Quick hello and 20 week scan news

[Helen]

Hello all,

Firstly apologies for being so silent. Life has been very busy with house hunting, working, family issues() etc. The tiredness and sickness has hung on .... although (she says tentatively) I am feeling much better the last couple of days. Have just started on the spartone iron drink and I'm wondering if this has been a miraculous discovery!

Anyway, I'll stop waffling and get to the point. Had my 20 week scan a couple of weeks ago (am now nearly 24 weeks!) and it was just lovely. We decided against the triple test as we were told that there wasn't much point at my age if we weren't prepared to have the amnio as my reults would prob automatically come back as quite high risk and be scarey. Soo, I had genned myself up thoroughly on 'soft markers' for chromosomal issues. All looked fine though (I realise it's not fullproof but still very reassuring that nothing was spotted.) I couldn't believe the detail they looked in and, best of all, was amazed to see my baby leaping around, sucking his/her thumb and grabbing his/her feet. Truly incredible. He/she wriggled around and gave the woman the run around, much to our amusement (but less so to hers!) Made me love the little bean all the more.

I've posted a couple of pics. I'm sure you're all expert at making out what's what. Can't believe I'm so incredibly lucky and continue to cross fingers and thank my lucky stars everyday. It's not an ideal family world we're bringing the little one into and I am concerned about lack of support in a new area. BUT if all goes well and the baby's ok I'll feel we can tackle what life has in store. Thanks for being here and I hope to be a bit more present over the coming weeks.

Love Helen xx

[twinkleteds]

ooooh helen they are so clear

all the very best to you - look forward to updates

Tina xxx

[Ruth Walker]

wonderful to see baby jumping around. I'm glad it all went well. You will cope, even with being in a new area, but it will be hard, I think you are half way there if you aren't expecting an easy ride, though. And when you look at your new baby, you won't care how tired you are. Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy
xxx

[MinkyMoo]

Hi Helen
Fantastic pics! I am looking forward to my 20 week scan now - but like you will be looking for soft markers as also won't bother with the screening blood tests.
They won't tell us the sex of the baby here - much tomy mum's disappointment! Did you find out?
Minky

[jomama]

Helen

They are fab pics - it is amazing the detail you can see now isn't it - I vividly remember seeing all the bones in the hand with one of mine (can't remember which one though ) - enjoy every precious moment - I love being pregnant.

J

[pink3times]

Lovely clear scan pics Helen, glad you and DH enjoyed seeing your precious baby again.
Looking forward to following your pregnancy.

I took Spatone when pregnant with Henry, good stuff kept my Hb up enough to avoid any further nasty iron tablets.

Good luck love Becxxx

[Judy]

Oh Helen!

How exciting!

Thank you for sharing your precious pictures.

Take care now!

Judyxxx

[Saharabreeze]

Helen

The scans look amazing, even I could make out all the important bits and I haven't had any experience of looking at such pictures, in one of them it looks like s/he is wearing a boot.

Hope the morning sickness has eased, I hear that nettle is meant to be a good tonic for the body, lot's of iron amongst other things.

Take care

Sb

[Helen]

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments. Know exactly what you mean about the boot SB. Love that pic!! Maybe s/he was getting ready for the snow

We've decided not to find out the sex (though DP would happily have done so if it wasn't for me.) I want the old fashioned surprise bit.

Having said that, I am utterly convinced it's a boy. So is my 90 year old Nan ..and she's never wrong about these things

Love Helen xx

[Jameela]

Hello Helen,

Fab pictures - congratulations!

Originally Posted by Helen

It's not an ideal family world we're bringing the little one into and I am concerned about lack of support in a new area.

I don't know if you have post-birth support sorted, or exactly what your situation is. DH and I were (and remain) completely without any sort of family support at all; my mother is elderly and infirm, and lives 2.5 hours away in any event. DH's father was in hospital with a broken hip and so mother-in-law was tied up with that. I knew we couldn't struggle on our own - so I hired a post-natal doula. (She had been supposed to be there at the birth but for various reasons wasn't!) She was an utter godsend. She helped take care of our darling baby, helped tidy the house/cook/iron etc, gave me desperately-needed time out to get some extra sleep, and just generally was a shoulder to lean/cry on (especially when hideous PND kicked in at around week 4). I couldn't recommend her enough. We found her through www.doula.org.uk. Not cheap but I would have paid double!