My belly popped out a couple of weeks ago.
I finally look pregnant rather than just a bit fat, although
the wobbly tummy was still present from having Arlo so I think I’m just glad
there is something more firm replacing it for the time being.
On the day I posted my last blog things took a horrible
turn.
Johnny and I were about to go out for dinner together for
the first time in ages.
His mum had come round to babysit but just as we were about
to leave the house I started bleeding.
So instead of going out for dinner we ended up spending our
Saturday night in A&E.
It was horrible. The doctor told me there was nothing they
could do if I was having a miscarriage and that my only option was to go home
and wait to see what happened.
We were given the number for the Early Pregnancy Unit which
we phoned the next day after a pretty sleepless night and were told the
earliest they could get me in for a scan was Wednesday.
The bleeding was light and intermittent but this didn’t stop
all manner of thoughts from running through my head.
Poor Johnny was as worried as I was but was also brilliant
throughout, despite having to deal with me sobbing in his arms on more than one
occasion.
On the Monday evening he managed to book an appointment at a private
clinic and we handed over £60 for a scan that was going to tell us what was
going on.
I don’t think I have ever seen him so relieved when we saw
the baby wriggling around and a strong heartbeat.
It turns out the bleeding was caused by a blood clot but I
can honestly say that was one of the worst 48-hour periods of our lives.
We both work on a Monday which was no bad thing as we had
wanted to take our minds off what was going on.
The following day I was stood outside a house in Saltdean
waiting for the father of a man who had been killed in Syria
At my 16-week appointment I got to hear the baby’s heartbeat
for the first time which was lovely.
I’ve also had an appointment with the obstetrician at the
Royal Sussex about my care plan because of what happened to me last time.
I am now taking baby aspirin every day to reduce the risk of
pre-eclampsia. I also have to have another scan at 32 weeks to monitor the
baby’s growth, see the obstetrician at the hospital once a month, have extra
midwife appointments and my blood pressure is being monitored every week.
Looks like I am going to be in and out of the hospital and
the children’s centre a lot but it’s good to know they are monitoring me so
closely as I don’t want a repeat of Arlo’s birth.
At least I know what to look out for this time which will
give me a head start if I think anything is wrong.
My legs and feet were so swollen from seven months of
pregnancy that I couldn’t wear any of my shoes and even though I was showing no
other symptoms of pre-eclampsia that early, in hindsight I think this was
probably the start of it.
Tomorrow is our 20-week scan and I’m looking forward to
seeing the baby again.
Johnny wants to find out the sex but I am still undecided as
to whether I want to know.
I really hope curiosity doesn’t get the better of me but I’m
not so sure it won’t.
