Kirsty P

OK so we have been TTC since we miscarried over a year ago. For some reason I just felt like December was going to be our month (loony, I know, but hey ho). Anyway, my period was due on Saturday just gone but I started light pink spotting on the Friday. More spotting (very minimal) Saturday and same again Sunday. Sunday night my period started and seemed heavy. Got up Monday, felt crappy, took day off work and the bleeding slowed right down. Minimal bleed Tuesday and stopped by Wednesday. This is really unusual for me as I tend to bleed heavily for several days before it gradually slows down to a stop. For a few days before period and increasingly now I have been feeling dizzy on and off, a bit nauseous and my boobs are larger than normal, not sore just a bit bigger and sort of tingly (only a bit) - husband has been gleefully pointing this out to me . I have been really tired after work and falling asleep on the sofa every afternoon, much to the consternation of my lively four year old and I still have mild period like cramps. Had a tiny bit of spotting today which I wouldn't have noticed had I not been looking. So I'm a bit lost. I did a cheapy i/net test last night and it came back with BFN but it wasn't first thing urine and it was late in the day. Also, I did a 'due date calculator' thing it calculated 4 weeks. Do you think there might be a chance I'm pregnant or am I just creating symptoms? Anyone ever had this before? Your stories/advice greatly appreciated. Thanks xx

I know I need to wait for the first missed day of AF to do a pregnancy test, but as I can't think of anything else I thought I would ask what your experiences were and what you think. I have 35 day cycle and bd'd around the time I believe I was ovulating. AF is due on 23rd and on Friday just gone there was some very slightly pinkish discharge when I wiped (sorry for the TMI). It was enough to make me look twice but not enough to worry me and it looked nothing like AF Across Friday and Saturday I had PMS style cramps (although it's too early for AF) and lower back pain. Today all of that has stopped and I am just wondering if this might have been implantation? I don't recall having this with my first child, but then I wasn't really looking for the signs at that time either. Does this sound like implantation to anyone who has experienced this before?

I took a pregnancy test several weeks ago and it confirmed I was pregnant. According to the dates from the midwife the baby would be due mid April, making me approx. 10 weeks pregnant. I started to bleed on Monday and went to A&E as I was having cramps and the bleeding was more than just spotting. They completed a blood and urine test and looked at my cervix but could not confirm a miscarriage. I had a scan on Tuesday and was told that there is a sac but no foetus. The sonographer said that there is no evidence of bleeding around the sac so perhaps the pregnancy is earlier than thought and the foetus has yet to form. The doctor confirmed this possibility but also said I may have already lost the baby and could now be waiting to lose the sac. I have been re-booked for a further scan on Tuesday of next week to see if anything has changed. I am still bleeding and have some cramps. I am trying so hard to be hopeful, but I am completely confused. This is the worst waiting game. Has anyone ever had this or something similar? Could you share your stories with me - good or bad? With love and thanks to all.

Sorry to trouble you all, but I wonder if anyone else has had this. I am over a week late for my period but my stomach has swollen into a bump shape. Pregnancy test is negative (tested first thing in the morning with a decent test). I keep getting period like cramps that come and go in waves, but they are concentrated all on one side (the left) and seem to really make my hip ache deep inside. Sometimes I am struggling to go to the toilet (both no 1 and 2 - sorry TMI) and feel like there is a pressure there. None of this is making any sense to me. Has anyone had this? Any idea what it might be? I don't want to disturb the doctor unnecessarily. I do have PCOS but post-baby (who is now over 2 years old) my periods have been very regular so I'm not sure what's going on. I don't feel pregnant so it can't be that. Any thoughts?

My son will turn 1 tomorrow and I still have not had a single period since I gave birth to him 12 months ago. He would not latch for breast feeding, but I did manage to express milk for 6 months (this ended early June), so I am sure my lack of periods are not lactation related. I had issues with irregular periods, PCOS and ttc pre-pregnancy and am getting increasingly worried now. I will approach my GP in the new year. Has anyone else had this? Should I be worried? (I know it's not a good time for unprotected sex etc. just in case) but am more worried about my fertility as I am only 30. Thanks.

I am looking to hold a naming ceremony for my baby son and we are looking at the non-religious context as we want our child to have the freedom to select his own religion or not if he does not wish to. However, all the venues that I have contacted are asking if I want to appoint a registrar, and if so are asking me to contact the local Council. I just assumed that you had to appoint a registrar - is this not the case? And if not, what is required? Any experience of your naming ceremonies (UK) would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

My baby is 6.5 months old and so far I have only given him purees to eat for his meals througout the weaning stage. He is still having plenty of milk as well. However he shows a real interest in my food and tries to grab stuff to put in his mouth. Being my first baby I am very overprotective and worry about everything, but especially choking. When did you start giving your little one(s) finger foods? What did you give them? Did it work? Has it ever gone wrong? In your opinion what is the right thing to do? Any advice from experienced parents greatly appreciated. x

My little boy was born on 29th December so is now coming up for 16 weeks old this week, but I haven't had a period yet. I did bleed for about 5 weeks after giving birth but have had nothing since then. Unfortunately Joey wouldn't breast feed, but I am expressing breast milk every 3-4 hours and feeding it to him via the bottle. Any ideas on what a 'normal' delay time is for getting your first period after giving birth?

Hi ladies, just wondering how many days passed your due date you went before giving birth to your little one(s)/going into labour. This is my first baby and he was due on 22nd Dec, but I am still waiting ...! An induction is booked for the 3rd Jan just in case, but I remain hopeful (although would rather he didn't come in the middle Christmas dinner, but you never can tell). Merry Christmas to all x

Does anyone know why you are advised to wash the clothes of a newborn baby? And if it is true that you should never use softener? I am in limbo as to whether to wash them or not as they are all brand new and from packages. Many thanks.

I am 39+1 and my midwife has offered me a sweep on Monday (when I will be two days off of 40 weeks exactly - she only does midwife appointments on a Monday). I have not yet decided whether or not I am going to accept this as I am concerned about being in hospital over the Christmas period (although I know there are no guarantees either way - lol). This is my first baby. The head is 3/5ths down and at my last appointment he was positioned so that his back was to the left of me and his limbs were towards the right. He had been back to back previously but it seems he is beginning to turn. What were your experiences with the membrane sweep? Did it work for you? I know there are no guarantees, I just want to hear about some other peoples experiences of this. Many thanks and Merry Christmas x

How would you best describe the sensation of a contraction? How did you know when you had gone into labour if your waters breaking did not happen first?

I am 38+1 with my first baby so please excuse my ignorance here! Well meaning family and friends have made me a little paranoid that I will have my baby before his due date so I am permanently on the look-out for signs. Yesterday, I just felt really off colour like I was coming down with something. I slept for a lot of the day, was quite lethargic and just didn't feel quite right. Today I feel a little better, although still not quite 'with it' but I feel quite cold and I have that on-off dull ache in my lower abdomen and back that I usually get just before my period starts. I have been to the toilet today so am ruling out constipation (sorry if that is tmi) and I have just changed into looser trousers in case the cramps were because they were a little snug to see if it makes a difference. The head is fully engaged. Did anyone else feel like this before labour started or do you think I am reading too much into everything? Any thoughts/experiences greatly appreciated x

I just wondered what your 'symptoms' were. Did you feel more tired than normal? Energetic? Did it start with cramps? Or the nesting instinct? I just wonder how you felt a day or even a few hours before labour started.

This will include TMI - so if you will be offended please do not read. For the last day or two, but particularly today I have been getting sort of stabbing pains in my private area. They do not last for long but are quite intense. I am 37+4 pregnant and have had some complications mid pregnancy (bleeding and cramping). I have also had last night and today some on and off period type pains in my lower abdomen. Are these signs of labour or infection? I am seeing the mid wife tomorrow, but would just like to know if anyone else has experienced this. Many thanks. x

This morning I have been getting period like cramps in my lower left abdomen. Has anyone else had this? Is it normal? Should I be worried? All advice/info gratefully received. Many thanks x

I was just wondering if anyone had tried homeopathy to assist in labour, and if so what you found was good and bad about it?

I am 29 weeks pregnant today and despite having had a healthy pregnancy so far I have had a few problems the past couple of days. I went into hospital on Monday because I had some really bad cramping overnight on the Sunday and some spotting on the Monday morning. All seemed well with the baby but they administered the steroid injections to mature his lungs just in case he was going to be an early baby. I went back yesteday for the second steroid jab. However, since then I have not felt him move. Only once last night at about 7pm ish and then possibly a little movement this morning but it could have just been me so I'm not sure. I am going back into hospital shortly to be monitored but I am really scared. Could it just be that he is tired? Do babies have off days like this? This is my first pregnancy that has lived beyond a few weeks and I am so frightened of losing him. I was off work sick last week with a really bad cold that knocked me sideways and I wonder if this has had a part to play? Also, the Dr who did a swab on the Monday said there may be a slight vaginal infection, possibly thrush or something but we won't know for a few days. Has anyone else had similar or heard of anything like this? I am worrying over nothing? Any thoughts greatly appreciated. x

I am due for my first baby in December, and although I am fine in knowing what key large items to buy e.g. cot, moses basket, car seat etc. I can't seem to find a list that details the smaller things that will need e.g. X number of vests; nappies, cotton wool etc. I don't want to leave anything out, and my general plan is to just buy little bits like this with my food shop each time and store it up to save the later cost. Does anyone know a good website that would provide this or can anyone tell me that they found really crucial in those first few weeks and beyond? I would be very grateful. Many thanks. Kirsty x

I am trying to get a nursery in order for the arrival of my first ever little one in December of this year but I am quite a novice! The cost of the slim-line chest of drawers in Mothercare was £200, and I can't quite stretch to that. Any ideas of reasonable shops for this kind of thing in the UK? Thanks to all who answer x