"Just Barely" Pregnant PS''ers

[JGator]

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China, congrats on the preliminary CVS results. Did you find out if you are having a boy or a girl?

 

[mayerling]

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Hi ladies, updates on the symptom front:

1. Boobs are sore - I've never experienced this (don't get it during periods, PMS, etc) so it's taking a bit of getting used to.
2. Nausea - it's not morning sickness (and I know I should thank my lucky stars for that - though I'm only 5w4d so who knows how it'll turn out) but whenever I get hungry (which is all the time now) unless I eat pretty much straight away I'm overcome with nausea

Stephbolt, I think my issue with the UK is not so much about not being offered a scan until 12 weeks - that's probably standard everywhere - it's mostly that there are no checks for pregnancy until that scan or a blood test offered at about 8 weeks. So until then they basically take my word for being pregnant, and I have no way of checking that things are progressing normally (nothing like checking for beta doubling, etc.).

How's everyone else holding up?

 

[stephbolt]

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Stephbolt, I think my issue with the UK is not so much about not being offered a scan until 12 weeks - that's probably standard everywhere - it's mostly that there are no checks for pregnancy until that scan or a blood test offered at about 8 weeks. So until then they basically take my word for being pregnant, and I have no way of checking that things are progressing normally (nothing like checking for beta doubling, etc.).

I'm right there in the same boat with you! No confirmation of my pregnancy other than the at home tests. I think when I go for my next midwife appt (10.5 weeks) they will try and hear the heartbeat with the doppler, but other than that I am just trusting my ever growing boobs that there's actually a baby in there! (not in my boobs themselves, that would be strange).

China, so glad things look good. Will you find out gender when you get the full results?

I told my boss yesterday! Was unsure on whether to tell her this soon (I'm 9w today), but she actually works in a different state than me and happened to be here yesterday, and we sat down after everyone else in my wing had already left for the day, and I just had an urge to tell her in person so I could gauge her reaction better than over the phone. Good news is she seemed super excited for me, and she's had two kids herself so we chatted a little about the misery of trying to work while feeling terrible. I definitely feel a weight lifted having her know, I've been struggling a little keeping up the last few weeks and as much as I don't want to use pregnancy as an excuse, it is part of it!

 

[choro72]

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china, yaaaay!!! So happy for you! What a relief!

Stepcut, I've told my OB about the cramping, but I didn't go in because I'm trying to stay as calm as possible. No spotting but a lot of discharge. Can it all be pee?? My cramps aren't as bad as what you described, so I guess it's okay.

sugarpie, aww, I hope you can stomach something soon!

Muffdog, they don't squeeze you on the train like they do in Japan? aww, sorry you cried. I hope your eyes weren't puffed up at work.

steph, so glad your talk went well! Is your job going to be something difficult to manage as you grow? Yay for no nausea!!!

mayerling, that sounds like what I'm feeling right now. That's not morning sickness? What does real morning sickness feel like??

AFM, my boobs have definitely grown. Luckily they used to be bigger before they shrunk. Now that they are bigger again, I just whipped out my old bras and they fit perfectly. My nausea on Monday was so bad I whimpering the entire day. Everytime I start teaching my adrenaline kicks in and I feel great. I don't know how anyone does it with a desk job.

I switched to dragging all of my teaching material in a suitcase rather than carrying it on me. Also started leaning on desks when I teach. Thank goodness my cramping has lessened, but it's such a pain to drag stuff.

DH told MIL to cut back on the fish and absolutely no ginseng.
Sticky thoughts everyone!

9W0D

 

[mayerling]

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mayerling, that sounds like what I'm feeling right now. That's not morning sickness? What does real morning sickness feel like??

9W0D

Good question, choro. I don't know. I guess I always assumed that morning sickness was feeling sick all the time to the point where it prevents you from eating, not feeling sick when you're really hungry and having the nausea go away as soon as you start eating. But given that I've never been pregnant before, what do I know?

 

[ChinaCat]

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Happy Friday everyone!

We did not find out the gender (yet) but they already know what it is. How weird that someone out there knows, but I don't? Haven't decided yet. We found out with O and my guess is we will find out again, but I honestly hadn't thought about it before now. Plus it's so early, I like to have something to look forward to. Last time we had them put it in an envelope and we waited until we found a cool moment to open it. I imagine we will do something like this again. Christmas, perhaps?

I don't think there is a definition of "morning sickness". Mayerling, what you described is what I had for my entire first pregnancy. It's just your version of it, hopefully that's all you'll get. This go round was more like what you described in your last post, except that as soon as I stopped eating, I felt sick again. But no actual throwing up for me.

I never had my betas tested or anything like that. I think the general idea is that there's really nothing they can do so early, it's hard to detect until closer to 8 weeks. I'm not sure that knowing my betas were dropping and waiting for a m/c would be any better/easier than just having the m/c occur? Shrugs. Chances are everything is behaving perfectly!

Steph- Yay for telling the boss. I need to do that, but it just feels so awkward.

Choro- DESK JOB SUCKS. Feel so much better when I'm up and about.

 

[mayerling]

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I don't think there is a definition of "morning sickness". Mayerling, what you described is what I had for my entire first pregnancy. It's just your version of it, hopefully that's all you'll get. This go round was more like what you described in your last post, except that as soon as I stopped eating, I felt sick again. But no actual throwing up for me.

Damn! And here I was, thinking that I'm getting a good deal!

 

[ChinaCat]

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Mayerling, you are getting a good deal!!!! If that's all you get, that's great. And like I said, that's all I had during first pregnancy, and it only lasted 4 weeks. Sorry, didn't meant to say for my entire first pregnancy. I meant that was all I got during my first, it never got worse.

 

[mayerling]

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ChinaCat, I'm glad you explained that it was only for 4 weeks, because I was telling DH to brace himself as this might last for the entire pregnancy!

 

[ChinaCat]

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Mayerling- Sorry sorry sorry!!!

 

[sugarpie honeybun]

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No clue how I am going to get through this trimester. The mere sound of certain things is making me throw up. ughhhhh



sorry- had to vent.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

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Hello, lovely barely-preggos! (though some of you should be transitioning to the big-girl thread soon )

Sugar: Sorry you're feeling lousy No fun at all! It will (hopefully) pass soon. Remember that it's a sign thing are progressing well? Is there any prescription options available that you can get to help you get along? I think in the US they prescribe Zofran for extreme morning sickness.

Muff: Your story about crying over public transit gave me a giggle, but I hear ya, sister. They craziest stuff is upsetting- damn hormones!

Missy: Hi! How are you holding up??

China: WOOHOO for good results! Glad to hear it! I think having the big sex-reveal on Christmas would be super sweet. What a special memory!

Mayerling: Sorry to hear about your achey boobs and nausea. It's short lived! (so I hear!) The wait between first HPT and doctors appointment with a sonogram or ultrasound feels so, so long. I mistakenly read some stories online about missed miscarriages and started to freak out and wanted to call my doc to move my appointment up. Chances are, however, that all of our little beans are doing well and growing and thriving.

Steph: Sounds like telling your boss went really well! Congrats on that!!I It totally makes sense that early pregnancy is affecting your work. Nausea and extreme tiredness will do that, and I'm sure your boss understands. What field are you in, if you don't mind my asking?

Choro: Thank goodness for cramps subsiding! Teaching can be taxing- we're on our feet all day, jumping and walking and dancing about a classroom to keep kids on their toes. Sounds like you're pleased about your expanding bbs, so I will just say, "yay!"

Have I forgotten anyone? So, so, so sorry if I did. Naked is around these parts, right? Hello to you and hope all is well!

AFM: Cramps have set it, but I know they're normal. Breasts hurt on and off. Yesterday I was so freaked out by my cramps and lack of other symptoms that I picked up a HPT. Thankfully the test line was TONS darker than the control. I know they're not quantitative tests, but it still eased my mind. First appointment is December 19th... our wedding anniversary! It's still early but I am feeling cautiously optimistic. ~5w1d today. By this time in September I had already started my early m/c.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

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...And within 20 minutes of posting this afternoon, I started spotting. It's still there, but not severe. Not feeling optimistic.

 

[mayerling]

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Oh no, PPM! Could it be something else? I don't know much about this, but is it possible to get spotting during early pregnancy and have it present no real problems?

 

[sugarpie honeybun]

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PPM - thinking of you. Please keep us posted.

 

[Missy0483]

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PPM - Thinking positive thoughts for you. I really hope it turns out to be okay!

 

[stephbolt]

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OH PPM, I have everything crossed for you. Hope your bean is ok.

 

[stepcutgirl]

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PPM-Is there any chance it's implantation bleeding? Sticky dust to you!

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

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Thanks for the positive thoughts, ladies. Keep them up, if you can... I need them!

I spent all day yesterday out and about and just walked for 45 minutes around the dog park, and very little spotting is showing up on a panty liner (sorry if that's TMI), but if I check internally my CM is still tinged with blood. I will call my doctor's office tomorrow to see if they'll check my betas and progesterone levels... I may fib a bit and say, "I think I may be miscarrying" instead of "I started spotting." but with my m/c just two months ago I definitely want to know sooner than later if this bean is not sticking, and more importantly, try to establish WHY.

 

[JGator]

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PPM, positive thoughts for a sticky bean.

 

[choro72]

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Positive thoughts for you PPM!

 

[mayerling]

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PPM, I hope everything goes well today. Keep us posted.

AFM, I think morning sickness has definitely arrived - and I'm only 5w6d! I threw up twice last night and I seem to be experiencing nausea all the time. I have my second antenatal appointment tomorrow and I'm going to push for some sort of relief because I'm leaving the UK in two weeks for an extended holiday - well, maybe not extended, but a month-long holiday which will include various flights and a week-long cruise! I don't want to be stuck abroad with no medication should morning sickness take a turn of the worse. The only problem is convincing the GP to prescribe something - in the UK they're very much against medication (I think if they tell me one more time that pregnancy is not an illness I might scream! Why do I feel like sh*t if it's all good?). Anyway, excuse my rant. I'm grateful for having gotten pregnant especially when other people have been battling infertility for so long, so I shouldn't whine.

 

[Missy0483]

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Mayerling - So sorry to hear about the morning sickness. I can't say that I know how it feels, because I've honestly never had it yet! I don't blame you for wanting medication for your trip (by the way a month long trip, I am SO jealous!!!) Is there any way that you could get the medication while you're overseas on your trip since they don't easily prescribe it in the UK? Not sure how it is getting medication when you're visting a different country?

 

[mayerling]

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Mayerling - So sorry to hear about the morning sickness. I can't say that I know how it feels, because I've honestly never had it yet! I don't blame you for wanting medication for your trip (by the way a month long trip, I am SO jealous!!!) Is there any way that you could get the medication while you're overseas on your trip since they don't easily prescribe it in the UK? Not sure how it is getting medication when you're visting a different country?

Missy, yes, thankfully good annual leave in the UK coupled with the fact that universities over here close for most of the xmas break makes it easy to take a month off for the holidays!

I think it'll properly be difficult to get the medication while on the cruise as I'm visiting a bunch of different countries, and the cruise is probably when I'll feel the most sick. After that I'm spending quite a few days in the US. Does anyone know how easy it is to get medication prescribed there when you're not a US citizen?

 

[Missy0483]

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In the US we have these walk-in 24 hour places called "Urgent Care Centers" they even take people without insurance because I've had to go before my insurance kicked in at a new job. You just pay more obviously if you don't have insurance. Not sure how it would work with insurance from another country though. But if you have trouble you could just pay all of it out of pocket, but that may cost a good bit. This could work, assuming they wouldn't give you a hard time because you didn't get an ok for the medication form your GP. Would your GP be upset if you started taking medication? Man, they just expect you to walk around miserable in the UK huh?

Oh and this weekend I saw my SIL. She didn't even ask how I've been feeling or anything. Nothing about my pregnancy. 4 weeks ago she told me she had pregnancy books for me and I've been waiting for them so I didnt have to buy my own, well she has yet to give them to me. I think she's jealous! She mentioned before that she wanted a 3rd child, but not sure if they're trying or not. Whatever, I'll just buy my own. Don't want anything from her anyway haha.

 

[mayerling]

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In the US we have these walk-in 24 hour places called "Urgent Care Centers" they even take people without insurance because I've had to go before my insurance kicked in at a new job. You just pay more obviously if you don't have insurance. Not sure how it would work with insurance from another country though. But if you have trouble you could just pay all of it out of pocket, but that may cost a good bit. This could work, assuming they wouldn't give you a hard time because you didn't get an ok for the medication form your GP. Would your GP be upset if you started taking medication? Man, they just expect you to walk around miserable in the UK huh?

Pretty much. I can kind of see why it happens. Healthcare is free and prescriptions are given at a fixed charge of around £7.5 pounds so it would make sense that they wouldn't want to waste it. But they are very much in favour of not using anything unless absolutely necessary.

To be honest, I don't care if they got upset if I was using something prescribed in a different country; it's not like they can stop me or refuse to treat me just because I was also treated somewhere else. I think the question is how much it would cost to do this in the US. If it's prohibitive then I might just have to push for something over here.

 

[Missy0483]

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I believe when I went to the urgent care place it was $50 for my appointment(not sure how much that is in pounds). Normally I would pay the co-pay (which would be $20 for my insurance) but since I wasn't covered yet I had to pay the full price. I didn't get any medication though. I'm guessing that would be the expensive part. My doctor prescribed me a prescription prenatal which I turned down because it came to $50 a month (tier 3, highest price level medication and non-preferred) even with my insurance. Can't imagine the normal price! Just a reference for you, but I don't think nausea meds would be that high!

 

[stephbolt]

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Mayerling, I think the most common drug prescribed for morning sickness in the US is Zofran, but from what I understand it's VERY expensive without insurance.

The drug that has helped with my MS is actually available over the counter - Doxylamine succinate. In the US it's sold as Unisom (a sleep aid), but I would imagine it's available under some name in the UK as well. I don't know how you feel about trying something without a doctor recommending it to you, and I wouldn't encourage you do to it if it makes you uncomfortable, but at the same time I know how terrible it is to be suffering from MS, so I figured it was worth mentioning, and may be an easier/cheaper fix than trying to see a dr. while you are traveling.

 

[ChinaCat]

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Zofran is what they prescribe here, but my doc also recommended taking vitamin B-6 along with a Unisom (as Steph mentioned above). I stupidly didn't take it, but since have learned from many friends that it totally works. Worth a shot. Don't need a prescription for either.

Mayerling, ugh, sorry the nausea has set in. Hugs.

Sugarpie- I promise I feel for you. Even water made me sick. Hang in there. Gummy bears seemed to help a tiny bit.

PPM- Tons of people spot in first tri and go on to have healthy babies. Thinking of you. Please keep us posted.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

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Quick at-work update: I am squeezing in at my OB even though they didn't have any openings ( did I mention that I live the office manager?) She told me not to feel silly for wanting to get in, and that it was better to be safe than sorry. She was also surprised that they didn't have me come in earlier simply to confirm pregnancy.

I'm not sure what to expect. At roughly 5w3d there won't be anything to see on an ultrasound. They'll probably just do a blood draw and check my cervix? Maybe? ...appoligies for being me-centric. I will properly post this evening when i'm not responding from my iPhone!