I’ve been keeping a secret for a while now.  Let me catch you up….

Positive test

Friday, 24 November 2017:  I took a paper test (Ultra Early – 10mIU Pregnancy strip test) and got a positive result before I even missed a period (10DPO).  I repeated the test when my husband came home from work.  Then, did another test the next morning with first morning wee to be certain and ordered a Clear Blue Digital test from Amazon.

Monday, 27 November 2017:  The Clear Blue test arrived and spelled out the result “Pregnant”.  The test predicted I was 2-3 weeks (4-5 weeks pregnant) which was further along than I expected but this happened with my last pregnancy – I must have higher HcG than most women.

Above screenshot from Clear Blue website on interpreting the results of their test.

Based on the first day of my last period being 1 November 2018, I calculated I was 3 weeks pregnant (not 4 to 5 weeks like Clear Blue Digital) and that the baby would be due on 8 August 2018.

We headed off on a family holiday at Centre Parc.  It was lovely to have that time to ourselves as a family and celebrate our news.

Saturday, 2 December 2017:  We returned to holiday and I did two more tests.  To see if the line showed darker on the paper test and to see if the weeks progressed on the digital.

First midwife appointment (Booking In)

5 January 2018:  My midwife wasn’t in so I saw a different midwife that was covering.  She went through the questionnaire with me about my family and history (lots of personal information) and ran some tests, took a urine sample and some blood samples.  She agreed with my LMP Due Date of 8 August 2018.

First Scan (Dating Scan) – 13 weeks, 4 days

29 January 2018:  So this was supposed to be my 12 week scan but the Sonographer measured the baby and estimated that I should was  further along than I predicted!  My due date was changed to 4 August 2018 and they booked a date for my mid-trimester scan.

Meet the Midwife (Antenatal Check)

9 February 2018:  Finally, got to meet my midwife and she’s lovely.  She updated my paperwork with results of my blood tests and discussed my scan.

Mid-trimester Scan – 21 weeks

Saturday, 24 March 2018:  This scan was brought forward to 21 weeks as I had a few problems recently with bleeding.  It’s been pretty scary.

I heard the baby’s heartbeat on Thursday and again on Saturday – good strong healthy heart beat. The scan shows everything is as it should be and the placenta is not over my cervix.  I had a cervical exam which finally identified what was causing the bleeding.

I have an ectopia on my cervix (cervical ectropion).  Unfortunately, this can’t be treated whilst pregnant so I am going to have to put up with some bleeding.  The tricky thing will be deciding if I need to be checked out in future i.e. is the bleed accompanied with pain, or is their a lot of blood. I’ve come up with a plan with my midwife to help with this.

I feel better knowing that both the baby and myself are healthy. It is still scary to see blood though.

I’m pleased to say, over the Easter holidays I haven’t had anymore bleeding so hopefully that worry is over. *finger crossed*

Gender Reveal

We did find out the sex and I am having a Gender Reveal party today with close friends and family to celebrate with us. I think it will be fun for Noah to discover if he is getting a brother or a sister with everyone around him.  I’m so excited and can’t wait to spill the beans.   Feel free to take a guess at the sex if you like…