Winter Cycle Friends 2009/2010 - Everyone Welcome!

[Positivethinking]

Hello ladies, sorry for not posting for a while but I have been feeling on and off since Saturday and also super very lazy...Now I realize my mom is coming tomorrow and the house is a mess. I have to clean the bathroom, her bedroom and the house before tomorrow night. Even if I still feel lazy, I will suck it up and clean....So sorry but no time for personal.
I went for my last u/s with RE on Monday. Everything is perfect. the baby, actually looks like a baby with cute small legs and harm and it moved its lower body.It was soo cute. I still dont realize I have a baby inside me but I keep staring at the picture. The RE let me go and I said goodbye to all my nurses. I will really miss them. My first OB appointment is next week on 4/22.
Everyone says they are hungry....I wish, I have no appetite at all. I force myself by shoving food down my throat so I dont feel dizzy or nauseus but I am never really hungry. Hopefully it changes soon. I know I have a small stomach, I always ate like a bird and got full very quickly compared to my friends...so hopefully I figure something out for the baby. I dont want him to suffer from lack of nutrients...

Well sorry for no personels today, I am thinking of everyone and I am always reading everyone's stories...Love

[lou71]

Steph -- I'm hungry all the time too! Thanks for the info on when to top PIO. Yes, my level was > 80 at 6w3d so I guess it's ok for me to stop at 10 weeks.

Claud -- Yay for hearing the HB! That's exciting. I feel left out I haven't heard a HB or seen anything that looks like a baby yet, let alone move. I hope I get some validation on Monday at me appt. And yeah, haha, you'd be real impressed to see me go to bed at 8PM on the days I don't get to the gym to work out. I didn't have it in me last night and took at nap when I got home from work. When I woke up, it was too late so I made dinner, watched Idol, and went to bed early.

Katie -- I haven't looked at baby stuff either! I guess I felt it was too early. But you're almost through your 1st trimester, so you better get going on it. You could look at the "gender neutral" stuff anyway. Have you thought about how you're going to decorate the nursery?

Hazel -- On the gender issue -- a 5 day fresh transfer has been shown to really skew the gender to BOY (60% chance). And as for counting your embies, it's how many you have at fert not tx I think since often that affects whether you have a 3 day or 5 day tx. I know my clinic won't do a 5 day unless you have > 4 embies, which I never did. And boo for the doppler not working for you. I'm sure everything is fine. Like you said, he/she was just turned or something. Those home machines aren't as sensitive as the ones at the hospital or doctor's office. So don't worry yourself over it.

Positive -- Sorry you're so tired with no appetite. And that you have to clean no less. But it will be nice to have your mom for a visit, right? Where is she coming to visit from?

AFM -- I'm doing well. Still just some fatigue. I do great with a nap when I get home from work because I have a "second wind" when I wake up after an hour or so. I also make an effort to go to bed earlier than usual. Usually I go to bed between 11 & 11:30PM, but I've moved that up to 10PM. Is anyone who is still in the first trimester and having one baby have a belly showing yet? Although my clothes still fit (a bit tighter), I do have a lower tummy that looks very "rounded". I took a pic of my midsection in the mirror reflection on my phone last night. I got up today and keep looking at it...lol. If I can figure out how to post, I'll post a before pic and a 9 week pic this weekend. It will be fun to document the change every few weeks or so. Anyone else doing that?

[Stephanieford78]

Lou - I am jealous of your high numbers. lol I would think mine would be higher with twins, two placentas giving off prog too? What were your doses? Maybe that is the difference. I was taking 100mg or 2ml before I started to go down. That's so cute you are getting a baby bump! I haven't tracked my body changes, but I know a lot of people who have taken a pic every week. Feel free to post pics! I would love it if everyone posted their sono pics. We can all share family photos before the little ones are even born. lol How to post a pic in the thread if you don't already know... get a photobucket account if you don't have one already. Upload the photo to photobucket then go back to your home page. Under the picture will be a few codes and it will tell you which codes are which. You want the IMG code. If you think the picture is too large, you can EDIT your photo and make it smaller.

Positive - So cute you got to see the little one move. Don't worry about your appetite! Your baby will let you know when you need to eat. As long as you are taking your vitamins and eating throught the day I am sure there is nothing to worry about.

Claudia - YAY! It's so exciting isn't it? There is a real baby in there.. not just your imagination! lol

Hazel - Two healthy girls would be nice, but I have a girl and want a boy. lol So I am actually hoping for two boys so that we can both have what we want. DH name is Andrew Jay... not a bad name, but I'm not big on naming kids after people. I named my daughter's middle name after my mother's middle name after she died, but that's a little different. lol I just think it awkward to call for Andrew and have two people come running. As far as the doppler, don't worry that you couldn't find it. It might take a few tries. After all, none of us are medical professionals and not use to using one. I think any of us would have the same issue. I say keep trying, I would. I think I am going to have to get one, but after my appt on Monday. Part of me is terrified of the visit.

AFM - Well, we spent the first night in the new place. It was nice. We ended up going to bed a little early since there was absolutely nothing to do here. No tv, no internet, nothing. This morning I was up with DD and we were listening to music on my phone until she had to go to school. It was nice. Cable got here fairly early, didn't have to wait till 8pm. lol Not much else to do but wait for transpertation to call and move the rest of our stuff. Right now it feels like we are living in a big hotel.

[lou71]

Steph -- My progesterone dose was always 50mg/1ml. I'm supposed to decrease to 0.5 ml from the 18th-21st and then stop.

[gi]

Hi girls,

Claud thats fantastic!!!! and too hear it too must have been amazing.

hjw think dont think i will buy a doppler cause knowing me the damn thing wouldnt pick it up, panic me and j for no reason though i think you may be using it a bit early i thought i read somewhere after 22 wks should be ok to pick it up. Oh and i loooooove Tiger Woods j knows he is my "no strings" Best of luck with your next appt i am sure all is grand but it is nerve racking the days before scans isnt it!!!

Katie thanks my next appt is wed 6th May....21 days and counting!!!!! I hope you get released soon thats a long way to be travelling for b/w. Sorry to hear about the tiredness i dont have much of that as still dopped up on steroids but apparently they warned me when it stops i will be wreaked so have to wean meself off at 12 wks!!

Ronda how are you doing and coping with 2 small kids you poor divil!!

Steph yeah on finally moving!!! it will be great when you are unpacked and settled, how long do you get to live there i am not familiar with how these things work.

lou i am so techno phobic i wouldnt have a clue how to put up a picture maybe i will try get my sis to do it for me.

Positivethinking dont worry my appetite has really eased off i am making sure i eat 3 healthy meals a day and snack on fruit, i am not always hungry but still do it dont forget the baby takes all the vitamins and stuff 1st before you so it will be grand. Congrats on the scan isnt it amazing i still cant believe there is a baby in there though the swollen belly doesnt lie ha ha.

gi xxx

[Stephanieford78]

Lou - That's what I was on when I had a fresh cycle, maybe that's the difference? I hope my levels aren't anything to worry about. Regardless I am going to ask the OB when he does my labs to include estragen and progesterone. I hope everything is fine and dandy in there. lol

[katie99]

Hi everyone -

Well I give up. I'm not only still NOT released from my RE, but I have to go back on the 27th for more b/w. Aaaarrrgh! It seems that my progesterone has dropped to 20 since switching from the PIO to only 2 crinone 2x day. It was over 80 my last blood draw. Now I'm wondering if that was what the cramping recently was about. So I'm to continue on this for the next 2 weeks and then we'll see. I understand that your blood serum level will be lower on Crinone since it goes directly to your uterus and not systemic like PIO. But still this makes me nervous. Darn, my body is so stubborn!

Steph Yiippppeee for getting in the new house already! I know the feeling of moving often too. But it will feel like home soon. Just please dont overdo things in your quest to get the house perfect plesase. Thanks for explaining how to post pics! i'm really hoping for a good sono pic on friday - so now I know how to post it!

Hazel Yes! 2 more days for both of us! Dont be too frustrated by the dopplar, I think you should try to find the Hb at different times of day, and in different positions, and since the place doing my NT scan said to try eating a high calorie snack ( said a chocolate bar always gets them moving) maybe that would help in your case too? Just a thought. Keep trying - you will get to hear it, I think the baby was just in a bad spot that time. Tee hee I think he/she has a sense of humor already!

Claudia Whhhooo Hooo for hearing the HB! Ok now I am officially jealous of that. I havent had a u/s since 6 wks - ugh. How are you feeling Mama?
Other than exhausted, isnt it something? do you fall asleep if you sit down too long in the afternoon too? It happened today to me again! You know I really cannot wait until we have Franny over here.

Lou We are in the same boat. You've only had 1 u/s and I've had 2. But I've only saw a "dot" at 5 wks and a 'dot with a flicker" at 6 weeks. Its sort of hard to imagine that they look like babies already until you actually get to see it, I suppose. Ok so I'll wait until friday for this revelation and you'll wait until monday. Maybe THEN I'll allow myself to look at some baby things. Decorate a nursery? Are you kidding? The room we use as an office is tiny ( well this entire house is unfortunately too small) but it would be a better room for a nursery because it is always the warmest in the house. So the idea was to switch the office with the spare room. And while we're at it we may as well change out the lighting too. Now planning this is no problem, but getting my DH to actually get it done and finished? well thats where the problems lay. I love this man dearly, but handy? he isnt - sadly he thinks that he is and LOVES to start little projects that take FOREVER to get finished. So, ummm yeah you are right - I better get started on this soon. Tee heee who knows how long it will take him to finish

Gi Ah, you are so lucky to not be feeling exhausted all of the time. How is J doing? and your Mam? big hugs & kisses to her!

xoxoxo

[katie99]

Olim- midwife appt on 4/21 - EDD is on Aug 4
Hazel- next u/s 4/16 midwife appt on 5/26 - EDD is Sept 7
Riley - Its a GIRL! -EDD is on Oct 5
Malya - OB appt on 4/22 - EDD is Oct 10
Katie - NT scan on 4/16 -RE for b/w on 4/27 - OB appt on 4/30 -EDD is Oct 24
Merri - EDD is on Oct 26
KTelise - EDD is on Nov 3
Hope -EDD is on Nov 7
Gi -Saw 1 perfect baby waving! - next OB appt on 5/6 EDD is on Nov 14
Positive thinking -1st OB appt on 4/22 EDD is on Nov 14
Ronda- HB of 183! Released to OB! 1st OB appt on 4/23EDD is on Nov15
Lou- 1 strong HB! 1st OB appt on 4/19 - EDD is Nov 17
Claudia- next RE appt on 4/21 - 1st OB appt on 4/22 - EDD is on Nov28 - Thanksgiving weekend!
Meganlynn -1st OB appt on 4/16 - EDD is ?




Karen- EDD is Oct 4
Ashley -EDD is Oct 7
Stephanie- 2 strong heartbeats 130 & 149! - 1st OB appt is 4/19 -EDD is on Nov 4
Sara- Surprise twins! 2 strong heartbeats of 117 & 109 -EDD is ?
Babyluv- Surprise twins! 2 strong heart beats of 110 & 119 -EDD is on Nov 28

[Stephanieford78]

Gi - I am in this house for as long as we are stationed here. I am hoping we get to stay at least until the babies are born. The Army is unpredictable so who knows really. Though they say Fort Hood is the black hole of the Army and it takes a lot of luck to get out of this place. If that is true, we might be here quite awhile. I don't like this place much but stability while the babies are growing up would be nice.

Katie - I admit I have been doing more than I have been, but I have not had any side effects from it. Thank God! Spotting is very little so I am hopeful. I hope to see more pics being posted! I would love to see your sono pic Friday! Can't wait!!

[babyluv]

Katie - Grrr...I hate it when things don't go according to plan. Two more weeks...you can do it!

Stephanie - Glad you got moved in (and cable hooked up)! Hopefully now you can relax, maybe just a little! That's a lot to handle already having a DD and being pg with twins!

AFM - Had my first OB appt today and all went well. My spotting came back yesterday and today, but OB seemed to think it was from the progesterone inserts. After he started my exam, he was all but convinced, so that made me feel better. I didn't get an u/s today, but I will in 4 weeks, and every 4 weeks after that. I'll definitely see a HR dr at some point, probably starting around 4-5 months. So far still feeling pretty good, especially today. I feel like I need to unbutton my pants by lunchtime, but hey, whatever

[Hope644]

just a real quickie - i'm exhausted.. had to work over today for a stupid meeting...

i just wanted to say to HAZEL - my friend has a doppler which she used and shared with me during my 1st pg. She said she tried her entire pregnancy to find it --- and only did THE DAY BEFORE she delivered!! I NEVER found it with mine. I just think it takes a little bit of skill, a lot of luck - and to be honest, I don't think most of them are nearly as good as the ones in the dr offices... so don't worry if you don't find it... everything is GOOD!

hugs

[hjw]

Thank you everyone on the words of encouragement for using the Doppler. I decided to try again yesterday afternoon and found the heartbeat after about a minute, albeit very faint. It was much much lower down than I expected (even though the top of my uterus is supposed to be up by my belly button by now, the baby seems to be almost as far down as the pubic bone, for some reason). It was pretty faint but definitely the baby's heartbeat and not mine (I felt my pulse at the same time just to make sure!). Whoever said it was right about the home Doppler being nowhere near as sensitive as the ones the midwives use - if I moved it away even by a few millimetres, I lost the heartbeat and had to move it back again. So I think that might explain why I couldn't find it the first time - if the baby is turned around or towards the back of your body rather than the front, I think the home Doppler isn't sensitive enough to find it - you have to be right over the top of the heart to hear the heartbeat, and even then it's pretty faint. So I tried again this morning and found it again, in roughly the same place and just as faint. So now I'm feeling a bit more confident, I may tell DH I've bought it! And it may be useful to take on holiday in case I feel worried and want to check that the baby is still there!

So from my limited experience, my tips if any of you are thinking about getting a home Doppler would be (1) the package says it works from 14-16 weeks onwards, but I'm 19 weeks and can only hear it faintly, so don't be tempted to try really really early because you may just get yourself too worried if you can't find it (2) if you do get one, it might not be a bad idea to try for the first time a day or two before a planned u/s, so that if you can't find the heartbeat, you have an u/s coming up soon to reassure yourself that everything's fine, and that it was just the Doppler not being sensitive enough and (3) you need to search for the heartbeat way lower down than you may think, and move the Doppler slowly because you have to be right on top of it to hear it, and even then it may be quiet.

claud - so happy for you that you saw and heard the heartbeat!

babyluv - glad to hear that your appointment went well, but boo for not being given an u/s. Don't they know how desperate we all are for as many u/s's as possible???

positive - like gi said, the baby will take whatever nutrients it needs first, and will be just fine. So don't worry if for a short while your diet isn't what you'd like it to be. Things will improve at the end of the first trimester and then you'll be able to get back to more normal eating habits. Hope you're enjoying having your Mum to stay!

lou - we had 8 eggs this time, 6 fertilised and we had 4 still going at day 3 (hence taking it to day 5, which turned out to be a bit risky as only one made it that far - but as the saying goes, it only takes one!). So maybe still a boy? We shall see... We're actually leaning towards not finding out now (the NHS hospital won't tell us tomorrow anyway as a matter of policy, so we would need to book a private scan to find out, and I'm not sure we will). Not long to go until your u/s on Monday! Are you starting to get very excited?

Steph - thanks for the tips on how to post a photo, I didn't have a clue so that's really helpful! I will see if I can work out how to post the u/s picture tomorrow when we get back from the hospital! Yay for being able to be more active, and for only a little spotting!!

gi - thanks for the good luck wishes for tomorrow, I'll be sure to check in and let you all know how I get on!

Katie - only one more sleep for us! Getting excited now? You are going to be blown away when you see how your 'blob' has turned into an identifiable baby in the last 6 weeks... Hahaha, I can't believe your RE still wants to see you again - at this rate, he'll be wanting you in for a blood draw as you're on the way to the hospital to deliver! I wouldn't worry at all about your levels any more, the placenta will be starting to do all the work shortly, if not already. Thanks for the tip about chocolate for tomorrow - I mentioned it to a friend the other day who is 37 weeks and she said to be careful with it, as at the 20 week scan they need to do lots of detailed measurements, and if the baby's moving around too much they may not be able to take them and we'll be sent away to come back another day! So I'm thinking that I'll take some sweets (that's candy, to you guys across the pond) and some chocolate in my handbag, and see how I get on.

Take care everyone,
Hazel

[malya324]

Ok guys, scary week. Tuesday I woke up and went to the bathroom where a gush of blood and clots came pooring out. Needless to say I was freaking out. This is the 4th time its happened. As long as the cramping doesn't start I don't get hysterical but I did call every dr. in my phone. The Re says I was too far along to come to him and the OB sent the answering service to call me back and tell me to ly down and if it doesn't stop to go to the ER. WHAT! Why can't he get on the phone and tell me that, not some random answering service person, it was 8 in the morning! Anyway we went directly to the ER. There was literaly noone there. I was in and back home by noon. They did blood work and an ultrasound, saw a hb at 153 ave and the little guy was movin and shaking. Thank G-d! They gave me a shot of Remisomething (to counteract my rh - factor) Now I feel fine, spotting alittle but when I went to the OB yesterday we saw the little guy again dancing and he said he sees old blood and trhat all should be ok and this might happen again. Anyone ever have this? Very un cool!

[Stephanieford78]

Babyluv - Oh I will have it easy, my DD is almost 11. You have two little ones and twins on the way... WOW! I am sure they will be cute little helpers.

Hope - Feel better and let us know how things are going! I have been wanting to take naps more often lately for some reason. I thought I was over that.

Hazel - YAY you found it on your own! I knew you would if you kept at it. It figures that the ones you buy from the internet aren't as good as the ones at the Doc's office. I bet those ones are expensive though. Can't wait to know if you tell DH and what his reaction is.

Malya - I know exactly how scarey that is! I have my OB appt Monday and I am hoping he will do a scan, if for no other reason to see if the bleed is still there. Of course, I want to see the babies too but I would love to know if it is going away or if I should prepare for it to keep acting up. So far the past few days have looked really well! DH said that I have been more active and that should have irritated the bleed, but doesn't appear to have so I am optimistic.

[hjw]

Hi guys, we're just back from our 20 week ultrasound (or, strictly speaking, our 19wk3day ultrasound!). Everything looks good, all the baby's measurements are above average for its 'age' but still just within the normal upper range, except for the stomach which is measuring quite a bit above the 97th centile. Apparently that's nothing to worry about though - no idea where he/she gets the beer belly from, it's not DH or I, although we do like our beer!! In case you're interested, the measurements they took were:

head width - 47.4mm
femur length - 31mm
head circumference - 175mm
abdominal circumference - 158mm

The notes they printed out say that the EFW (I'm guessing estimated foetal weight?) is 343g, which I think is about 12 ounces.

It was incredible seeing all the detail that they can find at this point - we saw two perfectly formed footprints, the bladder, the kidneys, the four chambers of the heart, the two lobes in the brain and a bunch of other stuff besides. Unfortunately, the picture they gave me to bring home is a bit rubbish by comparison to what we saw on the screen (I wish now we'd asked for a picture of the footprints instead!) but I'm going to try and follow Steph's instructions and attach a copy. You can see the baby's head in profile, one arm in the foreground, the hands towards the top, and of course the larger than average stomach!

Take care everyone. Can't wait to see your ultrasound picture, Katie!

Hazel