Ah, the days of knicker checking... I don't miss it at all and still do it now, really at nearly 37 weeks.
That's not meant to make you feel worse, but to make you feel like you're not alone.
I am a first time mum. I had a miscarriage and then just over a year later, I got my BFP in December.
I'll be honest and say that I am not sure that I managed to stay sane. I just got through it by trying to carry on 'as normal' but by also taking rest, not heavy lifting, taking pregnancy vitamins, getting regularly checked by midwife, not googling (especially symptoms) and trying to eat healthily wherever possible.
I decided to not eat blue cheese and some soft cheeses that aren't pasteurised as they recommend and not to eat runny eggs. I tried not to take medication apart from my inhalers and paracetamol (although I have had to take four lots of antibiotics, yes four!) and we seem to be ok still.
Is your partner supportive because my husband has looked after me well and tried to keep me calm, as have my parents? They have played a big part in the whole thing.
Also, I would say look forwards and have faith in your baby, but be sensible too, which it sounds like you're doing.
We decided not to look at baby bits to buy until our 20 weeks scan. It was hard, but I decided not to look at stuff for my own sanity.
I would also say, be selfish. If you don't want to do something or don't feel up to it, don't do it. Unfortunately. My brother's then fianceé decided to buy us loads (and I mean loads) of baby stuff before we were even at 12 weeks. We decided to tell them as we had told our parents and again, my brother's wife kept asking my mum about it all, which was stressing my mum, so we told them earlier than we wanted to just to stop her stressing my mum!
So, I am not sure what my experience there shows you, but take it as you want...
I probably regret telling my brother, but not our parents as my mum was amazing throughout.
One lot of people I am glad I told were my employers. I think I told them at 7 weeks because I was getting into some situations that made me uncomfortable, and didn't feel were safe. Luckily, I work in a school where my manager and the headteacher were supportive. I asked them not to tell anyone else and they were amazingly discrete and it worked perfectly. Some people tell their employers even earlier but some leave it depending on what they know their employers to be like. I found it really helpful and stress relieving to tell them as I know they would be happy for me and be supportive. Again, take from that what you like!
The cramps:
When I had my miscarraige, I had cramping and bleeding for weeks and didn't know I was pregnant. Then when it finally happened fully, I had contraction like feelings/cramps in my ladies' area.
When I first became pregnant this time, I had the same feelings and was so stressed the whole time, convinced it was going to happen again. I also had cramps and googled until the cows came home. This didn't help me. It made it worse.
Needless to say, the cramps 'subsided' and led on to other lovely pregnancy pains(!) and we are a day off 37 weeks.
Keep and eye on the cramps and ask for advice if it's not subsiding. Cramps are worrying with fresh red blood/clots. Brown blood is scary, but usually old blood. I had this in minimal amounts a few times in pregnancy and got scared but all was ok and they said to me that it was normal!
At about 7 weeks I had an implantation bleed. It was ewcm mixed with a little red blood and brown blood, a very little. Rang EPU the next day and went in for a scan. They followed it up two weeks later (the day before we moved house!) and things were fine.
At your early stage, people are not helpful... As in medical professionals you can go and see. However, I rang the charity Tommy's midwives helpline and they were amazing, even at an early stage. They listened, gave accurate advice and helped set my mind at rest about a few things in my pregnancy.
I last spoke to them in about June as three chest infections had been pretty much ignored by my doctors. They rang the hospital for me and told me who to speak to and the next day I had a consultant appointment about my asthma and infections and more support than I had had throughout the pregnancy.
I hope I haven't overwhelmed you. This was a bit of stream of consciousness as I felt for you as soon as I read what you had written!
Do what you need to do and lean on people around you. Be selfish and go with your instincts. Get support when you need it.
Keep an eye on the cramps and speak to someone if you need to do so, especially if you have bleeding (but remember that that can be perfectly normal too to have a little blood/spotting)
Try to stay positive, look after yourself.
I wish you a happy and healthy nine months.
Believe in your baby. Xxxx
I'm also an older first time mom, I'm 47 and this is my first pregnancy and I am 17 weeks pregnant now. I can already feel the baby move now. My due date is Jan 24th, 2017. Hang in there you will be fine. 
