Pregnancy, Childbirth And Motherhood.

Our first OB appointment went much better than expected. I was a little nervous, I am not sure why. I think it’s such an important visit to a doctor and I was worried I wouldn’t like her.

We sat in the waiting room for 1 hour and 15 minutes as she was running late after an emergency delivery. I was watching her walking in and out collecting patients and she looked very cold and harsh. It didn’t do anything to settle my nerves, but I waited and hoped that my initial impression was wrong. The receptionist on the other hand was so friendly and kept everyone amused with her stories!

She called us into her office and the moment she started to talk I felt at ease. She was kind, patient and genuinely caring. Being the first appointment there was not much to do. She gave me a referral for the 12 week Nucal Translucency Scan and the 12 week blood screen. The doctor took my blood pressure which was a little high at 140/70 but she wasn’t concerned. Although she did advise that if it is high now it will be higher at the end and unlikely I will go full term.

I had a blood test the previous day for routine checks and also to check my blood group. The doctor told me I was O negative which means that I am Rhesus Negative and if Marc is a positive blood group then I will need anti-D injections. This is so my body does not build up antibodies to positive blood which could reject future pregnancies. Marc wasn’t sure on his blood group so she also gave him a request form for a blood test.

Marc also thought it would be fun to ask her to take his blood pressure! Very embarrassing, but she was really nice about it and even laughed!

We both walked away from the appointment feeling great about our choice in OB. She is really lovely and I feel so comfortable with her.

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At 7 weeks (according to my last period) we went for a dating scan. It was all really exciting, I knew all we would see was a blob but it was still a special moment.

Our appointment was at 8:30am and I had to drink 1.5 litres of water in 1 hour, finishing half an hour before. Before we even left I was busting to go to the toilet. When we got there I couldn’t hold it any longer and the staff let me go to the toilet and let a little out. I had to count to 5 and stop. I have a really week bladder and I find it very hard to stop midstream. But I struggled and did it.

As usual they were running late but managed to get me in and have someone else start as I just could not hold it anymore. But the scan was not what we expected. There was a sac and a yolk but at this stage no baby they could see and they dated me at 5 weeks and told me to come back in 2 weeks.

Walking away I was so disappointed, I kept worrying that the baby would never form and in 2 weeks time I would be told the pregnancy was not viable.

I am a big “Google doctor” person. I will Google everything! So I came home and started Googling away. I read forums, asked questions and did a lot of research and actually discovered it was normal for a 5 week pregnancy. But I still couldn’t work out how it could be 5 weeks when I should have been 7 weeks.

So I tried to relax and wait the 2 weeks which actually when pretty quickly.

The next scan was again at 8:30am and I drank my water as I should have and before we left I let a little out to make myself more comfortable. But it didn’t work, I ended up letting it all out.

I was so upset and worried they wouldn’t do the scan, so I grabbed a bottle of water and just started drinking and drinking. I drank about a litre in 1 minute. I stopped and within second I started throwing up the water, it was like a fountain of water in the middle of our dinning room.  It is funny to look back on, but at the time I was really upset and stressed. I composed myself and got in the car and sipped some apple juice on the way.

When we got there they were late AGAIN!! Lucky my bladder was empty!

We got in and I didn’t tell them my bladder was empty I just let them try and sort of played dumb. The girl started and she could hardly see anything, she said she couldn’t find a heartbeat and my heart sank. She then asked if I had drank all my water and I told her I had vomited before we came so she took me to the next room for an internal ultrasound.

The lady who did the internal was so lovely! She made the whole experience so much more comfortable. She took some measurements and found the heartbeat. Seeing the little flicker on the screen was amazing!! Even though it was only a little blob on the screen, it felt like my little baby. It was a lovely experience. She dated the baby at 5 weeks and 5 days which makes me due on 21st December 2008.

The only down side to the scan was they didn’t have Polaroid set up so we could not take home a picture. That was a little disappointing, but not much we could do about it.

I made an appointment with an Obstetrician called Dr Penelope Isherwood. I did some research online and her name is mentioned in a lot of forums as being a good OB. So we see her at 8 weeks.

Jen xx

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While trying to conceive I found everywhere listed typical pregnancy symptoms. So I thought I would list some real life symptoms I experienced.

Apart from the obvious of a missed period these where my symptoms.

* Period-like cramping - From 7 days past ovulation until 2 week past my period due date

* Sore breasts - Mainly after wearing a bra, my breasts felt heavy and sore to touch

These were the only 2 symptoms I experienced which can easily be mistaken for your period.

I had a positive test from 14 days past ovulation with a faint line. It did not get as dark as the control line until 1 week after my period was due.

Jen xx

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I must admit I feel really lucky. In January we started our first cycle and in March we fell pregnant.

Although I must admit I do credit this wonderful little thing I purchased - The OV Watch. Basically the watch predicts your most fertile days detected through an ion in your sweat. I bought the watch in February after our 2nd unsuccessful cycle, the watch uses disposable sensors that are only suitable for one cycle. So to save some money on shipping I ordered 3 of them. Using the watch was really easy, I wore it for a minimum of 6 hours a day while I slept and before I knew it the watch had switched over to tell me I was fertile. I wasn’t holding out much hope honestly, even though we had only been trying for 2 cycles previously it was still a little bit hard to deal with.

Once my fertile days were over I packed the watch away and began the two week wait until I could test. At 7 days past ovulation I had very sore breasts and period-like cramping. Part of me thought it was my period, but I had heard from other women that cramping was a normal pregnancy symptom. So I kept up hope! I tested again at 10 days past ovulation and the test had a faint line, however it appeared after the time indicated on the box so I was convinced it was a negative.

At 14 days past ovulation I woke up in the morning and had no tests so I pee’d in a little cup and stored it until Marc woke up. Once he was up he ran to the chemist and bought me 2 different brands of tests. I did the first one and went to lay on the bed with Marc while we waited the test time, I was so impatient I got up 1 minute later to find 2 lines on the test, very faint but it was a 2nd line!! So I grabbed another test (different brand) and dipped it in the urine sample. Again within a minute the 2nd line had appeared and it was much darker and clearer! I started jumping for joy and showed Marc.

I am not sure if he was in shock but he told me not to get my hopes up yet as it was still early. But I knew in my heart I was pregnant. The days went by and I tested everyday - yes I know I am a little obsessive but I just loved seeing those 2 lines appear!

About 2 days before my period was due we went to the doctor. I was a little worried because my period was not late yet and wondered if he would send me away. But he didn’t. He was not the nicest guy in the world but I got a referral for a dating ultrasound and blood test. So I figured that was all I needed until I found an obstetrician.

I am really thankful my trying to conceive journey was so short. I have seen so many people struggle and I guess it was always a concern for me.

Jen xx

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Well after being induced on Saturday afternoon at 3pm (first lot of gel…) and then second lot of gel at midnight…still no action… i was put onto the drip on Sunday the 16th July 2006 at 12pm and was blessed with a gorgeous lil girl 6 hours and 11 minutes later Ok so labour was a fair bit worse than what I had expected, not because of the pain, but because of how tiring and draining it is… you just feel like you cant possibly go through another contraction even though you know that you will get a wonderful child at the end.. anyways it all turned out well!! Ella Jayde was born on the 16th July 2006 at 6:11pm, weighing a tiny 2.64kgs or 5lb11oz.. only 46cm long recovery went well and we have been home now for a few weeks, settling in. Will be back to write some more on things I have learnt about settling techniques.. oh and stuff that I wish that they had told me in the antenatal classes.. here is a pic!!

[IMG]http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/ella_jayde/bathtime.jpg[/IMG]

Rach xx

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Ok, so i am a little bit scared, but that is because this is my first baby and I have no idea what labour is going to be like. I now have weekly visits with three different dr’s and its all getting to be a bit too much. My diabetes levels keep increasing, but all dr’s assure me that this just means the placenta is creating the hormones that its supposed to and is ok. I was told last week at the obstetrician appointment that I will be induced at 39 weeks if the baby doesnt come all by herself before then. I have decided that rather then just update you on what is happening with me, I will also write about things that happened to me in each trimester so that if provides those of you who are pregnant with some reassurance that it isnt just you that its happening to. Hope it helps some of u in some small way.

Cheers
Rach

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Here is the pic i promised

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Yesterday was my first mother’s day. Hubby kept telling me that it didnt count this year and that I wouldnt get anything etc etc… but he surprised me, with this fantastic digital camera I have been begging to get for the last few weeks. I was so shocked!! He says I am a mum already, already feeding, nurturing and providing a warm place for the baby to sleep so I deserved to get a present hehe.. How sweet. So for those mothers to be out there, go try that on hubby and see what he has to say!! If he says your not a mummy yet then stick your tummy in his face!!

Rach

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Where has all the time gone? It is really starting to hit home that in less than 3 months I will have a lil bundle of joy home with me, its kinda scary actually. To know that for the first time in my life, my husband and I are going to be wholly responsible for another person’s life. SOmeone who can’t look after themselves and relies totally on those around them to protect them and provide them with the needs they require. Sometimes I dont feel ready, but ready or not. Here SHE!! comes! Yes our lil bundle of joy is a girl. We had a 4d scan done last weekend and it’s really hitting home how close it is to B day.. b standing for birth! Im going to put in a link for the scan pic for you guys to see. Its amazing!!

Rach xx

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In only 10 weeks I will officially be a mummy. Its amazing that it has gone so quickly and I feel so unprepared although I know that most of the things that I will need and have to get done are already done.
I have the nursery finished. It has been done in a baby looney tunes theme and looks wonderful, well I think it does!
I have clothes, the car seat and have most of my stuff to start packing a decent hospital bag. It worries me though, every night as I lay down to
sleep i start thinking about going into labour at that point in time and it freaks me out.
I havent packed my bag yet! What if i have forgotten something? What if I cant cope? So many what if’s. I know its all normal and that if I wasnt worried about any of this that I would have to be someone who is totally care free.

So the 10 week wait begins!!

Wish me luck!

Rach

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