The end is nigh

19:16

So my darling lovely blog readers, I've got to write a very sad post and I hope that you will read it and not judge me on the quality of my writing, I find it very hard to write eloquently about my feelings. Unless I'm being flippant. That comes very easily to me. I'll try to stick to the facts, it appears it might be a LOOOOONG post, feel free to skip through some boring bits.

Last week I said that I'd been feeling ill and a lot of you, because you're all so lovely, commented hoping I was feeling better soon. I read those comments with a small smirk on my face knowing that it was unlikely I would stop being sick for another 5 weeks or so. For my friends, the sickness which was commanding my attention, draining me of energy and leaving my throat red raw was in fact morning sickness. Fortunately not in the Kate Middleton spectrum, but grotty all the same, and really rather horrid. If I wasn't being sick, I felt sick. Ginger, check, lemon, check, keeping tummy full even when feeling sick, check.

I found out I was pregnant the day before our wedding anniversary and joy and happiness abounded throughout the Hussey household despite our not telling anyone (except for my sisters) until we were in the 'safe zone'. Unexpected, but a pleasant surprise. Of course, knowing we would be moving around June was slightly concerning as I'd be 6 months pregnant but not un-doable.

Around here you don't go to your doctor to tell them you're pregnant, you call the midwives who book you into their system and then send you your 12 week scan date and info booklets in the post. So I did. I mentioned that I had been spotting and had some small discomfort in one side and they advised me to speak to my G.P. if if got any worse.

The dull throb escalated to some sharp stabbing pains in my side over the weekend so Monday I booked myself an appointment for Monday morning. NHS being what it is you can't book it in advance, you call up in the morning at 8.30am and take your chances on getting in that day. Phew, I did! I saw my GP who called the gynaes at the local (well, next town over) hospital who agreed I should go up for an early scan. She gave me a letter and told me to report to the A&E reception desk (accident and emergency, like the ER for anyone in the US). The letter said gynae expecting. I assumed I would be seen fairly promptly seeing as they were expecting me. Yeah. No.

We got there, waited an hour in A&E, were taken through for blood pressure and a sample to be given. Back to the waiting room to wait for the gynae Dr who would be half hour. An hour and a half I went back to reception and asked for an update. She came back and said, soon young pad'uan, your time will be soon. (Not a direct quote). Half hour later we went through to a cubicle and had internal and external exams, blood tests etc. We were left then for a while with no communication or anything and two hours later when I said I wanted to go home a senior Dr came to see me to check it was ok to go home. 6 hours we were there in total. As usual I just felt as though they were on skeleton staff with inefficiencies in the system that they were working within. I felt kinda bad for the doctors and nurses who obviously were over stretched and seemed to spend most of their time trying to find someone's file, piece of paper or even patient. They lost a 90 yr old for around 45 minutes if the overheard conversation was anything to go by!

My advice from Monday's experience is thus:

*When visiting an NHS hospital, expect your time there to take no less than 6 hours and if it does you'll be pleasantly surprised.

*Wear many layers, the waiting room is over heated and stuffy, the cubicle was too chilly

* Take some food and water, if you are allowed to eat you'll want to and find it hard to find something healthy, nutritious and not ridiculously priced.

*Let your husband sit on the wafer thin mattress and you sit on the chair else you'll have a two day numb bum!

So, today then, I had to go back for a scan. Afterall, they can't tell what's going on just from exam and blood tests. I had an appointment time of 11.30am. My friend Benny commented that it was very cute of me to think my appointment would be on time. Surprisingly though I was taken in for my scan at only 12pm! Amazing!!

As I'm only 7 weeks today they couldn't see much detail so decided to do an internal scan and following that confirmed what I'd had an inkling of a thought of. No heartbeat. The technician (nurse, doctor, sonographer?) called it a failed pregnancy. I felt like I was getting some test results that I'd done badly in when she said failed.

So from there we were sent back up to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) waiting room to see the doctor. I say waiting room. It was a regular ward room but with the bed removed and some chairs put in. It wasn't particularly pleasant waiting knowing what we did, trying to keep it together as there were so many other people there waiting. I guess we'd hit the lunch break as it was all so quiet and nothing appeared to be happening.

90 minutes later the doctor called us through and discussed our options. Options, ha! That's a joke. We have no options, it's over. The only options are how medically involved we want the end to be. We went for the 'go home and wait' option with a follow up scan in a week or two and a possible surgical intervention if it's not all over.

Of course I cried. Mostly because I'd been sat for 90 minutes holding my feelings in not wanting to lose it in 'public' in such a confined space. Must be my good old British stiff upper lip.

Total visit time today: 3.5 hours.

Sniffy chops is keeping me company on the sofa with my blankie this evening while I try not to think about the lingering nausea and what's still to come.

Sniffy Chops & Blankie

It's brought to my mind the age-old argument of when does life begin. There's no heartbeat, so did it ever live? Does it begin as soon as the cells start to form? When the brain functions? When it can move and wiggle? I don't know, I'm not sure I even want to get into that argument  The truth is that I'd kinda gotten used to the thought of having a baby, being a mother and now I'm not. Knowing what I do about how I react with morning sickness is it something I want to go through again? I know it's a 'small' price to pay for a child but it's so horrid feeling so ill all the time and lurching from waking to bedtime stopping only at voms-ville on the way.

Anyway, enough soul searching and gloomsiness, I'm physically ok for the time being. I know there's some discomfort to come but for the minute Dusband and I are taking some time to care for each other. (Mostly him caring for me, he's very good at caring. I'm very good at laying on the settee)

To my testers: I'll try to stick to my Friday deadline, it might not be as polished as you're used to but if I struggle I'll let you know.

You Might Also Like

20 comments

  1. I'm really sorry to read your sad news. I really suck at writing supportive comments, but am sending lots of love and hugs to both of you, and of course you will both be in my thoughts. *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh Samantha, I am so sorry to read this. I am glad your husband is taking good care of you, so sad you have to go through this. Take care

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was very sad to hear about your loss...heartfelt thoughts to you and hoping you will recover in time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am so sorry, Samantha. You are in my thoughts and prayers, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so sorry to hear this! Hang in there and if you need anything, let us know!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my friend, my British Bestie. I am so terribly sorry to hear this news. I know there are a thousand scriptures I could ramble on about right now but the truth of the matter is that at times like these you know what you know and you still believe, but you just need to be loved. So that is what I am sending to you. My heartfelt love for a dear friend who is in need of lots of hugs. I wish I could be there to bring you lots of "sweet tea " (the British kind of course!) and help Dus entertain you. Please know that I am praying for you and Dus and please let me know if there is anyway possible I can help you from way over here across the pond!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That is truly sad news.
    My thoughts are with you x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh Samantha, i am so so sorry to read of your sad news. Sending you, (and Dus), hugs and much love, Estelle xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. At first when I read you were pregnant I was so happy for you both and then the sad news. I'm so sorry for your loss. I have always truly believed that everything happens for a reason. It may not be evident just yet what that reason is but somewhere down the line you will find out. I always have and when I do, I see the sense in it. You have a wonderful character and know that you will come through this just fine, in the meantime my prayers and thoughts are with you both. By the way, don't worry yourself about the test pattern now, if it's late we will still be around when you send it. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh Samantha, I'm so very sorry. It doesn't matter what stage a pregnancy is at, it's when you start to feel a connection that it becomes a baby, so don't be hard on yourself, give yourself time to grieve.

    as for the morning sickness - each and every pregnancy is different. You many get no morning sickness at all next time. Also, if your story had a positive ending, you'd forget the morning sickness so don't let it put you off.

    I'll be thinking of you and if there's anything I can do, I'm here.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I, too, miscarried at 9 weeks. It is heart wrenching and my love goes to you and your husband. I did get pregnant 7 months later and now my baby is 19. My morning sickness the second time around was very mild.

    Please know that you have people all over the world "pulling" for you. Hang in there.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Samantha, my heart is hurting for you and your husband's loss.
    Please know that all of your friends "out here" are sending prayers to you as heal.
    Take whatever time that you need...
    hugs,
    Susie

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh Samantha, I'm so sorry to hear about the terrible time you've been having lately. There really is nothing anyone can say, but I hope you are feeling better (at least physically) soon. You and your husband are in my thoughts. *giant long-distance squish*

    ReplyDelete
  14. Samantha I am so sorry to hear of your sad loss BUT I have to agree with Maria....everything happens for a reason, even if you don't know what it is at the time! I miscarried when I was 8 weeks.....BUT it was only a matter of a few weeks later and I was pregnant again....so when I look at my lovely 17 year old daughter I know she wouldn't be here if I didn't miscarry.....she was meant to be and that is the reason! There will be a reason it has happened to you too! I also had an ectopic pregnancy (Before the miscarriage) so I lost one tube....BUT I still ended up having two daughters! One I was sick sick sick with and the other I felt better than I have ever felt in my life....you just ever know which it will be BUT one thing is for sure it is different each time and SOOOO worth any of it! (Well....ask me that again when my teenagers have been swearing at me! LOLL) Hang in there!!! XXXX Christine

    - ChrisW Designs

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm so very sorry to read of your loss. I cried some tears for both you and your husband when I first read your post and I've been thinking of you a lot today and every time you came to mind, I would also say a little prayer for you. I am sure that you are both absolutely heartbroken, even if you or others try to convince yourself otherwise. I will continue to keep you in my prayers and hope that you are able to find some peace.

    ReplyDelete
  16. My heart hurts for you....I will be sending thoughts and prayers to you and Dusband....

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm so sorry Samantha. All you can do is move on, although it might be hard at first. My thoughts are with you.

    ReplyDelete

Love our posts? Sign up to our newsletter!

* indicates required

Instagram

Fabulous Followers