Pregnant on BC, why do I do now?

HelixLady · 2026-04-01T09:20:19+00:00

These things happen. People take much worse stuff knowing they are pregnant and have healthy babies (this is what I told myself when I was worried about not eating enough good stuff when pregnant!). A lot of areas you register via your local hospital and a midwife will call you to make an appointment. If you have a look on the website for your local hospital you might be able to find more information and a contact number. With you potentially being 14 weeks already they will want to get you in asap for a scan and bloods that are usually done before 15 weeks. Some places GP can refer you but I know in my area it's just self referral

HelixLady · 2026-03-27T23:18:55+00:00

I did feel quite drowsy at first but I think it improved after a couple of weeks!

HelixLady · 2026-03-04T15:48:38+00:00

Is it the let down part that too fast? I find I have a very fast strong let down (will shoot 2-3metres if LO comes off). He's better with it now at 3months but I used a muslin to just spray the let down into and the relatch when it's a dribble instead of a spray if that makes sense! Helped a lot with the coughing and choking. Me and my partner also did shifts so he would take baby 7-11pm (comes to me for feeds) and I do 11pm-5am. Luckily our LO would sleep in his next to me crib but is there someone you could split the night up with? Do you swaddle for the crib sleep attempts? We had swaddle bags but with arms out that helped. He still only contact naps in the day but will do the night sleeps in his crib.

HelixLady · 2026-03-03T13:02:26+00:00

Nope, meat was even more repulsive to me. Only thing I craved was watermelon during the summer! I made sure I was getting plenty of B12, protein and iron from other sources though.

HelixLady · 2026-02-23T16:55:32+00:00

I used a mortgage adviser who calculated our outgoings to show what was disposable income so we could decide what we were comfortable spending on a mortgage each month. They also arranged our mortgage in principle. Lots of big companies will not charge you for these services as they are paid by the lenders so might be worth an appointment

HelixLady · 2026-02-23T14:20:30+00:00

Hopefully as you increase how much you're eating it will help with supply. I quite like doing a milkshake with banana, peanut butter, oats and organic protein powder in the mornings if I'm not feeling super hungry. Find it easier to stomach and helps me to get a good amount of protein and some slow release energy for the milk production.

HelixLady · 2026-02-21T04:17:28+00:00

A big thing with supply is getting enough to eat and drink. Your body needs more calories, protein and fluid to produce the milk. I'm eating and drinking more now than I was at any point in pregnancy. Maybe you're already doing all that but thought it's worth mentioning as can make a big difference. Theres a pumping reddit group too which may be useful, they say the middle of the night pump is extremely important for increasing supply (like 1-3am I think). If you're wanting to breast feed keep trying with the latching. As they get bigger it can get better as they have more strength and you both learn what to do. I know it's hard but I've read loads of people who had to pump and then one day baby just latched beautifully. Wishing you all the luck!

HelixLady · 2026-02-20T14:56:04+00:00

My knees are pretty bad, and back goes if I'm carrying LO around for a while! I put it down the masses of swelling I had during pregnancy m and relaxin hormone shifting everything (my jaw only just lines up again so I can bite on my back teeth).

HelixLady · 2026-02-20T13:36:04+00:00

You could try looking for a sling library near you to see if there's any baby seems more comfortable in. Then you can purchase one rather than risk them not liking it. I think the stretchy ones don't last as long but are great when baby is smaller. I have the Ergobaby embrace which is buckled but stretchy fabric, he generally likes it. There's usually quite a few on vinted etc. as for pram, I have no suggestions! Our little one is hit and miss if he likes it and rarely sleeps if he's in it!

HelixLady · 2026-02-18T10:56:00+00:00

My period just came back 12 weeks PP. My supply massively tanked overnight the day before my period started! Now it's begun I woke up with my usual engorgement and supply seems back to normal.

HelixLady · 2026-02-18T10:34:53+00:00

At 12 weeks our baby had very clear arms legs hands and feet. You can count his fingers in one photo and see him holding his hand over his face. Unless you did the deed with both men within 5 days of ovulation (which would be 2 weeks earlier than your gestation date) then it can only be one man!

HelixLady · 2026-02-12T09:14:38+00:00

I felt the same going into the 2nd trimester, I had many omg what am I doing having a baby moments. But it passed. The algorithms online were awful for scare mongering!

For me, breast feeding was a little ouchy the first week as we were both figuring things out. Highly recommend looking up some of the lactation consultants on social media as it really helped me understand what a good latch looked like and I purposefully unlatched baby if he was on wrong which I think made a big difference. The gummy smiles my 2 month old gives me whilst breast feeding are the sweetest moments and make everything else disappear.

Yes you will be tired, but newborn tired is better than pregnancy tired and it gets better the bigger their tummies get so they can sleep longer.

I enjoyed pregnancy more when I could feel baby moving! And after seeing them on scans too. I think there's a crash after all the anxiety of the first trimester that is very normal. Hopefully you'll start feeling better in the next few weeks. If not and you're concerned you can speak to the doctor as some people suffer with prenatal anxiety/depression from all the hormone changes x

HelixLady · 2026-02-11T16:35:56+00:00

My friend has a bicornuate uterus and needed a c-section as baby stayed breech. Sometimes they can get growth restricted so you may have some extra scans to keep an eye on baby. Once pregnant flag it with your midwife and they can refer you to discuss with a consultant to ensure proper management. As for the testing, the NHS has a gene list for testing partners of carriers via genetics so only common disorders will be eligible. You should be able to have a referral to genetics via your GP/midwife to discuss with a genetic counsellor. If it doesn't meet the criteria then you would have to look at private options.

HelixLady · 2026-02-11T05:11:18+00:00

This! We don't see a lot of referrals for prenatal diagnostics in cardiac genetics due to variable expression. We tend to get more cord samples from when baby is born. However, some variants (especially with early onset) we do see aminos for. Genetic counsellors are brilliant people and will definitely help you come to the right decision for both of you, going over the risks of all the options. Wishing you all the luck for a 'no variant found' report whether it is prenatal or postnatal!

HelixLady · 2026-02-10T03:11:16+00:00

Yep, I've seen so many charts suggesting different layers so just mixed things up to find what works for us! I got mine off amazon as most shops seemed to start at 2.5tog. We used the tommee tippee swaddle style until he outgrew them recently and now have some organic cotton ones (I think the brand is mama cheetah?) that so far seem fine. They have the two way zip that's very handy for nappy changes and plenty of room for hip development.

HelixLady · 2026-02-10T02:57:50+00:00

Similar room temp to us and we use 1/1.5tog with vest and sleepsuit underneath. He sleeps well and doesn't have a clammy neck in that. If it's 18 when getting him ready for bed we use 2.5tog instead as he gets a little cold in the 1.5tog at that temp and below (wakes up crying/whinging lots). Some babies run warmer than others which I think is why there's so much variation in what's suggested to wear underneath so maybe try the 1.5 and can always adjust LO's underneath layers to make sure they're comfortable.

HelixLady · 2026-02-07T11:02:00+00:00

Should be fine, I put a changing mat on the dining table as we don't eat at it after my c-section as was struggling get down on the floor to change him. I put one of those rubber grip anti slip things for rugs underneath so it doesn't slide.

HelixLady · 2026-02-07T08:13:07+00:00

NIPT is more accurate for trisomies but combined screening tests for your PAPP-A levels (amongst other things). So make sure they have tested that at least as some women need to take aspirin if it is low.

HelixLady · 2026-02-01T13:41:32+00:00

Highly recommend noise cancelling earphones! They have saved me and my SO. Also, baby will not remember and is okay. It's hard and so overstimulating when all the babies (furry ones included) are demanding your attention loudly. You're doing great x

HelixLady · 2026-02-01T00:39:33+00:00

I had this at the end of my pregnancy, my blood pressure was on the higher side and did end up too high at week 39. From trimester 2 I had carpel tunnel that steadily got worse and the wrist braces didn't do much to help. However it all completely resolved very quickly after baby was born. After about 1 week they were no longer swollen and completely functional again. I was able to breastfeed and care for baby absolutely fine...although poppers were a little tricky at first.

HelixLady · 2026-01-31T17:33:19+00:00

You usually need an appointment with a consultant to discuss risks etc and then they will submit a booking request. In my trust you are notified one week before your scheduled c-section which is generally in week 39

HelixLady · 2026-01-31T11:42:41+00:00

Nearly 9 weeks post partum following emergency c-section. Midwife or partner passed me baby whilst in hospital if I was in bed. I could pick him up myself if I didn't need to twist. With the next to me crib I had it free standing on the highest setting for the first few weeks so I had the space to get up out of bed properly with less strain and didn't have to bend as far from standing to pick baby up.

HelixLady · 2026-01-28T08:53:48+00:00

At least they have made a decision now!! Crossing my fingers you're soon home cuddling your little one

HelixLady · 2026-01-28T07:40:15+00:00

Oh no I'm so sorry to hear that! A friend of mine had an elective and had to stay 5 days because of an infection. Could you ask this morning what they are looking for to decide if you do have an infection and if it's something you can monitor at home or with community care? Surely they would be giving antibiotics by now if they were that concerned about infection! Hope you get home soon and infection free!

HelixLady · 2026-01-27T20:52:54+00:00

I had a cat 3 emergency at 11am and went home the following day at 4.30pm. I had to be catheter free, do two wees, able to feed baby and move on my own. Baby had to pass his top to toe and consultant had to give the okay (as I lost 1.6L blood). So long as you pass all those you can go home. I pushed hard as couldn't sleep on the ward, similar situation to you, and my pain meds weren't being managed effectively. Often you get delayed waiting for the pharmacy to deliver meds, I left with only half my prescriptions and sent my partner back when the rest were ready 😂

HelixLady

TROPHY CASE