15th Week: Morning sickness

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When I was pregnant with Umar, morning sickness greeted me when I was around twelve weeks and didn’t leave until I was around 22 weeks. It was horrible. So, I've been dreading it this time.  Prior to the last few days I believed I was free from it, because the advice  is that if you don’t get morning sickness when you’re about twelve to thirteen weeks, then you most likely won’t suffer from it at all. But, No I've been condemned to feeling queasy, nauseas and carrying a bucket around with me!

Following up the physical issues that rose last week, I went to see my GP a few days ago. And as I had already guessed there wasn’t much that can be done, except for offering me stronger pain relief but I refused it as the medication can result in affecting the baby neurologically.

The little sprog is moving more and more. It feels like martial art training is taking place in my womb. If I was due before the 2012 Olympics then I would have expected a Taekwondo Gold medal for the little fighter.

That’s this week for you,

:-•:*"*:•.-:¦:-•* Ta-ra *•-:¦:-•:*'''*:•-:

14th Week: Announcement

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My 12th Week has become my 14th and I'm finding it a little strange. I know it’s only two weeks difference but I don’t like change when it comes to certain things, or it just might be me being strange!

From the two scans I have had in the last 7 days, I know that my bubble baby is growing fine and quick. I can already feel the baby move. But, the sprog is not alone in growing big, my bump is becoming massive! I'm already feeling really heavy and my hip feels like it’s going to break. I can’t find a comfortable position for sleeping. Tried all sorts!

I'm going to go see the GP to discuss these problems and see if there’s any solution. But, I doubt it.

I was waiting till I was twelve weeks to announce my pregnancy openly to all my friends and family. Only Umar, his dad and People involved in my medical care knew that I'm pregnant from when I first found out. Within the last few days I've told most people and as thrilled as everyone was, they where more upset about why I announced it now,  at 14 Weeks and not when I was 12 weeks.

Now, can you understand how frustrating it was to tell the reason behind that to each person that asked?

That’s it for so until next time,

:-•:*"*:•.-:¦:-•* Tara *•-:¦:-•:*'''*:•-:

12 or 14 Week Routine Scan

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My 12 Week Scan was due this morning and I was on my way to the hospital with swollen knees, Yippee! No, I was miserable, moody, cold, wet due to the rain, I felt like I hadn’t slept for days and I just wanted to be in my warm cosy bed. But, just the though of missing out on seeing my bubble baby dragged me all the way to the cold hospital bed where I saw my sprog! Little tiny legs, arms, even fingers.

We got out pictures and was about to leave the room when

The Sonographer announced “your due date is 14th of October”,

“but I was told in my dating scan that it is the 23rd of October” I said

She explained “sometimes early dating scans miscalculate but there’s nothing to worry about”

I was upset because for some reason I felt like I missed a week of pregnancy!

Before the scan I had a 12 week & 6 Days bump and after the scan my bump became 14 Weeks & 1 Day.

That’s all for now ,

:-•:*"*:•.-:¦:-•* Ta-ra *•-:¦:-•:*'''*:•-:

An Unexpected visit to The A&E

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I felt like my stomach was being clamped down, the sudden pain was so excruciating and all of this just in the matter of leaving the Perinatal psychiatrist’s office and exiting the Outpatients Building. My sight became blurry and I was finding it hard to breath, so before I knew it I was in the A&E. I quickly got assessed and sent to the Early Pregnancy Unit.

I waited over 20 minutes to see a maternity nurse for a consultation. It was a long, painful wait but there were about five people waiting to be seen before me. At the consultation, the nurse checked my blood pressure, urine, took some blood samples and explained that the pains could be sign of a miscarriage, so I should have an Ultrasound scan to check for any abnormalities. By the time I came out of the consultation room the pain disappeared. I was relieved but still worried so decided I need to have the scan to be on the safe side.

It was one pm and I had already waited for an hour to have the scan but then I was told that the unit is now closed for lunch and I should come back at two-thirty pm. When I asked the woman Why I wasn’t informed about this when I came in, I was explained “we normally close at this time but because it’s a Friday where going to see you as were not open on the weekends, if it was a weekday you’d have to come back the next day” I felt like killing someone!

I arranged for Umar and his father to meet me. And when they did we had some lunch. KEBAB, yummy (highlight of my day so far). Then we returned to the unit in due time and thank God I was seen immediately. The scan was perfectly fine, the usual procedure, cold gel, tummy being pushed down but it was amazing especially because my unborn child and my born child (that sounds a bit weird) were there in front of my eyes for me to see them together! Umar lost interest in the little screen after a minute or so and became very curious about the bed levers.  I was very happy, so happy that It felt like the hours prior to that moment didn’t exist.

And that was it; I was on my way home all safe and sound.

:-•:*"*:•.-:¦:-•* Ta-ra *•-:¦:-•:*'''*:•-:

First appointment with the Perinatal Psychiatrist

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I was on my way to the hospital, for my first appointment with the Perinatal psychiatrist. I was all giddy and nervous at the same time. Giddy about waking up early (7am) as that’s not my usual norm and nervous about how the appointment was going to go.

The Appointment was an assessment to work out a care plan. Which I guess is the routine of most initial appointments.  The psychiatrist explained her role and what she intends to do. By the end of the appointment I was told she was going to take over my care and she’ll be in contact soon.

I found the appointment to be like most of my initial routine medical appointments. I discussed my history, my current issues, what action I would like to be taken etc. I found all of it quite very difficult but more frustrating. I haven’t had any kind of therapy recently, last time was about a year go so having to open again was very difficult especially when it’s about issues that I haven’t come to terms with. And frustrating because I'm tired of having to repeat everything over and over again to people who all work for NHS, I would have thought by now they would be able to share notes. At least between my GP and themselves.

I do understand that in certain circumstances there are confidentiality issues and that they may just be asking to get me to talk about it etc. But, that is not the case here, they have a lot of my information (including sensitive issues) but then they don’t have other critical information which is crucial to them. When I confronted the psychiatrist about this she actually admitted “it’s a lack of communication”.

Anyway that was the appointment, so until next time,

:-•:*"*:•.-:¦:-•* Ta-ra *•-:¦:-•:*'''*:•-:

What is a Perinatal Psychiatrist?

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I recently received a letter through the post, informing me that I have an appointment with a Perinatal Psychiatrist. “Now, I know what a Psychiatrist is but what on god’s earth is a PERINATAL PSYCHIATRIST?” was my reaction. It was obvious that the term “Perinatal” was about Pregnancy, but I just couldn’t understand what the role of a Perinatal psychiatrist could be.

So, it didn’t take me long to jump on the Google band wagon and start investigating like I was solving a Murder Case! And, Voila! I got a big fat Nought in the beginning like you do with most crime investigations! I searched the term “Perinatal Psychiatrist” and didn’t get anything for that but instead I found a whole load on “Perinatal Psychiatry”.

“Specialist Perinatal services have been established to serve the needs of women who are or requiring management during pregnancy or in the postpartum period (usually up to one year post delivery). Perinatal teams may also offer advice on management of mental illness prior to conception.”

Source: Royal College of Psychiatry

From the numerous articles I have read, I've understood that a Perinatal psychiatrist specialises in working with women whose pregnancy or post-natal period is complicated by mental health issue. They care for the mother and baby’s mental health, during pregnancy and after childbirth.

They work with women that already have mental health issues, women that have problems for the first time in pregnancy and women that suffer post-natal depression or are in the risk of relapse due to a pre-existing or past condition. They may also work with women to help the management of mental illness prior to conception.

Now, what’s the great difference between a psychiatrist and a Perinatal psychiatrist? Well, simple put they specialise in the mental illnesses that can affect the mother and the baby, such as Postpartum Depression and Puerperal Psychosis etc.

Here are some links if you’re interested in reading up on it yourself:

• RCPSYCH Perinatal Psychiatry 
• BMJ Perinatal Psychiatry

 So, that’s all for now.

:-•:*"*:•.-:¦:-•* Ta-ra *•-:¦:-•:*'''*:•-:

Introduction to My Second Pregnancy

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8 Weeks ago, I took this test and Voila, I'm pregnant for the second time. I'm already a mother to a three year old "Wild Child", but I still feel like this is my first pregnancy! Weird, what do you think? Weird or Not, it is a little mind-boggling, feeling all these emotions like it's the first time but knowing that it's not.

First Pregnancy with Umar (wild child), was straight forward but still quite traumatic due to Physical pain, Unstable circumstances, Psychological issues etc. And, the first pregnancy triggered of some health issues that I'm stuck with now. Joint Hypermobilty Syndrome & P.T.S.D (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) are the major health issues I have. So, since I've found out I'm pregnant again, I've been worried about how pregnancy will effect my health or how my health will effect my pregnancy. That fear set me on a pursuit to find all the required information regarding my health issues & pregnancy or pregnancy alone. The results were great in terms of "general pregnancy", but as for Pregnancy information relating to my health conditions I was a quite disappointed! Don't get me wrong, there is some information out there but not everything I needed. Also, all the information I found was scattered over a number of sites, which for me was quite confusing and that was when I decided I'm going share my pregnancy journey (as well as the pursuit of motherhood) all in this one place, just so it might be of help to someone out there!

Since the Pregnancy test, I've had a “Booking-in Appointment” and a “Dating Scan”.

The Booking-in Appointment, started off by filling in the first few pages of the “Pregnancy Notes” booklet. Then we discussed my medical history and current conditions. As well as the necessary steps that needs to be taken. Last but not least, she informed about the dos and don’ts: food; alcohol; smoking; exercise and told me about the referrals she was going to make. Finally, A urine test was done and I was giving a few bit and bobs including the First Bounty pack, Emma’s diary etc.

I found the appointment very informing and the midwife was very warming. She answered all my questions in detail, explained everything properly, rather then just touching topics that needed to get ticked of the list in the “Pregnancy Notes” booklet. She referred me to see an Anaesthetist, Obstetrician & Severe Pain consultant for the Joint Hypermobilty. She also referred me to the Case-load Midwife Team and Perinatal Psychiatrist for the P.T.S.D. I found out about the referral to Case-load Midwife Team while I was looking through the Pregnancy Notes, after I came home from the appointment. And I don’t know exactly what their role is other than being a normal midwife. So, if you do please enlighten me.

On the 28th February I had the Dating Scan, it was exciting being able to see the baby sooner rather then at twelve weeks. But, I was a little nervous because the GP informed me that it was going to be done “INTERNALLY” oppose to the “Over the Tummy” Scan that I was already familiar with. However, once I was called in to the Scanning room I didn’t even take notice of what the Sonographer was doing, as I was too occupied at staring at the screen eagerly (I was even trying not to blink) just to see my little Sprog! And before I knew it, my little bubble of a baby with a few pixels of a heart was there! I was told the Gestation was six weeks exactly.

That’s the story so far, so now I'm officially a “Blogger Mum” with an 11 Weeks & 6 Days Bump! 

:-•:*"*:•.-:¦:-•* Ta-ra *•-:¦:-•:*'''*:•-:

To Begin...

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I have finally decided to embark on my own blog. My very own space, dedicated to the joys and passions of my life. Which vary from Motherhood, Shopping, Food & Travel to Politics & Worldly Affairs, so please bare with me as I might be jumping all over the place.

I hope you enjoy my offerings and in return leave me with your thoughts and comments.

:-•:*"*:•.-:¦:-•* Ta-ra *•-:¦:-•:*'''*:•-: