Getting through the early weeks with no symptoms for reassurance

[Galatea]

I am lucky in that with each of my three pregnancies, I never really had any first trimester symptoms. I am pg for a fourth time and again, no symptoms. The downside of that is that it makes me worry. I have no clue if I am still pregnant and I obsess over having possible had a missed miscarriage and not knowing it. I really need a way to get through the next two months without spending the entire time wondering if my baby is okay. Any ideas? (I am 5w4d.)

[MaerynPearl]

you dont have the major symptoms... but do you have any of the symptoms that tend to get tossed aside?

before my morning sickness hit... I had to focus on my major pregnancy brain to calm me down and remind me that I really am pregnant. Or the tender breasts that just wont go away...

[Galatea]

Nope. No symptoms. Don't even feel stupid.

[Lauren31]

I know how you feel. I was very afraid that I had a missed miscarriage bc I had no pregnancy symptoms. The only one I had was slight belly bloat and a missed period. Just remember that your body deals well with the new pregnancy hormones, hence why you are not sick, and you are eating healthy so your growing baby is much better off then if you were sick and only eating crackers. Also, missed miscarriages are very very uncommon. Not to say they don't happen but they are not common. If, God forbid, anything happens with the baby your body will tell usually tell you through bleeding, etc. that the rest of the 1st trimester flies by!!

[RedOakMomma]

Originally Posted by Galatea

Nope. No symptoms. Don't even feel stupid.

How about charting your temps? If you started now you'd have a very good idea after just a few days what your pregnancy temperature is. I still temp every morning and give a whispered little "thank you!" to the universe every time my temp is high.

[umsami]

I never have m/s either. About the only thing I noticed was that my bra seemed slightly tighter. I finally ended up buying a doppler...and heard the heartbeat. Helped a lot.

[Galatea]

I used to chart, but my thought is this: if I had a missed miscarriage and the placenta was still making enough hormones to prevent the baby from being expelled, then wouldn't my temp still be high, too? My fear is specific to the missed miscarriage, not just miscarriage (though of course that is bad, too.)

[Gray's Mommy]

Been pregnant 4 times...the only symptoms I had were sore breasts & tiredness & that was only occasionally (not every day). Some people can handle higher hormone levels than others.
If you feel very concerned, talk to your care provider & see if they can do a blood test or test your hcg levels to make sure they are rising as they should.

[etsdtm99]

really, there isn't much you can do but have faith that everything is ok.. i have tons of symptoms.. i have been really feeling sick the past week (way worse than my last pregnancy, more like my 1st).. but i've had a miscarriage .. baby stopped growing very early (between 5 and 6 weeks) and i didn't have any signs until a little over 10 weeks when i started spotting.. i had less symptoms that pregnancy, but i still had the hormones, so i still had some symptoms and i still had that little belly bloat, still had some morning sickness, was still in maternity clothes by 6 weeks.. statistically, it is unlikely to happen again, but it wasn't that likely to happen in the first place..

the only thing that made me feel better during the early part of my next pregnancy was an early u/s .. i had 2 actually, so that showed the baby growing, and a heartbeat on the 2nd one.. (6 wks 2/4 days) then i bought a doppler at 11/12 weeks.. and that got me through until i could feel him move..(which ended up being around that time ..)

this time, i am trying to have faith in my body and this baby, and if that doesn't work, i am trying to remember that worrying and not having faith does not change the outcome, so i mgith as well try to enjoy the pregnancy while i can.. that being said - i have a doppler so my waiting is not going to last too much longer.. i am going to start trying it in a few days, even though its super early (7 wks 2 days) .. some people can pick up a HB that early and i could be one of them.. or my dates could be a little off, and ic ould be a few days further along.. it could work..

so.. you can either sit tight or call your doctor/midwife and have some bloodwork or an u/s done.. whatever you are comfortable with ..

[1babysmom]

Just wanted to offer hugs. I lost a couple babies before I ever had a successful pregnancy and my m/c's were pretty symptomless, so even though I've been considered "lucky" to continue to have pretty symptomless pregnancies each time (at least, early on), it's still really hard for me to deal with...because I agree, symptoms would be reassuring.

[RedOakMomma]

Originally Posted by Galatea

I used to chart, but my thought is this: if I had a missed miscarriage and the placenta was still making enough hormones to prevent the baby from being expelled, then wouldn't my temp still be high, too? My fear is specific to the missed miscarriage, not just miscarriage (though of course that is bad, too.)

I don't think the placenta starts driving things until almost the second trimester, and by then you could use doppler or feel the beginnings of movement.

I would guess, though I don't know, that temping would be helpful. Do you have a midwife or OB that could answer some of these questions for you?

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by RedOakMomma

I don't think the placenta starts driving things until almost the second trimester, and by then you could use doppler or feel the beginnings of movement.

I would guess, though I don't know, that temping would be helpful. Do you have a midwife or OB that could answer some of these questions for you?

In the past, I had 1 drop of blood and could ask for an U/S. But I hate the manipulation. I just want to say, "Hey, I'm going to be a wreck unless you just give me a short little U/S and then I'll leave you alone.

[Thalia]

Originally Posted by Galatea

I used to chart, but my thought is this: if I had a missed miscarriage and the placenta was still making enough hormones to prevent the baby from being expelled, then wouldn't my temp still be high, too? My fear is specific to the missed miscarriage, not just miscarriage (though of course that is bad, too.)

Early on, it's the corpus luteum that is making the hormones. The placenta doesn't take over until later. I've had two miscarriages right at 8.5 weeks, and I think they both happened when the placenta was supposed to take over from the corpus luteum, but there wasn't a viable pregnancy. One was a blighted ovum, and with the other it appears the baby stopped developing at 6 weeks.

I don't know what advice to give you. I had symptoms with both my miscarriages, so having symptoms doesn't guarantee you any peace, trust me.

It is just the worst time, having to wait. I'll be 8 weeks on Monday, and I am just a mess, wondering what's going to happen next week.

[aikigypsy]

I had a miscarriage in October -- had gotten pregnant in early August, had very mild symptoms from about when I found out until just before my first appointment at 8-9 weeks. At that point, everything looked fine to the midwife, but the 11 week ultrasound showed that the baby had stopped developing at 6 weeks (or later, and had shrunk from there).

Anyway, I'm pregnant again and am having similar worries. I have only the very mildest nausea, though reassuringly (?) I feel completely scatter-brained and air-headed. I haven't told anyone about this pregnancy, only DH. I've made a couple of posts on here, but haven't even joined the due date club. I have four weeks (3 weeks, 6 days!) to go until my first midwife appointment, and I think I'm going to demand an early ultrasound when I get there!!

On the one hand, some stronger symptoms would be reassuring. On the other hand, I don't want to feel debilitated by this pregnancy -- I have too much to do!

[RedOakMomma]

Galatea, is there any uncertainty (even a day or two) on when this baby was conceived? Then you could ask for a dating ultrasound legitimately (sort of ). I don't think that would be stretching the truth much at all.

If you're really worried, I'd go in for a brief dating ultrasound.

[BabyWang2010]

I know exactly how u feel! This is my first pregnancy so of course I was terrified of a miscarriage during the first 12 weeks. Add to that I had no reassuring symptoms to let me know my little one is still alive and well. I did get an early ultra sound at 7 weeks which I thought most ob's do at ur 1st or 2nd prenatal visit. Is ur OB not doing that? The early US gave me a lot of reassurance. However, I did start spotting earlier this week so I went for an emergency US and OB visit, turns out I've developed a blod clot but it doesn't effect my baby who is healthy as a horse with a heartbeat of 154 bpm.

btw: I am now 15 weeks pregnant! One symptom u should notice at 10 weeks is more visible blood veins on ur belly and chest.

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by BabyWang2010

I know exactly how u feel! This is my first pregnancy so of course I was terrified of a miscarriage during the first 12 weeks. Add to that I had no reassuring symptoms to let me know my little one is still alive and well. I did get an early ultra sound at 7 weeks which I thought most ob's do at ur 1st or 2nd prenatal visit. Is ur OB not doing that? The early US gave me a lot of reassurance. However, I did start spotting earlier this week so I went for an emergency US and OB visit, turns out I've developed a blod clot but it doesn't effect my baby who is healthy as a horse with a heartbeat of 154 bpm.

btw: I am now 15 weeks pregnant! One symptom u should notice at 10 weeks is more visible blood veins on ur belly and chest.

B/c I'm having a homebirth with a midwife.

Congratulations to you!

[momtoalex]

I did not have any 1st trimester symptoms with my first healthy pregnancy and am not having any this time (5w1d). I am consciously trying to stay positive. In terms of "tangible" reassurance, I continue to take temps every morning and POAs every so often. My midwife suggested an early ultrasound because I still nurse and she thought it was possible that the due date may not be accurate but I declined because I am sure of the ovulation date and want to have as few interventions as possible. You have had 3 healthy pregnancies with no symptoms, enjoy this one too!