MARCH-CYCLE BUDDIES

[kia1973]

Natalie, hi honey i'm sorry you are going thro such a hard time, like i have said before these beta Numbers can really freak people out, "they have me" i had my bloods done at work yesterday, will get the results tomorrow when i go in, dont know what to expect now!!!
honey please stay poss until you have seen the scan, i just know your little one is fine in there and will be waving back at you on thursday.

let us know how you get on as soon as you can,cos i will be sat here praying and thinking of you all day.

take care honey

sha xx

[sokru8]

Hey Ladies!!

Steph and Mama: That is awesome that your scans are on the same day! What a great bday gift Natalie!!

Melly: I am so sorry to hear about OHSS! You poor thing! At least you know the embies are there when you can go again!

Q: How are you doing my girl?

Tams: Wow great due date! You could have a Xmas baby! Woo Hoo

Well my U/S is scheduled for Monday! Is it just me or is waiting for the u/s almost worse than the 2ww?? I have 2 friends that are going to my clinic. They both had there U/S results and both are pregnant with twins!!!!

Love to all you ladies!!
XOXO
Sonya

[rae76]

Hi ladies,

I hope everyone's doing well!

My tummy is all of a sudden getting bigger every day. Cannot feel any movements yet, although DH whispers to my tummy every night that the baby should send us a sign. Well, no sign yet, hopefully there'll be plenty of signs on Thursday when I have my 16-week scan - so Steph and Natalie, I'll be thinking of you then!!! I hope you will both get great news then and get to enjoy those precious heartbeats!

Sonya, good luck for your u/s also - not too long now

I'm just back from the garage which is also our shelter in severe weather - the sirens went off and we had a tornado warning. ometimes Texas weathers just sucks

[Quita]

Seven Weeks and Four Days

Finally get a scan tomorrow!!!!!!

Congrats again Marcia, loving the pictures - think you two make a great couple. Well done xxx

Sonya, Hi there, I'm fine except I am really really nervous about the us tomorrow. I haven't been to the clinic since ET cos as I am alway moaning I've never had blood test. Scared I've imagined the whole thing. Just need to know babi(es) are safe.

This has been the longest Seven weeks and four days of my life.

Will be thinking of you Rae, Steph and Natalie tomorrow as well. Sending you all good spells.


xxxQuitaxxx

[Tams]

Natalie, I've also had a tough time with the beta's, they seem, as of today, to be finally doubling again but they think the slow down may be because 2 implanted but one didn't quite make it.. It is possible you had the same, which although is sad does mean your chances of one healthy baby are very good. Also I read (I have done A LOT of beta reading!) that multiple pregnancies have a slower doubling time that singletons so this is a poss too. Either way if its going up its growing. Not long until your scan, in fact is it tomorrow the 26th??

Good luck
XXXXX Tams

[Tams]

Quita, good luck for your scan tomorrow!!! Sooo exciting, you have been unbelievably patient.
Sonya, this is definitely worse than the 2ww, I have aged 20 yrs with all the scares - the bleeding then the betas - and I'm only 5wks so far, what are the next 35 going to be like?!!!!

XXXXX Tams

[kia1973]

natalie - how you doing honey? good luck for the scan tomorrow, i got my beta numbers back today, i have only had the one done, and that was 21dp 5dt, my number not high at all, 1600!!! but again on the advice of many doctors im not reading anything into it or i will start to stress myself out, at least i have HCG in my system which in turn means im PG. i cant wait to hear all about your scan tomorrow. only wish mine was sooner still got 13 days to go, this is so much worse than the 2ww.

Q - good luck for tomorrow, your wait is finally over honey, can't wait to find out how many beans you have in there.

steph - good luck to you aswell cant wait to hear all about it.

Rae - 16 weeks my god where has the time gone, it has seemed to have flown by looking at your dates but dragged from mine, bet you also feel the same. so that baby belly is coming along, i cant wait for mine to start to show. good luck for tomorrow cant wait to hear all about it.

marcia - how you doing honey?? has it sunk in yet?

[rae76]

Oh Quita, I hadn't noticed that your scan is tomorrow too!! Wonderful. I'm eagerly waiting to hear all the happy news!!

Sha, you're exactly right not to start obsessing about HCGs. Enjoy the beginning now and hang in there - in two weeks you'll get to see who's nestling inside of you!

[MamaCardenas]

Ok I just got my results back today and I only went from 3778 to 5316 I was so bummed and being so negative, until I got online and went to webmd and found an article which I will post after this and it helped me so much to realize sometimes HCG numbers don’t mean SHIT!!!! So Kia don’t read into yours too much and any other girls who are having low numbers keep your hopes high and keep the PMA for your babies, because now im feeling really guilty for being so negative , what if I do have a baby or babies in there Im just not acting right for them!!!! Anyway you have to read my next post which will be the article!!!

Kia- your right this is horrible, the 2ww was nothing compared to this!!!!!!!!! Well read my next post about the hcg levels and don’t think to much into it relax as much as you can!!! Cause I stressed out so bad and im really starting to think I stressed for nothing!!!


Quita- My scan is at 9:30 your right after me! Good Luck I can’t wait to log back on hear and hear all good news….see I have a PMA!!!!

Pep- I know you also have a scan on the same day, what time is yours? Like I said I cant wait to get on here and read all good news from tomorrows scans, that would be a great birthday present!!! Oh yah when you say only 2 sleeps it sounds so close, but too bad I was up all night last night!!! =( I wish I could sleep from now until my scan!!!!

Tams- good job on your PMA too and your right getting over 1000 has to mean something good, that’s a high level of HCG and someone who isn’t pregnant wouldn’t be that high!!!! Great due date!!! The only thing I DIDN’T want was a baby to be born on xmas just because I didn’t want my child to get cheated out of a good birthday but now I think it’s so cool to have a xmas baby and an xmas due date!!!! Yay!!!!

Im sorry I am too much right now, But I cant help it I’ve had nothing but bad news and after reading that article I am just full of positive vibes right now!!!!

Sokru- wow two friends pg with twins!!!! That’s something to look forward to, ive sort of lost hope for twins with my numbers being so low and the negative talk ive had from my clinic, but wow that would be a great surprise!!!!

[MamaCardenas]

THIS ARTICLE IS FROM WEBMD REGUARDING HCG LEVELS!!!!!!!!!!!!



Several times a week in my practice, and in my Internet roles at the WebMD Fertility Center and the Pregnancy Board at WebMD, I have the opportunity to deal with early pregnancies and patients who want or need to know if a pregnancy is progressing normally (or not). In my short twenty years in practice, technological advances have come about that allow careful monitoring of pregnancies in the first half of the first trimester. These modalities have the potential to determine the viability of a gestation before any negative sign or symptom develops, and, if used properly they can prevent dangerous complications or reassure patients during uncertain times. But along with the technology and the good comes misuse and inappropriate interpretation that can do a lot of damage and cause a lot of worry in many instances.

There are several reasons to monitor pregnancies during the first few weeks after conception. These include:
* bleeding in early pregnancy
* possible ectopic pregnancy
* recurrent miscarriage
* patient anxiety due to previous pregancy loss

It's important to note that there is no intervention available today to a woman who is already pregnant that will influence the rate of early pregnancy loss. Monitoring pregnancies may reduce anxiety, prevent rupture of ectopic pregnancy, and avoid the unease in waiting for a miscarriage to declare itself, but it cannot provide information that will affect the pregnancy's prognosis.

The human pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is first found in a pregnant woman's blood as early as 7 to 8 days after conception. As a pregnancy grows, HCG increases. Measurements of HCG levels can be useful during the early weeks before the fetal heartbeat is seen on ultrasound, usually around 6-7 weeks after last menstrual period, or 4-5 weeks after conception.

A single HCG value doesn't give enough information about the health or viability of the pregnancy. Within the first 2-4 weeks after fertilization, HCG usually doubles every 48-72 hours. That usually corresponds to HCG levels below 1200 IU. From 1200-6000, the HCG usually takes 72-96 hours to double. Above 6000 IU, the hCG often takes over four days to double. So, the rate of increase in HCG levels normally varies as a pregnancy progresses. Normal HCG values vary up to 20 times between different pregnancies, however, and an HCG that does not double every two to three days does not necessarily indicate a problem with the pregnancy. Some normal pregnancies will have quite low levels of HCG, and result in perfect babies.

Pregnancies that will miscarry and ectopic (tubal) pregnancies are likely to show lower levels and slower rises, but often have normal levels initially. Sometimes it takes three or more HCG levels at least 48 hours apart to get an idea how a pregnancy is progressing.

Once the HCG levels are above 1000-1500 IU, vaginal sonography usually identifies the presence of an intrauterine pregnancy. At that point an ectopic pregnancy is effectively ruled out. Once the pregnancy is visible on ultrasound, further HCG testing is less reliable than ultrasound for monitoring a pregnancy, as the variations in HCG levels are frequently misleading and cause unnecessary worry. Since normal levels of HCG can vary tremendously, after 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, sonogram findings are much more predictive of pregnancy outcome than are HCG levels. Once the gestational sac is seen, most doctors will monitor with ultrasounds rather than drawing HCG. Subsequent monitoring with ultrasound should reveal normal growth of the gestational sac, and the development of a fetal heartbeat by 6 to 7 weeks' gestation (6-7 weeks after LMP). Once fetal activity has been detected by ultrasound, the chance of miscarriage is usually less than 10%.

My general recommendations regarding the appropriate use of HCG testing are summarized below. By following these guidelines, unnecessary testing that might lead to needless worry might be avoided, and just the right information will be obtained.

1. If you're pain-free and you're not bleeding and you're at low-risk for an ectopic pregnancy, try to avoid the temptation to monitor HCG levels. Generally no bleeding (no news) is good news. The pregnancy is on autopilot, and there's little you can do to influence it at this stage. Try to relax and wait and see.
2. IF HCG monitoring is indicated, try not to read too much into the absolute numbers and rates of increase of the HCG levels. Trust your doctor's knowledge and experience to tell you if and when to repeat the tests, when and how to react to the numbers, and when to have an ultrasound. I can't tell you how many patients I've had who convinced themselves that their pregnancy was doomed based on inappropriate interpretation of HCG levels, only to discover that everything is fine when an appropriately timed ultrasound is performed.
3. Once an intrauterine pregnancy is visible on ultrasound, do not put any faith in HCG measurements. Frequently pregnancies and their HCG levels don't fit the mold, and the numbers don't increase the way they "ought" to. Rely on time, and predictable ultrasound changes to determine pregnancy viability.
4. Remember that positive thinking and trust in the process are important in shaping your experience and add good karma to our world!

[fijibabie]

Hi Girls

Just checking in to say Hi! I am on the dreaded 2ww and am going mad. The Men in white coats are on standby!

No symptoms - just my madness. So am carrying on as usual - at work, taking the dog for walks and nothing much else. I really do not know when to expect symptoms if there are any to kick in - I only had the transfer done on Saturday. Question - if we are not pregnant should AF show up at the usual time or do the hormones make it different??

Hope everyone is doing well!

[cookholmes]

I am wishing well all who have scans this week, I can't wait to read the good news!!!

DH and I are indeed having TWINS!!! I am so exctied and mostly trying my hardest not to buy matching outfits, but on certain rare occasions I think it would be cute!

We will definitely be finding out the genders, I think it is a boy and a girl!

[MISSPIGGY]

Hi girls first scan today and I am a bit worried.
Dh is away so I have to tell him on the phone how things go.
I will be back later to tell all Good or Bad

[MISSPIGGY]

I am back with photo and we saw a heart beat yipeeeeeeeee

[rae76]

Denise, congratulations on having twins, that's wonderful!!

Misspiggy, so happy to hear all's well and the little heart is beating. Wasn't it beautiful?

Fijibabie, try to hang in there... Keeping my fingers crossed for you!