Erm, gee thanks....

Just reading my maternity notes from last scan.....

A visit to A+E....

Ironically, I was watching this when I had to go to A+E!

March 2012

This is a milestone month, my first full calender month pregnant, yay!

It's a roller coaster month too. The Bear swings from stunned happiness to just...well, stunned.

I start the month 5 weeks pregnant and end the month 9 weeks, two thirds through the first trimester!

Inbetween there's a dash to hospital, after a check up at GP. I'm told I have multiple fibroids so will be under a consultant. My due date is put back three days.

My bestie The Rock is informed - she's over the moon and planning our mat leave together as she's five weeks ahead of me!

My parents are told - mum is so excited its just wrong!

We're holding off telling The Bears mum...he wants to wait until the scan.

My symptoms get worse then ease up then return again. Its basically extreme tiredness and a dicky tummy and mahoosive boobs.

I buy a new bra


It's a busy month and its awful but i wish time would hurry up.... patience was never my strong point....

Drama...

Yesterday I had some brown smudging accompanied with some pain.

Brown stains stopped today but the pain continued, so I checked out NHS Direct. NHS Direct said contact your GP.

I called my GP still thinking it wasn't too big a deal and rather than waste an appointment I'll wait for GP to talk on the phone to me.

I spoke with GP and she ordered me in for an examination.

She found a hard lumpy mass on my left abdomen and was quite concerened about it...so was i after she prodded it, man was it sore!

I was given a referral letter and sent straight to A&E Gynaecology, as my GP was worried the hard mass on my left hand side was a possible ectopic, albeit too early and high for one.

I sat in A&E trying not to bawl my eyes out.
Mum came to meet me as OH didn't fancy explaining to his manager (his manager is also known as Satan's right hand man!) and to be honest I thought there'd be no need as by the time he'd get down to the hospital I;d be seen.

Anyway, I was seen very quickly. I had my assessments, question, blood, urine and a rather uncomfortable internal exam all done within an hour and a half. brief wait and then I was scanned....

It was an internal scan and a bit uncomfortable but well worth it!

Beanie was seen in the right place, with heartbeat pulsing as well. I was so relieved!

Consultants also found three large fibroid in my uterus. These are likely to be the culprits of the lumpy mass found by GP. i was told they will grow as blood increases in the area. This means I'll need to be managed for blood loss as there's a risk of hemorrhaging during labour and after birth stage. Other than that their position is not too bad and not blocking entrance to cervix.

Everything else is fine and dandy...ovaries are also a.o.k!

Good day all in all.

Walked away with a scan picture to show OH :)

4 +1

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Today marks, the first day after my expected af.

I was so nervous yesterday, expecting to see Big Red turn up. Thankfully nothing.

GUM....not the Wrigleys kind....

"Well, you can't say I never give you anything"

Having made the decision to TTC, OH and I thought it would be a good idea to get tested for any STDs. A woman in my babycentre group recommended it too.

I've never done this before. Quite embarrassing really given I'm 35.


Incase you think you don't need to...
STIs and simple infections are common reasons for infertility. Chlamydia can cause infertility and has no symptoms. It would be heart breaking to know your TTC journey could have been quicker, had you got tested.
It's quick and easy.


So off I trotted to my local GUM.

It was very discreet in our new local hospital. It's named after a person 'e.g. the fred blog clinic', so not embarrassing if you need to ask for directions in the hospital.
Arriving at reception i was asked if i'd been here before.
"No!" very defensively...silly me.
The receptionist was very warm and soothing in her tone - probably figured I was nervous. Although the beads of sweat probably gave it away!
I was asked to take a seat, given a form and a clipboard to put my name, address, GP details (if I wanted to) and mobile number and which tests I want done. I ticked the 'all the above' box.

The waiting area was blocked off cleverly and men and women were in different areas.

Form filled in, you're given a small card with clinic contact details and your unique ID number. You use this to obtain your results and thank goodness the staff call you by the number - not your name.

Next step - I was called in to speak with a doctor. Nice woman who asked why I wanted to be tested. I simply said I'd never done this before, it was about time and I'm planning on having children. A few questions about my lifestyle, e.g. ever taken drugs, has my partner slept with a man ('er, if he has he's kept that quiet!), then she gave me a small sample pot to have a wee in and wait in reception.

Now here's the funny bit. In the toilet there's a small hatch to drop your sample in! You don't need to hand it to anyone, brilliant!


Next step was to wait to be called for blood test.
Again this was quick and easy, i was in and out within two minutes. Blood test took seconds.

Then I was told to wait 10 working days.
If they find an infection I'll get a phone call.
If not, I won't hear anything, but can call if I want to.

I rang after 10 days - and was given my results. All clear! Hurrah!


Get yourself checked out. If you've ever had unprotected sex, be it a crazy random one night stand or only in a loving relationship...it's worth the piece of mind.


And it's easy and free! (you're making your own jokes up here aren't you!)

NHS info on Visiting a GUM clinic