AUGUST 2008 ~ BUMP BUDDIES

[sharishu]

Gori-
Welcome to the group, and many congratulations! Look forward to hearing about your progress. Try to relax and enjoy, it will all be fine .

MBG-
Glad that you were able to get that scan to allay your fears. That little heart flutter just makes all the anxiety melt away, doesn't it?

I am feeling stressed about the weight gain, as I started out a bit bigger than some of you ladies (size 12 here), and can't imagine where I'll end up. Just trying to remember that pregnant ladies come in all shapes and sizes, billions have done it, and by golly I can too. I have Kathy Smith's Pregnancy video, and plan to start it to feel more energized and 'limber'. I was at a Bar Mitzva last night, and had to take lots of breaks during the dancing. By the time the meal came I felt really nauseous and dizzy from the exertion, so I just sat the rest of the time.

Rebecca-
Thanks again for your help. Hope you're feeling well today.

Health and hugs to all,
Shari

[tinaO]

Hello all! Well, I must just be the lucky one because my clinic is keeping me all the way until 12 weeks!! That is their typical protocol so I can still have my weekly scans (well, practically) and all the love & attention...at least for another 4 weeks. I am so thankful as I can't imagine what it will be like to leave there and go back to my regular doc. Just another boring old pregnant chick!

MBG - sorry about your scare! I hate those types of scares because you know it is probably nothing, but you can't help but worry! So glad everything is still wonderful for you!

Gori - welcome to our group! Congrats on the heartbeat! That is exciting!

Shari - how are you? What did the doc say about your tests???

Oh - and a good piece of news for me! I am in CT next week and have been blessed to not have to travel much over the time I was doing this IVF cycle, so my husband has been doing all of my progesterone shots. How many of you are taking this horrendous shots??? Anyway, I have been so stressed about trying to give them to myself when I am out of town. The sub-q ones are one thing, but these intramuscular shots are a *****! Anyway, I work for a big insurance co. and there are several nurses on the team where I work that are in the home office. So, I e-mailed one of them today and asked very nicely if she would mind giving me these shots while I am in town. Thankfully, she said she would be ok doing this. Now, I just have to figure out where to do them - the women's bathroom, I guess? Oh - what fun. I think at this point I probably have no shame left. I feel like the last year of my life has been nothing more than pulling down my pants, hopping up on a table into those lovely stirrups, getting shot up with needles....we ladies of the IVF world sure have it GOOD!! You all probably think I am crazy, but I swear I can't give myself that shot. I would rather suffer the embarassment of dropping my pants some for a co-worker than trying to work up the courage to jab myself with it. What a wimp....

Ok, take care all!!!

[MBG]

Tinao: I do not blame you for not wanting to give yourself the shots!! Unfortunately I have had to travel (by myself) therefore forced to give myself the shots......let me tell you...it is much easier recieving it in the hip than the top part of the thigh! I messed up on Tuesday and injected myself with the needle intended for my hip (nurse gave me smaller needles for my thigh) and oh boy have I been paying for it..it hurts to walk!! Anyway...thank goodness the shots end on the 15th and I will be in town from now until then! So good for you for finding someone to shoot you up.....if you do it in the bathroom you may have others wondering exactly what kind of shot you are getting!

Goodluck!!

MBG

[sharishu]

Tina-
Yes, the privacy/modesty goes OUT the window, it's crazy. Glad you found a nurse to help you. I have not given myself one shot, and it would be quite difficult to face doing it alone I imagine.

Did you see the response I sent on my 'leukocytes...' topic? The doc said not to worry, and he'll test my urine again to see how I progress. Thanks again so much for your help (and you too, Rebecca!). I really feel so blessed by you wonderful ladies giving me support when I need it most. Of course, I am always here for you guys too.

Health and hugs to all.
Shari

[dancinnancy]

Hi girls!

MBG - I was upset about 'graduating' to an Ob too! With all of the scans throughout the IVF process, & the twice a week scans with my OHSS I've grown very comfortable with that office, one u/s nurse in particular. I cried my eyes out saying goodbye to her, of course that was right after we saw & heard the heart beat! My first Ob appt is not until the 22nd. This Dr is the 'high risk' Dr in the area...even though my nurse said that once we saw the heart beat, that I was definitely not high risk. Ummmm, I think after all I've been through I can consider myself high risk, don't you think??

I've been a little short of breath lately, anyone else? I know some of it is from the hyper stim and that fluid pushing up on my diaphram...but I'm thinking everything else that's growing is also pushing up and making me short of breath after climbing the stairs.

I hear you all with the weight gain. I'm fairly tall, 5'7" and typically a size 4 - but not anymore! I've always been an athlete & very active...and it looks like all the work I've put into my abs over the years has just melted away - don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to see progress with the pregnancy! I just feel 'squishy' all over my tummy & like most of you I can't wait to have a true 'bump'. We've had an unusually mild January, so that's making the not skiing thing much easier on me!

[seltzer]

tina - I got a good chuckle out of your message. It made me remember the night I was forced to give myself a progesterone shot and I was freaking out. My partner was out late and we had completely forgotten I couldn't give myself the shot in the ass. I summoned up the courage and did it in my thigh, and, like MBG said, I paid for it for days. It hurt! I was limping. If I were you I would definitely let a stranger (and a nurse to boot!) give me the shot, for sure. I have been off my shots since the day I got my BFP. My progesterone level was too high and they said I didn't need them. Thankfully I only had to endure 2 weeks of those shots.

MBG - so glad to hear things are going well. I think it's great to be just another pregnant chick and at the OB's office. So much of the craziness and worrying is over, and now nature just needs to take its course.

[tinaO]

Hello all! Well, I am off to the doc tomorrow for another u/s! I cannot wait. I ALWAYS feel better after the appt and I see everything is ok. It will help get me through the weekend and most of next week....well, then I start worrying all over again.

I went out for a nice, long walk again today. It felt really good. But I swear I am the smallest out of our group and you wait and see.....I am going to gain the most!!! Mark my words!!! This is scary. Most of my clothes are a 0 or a 2...and I went to Target to get some sweat pants since that is all I am comfortable in these days. I bought Medium thinking that this should last me a while....uh...yeah....they are already tight....and I just bought them Monday!!!! What the h-ll????? I don't get this. I hear these damn women (like my SIL) say, "Oh - I really didn't start to show until I was like 5 months." Yeah well, it is obvious that I am not one of those gals!!! By Easter, I am going to look like a big, round Easter egg!!! Ok, ok...so just maybe that large plate of Mexican food I chowed down on last night is not helping anything but I swear I needed that food....really, I NEEDED it!!! Now, I need some ice cream. I must run....

[MBG]

Hey girls....Everything I have read says that women do not begin to show until 12 weeks....but there is nothing about getting to that bump stage. I am guessing it is normal for us to be gaining some weight at this point in time? Oh well! We might as well do what we can to stay healthy and not worry so much about the weight! We can start another thread after August for getting back in shape....I have a girlfriend that just had twins and she now weighs less than she did pre-pregnancy....There is hope for after baby!

The funny thing is...my DH and I have always tried to live a healthy lifestyle....I think he is taking advantage of this pregnancy more than I am....he came home last night with 2 containers of ben and Jerry's and a bag of chocolate chip chewy cookies..I was like what is this all about.....he told me he was having a craving...I was like are you pregnant or am I?

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

MBG

[MBG]

Hey girls....Everything I have read says that women do not begin to show until 12 weeks....but there is nothing about getting to that bump stage. I am guessing it is normal for us to be gaining some weight at this point in time? Oh well! We might as well do what we can to stay healthy and not worry so much about the weight! We can start another thread after August for getting back in shape....I have a girlfriend that just had twins and she now weighs less than she did pre-pregnancy....There is hope for after baby!

The funny thing is...my DH and I have always tried to live a healthy lifestyle....I think he is taking advantage of this pregnancy more than I am....he came home last night with 2 containers of ben and Jerry's and a bag of chocolate chip chewy cookies..I was like what is this all about.....he told me he was having a craving...I was like are you pregnant or am I?

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

MBG

[2ndtimer]

Hi Everyone,
I think IVF pregnancies just show sooner that regular pregnancies. It's all the meds & ovarian stimulation. Your belly is swollen before they even put the embies back in. But on the other hand, my sister showed incredibly early and she got pregnant the old fashioned way. So who knows? Could it be that things you read on the internet aren't right all the time???
I'm still having problems making an appt with an OB doctor. I live in a very populated area and apparently there's an OB shortage. I can't even get an office to call me back so far. My regular doctor is gynecology only so that doesn't help. My RE wants me to go to his practice for OB(he won't be my MD -most likely I'd end up with a nurse midwife because they have 2 OB MD's and 5 or 6 midwives who do most of the work). I can't even get that practice to call me back and I don't really want to go there. Very frustrating. I think I'll end up at my 2nd choice of hospital a little further away from my home.
I go back to the RE for a last visit on 1/16/08 for an U/S.
I hope everyone is doing well,
Rebecca

[tinaO]

Hello! Ok, I think I have it figured out. You don't start wearing maternity clothes until 12 weeks, but if you are like me - you just start going up sizes in your clothes in the mean time!!! And my lovely husband eats like a PIG all the time and DOES NOT gain weight!! So, it is worse for me because I gain it so easily. They made me step on the scale today with all my clothes on, boots and everything. UUUGGGGHHHHH!! My husband just had to lean over and look - I should have made him turn away. He was probably like, "Holy sh-t"!!!

Went to the clinic for my u/s and everything was wonderful!!! The heartbeat was up to 179! They had the machine accidentally turned up all the way so the heartbeat was SO loud - it was wild!!! I started crying...again!!! My RE (who is WONDERFUL!) was in the hallway and heard the heartbeat and popped his head in and started laughing saying something like, "Have we gotten Tina calmed down now"?? I had to laugh - they know what a mess I am!!!! Anyway, the pics actually look like a baby now. I can't stop staring at them. You can see the arms!!! I am in awe!!!The CRL is now 17.76 mm - so amazing!!!

Ok ladies, back to work....take care all of you!!!!

[2ndtimer]

Hi Tina,
Congrats on the great ultrasound results! One ?, what is CRL? I noticed that on my last u/s pictures but did not know what the results were for.
Also, just in case you end up having to give a shot by yourself(it was you that's going to CT, right?), you can give it in your thigh BUT divide the shot into at least 2 doses. It hurts in the thigh because the dose is so big. You really shouldn't inject more than 1/2 cc at a time into the thigh, so for a 1cc shot, divide into 2 & use both thighs.
I was on delestrogen shots for my last FET as well as daily 2 cc progesterone shots. My hips were so sore from the big progesterones shots that I started injecting the delestrogen into my thighs. Because of the size of the dose(.4 cc) it didn't hurt at all. Also, don't go as deep as with a hip shot.
Rebecca

[seltzer]

Hey girls....Everything I have read says that women do not begin to show until 12 weeks....but there is nothing about getting to that bump stage. I am guessing it is normal for us to be gaining some weight at this point in time?

Ain't this the truth! I think the pre-bump stage is honestly just when you feel like you are getting fat and there is no discernable reason for it, LOL. Trying to keep my sense of humor about this...I've been told by many women who've been pregnant that during the first three months you gain a little weight (maybe 5 lbs. for non-IVFers) and get "thick" around the middle. my partner gained probably 12 lbs in her first trimester.

[sharishu]

Hello all,
Can anyone tell me when they were told to stop progesterone suppositories/shots? Our IVF clinic told us 3 weeks. Tomorrow is exactly 3 weeks, and I believe our regular ob told us that he won't prescribe it after that. What have you all been advised? Also, has anyone stopped progesterone yet and had spotting? I read that could be a side effect, and I'm a bit nervous about it.

Thanks!
Shari

[MBG]

Shari: Hello! I am stop the progesterone shots on the 16th...I am start taking progesterone suppositories on the 14th (overlapping with the shots) I will then continue with the suppositories until week 12.

I think every doc is different..I have a friend that went through IVF and is also prego..her doc had her stop the progesterone all together at 6 weeks.

I do not know anything about the spotting....with that said, if you do start spotting after after stopping just keep your doc on speed-dial

Goodluck!

MBG