aches and pains at 11 weeks pregnant

Hi ladies, i have a couple of questions that i hope you'll be able to help with ;)

Firstly, i have just reached 11 weeks after 3 devastating miscarriages and as you all know, its such a worrying time. My last scan was at 9w4d and everything was fine (this was just with my gyno so no measurements could be taken etc but heartbeat was flickering away anb bubs gave me a little wave :)

I have had crampingon and off throughout but for the past few days i really ache in my uterus area...not quite cramps and it doesnt hurt but just aches!!? Of course, i have been worrying myself sick but do any of you know if this is normal? Also as i sit down the ache gets worse?? My 12 weeks scan is booked in for the 12th Feb and my local epu will not see me unless i have any bleeding :wall: Im just terrified that i will go for my scan and be told the devasting news that something has gone wrong (my 1st miscarriage was a missed miscarriage) :pray:

Secondly, more of a question for all you ladies in the UK.... have any of you used a heart doppler? If so which brand did you use and when did you first find a heartbeat? My midwife has advised against it but i really feel it would help put my mind at rest when i start to panic :redface:

Thanks for reading ladies :) Congratulations to all of you that are expecting and wishing you all a happy and healthy 9 months :D

Hi Don23,

Congratulations on your PG! I'm so sorry to hear of the heartbreak you've been through with the three m/c's. I had a friend who had really strong pains, cramps, discomfort throughout her first trimester and went on to be fine. I also found that I had all sorts of different symptoms - my missed m/c had no symptoms, but my recent PG (which was successful) had bleeding and spotting & all sorts of crazy stuff - but went on to be fine! So sometimes the symptoms aren't a very good indicator. But i also understand how nervous you must be... so I'm just sending you a big :hug: and lotsa good vibes.

Given you're feeling stressed, is there an option to go along and request an additional scan (even though you're not bleeding)? Don't put yourself through the stress if you can avoid it - why suffer when you don't have to! With my recent PG had very frequent u/s's in first tri to help set my mind at ease. Put it this way, I burst into tears in a Dr's waiting room to get one scan. It wasn't a planned strategy, but the scan that they hurriedly booked me in for made me feel much better!!!

I don't have any info re the dopplers, but I'm sure someone will be along to post who knows something about them!

All the best, and let us know how you're going!
:hug: Belfie

Congratulations on your PG! I'm so sorry to hear of your miscarriages. I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks and totally understand where you are coming from with regards to the stress you are feeling right now :hug:
With this pg I had kind of spotting which stressed me greatly but everything is going fine so far. Try and relax as much as you can. Stress is only going to make you feel worse. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think we can talk ourselves into the worst case scenario an even talk ourselves into pains etc cos we are so worried about it.
With regards to the Doppler. It would probably be more of a stress at this early stage. Even midwives and Drs have difficulty finding the HB with a Doppler cos bub is still very small. Down the track if you are still anxious it may be worthwhile, but I wouldn't do it now.
:hug:
Sending heaps of sticky vibes and calming vibes to you.

Hello Don23

Wandered across from TTC after M/L and here you are!!!

(Definitely no stalking vibes there I promise - it has taken me a while to migrate...:D )

I understand what you are saying about the twinges, discomforts and weird inexplicable stuff our body throws at us when we are pg - it is totally disconcerting and it is always hard to ignore the baggage that comes with m/cs.

I don't know if this is relevant at all but with both my pregnancies and a little more with this second one - I tend to get a lot of twinges and aches low down as the hormones kick in big time - especially in the first trimester as I have a trick hip and so I am inclined to a lot more sensation as a result of weaknesses in that area. I remember my friend with her second had a lot of issues with 'pain' in that area which was related to lower back issues as everything softened and stretched but the cramping manifested around the uterine area at the front.

I also tend to notice because I have a lousy digestive system to start with that the progesterone increase in the first tri really bogs everything down to the point of uncomfortable (not constipation which is obviously an easy one to work out) but it is more than just the general bloating you tend to expect and can come in a wave like a cramp and throw me. Hopefully that wasn't TMI - I have no complaints about the way my body works - just aware of its little foibles at this point in the game.

It is totally natural to be really concerned about 'symptoms' your pg is throwing at you without so much as an airline safety demonstration. I can understand your need for reassurance - at just 6 wks - I know I've got a long way to go through a minefield of anxiety yet. I am so excited that you are almost at the 12 wk mark though - that is wonderful!

I think the thing I am trying really hard to do at the moment is the same thing I do with my students at school - just as I try to see and respect every student as being their own person - needing and demonstrating their own ways - I am trying really hard to respect that this is a different pregnancy to my last one that ended in m/c and that if I can hang onto that idea somehow it will help not necessarily remove the fears but may I hope diminish them to a background issue rather than being constantly at the front of my mind. I can appreciate though that with the three m/cs you situation is very different and everyone approaches things in the ways that work for them.

I hope Don that you can find the peace you want to be able to enjoy this journey with your little one.

Karen van

PS Finally got brave enough to do a ticker...:rolleyes:

Good luck with your pregnancy !

I understand what you mean about the cramping. With my 3 pregnancies i had cramping in my uterus / pelvic area for the first 3 months or so.
My obstetrician said it was everything stretching and growing to make room etc.

Hope thats what it is for you and that it settles soon. I found it was very distracting - almost like a strong period pain for me.

Take care :)

Thank you all for your kind words and advice :)

Belfie and catherinemoses - It is great to see that you both had successful pregnancies after losses. It is very reassuring, congratulations :D I have decided that for now, i will not buy a doppler. Hopefully all will be well at my scan which is next thursday and i will be able to relax a little more. Catherinemoses,i completely understand what you mean about talking yourself into pains etc. I think i am a little bit guilty of this :redface: but i am trying hard to just imagine my little bean growing nicely inside rather than automatically think of the worst case scenario.

Karen Van - Yay on the ticker!! it is great to see :dance: Hope all is going well and that your pupils are behaving for you (i too am a teacher so i understand the stresses and strains that come with the job) I must admit that although i am still a nervous wreck, i am a little calmer now that i am past all the bad memories of the past e.g. miscarriage at 4 weeks, then again at 5 weeks, bleeding at 7 weeks etc etc. I have to remember that i am now past all those 'bad times' and iv reached 11 1/2 weeks without any 'scares' - thats got to be good news right? It is interesting what you say about the progesterone - i have been using progesterone supplimemts throughout my pregnancy so i guess the EXTRA hormones may contribute to the aches?

Chickybabe73 - thank you for help. It is reassuring to know that im not the only one that experieneces the cramps. Thankfully, ive been ok the past few days and im hoping it was just a growth spurt going on in there :lol:


Well, only 6 days until my scan :crossfingers: so i will pop back then to give you an update :pray::pray:

hi ladies, just to let you know that after deciding NOT to get a doppler, i saw an advert about renting one for ?9.99 a month - so i thought i would go for it! OMG it is amazing to hear bubs heartbeat!!! I feel like i want to shout it from the rooftops :lol::dance: I have recorded it on my phone so that i can play it over and over again :redface:

Hi Don

Love the ticker!!!!!!!

Can understand the doppler and the heartbeat addiction - you should see the sappy blog I've just written on BB about when I heard Little One's heartbeat for the first time on Friday at my early scan (I am a little ahead of where I thought I was - 7 weeks and 4 days now) - the film from the scan is on the table next to our bed.

It is good that you can see that you are through the worst of your past associations with m/c - that is a great place to be.

Can't wait to hear how your scan goes - enjoy!!! :dance:

Much love and laughter
Karen van