Shelbell's Baby Diary

[shelbell]

Well after lurking on everyone else's baby diarys for a few weeks, I thought it was time to start my own.

I'm Shel, I'm 29 and today I'm 10 weeks pregnant. We have had three scans so far, will put the 2 scan piccies up at the end of this post. Baby is doing well, and my lord is it growing!

I have an 8 year old son by my first husband who has mild special needs (social/communication), and he is hugely excited about the baby. This is my husbands first, although he has been an amazing stepdad for the last 6 years. Hubby is even more excited than DS! He has a week by week baby book that he reads regularly.

My son is one of my concerns, as there is a possibility that my birthing 'technique' was responsible for his SEN. I failed to pant and shot him down the bed, which caused a pneumothorax. It was undiagnosed for 24 hours, and he then spent 3 days in SCBU. His SEN have been linked to low oxygen levels at birth. For this reason, I am terrified of giving birth again, and am praying for a c-section.

I'm classed as a very high risk pregnancy, as I have Systemic Lupus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome amongst other problems. The combination gives me an 80% chance of miscarriage, although with treatment this reduces to 20%. Waiting to get the first heartbeat at scan was tortorous, but now that we've had it I am having daily heparin injections to thin my blood and prevent DVT/Stroke. This is my 5th pregnancy, but the 3 that ended in MC ended well before 10 weeks, so I'm feeling very positive.

I've had a Gastric Bypass, which is where they staple off most of your stomach to the size of an egg, and re-route part of your intestines. This means my intake is limited by restriction and also by malabsorption. I'm on lots of extra vitamins and minerals for this anyway, so Baby will be fine, but if I don't manage to eat enough, I will suffer through this pregancy. Post Bypass patients who don't eat properly are prone to malnutrition and deficiencies so I'm being very careful. That said, since finding out I'm pregnant I've lost 10lbs even though I've been trying to maintain my weight but this is mostly due to the morning sickness.

I had terrible morning sickness from around 5 weeks. It got to the point where I struggled to eat or drink anything, and became horrifically constipated and impacted. The morning sickness is now easing off, and is only really a problem first thing in the morning. I've maintained my weight since this change

I'm 10 weeks today, and have just had to start wearing maternity trousers. My jeans were getting very uncomfortable, even with the weight loss, as I have a very definate little bump already. Am slightly concerned there may be 7 more little babys in there that the scans missed! I assume it is prominent because I am a lot slimmer now than when I had my son (am a size 10-12) and because my tummy muscles are shot from babys and weight change.

I'm seeing the midwife for the first time on Thursday, although I've already 'booked in' at the hospital. Next scan is Whitsun week, which will be my 12 week scan.

Think thats all for now lol, sorry if I've bored you!

7 weeks -

8 weeks 3 -

 

[Purple Hugs]

Not boring at all! ((hugs))
I can totally understand your fears over birth after your sons SEN and birth experience, have you spoken to your midwife about these? I'm just wondering if additional antenatal classes would help you feel more comfortable and avoid a C-Section (which is a major op in reality).
It may be that a C-Section is your best bet, but it's worth having a chat with her and letting her know your concerns if nothing else ((hugs))

How wonderful that your DH and son are so excited, there is definately an air of excitment amongst us all in my house and it's lovely isn't it.

Amazing to see the difference in your scans too - shows just how much they grow in the space of a week!! wow

Also great to read your weight has maintained since the sickness has eased! And that bump is coming on nicely! lol
I was just leaving a 16 and heading into a 14 when I fell pregnant, but am in small 18's at the moment as they are the only thing that felt comfortable, I felt really restricted in my 16's/14's. I'm thinking of maternity cropped jeans soon I must admit.

Look forward to seeing more scan pics! and reading your progress as you go.

 

[shelbell]

Thanks PH. I would like to be sterilized at the same time so I think for me a c-section is the way to go, just have to convince my consultant!

 

[Purple Hugs]

well with that request you may just swing it! it's not unusual these days at all

 

[shelbell]

Very excited, just emailed a scanning company to arrange a 3D scan for around 20 weeks. I really want to know the sex, and I think a 3D is the only way to get a definate answer.

I thought it would cost a lot more than it does, it's only £60

 

[Purple Hugs]

wow that's really good, they're £95 upwards in Cardiff - I'd love to know the sex of my baby too I'd love a boy! but will be happy with a girl of course.

 

[shelbell]

Morning all

Back to work today after 2 weeks signed off. Came as a bit of a shock to the system lol so left at 1pm (instead of 2.30pm) to work from home. Am lucky I can do that!

The bump is getting bigger, I have a lot of excess skin on my tummy from the weight loss, so it looks quite small unless I lift up the excess skin, and then you can see how big it really is!

Seeing the midwife tomorrow for my first appointment with her, am hoping they'll be able to get the heartbeat with doppler but I know it's early. Trying to focus on the growing bump to stay positive about the viability of this pregnancy.

 

[shelbell]

Got hubby to take a photo of the bump

 

[Purple Hugs]

Awww shell that is a CUTE bump!! I'd love to have a tummy like that in the first place let alone at 10 weeks preg! lol

 

[shelbell]

Thanks PH

I had a flap last night, started panicing that the bump is cos of the fibroid not the baby. Had a big chat with a couple of my FB friends who are midwives who put my mind at ease! Having super slack tummy muscles after having 1 child and extreme weight change is contributing, and while the fibroid might have grown and contributed it shouldn't be a problem.

One midwife pointed out that the bump is actually more intestines than baby, as baby is still quite low down and is just pushing everything else up and out! My hubby has been stroking my guts affectionately for the last few days

 

[Purple Hugs]

lol I had read that baby is down in the pelvis for a while yet, when I had my first scan she never moved from the very base of my stomach near my pelvis, but a bump seems pretty common almost like the body is making room I think.
Had to giggle about your hubby! lol

 

[shelbell]

Midwife didn't go great to be honest. She was very complacent about my risks and medical history. Her attitude was 'well the hospital are looking after you, so we won't have much to do with you until after the babys born'!



Didn't feel at all able to discuss my concerns with her, so afterwards hubby rang the hospital and they said to come in for a scan, so just got back from there. Guess who we bumped into in the maternity block? My midwife of course! Great timing. She was glad to see us as she was planning on calling me later to ask if her student midwife who had been at my appointment could follow the pregnancy and attend some of my hospital appointments etc. I'm a good learning case lol. Of course we said yes, so that will be fun. She then asked why we were there lol, lots of ermmmms and blushes and quickly fabricated stories!


Anyway, the scan went well, the fibroid doesn't seem to have grown much and baby is well. It was the best scan so far, bean did an almighty hiccough and was waving at us!



10 weeks 4 days

 

[Purple Hugs]

Aww how wonderful is that outcome that baby is doing well! And you got to see him/her wave! lol and hiccup! lol

Glad the hospital are more sympathetic, and that your student midwife will be around, but sounds like your midwife is a bit 'cut and shut'.

 

[shelbell]

Morning all

We've been away for the weekend, hence the peace and quiet Yesterday was the baby show in birmingham, great place, would recommend the next one to anyone! In fact, thinking of going again lol. Lots of bargains and cute things. Stocked up on tommee tippee bottles and accessories as the TT store was heavily discounted, and got a few other bits and bobs. If I'd have known if this was a boy or a girl I'd have spent a fortune as there was lots of very cute pink and blue things. Also, they had all of the popular pram ranges there heavily discounted too.

Bean is doing well, morning sickness has pretty much gone and I've managed to maintain my weight for about 2 weeks now. Tummy is getting bigger, none of my normal trousers fit at all.

Next scan (12 weeks) is a week on Thursday, can't wait

 

[Purple Hugs]

not long till your next scan that's great news! and 12 weeks already!
The show sounds fab, only show i've ever been to like that was a motorbike one years ago (I used to ride bikes) got some wonderful discounts and deals on a few bits and saved myself hundreds.
Unfortunately shows like that are way too far from us to warrant us going, and we're stopping ourselves buying anything much till around Sept onwards, as we have a few bits on, and are going on holiday in August for a week.

Really glad you got some bits, and hope there is another show after you know about babies sex! lol so you can spend more!

 

[shelbell]

Morning all

Spoke too soon about the morning sickness The last few days eating has been an absolute nightmare, and I've lost 2lbs Gutted as I'd managed to maintain for 2 weeks.

At the moment, food is just yuck. I don't want to eat, and eating makes my tummy feel horrid. I tried to have a late breakfast an hour ago and it just came straight back up. Dreading the clock moving forward to lunch time.

 

[Purple Hugs]

Aww shell i'm so sorry to read that ((Hugs)) would you be able to handle a smoothie or something like that? even a milkshake?

Really hope it settles again soon for you x

 

[shelbell]

I have to be very careful with the sugar content of drinks, which puts most smoothies and milkshakes out. At the moment, I'm finding dairy very hard to stomach too.

Managed to keep some lunch down, and just had some quavers for extra calories.

 

[MrsDannyDyer]

(((((Huge Hugs))))

Hope u feel better soon xx

 

[shelbell]

Feeling a bit better this evening. managed to keep dinner down, and will try a protein shake in a bit. They're quite milkshake-y though so don't know how my tiny tum will cope with that. Keeping a tub of dairy milk squares by my side and snacking all day, it's the only way I can get my calories up! Not sure about pregnancy without the pounds, I think I need a pregnancy with the pounds section lol.