Scantastic

So. Finally. The 12 week scan!

The letter inviting me to the scan advised that I must come to the appointment with a full bladder, with warnings that if this is not abided by, the scan may have to be rearranged. So, with this firmly in mind, I made sure I drank a good pint of water half an hour before the scan was due. By the time Giles and I arrived at the hospital, my bladder was certainly full - I was absolutely desperate! Typically, the scan was delayed by 30 minutes - and by the time we were called in, I was actually in physical pain! 

I lay in the bed and had the conductive gel splodged onto my tummy... As she pressed the scanner in, she said "oh my goodness, you really ARE desperate for the toilet!" - and all you could see on the scan screen was a huge bladder!!!! I was advised to pop to the loo and "release half of it"!!!! How on earth do you judge when you have released half a wee?!? It's very difficult I can tell you!

Anyway, after relieving myself of half a wee, the gel was slapped back in and the scan could begin! It was so lovely seeing the baby wriggling about all over the place. It was not behaving (which is not a good start to the next 18 years!) and she had to press extremely hard sideways on to get a good view. We had the classic scan snaps taken - side on, close up face and one that looks like an alien! I am now waiting impatiently for the next one at 20 weeks :) 

Medical mayhem

This week has been a whirlwind of emotions. Anxiety, terror and relief. 

ANXIETY
I have been getting intense stabbing pains on my left hand side, on and off throughout my pregnancy. The last week or so, it has been getting more and more intense. I kept putting off going to the doctors as it kept coming and going - so I kept thinking it had gone away. The pains lasted around half an hour and some were so debilitating - I was doubled over in pain. So, Tuesday, I phoned the doctor to ask their advice - thinking they'd just say it was normal and to get over it - but instead then booked me in for an emergency appointment. 

The doctor was absolutely lovely. She spent a long time asking questions, feeling my tummy for pain points and was considering doing an internal examination (my first thought was - uh oh, I haven't shaved my legs!). She then revealed that she was worried the pregnancy could be ectopic and growing inside the fallopian tube and so was going to refer me to the Early Pregnancy Unit at the hospital. I was not expecting that! 

TERROR 
I had an appointment through for the very next day and went along with my husband. The waiting room was pretty distressing. There was a couple who had obviously just had some bad news and the girl was in floods of tears. Then there were other ladies with kids running amok around the small waiting room! Anyway, after a tense hour wait, we were invited in to talk to one of the nurses, who went through my symptoms and explained that as I was only 8.5 weeks pregnant, they would be performing an internal examination (external examinations are done at 9 weeks onwards). Again - I was not expecting that! But this time, I had shaved my legs just in case!

RELIEF 
I was called in for the internal scan, whipped off my clothes and the doctor got to work. My heart was beating so fast - but we didn't had to wait long at all. Almost immediately she said that there was a baby and it was growing in the right place. She showed us the baby on the screen and we were able to see a tiny heartbeat and it wriggling around all over the place (which doesn't bode well for later on!). The doctor said that the baby is actually measuring at 9 weeks (my maths is obviously terrible!) so I could have had a tummy scan after all! Apparently the pain I have been experiencing is due to a cyst on my left ovary, which is where the egg that was fertilized was released from. The cyst is currently dying away and detaching itself, causing the pain. Most women don't even feel it. Anyway, we are both hugely relieved. I am perfectly happy to put up with the pain now I know that nothing is wrong with the baby - and also discovered I am able to take paracetamol for it! I had been under the impression that all drugs were a no go! 

The relief was huge and we are both so happy that everything is ok. I can't stop thinking about the couple in the waiting room, for whom the news wasn't so good. So very sad and difficult to get over. At 9 weeks pregnant I FEEL pregnant and I have fully accepted mentally that I am pregnant. To have that taken away from you must be so awful. 

The Waiting Game

Time is passing, but not quick enough! Everything about pregnancy seems to be about waiting! Once one milestone has passed, the next one can't come quick enough. The next wait is for the 12 week scan - only 4.5 more weeks to hang on. I know that is soon as the 12 week scan is done - the 20 week scan will be on the horizon! 

Everything seems to be going 'ok'. Though it's hard when you don't really know what 'ok' is! I am having sore cramps (like period pains) pretty much every day at various intervals and then occasionally rather more painful cramps in my left side. The midwife assured me that all of this was normal, so I'm trying to keep calm and not worry! I'm finding it to be quite an isolated, lonely place. I would normally be talking about something this important with all of my friends, colleagues and any other bugger would care to listen! So it does feel rather strange keeping this to ourselves. Again - ROLL ON THE 12 WEEK SCAN!

"The News"

Since I found I was 'with child' I have been ITCHING to tell people and share the news. I want to tell family, friends, workmates, pets, passers by, Tom, Dick and Harry...! I have never been the best at keeping a secret, especially of  my own. The advice seems to suggest that it's best not to tell people about a pregnancy until after the 12 week scan as there are so many things that can potentially go wrong in early pregnancy. This is obviously a very good point - it would be terrible to share the news and for everyone to be excited and interested about it and then for something to happen. However, if something did happen (god forbid) then surely I would want support from the people that I love? Plus, I imagine pretty much all of my close friends will just work it out when they clock that I am not drinking cider or wine or eating blue cheese!! 

So we have reached a compromise. Last night, I headed over for dinner with my mum and dad and told them the news. Half way through dinner, I asked them what they were up to in April - the answer being nothing. Then I advised that they may want to avoid booking a holiday as I would be having a baby. My mum made me repeat it three times and my dad was just stunned! They were overjoyed, emotional and excited and I am SO SO glad that they now know! Phew! We will be telling my mother in law as soon as possible too, but then that's the lot. As I said above - I can almost guarantee that by the time the scan comes along, the majority of our close friends will have noticed - they're an observant lot!