AUGUST 2008 ~ BUMP BUDDIES

[seltzer]

Shari - I stopped my progesterone shots the day I got my BFP b/c my levels were too high and I never got any spotting (knock on wood). I think m y partner stopped at around 2 and 1/2 months or something and she never had any spotting either. Did the dr. check your prog. level?

[sharishu]

Thanks Seltzer and MBG for the info!

I don't know if my ob intends to check my progesterone. I remember him saying he doesn't generally check levels, but I am gonna request it! He's not a high risk doc, so not sure if it's checked only in high risk cases. Not sure if I'm even considered high risk, but for some reason I feel I am (severe endo, IVF...). I was actually thinking of switching to a high risk doc, but I stayed with him so far because he knows my story from the very beginning, helped me get diagnosed (finally!) with severe endo, and I've trusted him implicitly. I have an appt./ultrasound tonite, so we'll see how it goes.

Hope you're all feeling just fine.

Shari

[tinaO]

Well, I consider myself lucky to be able to stay at my clinic until 12 weeks, but I can't get off those damn PIO shots until that time! Yep - I continue them until Feb. 4th and my arse is paying the price for them!!! I at least get to reduce them to 1/2 cc (I am doing 1 cc now) on Jan 21st. Believe it or not - I am excited about that!!! 1/2 cc hurts a heck of a lot less than the whole 1 cc!!! Then I go back to the clinic on Jan 23rd for another u/s. Then I guess they will see me for the last time on 2-6. I already made an appt with my regular OB/GYN doc for the following week - I am trying to continue my weekly u/s's as long as possible!!!

Ok ladies, I am off to get ready for the Dallas Cowboys game!!! Yes, I am a huge fan. Unfortunately, I head off to CT in the morning where they are all Patriots fans, so I certainly hope the Cowboys win today. Probably won't hear from me much in the next few days as I am typically slammed with stuff when I am up at my home office. Hmmm....and the snow is expected to hit heavy up there tonight...when you are from Texas, you DO NOT know how to drive in that crap!! I have not quite figured out how me & my little rental are going to find our way to the hotel tomorrow. That sucks!!! I can barely find my way around up there when the weather is clear and sunny. What fun.

In the mean time, much love to all of you and here's to our VERY successful pregnancies so far!!! I mean, think about it - we are all doing so great!!! We have so much to be thankful for and so many reasons to feel blessed. Take care of yourselves!

Tina

[sharishu]

Tina-
Thanks so much for that upbeat note about how we're all doing well so far, TG. About the snow, I drove in many treacherous New York snowstorms through the years; if the road is slippery, remember to switch to low gear. If you slide, steer in the direction you're sliding, and brake slowly. Try not to worry, if it's snowing heavily, everyone will be driving slowly. Arrive safely !

Ladies-
Well, I just got back from my 9w5d u/s and I saw the little tyke moving his/her hands, like slow little flapping motions. Quite cute! That really hit my dh like a ton of bricks, and he was joking afterwards that the baby takes after him, because sometimes my dh does little flapping motions to be funny .

Re: the progesterone: my ob says it's not necessary to continue it or test it at this point. His confidence kind of convinced me as well, so I didn't persist. Just asked "are you sure?" and he said "yes". That's that, I suppose.

I don't see the doc for another month. In the meantime, I toy with the possibility of doing nuchal translucency. I'm leaning towards "no" because I've read so many stories here about women having a high risk result from that test, and everything turning out just fine. I don't want to worry for the next 6.5 months, and I am absolutely not going for an amnio. Just continuing my PMA and praying for a perfectly healthy little bundle.

Health and hugs to all.
Shari

[squeezan]

Hi Shari
I'm toying with the same question at the moment. My 12 week scan is on 23rd Jan and they will automatically do the nuchal scan and blood tests at the same time unless I opt out. I'm feeling much like you at the moment - if the result was high risk I wouldn't take it any further so I think it'd just cause more worry. I'd rather not know.

Tina - I do feel for you still having to stab yourself everyday. Injections seem like a lifetime ago to me as with iui they don't bother with progesterone at all. The last shot I had was the trigger

Su

[seltzer]

Tina - you crack me up about traveling to CT and driving in the snow. I am from Boston and we are due for a foot overnight tonight, beginning at around 4 a.m. The morning commute should suck! But I don't know if CT is supposed to be hit that hard. Best of luck with your trip. Just take it easy driving, be overly cautious and drive too slow, and you'll be fine. Go PATRIOTS! LOL

Shari - congrats on the u/s - what wonderful news! And secondary congrats on stopping the shots. You will feel so free without having to be tied down by them. Your OB sounds like a really nice person.

I am doing fine, just hanging there till my next u/s, which is next Friday, Jan. 18. It's the nuchal translucency. Unlike a few of you, I do want to go ahead with that because if my risk is purported to be high then I definitely will do an amnio. And I only have 1 week left till my second trimester! YAY!

[sharishu]

Su-
Yeah, I'm really leaning towards 'no' on the nuchal trans. Just because I know myself and I'll second guess ANY result. I'm a worrywart, what can I say? How are you feeling by the way? Colds all gone? I feel much better, but still have increased mucous (TMI I know) which I read is normal, and which makes me extremely nauseous in the morning.

Seltzer-
Thanks, you definitely made me feel better about the progesterone. I know my BUTT will be grateful. Do your levels still get tested? As for the ultrasound, yeah, it was great, thanks. Actually seeing the shape of a tiny human was just awesome. My husband asked if I'm developing a maternal bond with the baby. I told him that at this stage, I am in awe, but more from the outside looking in, like, "wow... where did YOU come from, little hand-flapping person? You are really something..." Anyway, something like that.

Hey Rebecca, how you doing? Hope all is well...

Health and hugs to all.
Shari

[2ndtimer]

Hi Everyone!
It sounds like everyone's had a good weekend(except for Tina since the Cowboys lost! ). I've had a good but very uneventful weekend. I keep getting waves of morning sickness that really knock me off my feet. I'm thinking about going back to acupuncture because that's one of my acupunturist's specialties is treating morning sickness & nausea in general.
Shari -congrats on the ultrasound! DH & I are really looking forward to seeing the next one on Wednesday. Also congrats on stopping the progesterone. I got to quit the shots when I got my BFP & switched at that time to the suppositories. I get to quit those on week 12 and I'm really looking forward to it because I think it will help my energy level to increase.
Tina -I totally relate to not knowing how to drive in snow. Growing up in TX & then moving to NC, I just haven't had a lot of experience with it. Plus, being a nurse snow & ice have always been BAD NEWS. Several times through the years I would get stuck at the hospital because the next shift would not come in. After a 12 hour shift, you really don't want to work another one back to back. One time I was working at a group home & my relief and my supervisor refused to come in because of the snow -I got stuck there for over 2 days before I finally got in touch with the corporate office and said I'm leaving in 2 hours whether someone replaces me or not. That got my supervisor in. Even now that I work at home I still get a bad feeling when it snows, I think just because of bad work memories.
I don't want the nuchal translucency test either, but I don't think I'll really have the option to say no. I know technically I can refuse any medical treatment, but I think I'd have to put up a fight and I doubt DH would go along with me. Hopefully it will be alright for all of us.
Seltzer, did your partner have an amnio or CVS? I'm just curious about how frequently those tests are done. My sister had a CVS and she said it wasn't that bad after the numbing shot. I would hope to avoid both since Ive been through enough unpleasantness just getting pregnant.
Take Care Everyone, I better get to bed now.
Rebecca

[sharishu]

Hello All,
Well, I've been up since 4 am worrying about the stupid progesterone. For those of you who have stopped, do you get your progesterone levels tested? Last time I had mine tested was 3 weeks ago. I feel like "wow, cold turkey, really?" Can anyone shed some light? I know I should be celebrating the freedom, but instead I'm thinking that I have all this progesterone at home, what can it hurt to go a bit more? Why is my doc so confident that I don't need anymore? Please help one neurotic pregnant lady....

Health and hugs to all...
Shari

[tryw8]

Do you have room for me to join in?

I've entered my week 9. I'll be having another blood draw and u/s in two weeks. My OB/GYN said that my tentative due date is 08/16/2008. My heart is half believing it ... I'm a little precautious and trying not to stress.

[sharishu]

Hi tryw8-

Welcome welcome and congratulations! Just keep up the PMA, I am sure it will all be great. Enjoy this blessed time!

Shari

[2ndtimer]

Hi Shari,
My guess is that your OB is confident that you don't need the progesterone or even to test it because of what he's seen on the ultrasound & the progress of your pregnancy so far. He must be confident that so far your pregnancy looks healthy & normal. If your level was too low, you would most likely have been having multiple problems including lots of bleeding.
I'm not even sure if they test for progesterone levels in nonIVF pregnancies. In IVF pregnancies, once the baby gets to a certain size your body is producing more than enough progesterone -there's almost no way for it not to be.
Maybe if this is making you nervous you could talk to the MD about tapering the dose down gradually over a week or 2?
Rebecca

PS. welcome to the thread Tryw8.

[MBG]

Hello everyone!

Looks like everyone has had a good weekend, except for Shari: Poor thing..I don't know what to tell you....other than, if your doc is so certain that it is ok for you to be off the progesterone, then you should just trust him...I think the only reason I am still on is because that is the protocol of my RE...they have not tested my levels in some time. If you are that concerned maybe you should go ahead and request him to test your levels and explain your results, that way you will know for certain that your body is producing enough...I hope you have some piece of mind soon! Also...congrats on the fabulous u/s!! I have been reading all of these books that describe and show what the embryo looks like at each different stage...I was amazed at how much it really looks like a human at 8 weeks! I have my first OB appointment and u/s on wednesday! Can't wait to see the changes!!


TryW8:Welcome to our Thread!!

TinaO: Good luck this week navigating your way around CT! I am with you about driving in the snow! Us southern girls just aren't used to it!!
Take care and stay WARM!!

As for me...I feel as though I am beginning to get some of my energy back..I am not as sleepy as I have been over the past few weeks, however I am still going to bed around 8:30 every night..I guess I am just getting plenty of sleep! Even my nauseau has subsided! This little one is being pretty easy on me!!

I hope everyone has a great week!

MBG

[MBG]

I do have one question for everyone....Has anyone started to use an anti-stretch mark cream...if so what are you using....my RE had some samples of this stuff called "Tummy Honey" I thought I would try it..although I haven't used any yet, because I don't feel big enough ....should I start now, so to hinder the possibility of stretch marks later?

What are your thoughts?

MBG

[seltzer]

tryw8 - congratulations and welcome! I know it's hard to believe but you are truly 9 weeks along! Keep posting.

Shari - Please don't worry. I am certain you are absolutely fine. If your dr. had any doubt I am SURE he would've kept you on the prog. My partner was taken off the prog without a level...I think the only reason I was given a level is b/c the clinic I went to routinely does the prog level when they do the betas. My prog. was high with my first beta 10dp3dt so they nixed the shots. Your dr. has seen your uterine lining on u/s and, I am sure, measured it (many times by now!). And isn't the placenta is producing prog. now? I think you are far enough along for that. If you are still nervous then you should have your dr. explain it to you so you can stop worrying.

2ndtimer - No, my partner didn't have an amnio or a CVS. She did the nuchal translucency, and her risk came back so low that we decided not to do an amnio (the risk of the amnio was higher). I don't think the false positives with nuchal translucency are high like they are with the AFP screening. My cousin had an amnio (no nuchal translucency), and my mother had four amnios (due to her rh negative status--this was before Rhogam).

MBG - I am putting cocoa butter/shea butter on my abdomen every morning after I shower and sometimes before I go to bed. I don't have a bump yet (just fat) but it can't hurt. I read that massaging the skin with the cocoa butter for a few minutes helps since it is supposed to help the skin stretch and become more elastic. I hope it works!