Wow it's a long time since I've used this blog - ekkk! It's because I got to 12 weeks and was able to tell people I was pregnant, which meant that I was able to write on my other blog, the one that everyone knew about. Although I haven't really been blogging too much recently, because most of my online activity has been on Facebook or BabyCentre.

We started our antenatal classes a few weeks ago. This week was the third week, where we learnt more about how the baby is born and the pain relief. The demonstation with the cabbage patch type doll in a bag was quite a reality kick! The reality of how long and tough the whole labour thing is!! I never expected to feel a bit freaked learning about labour, but hey, it's better now than at the time.

Our little one is wriggling and kicking on and off throughout the day now, which is lovely when it's not when I'm trying to go to sleep. Typically the worst experience I've had, was when I was home alone, because Andy was working until midnight and hadn't got home yet, and I was trying to get to sleep, because I had to work at 9am the next morning, after having worked 9-7 that day! As I lay in bed trying to fall asleep little one was doing some weird movements inside me, like lots of small quick movements. It freaked me out a bit, as I've never felt baby do that before. Apparently it's not too weird, as other ladies on BabyCentre said that they'd had it too - it was almost like we'd had the same feeling within a few days of each other!

Swimming

On the 28th I decided to try out the Aquanatal class, instead of the Aquafit class. I decided to try it out because my energy levels were lower, and so a slower paced class sounded better. The problem was that the class is really designed for ladies that are 16+ weeks, I was only 8+4! The instructor was fine about it, but I got into the pool a bit late, once they'd already started, so had no chance to talk to anyone before, and afterwards no-one made the effort to talk to me, and well, I didn't make the effort to either! I felt a bit of fraud, because I was a pool with ladies WITH bumps (of varying sizes) and there was me... none, except my own bloating/flab! I was a bit of an emotional mess that day - HORMONES! I ended up in the car park crying!! Crazy! It was so silly, but I needed to cry!

Last week (Tuesday am) I didn't go to either class because I spent the day with Andy (we both have Mon & Tues off for my birthday), so did lots of walking around town instead.

Last Friday I went 'swimming' with my friend, but that didn't quite work out, because I'm there as her carer as well as her friend (because she's registered blind & other health issues), but after just doing two half laps, I looked across at her, on her own in the jacuzzi and she didn't look right, so I quickly did another two half laps (the steps at in the middle of the pool) and got out to check she was okay. She improved when I went over to her, but it didn't feel right to leave her, as she's hidden from the lifeguards in there. Now I'm not supposed to use the jacuzzi now that I'm pregnant, because it increases your body temp too much, soooo I ended up sitting on the edge with just the bottom of my legs in the water! I might have looked a bit weird, but who cares. When others got in, I just explained it was too hot for me.

Today I returned!! I shoved myself out of bed and went to Aquafit. My energy is better at the moment, so I decided I'll leave the bumps-in-water club until I have one/I'm 16 weeks! It felt so good to be back in the water exercising again. I should really go swimming in between the classes, but my left ear is really blocked up with wax at the moment (ongoing issue), so I'm trying to avoid proper swimming so much, as I tend to do front crawl, hence ear into water!

Weekly blogging

I just realised that I'm only really managing to blog once a week. Hey ho, that's just the way it is I guess.

Well I'm 10 weeks 5 days, so almost 11 weeks....which means almost out of the 1st trimester!! Crikey considering that the 1st 4 weeks are before you confirm you're pregnant, it seems like a LONG 3 months! OK, I have the bigger boobs, but combined with the increased waist/tum, from mainly fluid/bloating/crisps, I'm now just looking like I've put a stone in weight back on! Apparently on average women gain 20-30 Ibs during pregnancy - so by the time I get to my fattest, I'll be back to the weight I was a few years ago, when I had crept into obese and started Weightwatchers!! However I'll have bigger boobs... oh and a massiiiiive bump.

We've started putting the 'tell family' plan into action!! Andy wanted to tell brothers first, so we're trying to arrange a drink at the pub to tell them. We've decided to tell everyone a little early. It was a choice between Mothers Day, when I'm 11+3, or Andy's Dad's birthday (the following Sunday) when I'll be 12+3. We were going to go for the later date, but wanted to tell the other youth group leaders in person, before we announced it to other friends, after the scan on the 26th. Annoyingly I'm working in the afternoon on Mothers Day, so the initial plan had to go out of the window - grrrr annoying unpredictable shifts!

I've been feeling a lot better in myself recently. I need to eat regularly to keep my stomach and energy/sugar levels happy, but that's manageable. I also need to be in bed earlier, because after 10.30pm I start to get a stomach ache! It's obviously my body telling me to go to bed earlier and stop staying up late, like I used to! I can't complain really, because I generally feel so much better in myself.

Don't want to be ill

I'm 9 weeks and 3 days along and now on top of the fluctuating pregnancy symptoms/sickness, I now seem to be getting a cold! It started with a tickly cough, which is very annoying, because coughing makes my stomach muscles contract, which invokes the nausea/wanting to be sick feeling! I've done well so far at not vomiting, and I'd really like to keep that record going all the way through this pregnancy!

Last night I slept alone, because dear husband was doing a sponsored event, where he 'slept' rough for the night. I'm glad I found out I was pregnant before I signed up, because I would have had to pull out: no sleep = feeling even more ill than normal. As it was I was at home, in the warm & comfort, but still didn't sleep too well, because I felt ill! This morning DH and I are both a bit like zombies this morning, even though I got more sleep than him! At least he can live on caffeine today... I can't do that, I have to limit my intake!

Off to church this morning. We'll be sat at the back. It's family service, so at least we won't have to stay awake through a sermon...no offence to the preachers, we're just shattered! Hey, one of our church wardens was the worst culprit for snoozing during sermons and he's someone who I know has a close relationship with God! I just need to stay away from the baby getting christened this morning, who apparently has a rash on her face - if she's infectious, I really don't want it, neither does little one!! Only one person at church knows I'm pregnant, so have to use the "low immunity/feeling ill" excuse instead!

8 weeks 4 days

Last week the nausea seemed to ease off and I felt less exhausted and was getting better nights sleep. Last night that changed back again, my stomach felt achy when I was going to sleep and I had to get up at 4am to go to the loo. Today my stomach is back to it's nauseous, unsettled confusion that it was before!

I'm glad I'm not working so much this week, only two days really, as Wednesday I've only got a 8-9.30am shift. I took some annual leave for this weekend, because I was planning to do a sponsored sleep rough, which my husband is doing, on Saturday night. It's to raise money for YMCA. I had said I would before I knew I'd be pregnant, but then I found out I was. The mixture of very little sleep, outside, feeling uncomfortable... with the potential to also be feeling very nauseous/achy, which would be made even worse with lack of sleep...I think not! It would not be wise. The annoying thing is that I said I would, then had to change my mind, so people were asking me why...it feels lame telling people I wimped out...but I can't tell them I'm pregnant yet.

I am soooooo looking forward to my 12 week scan, I can finally tell the world! I don't like keeping secrets, especially ones this important and that is having such an impact on my life already! So far no-one has asked us directly "are you pregnant?", so we haven't told them. I'm scared that there will be a problem at my scan. I hate this waiting game! I don't actually have medical proof of my pregnancy, because no blood or urine has been tested yet. Granted I could have dropped in a sample at 4 weeks to the health centre for testing, but they did say the home tests were just as good, so I didn't bother. Hurry up 26th March!!

7 weeks

I'm failing to update this blog recently. I blame 'morning' sickness, tiredness and fitting both of those around work! I am pleased to say, although I say it cautiously, knowing that MS could come back and hit me at any point, but... I've been feeling better recently. I love how my dear hubby asks me to rate how I'm feeling out of ten, but has a pregnancy scale these days!

Yesterday I ended up having to tell me boss that I'm pregnant. I was trying to avoid it, because it's early days still. The problem came yesterday when he gave my hours for next week. Next Wednesday I've booked my 1st midwive appointment. It's booked for Wednesday afternoon, a time of the week that I VERY rarely work, but typically, this is the one week that I get put down to work 10-4, when the appointments at 2.30! So I sent my boss to a text to explain why I couldn't do it. It took him a long time to reply, but the reply was "Congratulations" and that it was fine to go to the appointment, if I could work 9.30 - 2 and make up the other 1.5 hours by making other shifts with that service user, longer.

Shattered

I'm getting tired so quickly at the moment. Tomorrow is going to be fun, I'm working from 8-6 with only breaks to travel between 2 locations. I'm not even sure that it's related to how much I've been doing, because today I only worked 8-9.30 and I've had the rest of the day off, but at 2am the tiredness was already creeping in! It might not help that I keep waking up earlier than I need to.

This morning I woke up some time after 5am, after a dream that wasn't very nice. In my dream, the doctor was listening for a heart beat and couldn't find one! I went back to sleep then dreamt that I took another home pregnancy test and it said "not pregnant". Yeah I couldn't get back to sleep after that. I actually had to get up and use my last pregnancy test, just to check that I was still getting that positive cross!! It felt silly, but since I had the test, I thought I might as well, just to put my mind at ease.

Better instruction

I went to aqua aerobics yesterday morning at the further away swimming pool, that's led by another instructor (who leads aqua natal). I told her I was pregnant and she responded in the way I expected, telling them that there was NOTHING I couldn't do at this point, it's not until I'm 16 weeks that I need to start worrying about not doing stomach exercises. She said just take it at my own pace - so if too tired take it easier. Sooooo much better!

Well this morning I couldn't go back to my local pool aqua aerobics, because I was working, and I'll be working during both of them next week as well!

Aqua smothering

I went to 'Aqua fit' this morning, at my local pool. I was a good girl and told the instructor that I was pregnant, but that it was early days. Bless her, there was no chance that she was going to let me do anything that could possibly build up a sweat harm little un!

She kept telling me to do the calmer option: don't work too hard, don't bend too much, take it easy...! By the end of the session the whole group probably knew I was pregnant, but I doubt they thought it was such early days, from the way that she was carrying on!

Well I had been wondering whether I would be able to take my Mum to aqua fit on a Wednesday morning, but now that most of the group know, I don't think it'll be a good idea, because I don't want Mum to find out from a member of the group coming up and asking me in a few weeks time! Well I'm working Wed am anyway, so I can't go then, but I think I may have to put her off completely now.

I'm not sure I'll go to the Monday morning group again, as the instructor keeps limiting me all the time. I've done my research, I know it's fine and to just take it at my own pace. I can judge what is right or too much. Water exercise is so good for my hip joint, and helps me maintain my fitness, because I'm going to need all I can get to cope with the extra stresses, strains and weight of baby!

I'm planning to go to Aqua aerobics at a different pool, with a different instructor tomorrow morning. This is the one I've been to more regularly, and this instructor also runs the aqua natal session just after, so she'll be better suited to instruct me. Today I was being advised to do the aqua natal/pilaes natal!! I'm only 5 and a half weeks along, it's a bit early. The aqua natal is designed for 14 weeks plus! It's bump territory! I have no bump, only my own flab at the moment!

I feel slightly bad that I didn't manage to keep the weight down a little bit more before coming pregnant, but hey ho, can't go back now. In terms of aiming for a more toned tum before conceiving, it could have taken years!!

No-one could predict that

Wow, it's been a crazy week! Saturday we didn't do a lot, because I was feeling rough a fair bit and because I had to work on Sunday, I wanted to relax and do as little as possible on Saturday!

On Monday I worked 8 until 12.30, then our friends came to visit. We went into town and had lunch together, had a drink in a cafe, then bought cake to take home. The rest of the afternoon we played Munchkin Bites, and slightly mad card game. Then we had something to eat and made our way to the Uni to see a Feeder concert.

Andy and I weren't sure whether to tell , because it's really early, so we decided to see how things went. I was feeling quite rough on and off through the day, but I hid it pretty well. I am so glad that I only get nausea, and don't actually vomit, because at least with nausea there is ways to ease/hide it. On the walk to the concert I was feeling quite nauseous, so I was making the most of the cold air and doing some deep breathing! When we FINALLY got into the venue, about 45mins later than when the doors should have opened, we got a drink. I was wearing my travel sickness bands, but they were pretty useless! After the show we walked back, and then sat around chatting and eating cake.

I decided that I wanted to tell them, so sent Andy a text saying "Should we tell them or not?!" We looked at each other, and it was obvious that he was fine with it, if I was, but who to tell them. I'd been showing photos on my phone, so decided that was an easy way to do it. Unlike some of my friends who would be nosey and just scroll through my photos without asking, neither of them did, so I had to find the photo.

This is the pic that I showed that I showed them. The reaction I got from her was not what I expected. She said: "I've got one of those at home that says 5-6 weeks".

I was VERY shocked! She is my longest friend, we were in the same class in 1st school (there's a photo of both of us sat together, two blonde girls together); she helped pull me through High school, we stayed friends through college; a year doing different things, in different places; through her going to Uni and moving various times...! She was my bridesmaid and I was her matron of honour!

I can't believe that she is pregnant as well, and there's only about a week in it! We didn't think they were ready to have kids yet, because every time the subject of children has come up, they've given us the bluff and made out it's the last thing they want right now! Very sneaky!

It was a very exciting night/early morning! We all stayed up chatting until 1:30am! It is so amazing to be able to talk to such close friends about this so early!

When I finally got to bed that night, I slept very little. It was probably a combination of not enough proper food, frequently enough, the excitement and an upset stomach! I definitely slept between 5-8am, but the rest of the night was pretty unsettled.

Dear NHS...

... How come there does not seem to be any information given to pregnant ladies before they are 8 weeks pregnant? Now I understand that it's too early for most things, but considering the first trimester of our pregnancy is supposed to pose the most risk to the development of the baby, it means that for some people they'll not know to avoid certain foods/chemicals/cat poo/illnesses!

Yours unhappily, just-pregnant Mum-to-be.


Now I'd like to think I am quite clued up, and am doing my research, but I'm sure there's many out there who don't. So for 2/3's of the 1st trimester, many people don't know that they might be harming the baby growing inside them, by eating something that gives them: salmonellosis, e-coli, toxoplasmosis....!!

I asked on the Period Diary Forum, whether other people had a blood test/urine test at the doctors after the home test. One lady in the UK said she'd got told home test was enough, but was advised about what foods to avoid.

So far, I can't say that my health centre has been all that helpful in terms of information. When I went for a check up before trying to conceive, I got the impression of come back to us in 6 months if still trying and testing anything beforehand wasn't necessary. I asked for the Rubella test, because it didn't want to risk it.

Oh well, Internet, you are my friend. I've also got a pretty good "Practical Parenting, Pregnancy - all your questions answered" book, which is probably a bit out of date (2007), but it was only £1 in a charity shop, and things can't have changed that much since then!

BFP!

I'M PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning I woke up early (yet again, after a slightly interrupted sleep), but with the intention of allowing myself time to wake, pee, test and respond accordingly before getting ready to go to work for 8am!

I took 2 Clearblue pregnancy tests, first a normal one, then after getting a positive result, I used a digital one to check the time scale. I think I could have tested a few days ago and have still had a positive result, but at least I wasn't sure yesterday when I spent a few hours with my parents! Getting the result before going to work was better, because it gave me a bit of a distraction (while earning some money) and meant I didn't spend the day on the sofa!

Well the symptoms are increasing every day so far: Wake up, stomach feels like it's got indigestion, which migrates into nausea. The nausea fortunately eased after few nibbles of a stem ginger oat biscuit, eaten while sat on the loo! I'm constantly wearing travel sickness wrist bands, which may or may not be working! I'm getting a cramping/aching feeling and stomach feels very confused! My digestion system is not too pleased at the moment!

I am 4-5 weeks pregnant, according to the pregnancy test. It seems that you don't go to your doctors surgery until you are 8 weeks pregnant and meet your midwife for the first time. I got told I could drop in some urine for them to test, however the home tests are reliable enough. It seems they don't offer blood tests!

What a morning!

It's 5am, I feel really nauseous, so I've had to get up, eat some dry biscuits with ginger in them & put travel sickness bands on, in the hope they'll help! My period is due tomorrow, but no slight spotting.
I've been TTC my 1st & if this is not pregnancy symptoms then I've got a really weird bug! I feel nauseous in the mornings, then it eases through the day, then in the evening my stomach feels unhappy- bloated, achey, gassy. I'm not tired particularly during the day, but get tired really early in evening & have to allow myself plenty of time resting in bed before I go to sleep, so that it doesn't take ages to fall asleep! Often wake early too!
Btw nausea is easing!
I'm trying to wait til tomorrow to test, as spending day with parents, if I confirm it today a day early I'll be struggling not to tell them! Sorry so long!

Trying to wait

I really want to take a test, but I'm still too early. My period is due to start on Thursday, and todays Tuesday, so 2 days early. I've never before had the symptoms that I've been having recently, which is why I wonder whether I might be pregnant.

We've got 1 cheaper pregnancy test sitting in the cupboard behind our toilet, but I wanted a few more, to either have some spare if I get a negative result or so that I can do multiple tests if I get a positive. I now have a cheapy, 2x Clearblue plus and 1x Clearblue Digital - which gives me an idea of time scale.

This month might not be my month, but I'm prepared if it is.

I'm not quite sure when to test though. I looked at the cheapy one this morning and it said needed to test from when the period is due to start. The Clearblues can be done early, but if I did find out tomorrow morning, I would then have to spend most of the day, walking around a Christian Resources Exhibition with my parents, not able to say ANYthing about it.

Tomorrow I've got a dentist appointment, and if they suggest doing an x-ray, I'll have to tell them that there's a chance that I could be pregnant.

4 days...

I've got 4 days until D day...sorry I mean P day! On my longest length monthly cycle, Thursday is when my period is due to start again. I really can't be sure whether to expect it or not at the moment, because although I had some symptoms, they seem to have decreased/gone.

I haven't had anymore morning sickness, although for some reason I started feeling sick today while eating a carvery lunch! Very odd and a huge waste of a very nice (and not cheap) meal! I ate no more than 1/3 of the food on my plate! Stopping eating seemed to cause the nausea to ease off, so couldn't eat much. It wasn't a full-up feeling, more a 'this is making my stomach feel bad' - but the food tasted and looked lovely!

Well if no AF (Aunt Flow) on/by Thursday I'll take a test. If it's negative I'll wait a bit longer and test again.

My last period was early and shorter, so we shall see. Never quite know what my body is doing, but I get the impression it's TRYing for me!

Missing it

OK, my last post I was feel very nauseous. Well it's gradually eased off since then. I was NOT enjoying feeling like I was going to vomit, but now that the feeling has disappeared I'm missing it, because it might mean that this is not THE month! Oh well, we will have to wait and see whether I get my period next week or not.

I feel that the sickness was a good sign though, even if I'm not preggers this month, in that it makes me believe that my body is doing its best to create a new life! It's silly, but having never had a child before and having been on drugs to stop myself becoming pregnant, there's always that nagging thought at the back of my mind: Are hubby and I able to have children?! Now there's no reason to believe we can't, and it's probably the evil one planting doubt in my mind, but there you go!

If it's Gods will for us to be parents naturally, then it'll happen. This is only the 4th month of trying, so really quite early on really.

Is this a sign?

Eeekkkk, it's been a LONG time since I've posted on here... I guess the Period Diary Forum has taken the time away from needing this blog so much.

Why is it that I (hopefully) get closer to being pregnant, that I start hearing more and more things to put me off!

Well I was thinking "Nah, this doesn't seem to be THE month", but this morning I was less sure. I had a really bad nights sleep, struggling to fall asleep, then waking through the night - which was especially annoying, because I was on an early 7am shift. I had tried to go to bed early, but took so long falling asleep, that Andy (who went to bed later than me), fell asleep before me! My stomach didn't feel quite right, when I was trying to go to sleep. This morning I woke up and felt really nauseous! I wasn't sick, but I felt like I was close to vomiting! I really hate vomiting, so if I feel nauseous, then I do everything I can to not be sick!

Hmm, lets see what the next few days/weeks bring. If I'm pregnant then I'll be happier, if it's a weird stomach then I'll be tee'd off!

I'm started taking Sainsburys own brand pregnancy care tablets a week ago. I was already taking Folic Acid, but decided to swap for the multi vit.