CUBS screening results

I had the CUB screening done at my booking scan. I finally got my results back today. I know I said I wasn't too concerned after the measurement being 1.1mm but I still had the blood results hanging over me. They came back as low risk!! I was expecting a little more in the letter but all it said was the screening came back low risk so no further tests are required. It's fantastic news though and definitely made my day! 

I bought my first pair of maternity jeans today. I was in New Look and a few maternity things were in the sale. The jeans were only £8 reduced from £22. I also bought those bump bands which I wear over my current jeans. This means I can leave my jeans unfastened. They smooth everything over so you can't even tell the jeans aren't fastened when I have a top over the band. The bands were in a pack of three for £5. 

That was a first for me. Actually buying something pregnancy related. I was trying to hold off buying anything for as long as I could but it creates problems when none of my jeans will fasten. Going up a regular size didn't really help - they are big in the all the wrong places. 

I was back seeing my doctor yesterday morning. I've to stop taking the anti-sickness tablets now that I'm able to keep water down. That was fine with me - I didn't feel comfortable taking them to begin with. I know the doctor said they were fine but I worry about everything. She seems to think the hyperemesis will clear up around 16 weeks so here's hoping she is right. 

the pace is picking up

I'm 14 weeks pregnant today. I've realised the crossover from the first to second trimester is a little fuzzy. 12/13/14 weeks? It's safe to say I'm there now regardless of where you look. I never thought I would get this far. I'm still taking it one day at a time. The pace is definately starting to pick up! 

The nausea is still here. So much for feeling better after 12 weeks. I think it's starting to ease a little now. I still feel sick all the time but I've not been sick the past 2 days. I'm going to see my GP tomorrow morning at 9am. The prescription for the antisickness tablets was only for one week. I'll also need to go back to work at some point. I've been off since the 7th of July. I do feel bad being off work but I don't want to rush back when I'm still feeling awful. 

I'm still waiting for my results of the CUB screening. I know the midwife said the results can take 10-14 days but I've just been wondering about them. The midwife did say if there was a problem I would normally hear within a few days. It's been over a week so I'm hoping that no news is good news. 

My next midwife appointment is now booked. It's the 9th September (09/09/09 - should be easy to remember!!). It's my 16 week appointment. As far as I'm aware she will listen to the baby's heartbeat at this one. 

I've not really used my doppler for a while. Even though I only listened to the heartbeat for barely 30 seconds at a time I get the feeling my baby doesn't like it. He always moves away from it or kicks at it. I'm still terrified but I have to admit that I'm feeling a little better about things since my booking scan and the fact I've now reached the second trimester. 

None of my jeans fit. None. My mum made a comment the other night about me starting to look pregnant. I didn't really know what to think of that. It's still so early. I'm not sure if it was because I was so slim to begin with. I have a surprise birthday party to go to on Friday night and I have no idea what I'm going to wear. 

I'm really not complaining. I just can't believe how fast everything changes. 

A few of you asked if I was going to post pictures of me so here you go. I do wish I had a picture taken before so I could really compare but I never thought this would happen. 

Dating scan

My dating scan was today and it was amazing.

I was just about in tears before the scan started because I was so worried something was going to be wrong. 

It wasn't. As soon as she started the scan the baby was dancing around. He kept touching his face with his hands. Everything looked great. 

[I say he - obviously I don't know the sex this early but I hate saying it]

I had opted for the CUBS. The baby was in the wrong position for this so I had to life my hips off the bed and jiggle them to get the baby to move. It worked. Initially the baby was facing outward but she needed him to be facing up. NT measurements came back 1.1mm. Three measurements were taken to get an average and they were all 1.1mm. Anything below 3.0mm is normal. A blood sample was taken as part of the CUBS but I won't get the results back for 10-14 days. I think with the measurements being that low I don't think I would risk an amniocentesis. 

The baby measures 59.9mm which puts me at 12 weeks + 2 days. 

My next scan is 6th October - I'll be 19 weeks + 6 days then.

Booking

I know I've not really been around much. I still think part of me is scared to write. 

As I said previously - as far as I am aware everything is going ok. 

I bought a fetal doppler and found the heartbeat last Monday (3rd August). I counted the heart rate to be around 166bpm. Fast! I've not used it loads. Maybe just a few minutes each day. It sounded amazing and was a huge relief when I heard it. 

I had my booking appointment today. A midwife, Irene, came up to the house to go through medical history and take bloods. I think she was only here for forty minutes. I have to choose between two different hospitals. I know I havea w hile to think about it but it was brought up today. The first option is the IRH. It's midwife led. This means if something went wrong I would have to be transferred to RAH which is at least thirty minutes away (although if transferred in ambulance assuming it would be quicker). I said to Irene I was thinking about IRH but then I was worried incase something went wrong. She said what would go wrong? Women have babies all the time. There are also risk assessments done. At the moment I am on the green pathway which means low risk. One thing she did say was since RAH is consultant led I could find myself in a bed hooked up to a monitor. 

I'll get to have a tour of both around 20 weeks. 

I have my 12 week scan on Friday. 

I don't know if I'm excited. I'm terrified. I just hope everything is ok. 

I don't think I really have any reason to think they won't be. I've had no pain, no bleeding, I've been really sick - which I'm told is a good sign. I seen a heartbeat at 6 weeks and I heard the heart beat nice and strong this morning. 

So roll on Friday. My scan is at 1:30pm. No doubt I'll be up at the crack of dawn that day. 

I've decided to have the screening done on Friday. CUBS - Combined Ultrasound and Biochemical Screening. 

I'll not update again until after Friday. 

Here's hoping when I'm back it's with good news. 

August Already

It's been a while since my last update. As far as I'm aware everything is fine so no news is good news. 

I'm finding it so hard to write just now