TRIPLE TROUBLE

[Christin]

Recia-
I agree with Allison. You only have a few more weeks and you will certainly have more energy and feel much better. You will start wanting to get out of the house and doing things. But like my doctors told me, just bc you feel like it doesn't mean you can over do it. But heads up, you and your boys will be able to have a little more fun with each other soon!

Allison-
I am glad ppl used to tell you that you "didn't look like you were carrying triplets". People tell me that all the time. And I look at them and say, do you realize that I am only half way there, and I have a tummy of someone that is about to deliver. I have a friend that is pregnant with a singleton and is due 8 weeks before me. I am AT LEAST double her size in the tummy. Oh well, I should take it as a compliment!

If you don't mind me asking, approximatly how much weight did you gain? As of my 19 week appt, I gained 31 pounds. According to Dr. Luke's book, I was supposed to gain 35 by 20 weeks. So I think I am on target. But I am gettting to the point now to where I am not nearly as hungry as I used to be. I have to remind myself to eat just to get the nutrients. I like your idea about the Carnation Instant Breakfast and protein bars. I have been drinking Activa Yogurt Smoothies and Boost with High Protein (once a day) for extra calories and vitamins/minerals. I am just starting to get worried that I won't be gaining enough from here on.

[fulloffaith]

I gained 62 lbs total, my OB wanted me to gain 60. I didn't follow Dr. Lukes diet, it seemed like too much and my OB agreed. I was so glad my last weigh in was at 197, I feared going over 200! Something about that just seemed crazy! HAHA I gained alot during 2nd tri and then I went about 3 weeks towards the end when I didn't gain anything each week. I was worried but as long as the babies were getting bigger my OB didn't care. So dont freak out when you get bigger and dont gain weight. it is totally normal. My belly by the end measured 52 inches around! I started out around 30 inches! I still cant believe my belly was that big...now it is all a blur! Amazing what your body will do!

[Recia]

So I really do not know if I am being over sensitive of what but I think my belly shrunk! I am just over ten weeks now and my stomach is smaller than when I was eight weeks. I am crampin worst too. Mood swings are starting to creep in too! IS it normal for your belly to shrink?

Also, any suggestions on where to buy triplets items? The triplet strollers I have found are over a thousand dollars. I am having three kids at once I can not afford that! LOL Everyone had been telling me to buy a van for the seating. When I look up vans they have only one more seat than my SUV. It seats 7. There is another SUV I like that seats 8. I think when they get out of carseats I am going to buy a limo! LOL

again thank you guys for all your help!

[riogirl71]

I hope it is ok to crash your post, I am on my 2WW, 1st IVF, male fertility issues, we transferred 4 embies total, 3 were excellent 2-8cells 1-10 cells and 1 good one with 5 cells.
How many did you girls transfer? Congratulations on your triplets!!!

[boomer]

Hi Recia,

i bought our triplet stroller from babies r us - it's made by "baby trend" and is on the website - it is a little over $200. Car seats don't go in it and i think it's only meant for their first year but i thought it was my best bet because we too could not afford those expensive strollers !
About your tummy shrinking - check with your doctor but i'd say don't be too concerned - i actually lost weight at one point and was fine. i gained a total of 33 pounds (all between my second and third trimester except for 3 pounds in the first 12 weeks) and my babies were very healthy and good weights. I know everyone talks about that Dr. Luke book but bottom line is that if you take good care of yourself (rest and take vitamin) and eat healthy you'll be fine in my book. How many weeks are you now? Also, we got the honda odyeseey - and i aboslutely love it - easier to drive than i ever thought it would be !

Janine

[Christin]

Recia-

The weight loss could also be just from fluids from IVF that you may have gained. When do you plan to speak with your doctor?

In terms of stroller, I am going to get the Peg Perego bc it 1) allows you to use the car seats in the stroller so that when they are infants you can actually use the stroller, and 2) once they are out of infant seats and can sit up on their own, they can just sit in the toddler seats. This stroller lasts much longer than most since you can use them when babies are infants and toddlers. This one is at Target for about $1050.

I drive a Tahoe, with a third row. It seats 7 bc the second row is Captains Seats just like the front row. I love my Tahoe. I am thinking of possibly trading it though for a Suburban so that I can get more storage space. But since my Tahoe is a 2007, I will likely loose money on the trade. So I will try to stick it out for the next couple of years.

Keep us posted with what the doctor says.

Christin

[Recia]

I am just over ten weeks along. Had to make an emergency trip to my doctor today. Had a little spotting and alot of cramping. They did an ultrasound and told me everyting is fine. They are all grwoing well and all three are staying the same size. Heart beats are still at 170 so it may have been my cyst bothering me.

OMG thank you so much for the stroller idea. I just went online and looked at it. It is way more in my price range! LOL Cribs aren't bad there either.

I have already gained like 18 pounds. They said my stomach shrunk a little but my wieght didn't go down and babies where fine. When did you have your babies? I am a little nervious because i will be giving birth in a navy hospital instead of a civilian one. half of the prople I know are saying it is ok and the other half are telling me to go somewhere else. I am going to an appointment with them next month to give them a chance.

I have a ford explorer with third row seating. It seats 7 but there isn't much space between the last row and the back to put things. I really want something with a little more storage and one more seat. I have my three on the way, the hubby, me, and two sons. Not to mention the help I will need so I need a seat for my mom! LOL After all that where will I put the stuff I buy at the store! My hubby will be traveling with his job and my mother has a job and a 6 year old so I have to figure out a way for it to work.

Thank you for the imput!

[fulloffaith]

RIO,

I transferred 3 excellent 5-day blasts and they all took! Hope you get some sleep tonight, let us know how the test goes. Hope you get your BFP!

Recia,
Glad to hear the babies are well. Good luck with the car decision, I hate looking for new cars and dealing with those salespeople! Just make sure the hospital has a level III NICU and you should be fine.

I have the Baby Trend stroller too, haven't used it yet because we dont go anywhere besides their appts and we just carry the car seats in. But I like it so far.

[taylorjools]

Hi Ladies,

up to today I thought I was having twins and the doc had said the third embie was too small to make it. Well wrong! and today at 9 weeks 5 days it was confirmed that all three are fine and doing well, nr had just a wierd position in nthe early scans. They have recommended us to have a detailed prenantal diagnostic consultation, at 10 weeks (so next Tuesday) and then the nuchal scan after that at the top centre for multiple pregnancy risk analysis in Hamburg (I live in Germany) as they say if one is not quite normal a reduction may be adviseable and that should only be done up to 12 weeks. I find the idea horrific, I am scared sick of the risk of triplets, I am 45, and had my 18 month old son by cs so that addto a bit to the risk, but I really cant imagine going through a reduction (which incidentally my IVF clinic ISIDA are strongly advising as they fear late miscarriage). Did any of you go through this dilemma??

For me its simple, we had 4 embies put back (this is 4th IVF pregnancy, the 2nd to make it past 8 weeks (the other was my son) and the only time more than one stuck plus it was FET!) and we have to live with the consequences and do our best to help 3 little ones make it.

You give me so much hope all of you..We have a very good prem unit at the university clinic, just half an hour from us, they can take babies from 24 weeks, so the chances are good I hope. I have no family here so I will have to get help later in the pregnancy, especially with my lovely toddler!

Sorry this is such a me intro post, I just plucked up the courage to say hello. BTW love the stroller, just looked it up!

Recia - you are about as far along as me, I lost weight in the first weeks, about 4kg (10lbs) which was due to water loss and then nausea stopping me eating as much, my tummy is hanging out like I was 16 weeks, i guess also as I only had my son 18 months ago...eeek Hope your bleeding and cramps have stopped.

big hugs bigJ

[Christin]

taylorjools

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I am sorry to hear that your doctors are putting you in an unpleasant situation. You are going to have to make the decision yourself, but my perspective is that God has blessed you with all three of these babies. He has strategically placed them inside of you for a specific reason. I feel that any involvement by us, manually changing that, is a slap in God's face saying "God, you don't know what you are doing". This third baby deserves for you to be his/her Mommy as much as the other two do. Now, I don't know your medical history, or what the doctors are basing their opinion on. But look around....look at how many triplet mommies there are JUST ON THIS WEBSITE.....and they are doing well. I honestly didn't think that it became a real danger until you were dealing with higher order multiples like 5 or 6.

From what I am experiencing, triplet pregnancy is DEF harder than a singleton pregnancy, but you just have to be trained during this time to caring for yourself 300% better than you had in the past. Taking it easy, eating right, listening to your body, etc. It isn't an easy road, but it is a road that is well worth to travel.

I will pray that God give you vision and direction on how to move forward in this part of your life. Here is a bible verse that speaks a million words..."Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" (Jer.1:4-6). Just know that God has a divine plan for each embryo, each fetus, each infant, each toddler, each adult.

Love-
-Christin

[Christin]

Everyone-
I found this really adorable webiste that has precious triplet clothes, bibs, mugs, bumper stickers, etc. Check it out!

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/triplets/-/go_1

[Recia]

Well i am 12 weeks now. Things are getting better. Not as sick, not s much cramping, no bleeding. I have alot more energy. Had to buy more maternity cloths. I am getting really scared of how expensive it is going to be to get everything ready for triplets. Does anyone know of any grants or organizations or anything that will help? We have a small military income and I just do not know how we are going to make it. Not to mention out doctor is 3 hours away and the gas and travel to that is insane. Still can not find a car with room in it. I am just getting really scared i guess.

How is everyone else doing? Have not heard much on here lately? How are you guys feeling?

Oh I find out sexes on the 25th if they are al positioned right.

[riogirl71]

Recia,
In MA, there is an organization called "Keeping pace with multiple miracles" I donated a bunch of stuff to them and they are wonderful people. I am sure that if you contact them, they might be able to give you information on organizations closer to you.
Good luck!

[kellym]

Big J - I saw your post and wanted to tell you that I am so excited that your third little one has made it. I am sure that there are some tough decisions ahead of you, but I am glad that everything is looking good for you!

I will find out next week whether I have one, two or three little ones in there. My betas are fairly high so I am thinking it is 2 or 3 but who knows!

Best of luck! Have a wonderful pregnancy. who knows, I may see you on this thread in a week or two!

Kelly

[taylorjools]

hi girls
thankyou so much for your kind wishes, especially Christin. i have history of miscarriage, myomas and autoimmune thyroiditis, and am 45 next month, I guess the point was the offer for reduction was there, we turned it down flat. The German doctors did not put us under any pressure, it was just a suggestion from ISIDA as I think they were worried about me having a late miscarriage.

Good news is that the Nuchal scan done in our fantastic high risk pregnancy unit in Hamburg, had fantastic results. All 3 are thriving, much easier to see now that tummy scans are possible, and all less than 1;10,000 risk of chromosome disorders, all organs present, blood flow good etc and little nr 3 has caught up big time. No sign of the myoma (fibroid) it has shrunk since my son was born and now seems to be gone. Thyroid playing about, but hopefully will stabilise in the next few weeks as the babies start to produce their own thyroid hormones.
Am exhausted and suffering from extreme sickness, but have a wonderful midwife who comes and gives me accupuncture daily (German system is soooooo goood). From next week I will get a mothers help 6 hours a day paid by the health insurance (if I didnt have my 18month old I wouldnt get it) for days when dh is working, thats fantastic isnt it??

recia - so glad to hear things have settled down for you. I have lost more weight due to the sickness, but the babies are thriving, my bump looks huge as I am now quite slim, the "growing pains" are quite uncomfortable as its all going so fast. I hope you find some help, near me there is a self-help group for multiple parents, they hold sales of 2nd hand stuff. Ebay here is very good for prem. clothes as well.

It really hasnt sunk in yet, I do hope there is a boy in there for my son to play with! When did those of you further along atrt to believe it was real and prepare???

hugs to all brave mummies

BigJ