May 2009 mommies, come join the fun!

[PMApsy]

Due dates

Stefanie is due on May 3rd! TWINS ALERT! :D
Sophie is due on May 5th! One healthy heartbeat!
Brooke is due on May 8th! One healthy heartbeat!
Smiles2IVF is due on May 10th! One healthy heartbeat!
Amanda is due on May 16th! TWINS ALERT! :D
Anie is due on May 17th! TWINS ALERT! :D
Valerie is due on May 17th!
Stacy is due on May 17th! One healthy heartbeat!
Amy is due on May 24th!

Ultrasounds and medical appointments

Amy ultrasound on October 1st!
Valerie ultrasound on October 2nd!
Sophie ob-gyn 1st apt on October 9th!
Anie ultrasound on October 16th!
Amanda ultrasound on October ??
Anie midwife 1st apt on October 23rd!
Sophie prenatal tests on October 27th!

[Anie]

Hi sophie.

So nice to know your announcement went good

My weekend was good.
Saturday we went out for SIL's husband's surprise 40th bday party.
It was good and boring. Good because of people,music,it was fun; boring because i could not dance!!! AAAARRRGGGG! And i love to dance.

Anyways it was good overall. I was a but worried that people might ask about my tummy as it is starting to show but luckily nobody asked. UFF!

Sunday stayed all day at home relaxing and in the evening went out for dinner with family.

I've noticed 2 changes in my skin. I wonder if it is happening to any of you or if you have any suggestion about what to do.

1st: my skin is getting very dry. i'm using a cream but now i will start to use cocoa butter. What do you think?

2nd: SPOTS!!!! My forehead and my chest are full of spots! I never had so many in my life. Not even during AF! Is this hormones playing?!

And right now i'm feeling soooooo sleepy. Must be the lunch i had....

Anie
PS-Thanks for updates. You are an angel !!!

[PMApsy]

Hi Anie,

Just a quick note! What do you meant you didn't dance despite the fact that you love to??? Hey, you're pregnant sweetie, not handicapped! I do yoga and you wouldn't believe the positions we take sometimes, and my baby is fine all the same! What's wrong with a little bootie shaking?

As for your skin, those changes are perfectly normal. It's all hormone-related. I started breaking out towards week 7-8. My skin isn't too dry, but it's also a normal side effect. I also started slight nasal congestion towards week 8, also hormone-related. I strongly suggest you buy a pregnancy book, so that way you can follow your beanies' progress and know what's going on with your body, step by step! The pictures are amazing to look at! I also strongly suggest this website:

http://pregnancy.about.com/od/pregnancy ... /week7.htm

When do you plan to tell your family and friends? And how?

Take care,

Sophie

[Anie]

hi Sophie.

Well, you see, i'm a wild dancer so when i say i didn't dance it really means that i was there, dancing but not in my full power. LOL

At the moment my in-laws, SIL's and my parents know about the pregnancy and that it's twins. To the rest of the family i will tell after the 12 week scan is done so i will feel more safe.
Basicaly my mum will tell to my side of family and my MIL to my husband's side of family. The shock will be when they will tell them that it's twins. It will be the first set from both sides!

I'm excited,scared,sometimes feeling strong because i believe that if it twins then im sure God knows that i can handle it.....it's a mixture of feelings sometimes. At the end very happy!!!

Notmally when we annpounce pregnancy, we invite people to come home to have some sweets. This time the guest will have to have 2 sweets! LOL

I can't wait for scans to be done, find that eeverything if alright and then give the big news!!!

Yes, every week i google to see what is the bump inside looks like week-by-week and how the body changes. It's amazing!

Anie

[AmandaM]

Hi Ladies

I am writing while I wait for my lunch to finish cooking. I have never been so hungry in my life! I just ate breakfast like 2 hours ago.

Sophie- What a wonderful way to make your pregnancy announcement! I am glad that it went well. You will always be able to remember that night and everyone's reaction. My DH is so thrilled about having two on the way. At first he wanted to wait until we got out of the first trimester to tell everyone, but after he saw the heartbeats he decided he couldn't wait. Since we are the only ones in this area and our family is all over the country we called people on Friday night. Our parents and siblings are the only ones in the family who know we went through IVF. Everyone was very happy for us. My DH's grandma even cried. Funny story, my DH boss went through IVF and had twins, and when my husband told him he said, "I wouldn't wish twins on my worst enemy, but I wouldn't change it for the world." Nice to know how much work I have ahead of me lol . How many clients do you see a day? This on call thing is working out great for me. Last week I only had to do 20 mins of work When you update the schedule, my next u/s at the RE office is Oct 9 and my first OB appointment is Oct 21. I am switching docs, so I have to go this week to meet with her nurse and give my history and stuff.

Anie- Unless you are break dancing and spinning on the floor, dancing should be ok . I'd be extra careful not to trip, but like Sophie said you can keep up the same activities you are use to. How exciting that you are starting to show. You are due the day after me and we are both having twins. I wonderful if I am starting to show and just don't realize it. One pair of pants does feel a little tighter. When will you be telling your friends and family?

Valerie- I'm glad you are doing well and your PMA is keeping up. I am sure that on your next u/s you will be able to see your baby's heart beating. It is only a few more days away now.

Brooke- How are you doing? Have you told your family and friends the news yet? If so how did you tell them? I hope all is going well with you.

I am doing well. The worst symptom I have is gas. Anyone else having this problem? After dinner it hurts so badly. I feel some pressure in my belly, so I think things are starting to expand. Everyone now and then I have a cramp or a twinge. I certainly can't complain though. I hope you are all doing great.

[smiles2IVF]

Hello- Everyone- Sorry I haven't posted lately- But I Went to the ER hospital on Fri- I have really bad pain and I started bleeding- they said that I was having Premiscarriage- but there was still a heartbeat-- Well the bleeding has stopped but I'm still worried I'm going to my OBGYN now- wish me luck---Sorry for the not so good news---Hope all is well with everyone

[PMApsy]

Hi smiles2IVF,

I just wanted to say how sorry I am about what you just went through. I went through the very same thing in March (severe bleeding and abdominal pain, and heartbeat). My doc gave me 50-50 chances. Unfortunately, I miscarried, but I'm keeping everything crossed that you fall into the other 50%!!!! I'll be sending tons of positive waves, and I'll be on pins and needles until you give us an update.

Take care hunny, *HUGS*

Sophie

[valerie68]

Hello ladies,

Smiles~ I am so sorry you're going through this tough time. I know how difficult this is. No words could ease your fears but know that we are here for you! I hope you get great news from the OB. The fact that the bleeding has stopped is a good sign. For sure you should rest as much as possible. Big Hugs for you!!

Stacy~ Congrats on seeing one very healthy heartbeat!! That is such comforting news. I hope you are having a great time with your family!
So now we are not only burping buddies but DD buddies too. That's great!
How neat to have held your nephew already. I love holding newborns, they are so sweet and precious and look delicious. I could squeeze them forever!
Soon you will have your own!!

Sophie~ So glad your reunion went well. I wish I could do something like that but it will prove very difficult as my family is in Belgium. My cousin who is pregnant ( 2 1/2 months ahead of me) just went to Belgium. I wish I was there too. My family knows that I'm doing IVF. They found out when I had my giant cyst and my ovary removed. My Mom asked a bunch of questions as to why I didn't have children yet. I had to explain the whole thing. The rest of the family knows as well and I like it that way, it has brought us closer.
Anyway, it will be something you will remember forever!
I'm glad you're doing well and that the pregnancy is going well.
Love your updates, they are so cute and always make me smile.

Anie~ Glad you're doing well too. Like Sophie said, our bodies are going through some major changes and everybody reacts differently.
I have read about those darker spots that appear on the face and other parts of the body. I'm prone to having them on the face and I hope I don't get them with the pregnancy.

Amanda~ gas pains can be really bad. I had them last week and I can tell you that I was really worried. The pain was way up in my stomach and I was glad when it finally passed. I think I burp a lot because of all the gas. Sometimes I force myself to burp the first time and after that it just doesn't stop. I prefer that then feeling all the pressure. I'm feeling the pulls and twinges too and I can only assume things are well even if I haven't seen that gorgeous heartbeat!
I was wondering about heartburn. If you burp and taste what you ate without burning, is that considered heartburn. I have that all the time. Sometimes it's not pleasant at all.
I also have increased sinus drainage and didn't know what to think about it but read today that it can be a sign of pregnancy.

On a funnier note, does anyone have lots of crazy dreams? I have several every night and I find them rather entertaining. They are as bizarre as they come and don't make any sense. Once in a while I have nightmares. I've read also that many pregnant women have that.
I think I should start writing them down.

My belly is quite bloated and since I'm very skinny, it shows quite a bit. By nighttime, it is pretty big. I love it...so nice to see that bump even if at this stage it's mostly bloat. That bell band sounds really good. I'm waiting for the confirmation of this heartbeat and then will better about buying stuff.

I've talked enough for now and will catch you later.

Much love...

Val

[smiles2IVF]

Hello- Everyone--Just came back from OBGYN- Dr says that everything is fine and ER DR don't know anything- Baby is doing very well...Heartbeat 165----And I got to see the head on the ultrasound---I feel so much better now

[AmandaM]

Smiles

I am so happy to hear that everything is ok.

Amanda

[kerpupples]

Smiles - phew! So glad to hear that it's a false alarm.

Lucky for me my work trip has been postponed until next Monday. By then I should be hopefully back down to the 1cc PIO shot if we see a heartbeat on Wednesday. Keeping our fingers crossed!

Sounds like all is well in May baby-land.

Val, kudos to you for being so patient!

Sophie - I'm going to have to check into a bella band too.

[PMApsy]

Hi guys,

Just a quick note, and I'll be very selfish. I see that nobody picked up on that, but I'll repeat what I said about my announcement. I said it was bittersweet... so you're absolutely adorable to say that it's a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life and that you're happy for me, but as I said, it's not really a happy memory for me. I'll remember some parts, but I'm just looking forward to having new memories to remember instead.

It was hard for me to just rejoice naively with those people, because most of them will never understand what we've been through, and that discrepancy will always create some kind of unfinished business between us. Quite recently, my father dropped into a conversation, citing us as an example, that my infertility was just a small drama. A systemic infection caused by a resident, a near-death experience, three surgeries, 4 attempts, 1 miscarriage and 5 years of abdominal pain don't qualify as a small drama in my opinion. I cried uncontrollably for half an hour after that. My mother-in-law pitied my poor SIL a year and a half ago in front of me because, poor thing, she had to take hormones for her second child because she was pre-menopausal at 35 and she had side effects. Sure, it's no fun, but try sticking needles in your ovaries!!!

That announcement made me vulnerable because, yes, they all made mistakes during that marathon and those mistakes were 100% human and 0% bad intentions. But it was difficult not to think about those mistakes and just be at ease with all those people. Especially that I knew that announcing your second pregnancy can't possibly match the first announcement, which was quite emotional. And THAT is a memory I want to remember. Not really this one. Those people weren't there for me during my miscarriage... heck, my PIL didn't even talk to me because they're so reserved they wanted to respect my privacy. They only talked once to my DH and said they were sorry for us. Ahem.

Yesterday during the announcement, I felt very nervous, and I was glad when it was over and I could spend some time alone with my husband afterwards. As I said, though, now we'll hopefully step into "normal" stuff, and we'll be just like any new parents rejoicing with their relatives about the baby that's coming. It will almost not be "tainted" with the IVF flavor because I'll just be like any other pregnant woman dealing with her relatives. But the announcement, the end of a very long marathon that neither of them had to go through and understand, that was something else, and that's what made it bittersweet for me. I didn't really expect that, not that much, but it was there and I'm glad it's behind me.

Anyway, sorry about the rant, rant over. I feel better now. Phew!

Smiles2IVF, I can't express how happy I am about the news!!! GO BABY!!!! Did they find what caused the bleeding? Keep posting sweetie, we like hearing from you!

As for the others, sorry I have a train to catch, but I'll post later or tomorrow morning. Mwah!

Sophie xxox

[valerie68]

Smiles~ That's fantastic news!!! I'm so happy for you!
Take some rest anyways to make sure that it stays that way.


Val

[valerie68]

Sophie~ I did not understand why it was so bittersweet for you when you wrote your first post. I understand now and no, that was no small drama you went through.
I'm not sure if your family knows about all of what you went through. I sounds to me like they don't. And unfortunately, a lot of people are very insensitive even when they are aware of a situation.
I don't know why a second announcement can't be as memorable as the first one. You are having a healthy pregnancy and to me that is a great thing to celebrate. It does NOT erase the first memory, it creates a second one.
All the years of TTC , the ivfs, the injections, the surgeries, the anguish, the waiting, the worrying, the stress, the pains (physical and emotional)...people don't really understand if they did not go through it themselves. It is also hard for some people to express how sorry they are or to talk to someone that has had a miscarriage, they don't know what to say or how to react. It is unfortunate but it is often the case.

I'm glad I chose to tell my family and let them know of every step I was going through. It will make this pregnancy that much more special.

I hope you get to feel better about this past weekend and that you will soon create good memories.

Kerpupples~ Glad your trip got postponed! One cc will be so much better than 2 and by next week, maybe you won't have to do any. Crossing my fingers and toes for your US on Wed. I'll be right behind you on Thurs. I'll be bringing in the rear with the US and seeing a heartbeat! I know I will see one.

Have a great evening!

Val

[stefanie]

Hi everyone - sorry its been a while I've been away on business.

SMILES - So. HAPPY. For. You!!!!! wow. you must be just ecstatic. Take it easy.

I am not exercising much as I am 40 and carrying twins. RE told me to take it easy. I live in NYC so I walk a fair amount, but I basically have let go of the idea of a really active pregnancy. OB said I'll have to take it really easy in the second half of the pregnancy. Maybe I'll swim or do yoga somewhere in the middle there. After IVF I do understand the impulse to just be still and not overdo it.

Last week on business I had a little scare _ exhaustion and spotting and a dull low back pain (turned out to be constipation again) but I quit carrying my laptop and took it really easy.

I am waiting until after all our genetic tests are in to tell people. We are doing the CVS test in two weeks. I had my genetic 'counseling' today and she kept asking me WHY I wasn't doing amnio. it was really scary and annoying. My OB has said that if something is really wrong, it's safer for the other baby to reduce earlier. and she and I and DH all decided on CVS. It was weird. I'm going to call her later today.

I am resting a lot and eating a lot. I'm eating like a pig and nauseous too. These babes are hungry!

I saw an ultrasound at 8 weeks and again this monday (because of the spotting while in DC) . I'm 9 wks 2 days today. really happy. My next big step is the CVS... and stopping progesterone in oil at the end of the week.
finally!

stefanie