Hello Daddy!

For several weeks now I've been feeling bits of movement from Fizz, but nothing regular or substantial. But then the other day (s)he decided to say hello! I'd been feeling more movements during the evening, then in bed Dave had his arm across me and suddenly asked "Is Fizz moving?" And yes, there was definite movements, and Dave could feel some too! Since then, the little one hasn't stopped much, and I've now often got a churning feeling. At least it's churning without nausea now!

All OK!

Been back at the hospital for the "routine" scan this morning. After being in the scan room for one hour, we were finally given the all clear from consultant care. It didn't take an hour because of anything showing on the scan, more that things weren't showing on the scan because Fizz was laid on it's back and not co-operating with us! But after much prodding and jiggling, it finally turned and things became clearer. And all's OK. There's still a small amount of cystic area at the back of the head, but it's all within normal range for the gestation.

So that's it, back to midwife-led care and a "normal" pregnancy. There's still a risk of Down's Syndrome or other chromosomal abnormality, but that's the case with any pregnancy, so as far as I'm concerned, we don't need to think about it too much.

It's all such a relief, and we have such a lot to be thankful for.

Movements

I can now feel Fizz moving around, which is great. I've been thinking I have for a few weeks, but with the scan scare either wasn't sure or didn't want to believe it. But it's definite now - bubbling and flutterings, especially when I've been sat for a while on an evening.

Yeah!

Today we went for the 16 week scan. I've been thinking and worrying about it, and didn't sleep very well last night, but kept myself busy today, so I didn't have time to think too much.

But the results were as good as we could have possibly hoped for. The consultant could find no evidence of any structural problem and the cystic area has all but gone! We're back again for another scan (the routine one) in a couple of weeks, and if that's all OK, then we can be discharged from consultant care back to community midwife care!! Of course, there's always a risk that a chromosomal abnormality (but no structural problems) is still present and we won't know that until the baby's born, but that's the case with any pregnancy.

It's such a relief and I can now start to feel excited about it all. Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers - keep going!

50:50

Today we went for Fizz's first scan. Before we went, the main "concern" was whether it's twins (both Dave and I had had dreams involving twins), but that all now pales into significance when we're thinking about survival.

It all started well - one little baby with a little heat beating away. But then the radiographer detected a problem - an cystic area at the back of the head, outside the skull. Discussions with a consultant followed, in which we were given to horrible news that Fizz has only a 50:50 chance of survival. Basically, this area of "nucal traslucency" could be an indication of a chromosomal abnormaility such as Downs Sydrome or a structural abnormality of the heart, and at the moment all we can do is wait. We've been told I could miscarry at any time, or that the little heart could stop beating without us knowing. We can only hope and pray.

We're booked for another scan at 16weeks, when they may be able to detect if there are any heart defects (but they may not show themselves until the 20weeks scan), but until then we just have to take things one day at a time.

It's tough-going

It's hard work, this pregnancy malarky. I'm sure it's harder than last time. I'm tireder, more nauseous (although haven't been sick yet, thank goodness) and I'm having horrible dreams. According to the midwife (I had my first appointment with her 10 days ago), it's normal to feel more tired and nauseous with a second pregnancy, and horrible vivid dreams are quite normal in prgenancy as well. Sadly, so are the increase in migraines I've been having.

The vivid dreams are weird - ranging from abseiling from a pully fixed to a building with a piece of MDF, through diving to rescue a body from the bottom of a pool that turned out not to be a body at all, to finding my Dad had cut Imogen's hair, badly, with some clippers. Mainly they don't actually wake me up, but I don't feel like I've slept very well the following morning. Only one has been in any way related to pregnancy - I was in a bathroom somewhere and took a glass shelf off the wall before giving birth to a baby onto the shelf (It was a baby boy, Tom, weighing 1lb7oz - perfectly healthy and we didn't need to go to hospital!)

Last week it all got a bit too mcuh. I was feeling so useless - not feeling like I could give Imogen the attention she needs, and not getting stuff done round the house either. So, after bursting into tears on the phone to my Mum, I'm now taking a break. Imogen, Buster and I are staying with M&D for a few days, and it's great. Imogen's getting lots of lovely attention, and I can do nothing if I feel like it! Shame I'm going to have tot go back to Sheffield to try and sort the house out for moving.

A 4 year old's point of view!

"Aunty Charlotte, are you really really having another baby?"

"Yes, Charlie. Really, really"

"Have you been kissing the boys then?"

Cue much laughing around the dining table!

"Yes, I've been kissing Uncle Dave"

"Oh. Because boys have babies in their tummies, and they fly through your mouths when you kiss"

So now you know!!!