May cycle buddies :)

[PA_FA]

*******UPDATE***********
My OB is giving in to my irrational fear that I may miscarry at any moment. I have no idea why I think this...anyhow, they are sending me for a sono and u/s right now!!!!! I have to go get the script at their office first. Waiting for DH to hurry home so we can go.
I'll let you all know how it turns out. Cross fingers and toes for me!!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXO

[riogirl71]

I am here praying for you PA-FA!

[PA_FA]

Ok like DH says.... Irrational fear. The u/s tech said she could not tell us anything but I asked her to turn the screen so I could look for the flicker of a hb. Omg baby bean has grown! Everything is ok and tech even told me it had a hb of 173. That's good right? She printed me a new picture so I have a new one to look at. Oh I feel soooo much better! Have a wonderful evening. Me and DH are off to see Cinderella in concert. Rock on 80s hair bands!!! LOL

[kizmet]

Hey PA_FA,
Glad to hear you were able to get the US that you needed - if not because there was something wrong, but just to put your mind at ease. Very happy to hear all is well. You did the right thing.

Kiz

[mev0630]

Hi everyone! Sorry I have been away for awhile, I did do a couple posts on the "February 2011 Babies" board, but basically I've been preoccupied with morning sickness. It started on the holiday weekend, with extreme nausea throughout the day, with sporadic bouts of headaches and vomiting . It doesn't help that my husband has been out of the country since June 29th and we don't really have family or close friends out here. But I've started to feel better and have made some changes to my diet and my medication schedule that have made it more bearable.

I'm so behind with everyone, so no personals until I can catch up on all the reading. But I do hope that everyone is doing well and taking good care of themselves.

I did get to catch PA_FAs post earlier and as I read it I thought I was reading my own thoughts:

I just want to make sure my baby is ok. I have this totally irrational fear that I'll miscarry. I have no clue why I think that since it has never happened to me. I mean heck, I have never been able to get pregnant. I just have a hard time believing that I can really be this lucky. I really just want another scan. This is horrible. UGH...do you think we'll all feel better when we can feel the baby/babies moving every day?

I've been feeling that way for the past week or so, you would think the morning sickness would be my reassurance but not being able to see, hear, or feel them, I just want to make sure they're okay and doing well. So, last week I called my OB and asked what can be done for a highly-anxious, IVF veteran, first-time pregnant desperate woman and she agreed to have me meet her at her other office this Thursday for a U/S. (I'll be 9 1/2 weeks. Otherwise I wasn't scheduled for an U/S until Week 20!) I knew I liked her! I'm going to talk to her about what I can do for the future because once a month appts is too few for me.

Also, I want to thank everyone for their feedback, comments, and opinions regarding my questions on screening and diagnostic testing. My husband and I decided to go ahead with the screening since it's non-invasive and would give us information plus an extra U/S, however it turns out that the scheduling didn't work out. The screening happens between Week 11- Week 13 Day 6. And that is exactly the time frame that I will be out of town and the tech only does the screening U/S every other Tuesday. Oh well. My OB says that we can screen during the second trimester as well with a Level II U/S.

So, despite my unfounded fears, anxiety, and nervousness - I'm assuming my little embryos are growing big, strong, and healthy! And I'm glad that I only have to wait until Thursday morning to take a peek at them. Everyday, I hold my lower abdomen and quietly say, "Grow embryos grow" and "Healthy happy babies"!!

[Kamaile]

i think we all have that fear of miscarriage lingering around in our minds....we have all been thru SO much to get to this point and it almost seems like 'this cant be happening...somethings bound to go wrong'....i too have been consumed with anxiety and doubt....i have been having alot of cramping and stretching feeling in my uterus since last night...and i dont go back to the OB til thursday...i called him though and he said to double up on my progesterone shots until i see him on thurs....great...that makes me feel scared like somethings wrong....ugh.....i wonder if you can hear baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope?? i should have hubby bring his home today lol...oh and my friend has a fetal heartbeat doppler that she said she would loan me...she said that gave her peace of mind when she was pregnant.

[kitty_mom]

Hi Ladies

PA_FA-I have the same fear. I don't know if it is because it did happen to me before or not. It doesn't help much that when I went to the OB the other day I had an u/s 1st in a different part of the hospital and the insensitive Doctor reading the u/s (didn't even know they did that) said "Well dear just be cautious who you tell since it is only 9 weeks and the miscarriage rate is still high". I freaked out. I said I'll remain positive and you can keep your negative thoughts to yourself and I got up and left. I got to my OB and told him I will never have another u/s if that man is working I was beside myself. How can people be so rude!

Anyway-no new news here. How's everyone else doing?

[PA_FA]

Good morning ladies! I am so glad I am not the only one feeling this way. My DH thinks I am crazy that I am so paranoid. At least I'm not alone. So last night we went to see the Cinderella concert. (Hair band from the 80s) It was awesome but my ears are still ringing. Thank God baby can not hear yet!!!! DH looked at me as we were walking in and said, "It's our baby's first concert!" I thought that was cute and really shows he's coming along in getting excited.

Kamaile- Did you have DH bring home the stethescope? What does he do in the medical field?

Kitty- What an @$$!!!!!!!!!! OMG I swear some people just should not have any interaction with other people. Don't let his stupid comments bother you. I felt so much better after my 9 wk u/s. Yes we all realize something bad could happen but staying positive is really all we have to hang on to, right? Don't worry Kitty, your babies are going to be awesome!
Oh and btw, where in MA are you? DH and I were thinking about taking our 3rd anniversary to Salem. Do you know anything about the area or any good B&B? It's in Oct so I know we need to plan asap with Witchy Happenings going on. Yeah fun! At least we can drive it and not fly. Let me know!

[purpleFish]

PA - it is not an irrational fear. It is perfectly normal to want to know that everything is okay. It is nice once you can feel movement, then you can have that extra reassurance more often.

Kitty - really I think all of us who worked so hard to get pregnant need that extra knowledge to keep us sane!

Kamalie - It is so hard. Cramping and stretching is not a bad thing. You will feel lots of stretching and muscle pain as your belly expands. I know it is so hard. I am so calm because I have done this once before so I know what kinds of pains are normal! I am sure everything will be great.

I wanted to add a note about genetic screening. My doctor said the blood test is not very accurate for twins so he recommends against it. The ultrasound is obviously still accurate.

[kitty_mom]

PA_FA-I love Salem We have never stayed at a hotel there because we live fairly close so I have no suggestions for you. We actually went a few weeks ago. My husband is a direct descendant of one of the women hung and accused of being a witch. Pretty interesting stuff! I think you may have a better shot of going in the beginning of the month since its a little less crowded yet all the Halloween haunted happenings are still going on! I highly recommend sending away for some info (Or even go online) from the Salem Visitors Bureau. Very historical place I think that you will enjoy it. There is a great cart that sells lemonade in the center near all the tshirt vendors and the Salem Beer Works has pretty good food. The haunted houses can be pretty scary in October, if I remember there is a rating on the "scare" factor listed somewhere in the literature, or at least there used to be. How are you feeling? A little less anxious after seeing the little one? I dont go back for three weeks and I find that to be entirely way too long!

Rio-How are you doing there lady? When is the next blood draw? Hope you good news real soon

Hope everyone is well.

[PA_FA]

Kitty- Thanks for the info! That is completely AWESOME about your DH! I have been fascinated with Salem since I was a child growing up in KS. LOL Our anniversary is Oct 20 so our vacation is already that week. It's unchangeable. We are just looking to go for maybe 3 days. It's only a 5 hr drive for us or so I have heard. It's up in the air right now. Not sure what we will do. Feeling much better. Thanks for asking. I do feel much better after seeing the little bean...who is not so bean-like any more! I go back in 2 more weeks. My apt this week was unplanned and just kind of lucky that I got it. Have a great weekend...I'm off to fly again!

[Tess69]

Hi all

So much to catch up on.

PA-FA, Kitty, Kamaile, Purplefish - I can understand your fear and don't think that it is irrational at all. IVF ladies go through a massive rollercoaster ride and I think that a good doctor is aware of and sensitive to that fact. Stay positive, lots of nice tummy rubs, chats and singing to your little beans! Even if they can't hear yet

Rio - personally, if finances allow, I would opt for the best clinic/treatment available. If I was a spring chicken, I might consider being part of a study but due to my age i.e. 40, I would concentrate on obtaining the best quality eggs possible and it doesn't sound like the study allows you that option. How are your HCG levels going?

Mev - your morning sickness sounds awful but I'm glad a new diet and drug regimen is helping.

I started to bleed on Wednesday - without the aid of drugs. I had an initial well-up of tears but then an overwhelming sense of relief that it is time to move on. I've got a bt this morning to check my HCG levels so hopefully they come down from 3000+.

DH's Nana passed away last night so we're off to catch up with the rest of the family today. She was in her 80's and very frail. She'd been in and out of the hospital for a good couple of years and really had no will to live left.

Have a good weekend everybody.

[Kamaile]

HI everyone, hope all is doing well!!

Tess, sorry to hear about your DH nana....hope you guys are doing okay at this time..hang in there.

Went to my OB today and everything was fine with my little bean...he (or she) has grown quite a bit and was moving around alot during the U/S and at one point you could even see his little arm waving lol...that was absolutely precious!!! So i guess cramping and streching feelings are kind of normal then...but im still on progesterone shots twice a day until 12 weeks...then i get to go to one shot in the am and a suppository at night YAY! My OB said i will be on some sort of progesterone until i am like 30 weeks! OMG, if its shots, I wont be able to walk by then lol..

[Tess69]

Hi all

Just seeking some advice from all you twin mummies/twin mummies to be. Had an appt with my RE today to discuss my next cycle - a FET. I have two good blastocysts ready to transfer on day five post-ovulation of my next natural cycle. The RE recommended transferring only one embryo rather than two. This would give DH and I another shot at an FET cycle should the one embryo not implant. RE is also concerned that blastocysts are more likely to implant, resulting in twins and therefore increased complications. I am 40 (as is DH) and have never been pregnant before, except of course after my first IVF cycle a couple of months ago which subsequently miscarried. I had 2 x day three embryos transplanted during my previous (chemical) IVF cycle. Ultimately the decision lies with DH and I but I'd really appreciate any thoughts/opinions/advice.

My HCG was 4000+ last Friday. Arrgghh! Frustrating it's still on the rise but hopefully now that I'm bleeding it'll start heading its way down.

Hope everyone is fine.

[kitty_mom]

Hi Tess
DH and I struggled with the same decision and ultimately decided to transfer 2, resulting in our twin pregnancy We were debating between 2 & 3 though. Since our prior IVF ended in a m/c we wanted to maximize our chances. Fortunately for us we didnt have to decide out of the 13 eggs only two made it to transfer (We never had any luck freezing) We couldn't be happier with the news of twins. I know that they will be a handful but we have no children now so we wont know the difference between raising one versus two at the same time. I'm praying that all goes well with this pregnancy and that both babies are born very healthy. Then we have our "instant family" (as some people have been referring to it) and I dont have to go through any more shots, extractions, dissapointments, etc.

Best of luck with whatever you decide just wanted to give you my little input

Hope all you other ladies are doing fantastic!