I'm a bit late starting my pregnancy diary as I am now 16 weeks pregnant, but I thought I could catch you up with what's happened so far...
The Beginning:
I found out I was pregnant in July, a week after starting a new part time job! Not the best time to find out but my new employeers and collegues couldn't have been more supportive.
After reading a couple of pregnancy books I phoned the doctors to book an appointment to see my GP, something most pregnancy books tell you to do as soon as you find out your pregnant.
I excitedly told my GP that I had taken a pregnancy test and it came out positive, he asked me when was my last period and updated my records, he then handed me a scrappy piece of paper with the local midwifes details on and told me to call them when I had reached 8 weeks,and that was that. No blood or urine tests to confirm pregnancy, no advice on what I should and shouldn't do....
I came out feeling a little deflated, looking at the paper I wondered how I would manage to wait for 4 whole weeks to phone them to book an appointment. I managed about 3 days and then couldn't wait no longer! So I dialled them up and told them how many weeks I was and made the excuse that I thought I had better book early just incase they were full....
The midwife took my details, made me an appointment and asked if I wanted some leaflets sent out to which I replied "ooo yes please" at the time I thought there would be loads of advice on them but they turned out to be details on the midwifery unit and details on scans and tests etc...
The Booking Appointment:
This is where you are asked lots of questions about yourself, your partner/husband's and your family
history. Your blood is taken to check various things such as rubella immunity, blood type, HIV, Iron levels etc. Your urnine is checked for infections, your weight is measured.
You are then given your Maternity Notes to keep safe, you need these at every appointment so they are very important....you feel terrified of losing them! Inside is everything from all the questions you just spent 30 minutes answering, details on what weeks your various appointments are, blood test results plus much, much more!
You are also given the NHS Pregnancy Book, a great guide to help your throught pregnancy, what to expect and what benefits and entitlements you might receive. You also receive your bounty packs full of little samples and advice.
I was told to expect my first scan appointment through the post, something I was very excited about as it would mean confirmation that I was actually pregnant and not just imagining the whole thing, although I did take three pregnancy tests just to make sure! But I needed to see little baby on the screen to make sure with my own two eyes.
The First Scan (Dating Scan):
Trying to keep over a pint and a half of water housed in an overactive bladder is not easy! You have to drink at least that much an hour before your scan. And since I have a condition which means a teaspoon of water makes my bladder feel like it's going to burst I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I swallowed the water down, nearly gagging and instantly felt the pressure start to build. Five minutes before we left for the appointment I couldn't wait, I had to go to the toilet. I kept saying surely it wouldn't make much difference, I'm sure I drank so much it's still being processed and by the time I have my scan my bladder will be nice and full.
It wasn't! The sonographer made a grunting sound and said " it's hard to see the baby properly, you haven't had enough water....I'll have to see if I can take measurements..."
I tried to explain about my condition but instantly felt usless and had already failed as a mum!
Looking at the screen I stared amazed at being able to see so much details already, I was expecting to see a little blob, but here was a baby, waving their arms around, opening their mouth, kicking about......It still hasn't sunk in what I saw on the screen that day. Everyday since I look down at my expanding belly and still can't believe there's a baby in there.
I held my fiances hand and squeezed , we looked at each other with sheer shock and happiness, we had started a tiny lttle life and had instantly become a family. It's an amazing feeling.
The sonographer took lots of measurements of the back of the baby's neck to check for Down's syndrome, an increased amount can mean more of a chance of a baby with Down's. I'm glad to say our little baby's came back very low :) Just to be safe we have also opted for the blood confirmation as well.
Afterwards we waited to answer a few questions, have more blood taken, weight checked and then we received our first little pictures of baby.
16 Weeks Consultation Appointment:
This is what we are up to tomorrow, not sure what to expect but will fill you in later and include a new belly shot. I have lost my waist and developed quite a belly!
Linsey x