going to bother as late in the season but a woman was coughing and spluttering next to me at a conference today and it was all I could do not to get up and run off, the fear!

I got the flu shot back in September as I was planning to come off the pill in November. My GP did say that this year's shot didn't cover all the strains that seem to be going around.

catrionanic wrote: »

Otherwise all seems ok though. Have booked a private scan for when I’ll be around 8 weeks (Evie in the Beacon are doing them for free between 7 and 12 weeks!) so am looking forward to that!

Free scans? I had to google, what's the catch? :P
I won't have any scan for what seems like forever since I'm not even referred to the hospital yet.
http://evie.ie/care/once-off-services/early-viability-scan/

Jodee08

catrionanic wrote: »

welcome to the group! So exciting for your kids to have a wee brother or sister!

Thank you!! They have got a clue when I tell them Mammy is having a baby, although one wants a brother while the other wants a sister. lol

I got the flu jab back in October - it's something I get through work at a discount so I get it every year.

Like others, I've heard it wasn't as effective this year.

lili123

Hi There,

Got a BFP a few weeks ago, and should be ~6 weeks this weekend! Have booked in a for a free scan in evie around Patrick's day which we are looking forward to! I'm feeling ok, a few aches and pains and a 24 stomach bug have been my only complaints so far!

It's our first time through this so struggling to not get overloaded with information, so would appreciate some advice from people who have been through it! It's so annoying that we can't discuss these things with friends and family yet.

We are trying to figure out whether what options we go for re care, we have the semi-private cover via insurance but not sure if its worth the registration fee. So I'm hoping if I just list my questions, someone can help with some/all of them!

- From an actual process perspective, what is the difference between S-private and public? from what I see, S-private gets you maybe a more private room, and is more doctor lead than midwife lead? is there anything else? more scans?
- Can you "upgrade" to S-private at some point?
- What's the actual difference between Domino v Midwives Clinic v Combined Care? We live in South Dublin so Midwives clinic is close to us
- Finally, most importantly, how do you start all this and when? Having looked around, we are fairly sure we don't need to go see GP, but do you need them to kick off the process?

We are leaning towards public, as we just don't see the "value" in Semi private....but are we missing something?

Sorry for the vomit of questions, it's a lot to take in and figure out!

Thanks in advance ladies. :-)

shortie_chik

Spent an hour looking at my breakfast this morning, managed to eat about half of it before I gave up.
Somehow I knew I was getting off lightly over the last 2 weeks! :-(

greenttc

Lili123 the public v private is much discussed everywhere and I still don't know which is better. I think the main benefit to private or semi private is the reduced waiting times and possibly nicer area to wait in. Also there is of course the possibility (and it is only a possibility) of a semi private room after birth.

I think if you will get great care in both private and semi private, when its an uncomplicated pregnancy there is not a whole lot to the appointments anyway for the majority of the time. I was public but in a high risk clinic because of past medical stuff and I and others I know who were just normal public and got a little scan at every appointment (in holles Street anyway) so you didn't miss out on that.

If I had a choice though I would 100% be doing the domino scheme, yes you don't get scans all the time but from talking to others the care you get is so so good and far more personal and there is no traipsing in and out if town. I wish I wasn't high risk more than anything so that I could go with midwife led on the domino scheme.

I said before but other disagreed that I didn't think there was mush point in the gp appointment and you can register with your hospital yourself (in Dublin anyway) bit everyone is different and has their own preferences!

greenttc

I feel a bit the same as you shortie, struggling to eat full meals but it's cause I get full so quickly and feel like I have eaten a huge dinner rather than just a few bits, I was the same last time no appetite at all

Jodee08

I'm 5 weeks today and did another test this morning in the hope that it would be much darker than the test I did on Monday. It was only slightly so now I'm stressing. I've had 2 miscarriages previously, and the last one, started with a faint line which went gradually to nothing until I got a late period, so I'm super paranoid about dark lines now.

Anyhoo, I know this is part and parcel of the early days. Bring on 12 weeks (with any luck).

lunamoon

Had a scan in the EPU. Everything looking good and I could see the heartbeat. Starting to feel a little more relaxed now.

Cash_Q

Is anyone else suffering with cramps? I'm 5w6d now and have had fairly minor cramps every day. I was anxious to start with but gradually accepted that I've been having them for two weeks and everything is ok so it must be normal.

Yesterday driving to work I had some stronger cramps and then had some brown discharge when wiping at 12pm and another very small amount at 1.30pm but nothing in between and nothing at all since then.

I woke up around 2.30am now with really strong cramps. I have never really suffered with period pains so these would have been strong cramps for me and I winced with pain at one point. I am worried this is abnormal and a sign of something worse to come?

No discharge or spotting at all tonight, I have taken two paracetamol and have a hot water bottle there now and seems to be more or less fine now with some tiny twinges.

Don't really know what I expect from writing all this..hoping others a bit further along might have similar pains and have been all alright? Is it really just down to stretching/increased blood supply down there?

greenttc

Cash q, i had cramps on my first baby which were like period cramps, like you i dont get cramps ever so it was weird to get them but it is all normal and will fade over time,its just all the growing and stretching. Look up round ligament pain, its very very common. In a way i found the pains reasurring that there was growth going on in there.

I am not sure if it made a difference or if it was just scaremongering but i didnt use a hot waterbottle as they say to not overheat or cause excess heat as it can be bad, similar to the advice of not using saunas or jacuzzis, so soothing and all as the heat was for the cramps i stayed away from hot water bottles. Dont know if i was being over careful though.

Cash_Q

Thanks greenttc yes I was looking up round ligament pain but thought that occurred later. There's so much conflicting information out there.

It did occur to me that the hot water bottle might be too hot, it gave serious relief though!

Yes I do take reassurance from feeling things are happening down there, I think a part of me just can't help expecting the worst to happen too and that's scary.. no discharge or spotting this morning which is very reassuring ðŸ˜႒

bee06

The hot water bottle would be ok in your back but better not to put it directly on your stomach. Cramping can be normal during early pregnancy but I know it’s nervewreaking when you don’t know what’s “normal” cramping and the other kind. Brown bleeding wouldn’t be anything to worry about either as it’s old blood.

awny

Cash_Q wrote: »

Thanks greenttc yes I was looking up round ligament pain but thought that occurred later. There's so much conflicting information out there.

It did occur to me that the hot water bottle might be too hot, it gave serious relief though!

Yes I do take reassurance from feeling things are happening down there, I think a part of me just can't help expecting the worst to happen too and that's scary.. no discharge or spotting this morning which is very reassuring ðŸ˜႒

Hi Cash,

I had cramps till about week 7 they’ve stopped now, I’m 8 * 4. Also, I had two bouts of brown spotting: one at week 5 and one during week 6. Went to the EPU and was fine. Hope this helps x

Cash_Q

I'm fairly sure the hot water bottle is fine. It's isolated to one area and can't penetrate through all the fat and muscle on my stomach. Saunas and Jacuzzis are banned because they increase your core temperature and your body can't cool itself because you're immersed in extreme heat. A hot water bottle won't have this effect and is really comforting so I'm not too worried about it.

Thanks for all the reassurance about the cramps, I've had them consistently since finding out at 3w4d but the sharpness of it last night worried me. Seeing as I've had no spotting since I feel like it's going to be ok.

Just wish I could fast forward the next 34 weeks 😂

spottybananas

Round ligament pain was my first symptom the last two times I've been pregnant, one was chemical pregnancy, the second is my 3 month old son. But yeah anyways, it was my first symptom both times, so started about 11/12 days after conception, before I even had a positive test.

mirrorwall14

Well the all day nausea has cleared a bit but now I’m gagging regularly which is super unpleasant!

As a random TMI aside from someone who has been there, I strongly recommend a step for the toilet for putting your feet on when doing your number twos. Piles are not fun lol

Cash_Q

Little browny/pink discharge this afternoon again and now tonight pink blood when I wiped freaking out

I'll go straight to the Coombe tomorrow morning. Hoping it's not serious enough to warrant a visit but I'm not just waiting to see if it gets worse.

So ****ty I told my parents and siblings today and had such a fun day now am terrified and upset

awny

Cash_Q wrote: »

Little browny/pink discharge this afternoon again and now tonight pink blood when I wiped freaking out

I'll go straight to the Coombe tomorrow morning. Hoping it's not serious enough to warrant a visit but I'm not just waiting to see if it gets worse.

So ****ty I told my parents and siblings today and had such a fun day now am terrified and upset

Ðont panic yet Cash_Q.

I went to the EPU after a second round of spotting. The first bout sounds just like yours and the second was a week or so later and was brown discharge. They did a transvaginal scan and saw the baby, all was fine.

Go to the EPU in the morning, I found all the staff there so kind and sympathetic. Please god it's nothing, but try not to stress too much until you know more. X

Cash_Q

Thanks awny it's more like red blood just now but nothing I can do about it so just have to wait til tomorrow. So upsetting.

catrionanic

I feel so so ill

I’m barely functioning

shortie_chik

catrionanic wrote:

I’m barely functioning. I feel so so ill

Oh dear being up at 4:20 posting in here is rough. Can you take a day off work today? Sounds like you could do with a day of resting, or sitting on the floor of the bathroom. :-(

I've had a fairly delicate weekend and not enjoyed it one bit. Took me 45 minutes to eat 3/4 of a slice of toast this morning. Was hungry going to bed last night as I couldn't face any real meals yesterday. I know an empty stomach makes this worse, have a tub of water crackers and another of ginger nuts in my bag today. I feel like having the package visible in the kitchen is an advertisement "look pregnancy food!" Especially as I don't normally eat biscuits.

The only thing I've noticed soothes my stomach (however briefly) is cold, so sipping lots of water. I'm not usually a juice / smoothie drinker, but I bought one yesterday and was able for it. I figure it'll get some calories and small amount of nutrients into me while I can't face real foods.

Cash_Q

awny wrote:

Go to the EPU in the morning, I found all the staff there so kind and sympathetic. Please god it's nothing, but try not to stress too much until you know more. X

They were so so lovely and all is perfectly well. They did a scan and in could see the heartbeat. Phew!

clacla82

Cash_Q wrote: »

They were so so lovely and all is perfectly well. They did a scan and in could see the heartbeat. Phew!

Oh thank god Cash_Q, was thinking of you all morning! Thrilled to hear that. Hopefully we are all getting to the stage now where we can start to settle in and enjoy being pregnant!

Jodee08

Cash_Q wrote: »

They were so so lovely and all is perfectly well. They did a scan and in could see the heartbeat. Phew!

That’s brilliant Cash_Q.
So relieved for you.

Panda18

Cash_Q wrote: »

They were so so lovely and all is perfectly well. They did a scan and in could see the heartbeat. Phew!

Brilliant news! So glad to hear it

Cash_Q

The shock of it is only hitting me now and even though I'm delighted and relieved, I can't help feeling really upset and shaken after it. Feels silly as they assured me that there's nothing to worry about but it was so scary sitting there fearing the worst. Just have to keep reminding myself of that heartbeat

awny

Cash_Q wrote: »

The shock of it is only hitting me now and even though I'm delighted and relieved, I can't help feeling really upset and shaken after it. Feels silly as they assured me that there's nothing to worry about but it was so scary sitting there fearing the worst. Just have to keep reminding myself of that heartbeat

So glad it all went ok. I told the doctor there that I could do with a big drink after the fright of the whole thing after I got sorted but it got lost in translation and I had to explain I was only joking..!! the fright was desperate!!

Jodee08

Cash_Q wrote: »

The shock of it is only hitting me now and even though I'm delighted and relieved, I can't help feeling really upset and shaken after it. Feels silly as they assured me that there's nothing to worry about but it was so scary sitting there fearing the worst. Just have to keep reminding myself of that heartbeat

I had a bleed at about 20 weeks when I was having DD2. We went straight into hospital to be reassured that small bleeds can be quite common through pregnancy.

We could do without the stress though, eh? 😔

Cash_Q

Yes she said to me that it's generally nothing to worry about unless I soak through a few sanitary towels so that's a good measure I suppose, although I don't think I'd be waiting til I'd soaked through a few.

I wish the cramps would stop I can't help worrying with every one. Feeling a lot better after a sleep though. Really wish we could fast forward to the end of October and all our little ones would be here! Hope every one is feeling ok, really do appreciate having this page as support x

Laura2707

Hi guys
I'm due 11th October.. Big surprise ðŸ˜
Last Thursday I started havin severe cramping and bleeding so attended Hosp ASAP. I thought I was miscarrying 💔 Was a horrible few hours waiting and not knowing what was happening😥 I went for scan and they diagnosed me with a subchorionic heamatoma which is cause bleeding my little Miracle is still beating away 💕 Just wondering has anyone else experienced this before as its so rare I'm finding it hard to get answers. Back in two weeks for a scan to check all is ok the suspense is killing me.
Thank you in advance

shesty

They pointed out something on my first that they thought could be that but they never diagnosed it and all went fine.I have had early bleeds on all three, it just seems to be something that happens and they have never really got to the root of it.I am not too bothered myself, as the first two pregnancies had good outcomes and the third is just about 31 weeks so far and looking ok.At this stage if I didn't bleed early on I think I'd be worried-which is weird.But yes it is extremely stressful and that 10-14 day wait between early scans is worrying ,never mind having a minor panic attack every time you go to the bathroom for fear it's got worse.I just try to take it really easy, they usually say no sex, no lifting heavy stuff etc., and I tend to avoid actions that rotate my core, like hoovering, pushing shopping trolleys etc. as it tends to result in an increase in the discharge.Whether this makes a difference or not, I have no idea but so far, so good anyway!So fingers crossed for you both.

mirrorwall14

I'm over 7 weeks now and having a lot more cramping and pulling than I did which is annoying. I got a scan in Evie for Thursday at 115 but knowing my luck now there'll be a red warning and I won't be able to get there from North Kildare

Cash_Q

Mirrorwall I'm having near constant cramps and stretching pains but I'm feeling assured that it is just my womb stretching. Hopefully the weather isn't too bad for you to make it on Thursday; maybe call them and ask if you can reschedule for Monday? At least it's only a few more days.

We are booked for private scan next Saturday 10th, it can't come quick enough. It was amazing seeing the heartbeat yesterday but given the circumstances I was just so relieved that I didn't really appreciate how incredible it was. Plus my husband wasn't there so next week will feel much more real. She did say yesterday that she thinks I'm more like 7 weeks than 6 which I thought myself as my cycles were quite short since coming off the pill.

shesty

I get them quite badly too, but when I sit and think about them I tend to realise they aren't cramps in the true sense, they are more pain in my hips, the band of muscles around under my tummy and my lower back....they combine to feel like cramps but aren't quite in the right place.

Getting them again now, have a suspicion baby is beginning to drop down (week 31), making me a bit nervous, but combined with hip pain and the return of slight nausea I'm hoping that's all it is.Had it before on my first, gave me 2/3 days of total stress thinking I was going into early labour.

awny

Ladies, did any of you get your bloods done yet? I have to bring my results to my booking appointment with my consultant and am getting them done in my GPs on Monday. I'm just wondering if I've to fast for them? I can ring GPs tomorrow if needs be, I just thought someone here might know. TIA x

Purple Lemons

No need to fast for bloods petal x

Anne_cordelia

catrionanic wrote: »

I feel so so ill

I’m barely functioning

Sending you a pm

mirrorwall14

Scan cancelled tomorrow. Thursday next week instead. Boo.

Cash_Q

mirrorwall14 wrote:

Scan cancelled tomorrow. Thursday next week instead. Boo.

Better safe than sorry out there mirrorwall. Hopefully it won't drag by. Ours is booked for Sat 10th.

So sick of all these stretching pains and cramping, I know its totally normal but can't help but feel so anxious with each one.

clacla82

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Scan cancelled tomorrow. Thursday next week instead. Boo.

I am heading to Evie next Thursday for the Panorama testing!

SuzieQCork

Hi Ladies!! Got my BFP Wednesday last week the day AF was due!! Couldn't.. and still cant believe it, We have been trying since June, I thought it was never going to happen. This is my first. Have pretty much no symptoms other than cramping that comes and goes and sore boobs but just feels like normal period pains hence why I didnt think I was gonna get my bfp. 3 FR test gave me faint line and I got my bloods taken Thursday but HCG was only 63 so I had to repeat on Tuesday this week coz doc was afraid they were low and they came back as 363 yesterday morning but they want to do another blood test again to make sure hcg is increasing like it should. Ive irregular periods (39 days this month) so the doc was telling me I was 5.5 weeks last week when Im pretty sure im only 5 weeks yesterday going off when I ovulated but didnt want to be like I checked online and did my research and you're wrong to the GP lol.. but i think that would explain why my hcg was low the day after I got my BFP. 
On a separate note, I didnt go to my GP for my blood tests, we have a GP service on site at work that are very easy to get appointments with so was able to book one for Thursday after only testing Wednesday night and was too excited to wait.. but in my excitement and disappointment at how non eventful the appointment was(im not sure what I was expecting, but I didnt get it what ever it was) I signed some HSE form that I think was for the combined care which I dont want with them. I had an apt with my local GP tomorrow but its been canceled over the red alert so im going to have to re-scheulde for next week. Does anyone know if its an issue to change the GP your combined care is with? Also are people leaning more towards public or private? Apparently semi private is not an option in CUMH so I only have 2 choices and no idea which direction to go with... was hoping to talk to the GP about it tomorrow..
Sorry for the long ramble.. im very excited

clacla82

SuzieQCork wrote: »

Hi Ladies!! Got my BFP Wednesday last week the day AF was due!! Couldn't.. and still cant believe it, We have been trying since June, I thought it was never going to happen. This is my first. Have pretty much no symptoms other than cramping that comes and goes and sore boobs but just feels like normal period pains hence why I didnt think I was gonna get my bfp. 3 FR test gave me faint line and I got my bloods taken Thursday but HCG was only 63 so I had to repeat on Tuesday this week coz doc was afraid they were low and they came back as 363 yesterday morning but they want to do another blood test again to make sure hcg is increasing like it should. Ive irregular periods (39 days this month) so the doc was telling me I was 5.5 weeks last week when Im pretty sure im only 5 weeks yesterday going off when I ovulated but didnt want to be like I checked online and did my research and you're wrong to the GP lol.. but i think that would explain why my hcg was low the day after I got my BFP. 
On a separate note, I didnt go to my GP for my blood tests, we have a GP service on site at work that are very easy to get appointments with so was able to book one for Thursday after only testing Wednesday night and was too excited to wait.. but in my excitement and disappointment at how non eventful the appointment was(im not sure what I was expecting, but I didnt get it what ever it was) I signed some HSE form that I think was for the combined care which I dont want with them. I had an apt with my local GP tomorrow but its been canceled over the red alert so im going to have to re-scheulde for next week. Does anyone know if its an issue to change the GP your combined care is with? Also are people leaning more towards public or private? Apparently semi private is not an option in CUMH so I only have 2 choices and no idea which direction to go with... was hoping to talk to the GP about it tomorrow..
Sorry for the long ramble.. im very excited

Congratulations!!!! You sound the same as me, so excited and so confused! My GP appt was such a damp squib, she basically told me to do another test at the end of the week to see if I was still pregnant!
I’m going private, we’ve health insurance and I’m linked to a regional hospital with some past birth horror stories that have hit the news so would prefer security of consultant-led care... thinking of it like a €3k insurance policy. My sister in law went private in CUMH and her room was like a hotel room! She had Prof Greene who she thought was amazing.

SuzieQCork

Thanks clacla82, Yeah she was a huge let down for me too.. she was also young so I was thinking maybe she doesnt have much experience so I kinda wrote it off to that.. hopefully Ill have a better experience with my own GP. Yeah I am kinda leaning more towards private because Ive had to have couple of biopsies and 2 procedures at the colposcopy clinic and Im paranoid that that will have some impact even though the doc said theres a good chance it wont, plus Im a bit over weight, BMI is about 35 so Im worried that will cause problems.. Im just a bit of a worrier and would like the piece of mind of seeing the same consultant and regular scans throughout the pregnancy, I know they say you are not guaranteed the consultant there for the birth but I dont think ill really care at that stage, ill just want someone to get the thing out of me LOL its the pregnancy bit im worried about and would like the support. I have fairly good health insurance that will cover the cost of the hospital stay and some towards the cost of the consultant but have no idea how much their fees are. Is there a kind of standard, like 3k as you said, or does it vary consultant to consultant and county to county?? Im thinking 3k-4k going off what Im reading online but there is very little documented anywhere about cost. I find it very weird.

mirrorwall14

Welcome Suzie and congratulations. I'm a BMI of 36 and went public in the Coombe on my first and will be doing the same this time around. I didn't see the consultant everytime but saw her team everytime and I knew most of them by the time I gave birth. I had issues with growth, several bleeds/bumps (and I'm rhesus negative) and high blood pressure by the end. I found the care exceptional to be honest (except the post natal wards) and one of her team was the doc on call when I did actually give birth which was one of the only "calm" parts of it lol.