Milestone: My Booking Appointment

Major milestone today, in the form of my booking appointment!

At 12:45pm everything became a little more real!

I went on my own - that's another story for another time - and actually it was fine, any questions I could answer.

Quick run down of what happened :
Met a sourly and vague receptionist - it wasn't personal, i witnessed her unique brand of customer service with several people! Good for her keeping the hospital / doctor receptionist stereotype alive(!)

Had to provide evidence that I'm a UK citizen and live in the borough- passport and ID plus bills etc
(I'm not sure what would have happened if I didn't have it.....?)

Met a midwife assistant Vanessa- not at all like Debbie McGee but equally smiley.
She weighed me. I asked not to be told and she stopped smiling very quickly and barked "you have to know", OK thank you ma'am(!)


Oh by the way did I mention that Vanessa is as short as me and 3 dress sizes smaller...no? Hmm.

It's official - I'm still short - 5' 2" and have turned into a porker BMI 32, yes thirty flipping two!

I did a urine test and was told I need to eat more...hey?! I thought I was too fat?! I had eaten only an hour before the appointment, but was told I have ketones in my urine. Little and often snacking I;m told is the way forward.

I need to get back into exercising. i stopped a year ago...bad move.

I'm told I should walk for an hour every day...every day. I will have to see a consultant because of my fibroids. We went through a long questionnaire asked about my health, family history both sides.... She took several gallons five little vials of blood.
I was told I'm High Risk due to my fibroids. I may have to see a specialist team due to previous depression.

What I walked away with:

Maternity Book - it's huge!

My first Bounty Pack

• Maternity Book - massive yellow folder with all your medical notes
• Bounty Pack with some money off leaflets
• Leaflet on breastfeeding as I said it was my intention to bf
• Information on antenatal classes
• Maternity guide for my hospital

Tips -

• Write questions before you go - there's so much info you may be overwhelmed and forget.

• when she asks if you have any social problems she means social service type issues, not whether you have a fear of public speaking or are shy at parties!

• You will be asked about previous pregnancies and the outcome, so be prepared.

• Bring a big plastic bag if you tend to have small handbags, as you'll be given a ginormous Yellow Folder which contains all your hospital notes, plus you'll get a Bounty Pack.

• Bring some reading material - you may be sitting around a while, although to be fair i sat for no more than 5 minutes at a time before the next stage.

• Eat before you get there as the whole thing for me from beginning to end took two hours.

So, next step; scan and consultant appointment - 24th April, all booked today :)

Oh and apparently it's OK for me to get my hair relaxed, after the first trimester,phew...

6 +1 - halfway through 1st trimester

Baby Boomers variety of daffodil - fantastic name!

I've made it to my sixth week and am still nervous, but a little less so.

Updates so far: I have an early scan booked for 24th March when I'm 8 +2 and my booking appointment for the 2nd April! I should be 9 +4 by then....it seems like ages away....I hope beanie makes it 

Emotions: becoming more excited and less nervous. The nerves come back in waves

Main thoughts: 'Is beanie sticking? ' 'have people worked it out?'

Physical symptoms: waking up hungry, swollen / full heavy boobs. Still no nausea, so I suppose that's a good thing? Had a crazy amount of energy yesterday. Stoll waking up in early hours of morning.

Halfway through my first trimester....

I really want to enjoy this, but my anxiety levels keep creeping up, which i know is no good for me and beanie. The Bear is very comforting, tells me to remain positive and take a day at a time....each day is sooooo long haha!

The girls on babycentre are great at cheering everyone up and on...if any of you are reading 'thanks!' xx

Any tips for relaxing would be great if you've got 'em!

Yours ,

somewhat neurotic from London x

Emma's Diary - Mum to Be Pack

This contains a 'spoiler' so if you don't want to know what goodies are in store...please turn away now!

In my bag of goodies were....drum roll.......

5 +1 - GP appointment

I trotted off to my GP this morning. The Bear agreed for me to go solo as it's a quick appointment.

I've already been in touch with my midwifery team and they gave me the impression I was 'logged in the system'.

However GP said I was not :-/

Anyway, I told GP I was confirming my pregnancy. She asked if it was planned and i said yes, so she beamed and offered her congratulations, which was really sweet.

She listened to my heart for a murmur - no murmuring, so that's all good.

GP gave me a copy Emma's Diary , which contains tips, advice and vouchers.
The Bear will love that! You can also collect a free gift

I asked her a few questions: can i dye my hair, relax (perm for Afro hair) my hair  apparently the answer is yes.

Should i have an early scan if i can afford it - "No"

Should I be worried my symptoms have virtually disappeared - "No, they settle down, be glad"

Clearblue digital gave me a reading of 3+ very early on in pregnancy, what does this mean : "Nothing, they're not reliable on conception indicators"

And with that I was given a form to fill in to exempt me from paying for prescriptions during pregnancy and one year afterwards. I handed it in at reception. I'll get a card in the post shortly.


GP also made a point of reminding me not to return to smoking - listed all the reasons why not to smoke and ended with "do it for baby, OK?"




Choose and Book was up the spout, so she'll chase up the midwife referral.
From 24 weeks onwards I'll see Dr D instead of the midwife.

All done in ten minutes.


It's starting to feel real now!

February 2012

BFFP Month - big fat feb positive!

Wow, so February was a pretty amazing month....

4 +2

Today by my calculations I am 4 weeks and 2 days, or 16 dpo, or the equivalent of cd 31

I had the urge to poas on my CB digi and guess what.....?

It said 'Pregnant  3+' !!!!

3+!!!!!

I'm so happy it's unreal.

I swing between total terror that this will be snatched away from me to sheer joy.

The new reading has also confused me, as according to Clearblue, this means I am over five weeks pregnant, which by my maths is incorrect.

But hey, what really matters is that the hormones are going in the right direction :)

3+ weeks since conception, or 5 weeks pregnant but I'm only 4 +2 at most.

Other news:  I asked The Bear whether we should go for a private scan...he's not so keen and thinks it could be damaging to the bean. I can't hold out for another 7-8 weeks! It's all I can think about....

Ah well, we'll see....

13 dpo...just checking!

13 dpo and tested on a Clearblue digital....

Still pregnant...yay!

Hormones are rising...thank goodness xx

So far, so good...!

Going by my calculations, which could be waaaaay off, I am due on 1st November, which puts me at 3 weeks, 6 days today.

I'm still nervous AF will make a surprise appearance tomorrow.

I'm nervous about just about everything to be honest. I'm delivering training today and can barely concentrate!

So the symptoms so far...?

Barely any. If I wasn't ttc and looking out for signs, i'd never guess I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant! Just realised how weird that feels writing it down!


Boobs are much fuller, but usually are before AF
Had *a lot* of creamy cm yesterday
Some small pinches and a hot sensation about the size of a five penny piece on my right side abdomen.


The main symptom is tiredness....I'm falling asleep at about 8.30pm 9pm and up again between 1am and 3am.

All of these together may scream - preggo ! - but to be honest having a lot of work to do, if I weren't ttc I wouldn't guess.


I do feel like  people look at me funny...which is so daft, i keep thinking , 'can people tell?'
Silly.

bfp

My bfp :)
Please stick little beanie xx

Photos: HPTs @ 10 & 11 dpo....

The Bear is still in a state of shock - which is silly seeing as we've been ttc! Yesterday he was full of "wow" every five minutes, then announced he was having a nap! Knackered already haha! He's also worried I'm getting my hopes up. So has basically ordered asked me to hold off until I'm due on to test again!

I know he has a point....

But I ignored him anyway!


To be honest, I'll probably test daily until af due date, then take a digi if I keep getting lines. if the lines are going to disappear, I'd rather know sooner than on af day...


Here are my Morrisons HPTs taken with fmu sample at 10dpo (yesterday) and 11(dpo) today. Line came up within five very faintly, then clearer within ten minutes.


My phone is pants, the lines are much stronger to naked eye than they appear in the photos.


Please , please let this be true......

I am so scared this will be snatched away from me I swing between joyful, shocked and apprehensive.

Time will tell.....

top is 10dpo bottom is 11dpo. Photo taken within five minutes of test.

Top casing removed to view lines easier. Top test - 10dpo, bottom test 11 dpo

plastic screen removed for easier viewing. photo within an hour of todays test.