2014 was not the best year
It’s been so long since I published a blog post here. It’s not that there hasn’t been anything to blog about but more that life has been pretty busy. I then doubted if anything I had to say was of real interest! 2014 was also a year we were happy to move on from in many ways. All the great things that happened were over-shadowed by other events in our lives. My hubby was facing much stress at work, my sister was very poorly during the year and in July, my husband and I sadly lost another baby. We had seen the little heartbeat flickering away at 7 weeks, which gave us hope, a first tiny milestone. I started to bleed a little and then at 9 weeks at our reassurance scan at the EPAU, they told us the awful news we feared. This was our third miscarriage. It was only early on, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t painful for us and our family. Like our first two miscarriages, this loss also shattered our hopes and dreams. When you have a miscarriage, there is the emotional and physical pain and then the many questions that run through your mind, like why? Why us? Did I do something wrong? How long will my body take to settle down? Will it happen again if we try for another baby?
Hospital visits
The weeks that followed weren’t great, as you can imagine. My sister was admitted to hospital again in August and then just a couple of days later, I was also taken to hospital by ambulance after a scary call to NHS Direct, after I haemorrhaged at home. The miscarriage hadn’t completed and what was left of our tiny baby was removed in A&E. I was monitored in case I needed an operation and then due to an extremely low blood count, I required a blood transfusion. After a short stay in hospital, my blood count picked up to an acceptable level and I was allowed home with an 8 week course of iron tablets. My stay in hospital was the longest I had been without my little boy. I didn’t think that my first real stay away from him would be whilst I was in hospital. I needed to go back to the hospital for more checks after I was discharged to monitor the bleeding. Also my HCG level had not decreased so a pregnancy test still showed I was pregnant, which was quite distressing.
The emotional scars from our miscarriage would take time to heal but we tried to think positively. We knew we wanted a sibling, a little playmate for our gorgeous little boy and when the time was right, we would try again.
Happy times again
On 16th January, we found out some very happy news! We were over the moon when the little blue and white stick showed I was 5 weeks pregnant! I am now 18 weeks pregnant! Finding out so early, was tough in some ways. We told only close family after our first scan at 7 weeks then everyone after our dating scan at 13 weeks. Since our dating scan, the weeks have flown by, I think because we could breathe a little sigh of relief as all looked great at the scan.
High risk
Due to our history of three miscarriages and my blood condition (factor v leiden and activated protein c resistance – found after our second miscarriage) I am classed as a high risk pregnancy and so we have already had four scans. We are so grateful to the care we received in the early pregnancy unit. We will have two additional scans, at 33 and 36 weeks, I think. I think all mums-to-be should be offered a later scan to check all is well with mum and baby.
Heartbeat
So happy to say that all is looking good so far. We were very lucky to hear our baby’s heartbeat at my 16 week antenatal check. My midwife did advise that NICE guidelines changed and that they are not meant to listen to baby until after 19 weeks. This is apparently due to the fact that if no heartbeat heard, it doesn’t mean there’s a problem but then she cannot refer me to the hospital until after 19 weeks. She felt my tummy and said she would try and there it was, the wonderful sound of our baby’s heart at 155bpm.
Energy is returning! (for now anyway!)
Once I reached 16 weeks, I started to get some energy back (some is still zapped depending on how mischievous my almost 3 year old is feeling!), felt less sick and think I have felt those first flutters in my tummy from baby.
Here’s me at 16 weeks pregnant, ready for a rare night out 
Feeling good in my new dress from Jojo Maman Bebe (http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+tile-print-maternity-tunic-dress-in-maternity-dresses+d5073)
Pregnancy and a toddler
My little boy is a bit too young to understand just yet, but we have told him there is a baby in mummy’s tummy and that it is his little brother or sister. At first, asking for a little brother, he now says he would like a baby sister and that we should call her Butterfly. We might have to work on his baby name choices!
Well, I’m off to get a snack for little man, bump and me and read what’s happening to baby and I now we have reached 18 weeks. Feeling so much better now we’re getting closer to 5 months.
Best wishes
Good luck to all other mums-to-be. Hope you and your baby are well and you’re enjoying the magical journey that is pregnancy! x
I haven’t blogged for so long! Too long, so here’s my new, post http://t.co/ZVT3r6czXz #pregnancy #miscarriage #rainbow
Hats off to you for not giving up despite the previous miscarriages. I can’t even begin to imagine the emotional and physical trauma… but kudos to you and well done on persevering! Good luck and God Bless….
Awww thank you! I love how they look at each other..So special and I’m very lucky xx
Thank you so much x Yes they were heartbreaking times and we did wonder what the future held for us. We’re very lucky to have our two boys x
Oh lovely, I know that you wrote this last year and that you now have your second baby boy in your arms. But I still want to give you a massive hug. I hate that you had to go through this. And all those questions and emotions you describe are so familiar. I am thrilled that you got your happy ending and thank you for being brave enough to write your story. Hugs Lucy xxxx
Mrs H recently posted…Nursery inspiration for small rooms