Summer 2011 Pregnancy Group - Welcome! Pg.1 Has Intros!

[riogirl71]

Great news Freckles!

[baby_blu73]

Freckles - I'm sure everything is great! Besides, your lab doesn't seem to have the greatest track record. I'm sure the doc would be the person's opinion to trust in this situation.

Ryann - I did have the blood work done with my NT. They did let me know that IF the results from the blood work came back questionable (due to two babies), that the u/s results would be what they based the final result on. So, the blood work part was basically for nothing since it wouldn't have been an issue if it came back abnormal but the u/s was fine. Also, our u/s tech at the NT scan thought they were both boys... at 12 weeks! Which was confirmed at our 18 wk anatomy scan. So, in my experience, those techs know their stuff.

I'm not sure how I feel about my OB's policy on NOT checking the cervix at all unless there's "reason" to... It scares me. I know having two singleton pregnancies carried to term without issues could very well indicate a pretty competent cervix. DS was just shy of 9 lbs, so it can hold some weight. BUT I'm not a fan of waiting for a "reason" because from what I've read, by then it could be too late. DH's opinion is that our OB has been practicing since I was born, yada yada yada... well, so have a lot of OBs that DO take the extra steps to be a little more cautious. I just don't know... I meet with her again (only the second time) on the 1st, guess I'll have to get some answers then.

[deidraj]

Hello ladies. I can not help much with the testing issues. We decided that we would not do testing. One reason is due to age, since I'm only 25 and my DH was 27 at the time (he's had a birthday since). Also, we knew that we would love this baby no matter what and that nothing the tests would say would make us want our baby any less. We are taking what God gives us because this is it for us, we only get to do this once. That, and I tend to worry and stress out over things that end up being nothing. I didn't want to get a test back and worry about it and then it turn into nothing.

As for u/s, I unfortunately had to wait from 8 weeks until almost 20 weeks in between. I am not pregnant with twins though, so I'm not sure if I would have had more if I was. My OB told me that most insurances don't cover more than 1 u/s and so they only do 1 unless a medical issue comes up. I would have loved to see my little girl more often, and I would love to see her again before she is set to arrive, but it looks like I will have to be patient.

I am also sick, again. I blame it on working at a preschool with toddlers & that this pregnancy is stealing my immune system. Since I've been pregnant I've had the stomach bug twice, an upper respiratory infection, and a sinus infection twice. The sinus infection just went away late last week and then last night I woke up with a sore throat and my nose is stuffy again. I am so over being this sick. I can't wait for warm weather and to feel better.

[karenthescorpio]

Steph- you are right to not accept the until there is a reason approach in regards to your cervix. Carrying twins is reason enough!!! The pressure isn't the same as a big singleton. I would insist on it. I can give you hundreds of stories that ended poorly due to this attitude. It is hard enough to manage a cervical issue with warning!

Deidraj- I'm sick too. For the second time since December. Stinks big time. My throat hurts like heck and I was put on antibiotic bc it is infected. Waiting on throat culture results. Hope it isn't viral bc no drugs will help me. Hope you feel better soon!

[karenthescorpio]

Thanks everyone for chiming in! I read online that sometimes they will take a guess at the NT of the gender...anyone have the tech guess at theirs?

Karen...I spoke with my OB about wanting to keep a close eye on my cervix because I don't want to find out when it's too late that there's something wrong. He said that because we will be doing so many ultrasounds he will check it often and stitch it of need-be. However, my last ultrasound was at 8 weeks and my next (aside from the NT) is at 20...does this seem right or should I push to have it checked earlier??

Ryan- I would request that your cervix be checked long before 20 weeks. I wouldn't call making you wait 12 weeks between ultrasounds keeping an eye on it! When I was 23 weeks I was as big as a 30-31 wk singleton pregnancy. Is your doc experienced with twins? From my experience and from what I have learned waiting until 20 weeks is late. I'm having mine checked bi- weekly starting this Friday, just before I hit 16 weeks. That's kind of a standard time to do it for a singleton. You are right to question waiting that long! Cervical changes can happen fast!

[zoegirl]

I agree with everyone about having the OB check cervix before 20 weeks and not wait for a "reason." It is not an invasive test and not difficult, so why not? I have read too many stories of women who were discovered to be contracting, dilating, or effacing earlier than 20 weeks. If my OB won't do it I will find one who will. After everything I have been thru to get pregnant with these babies i am NOT going to lose them because some OB doesn't feel like taking the trouble to check!!

[karenthescorpio]

I agree with everyone about having the OB check cervix before 20 weeks and not wait for a "reason." It is not an invasive test and not difficult, so why not? I have read too many stories of women who were discovered to be contracting, dilating, or effacing earlier than 20 weeks. If my OB won't do it I will find one who will. After everything I have been thru to get pregnant with these babies i am NOT going to lose them because some OB doesn't feel like taking the trouble to check!!

Amen girl!!!! I lost my twins due to a weak cervix that I didn't know I had. However I told my MFM when I started seeing him early in that pregnancy that my mother had to have a cerclage put on for me and my brother and that I wanted my cervix looked at frequently. And he did and it was noted in my 15th week that it was shortening and funneling I.e an incompetent cervix. I had a rescue cerclage put on in my 19th week. My stupid and now ex-MFM waited 4 weeks to do something about it! So if any of you ladies see any changes take action!

[karin1]

Okay ladies.....the cervix issue is new to me. My OB didn't even bring it up. How did I not know to ask? I guess this is a question I should be asking at my next appt? I guess I should be making a list so that I don't forget anything. Thanks again for keeping me informed!

Rio......We are all moved in and have been doing lots of chores around the house. There's so much to do....seems never-ending. What a bummer not to get to find out what 'flavor' you have yet.....but the most important thing is to know that he or she is healthy. The best news yet!

[gina55]

Hi Ladies! I am still dealing with pneumonia, 5 weeks now and I've had it

Deidra and Karen : Hope you both feel better soon!

As far as the cervix check goes the MFM docs that I see say it should be checked starting at 16 weeks. If I feel pressure it's checked every 2 weeks, if I'm not feeling any pressure it's checked monthly. I guess every doctor is different though.

Freckles : do you have your 20 week anatomy scan scheduled? They can see so much more and give you a better idea of defects.

We had our NT scan and bloodwork at 12 weeks. Everything was perfect with our twins. Not sure if them being identical was why they did the bloodwork.

Ultrasounds are still every 2 weeks. We have a fetal echo scheduled for next Tuesday as my son has 2 congenital heart defects that went undetected while I was pregnant with him. Everything looked great at our 20 week scan but they would rather be 100% sure.

[mellow4]

Gina, you need to get better!!! Sorry you still feel so crummy. Hopefully soon.

[Karian]

Hello everyone!

Sorry I've been MIA.... I work full time and I also went back to college after 8 years of absence. If it was hard before working, school and house work.... Now it's ten times harder!....

Gina: i'm so sorry you have been sick for so long..... I hope you get better soon.

Karin1: Moving can be such an exhausting task, but take things easy.... one box at a time. Don't try to unpack everything right away.... Good Luck!

Karen: Hope you feel better soon. How do they check for the cervix?.... is it a routine exam?

Deidra: That's a long wait!....Hope you get better soon.

Freckles: Tests are not conclusive..... I'm sure everything will be fine and soon you will have a perfect baby in your arms.

Mellow: I know the pain!.... Eat ice cream and soft stuff.... it will pass soon!.. I had braces for over 8 years!!!!

Rio: I'm sorry you were not able to find out..... hope you are doing great!

AFM: Still with the nausea.... It's not that bad and to me it's mainly in the morning... it gets much better after lunch. I'll be having a Secuencial Screening next week. Everything seems fine so far. I'm a little worried about the belly size!.... I'm only 10 weeks and i'm already showing. It seems to soon to me... but everyone is different I guess.

Here is my belly picture @ 10 weeks

[rypell1985]

Ladies! Had my NT today...both babies look perfect!!!! They danced all over the screen and it was amazing!!! The doc said, with 80% certainty, that it's a boy and girl!!!! My little man has a placenta on the front (I can't remember the name he said)...does anyone know anything about that?

[mellow4]

Ryann~ Yay! Congratulations to you! I believe that a placenta in the front is called anterior. How exciting! I can't wait to find out in 2 weeks! They thought both were girls at about the same time as the one you had today...so we will see! Isn't it fun to watch them doing their thing on the screen??

[karin1]

Ryann......That's great! Isn't it so wonderful to see them moving and dancing around? So exciting!

Mellow.....You have braces? I just got mine off in December. I had them on for a little over a year. I have a retainer that I'm supposed to wear, but can't. I gag everytime I put it in. I'm worried that my teeth are going to move. I know being pregnant and braces just sucks!

Karian.....Cute little bump! Hopefully your nausea will ease soon. I was the same way and mine is just now starting to get better.

AFm......I got a call about my NT blood results and they were negative! Thank goodness! I was beginning to wonder because it's been 2 wks and I hadn't heard anything. I started reading about the incompetent cervix thing and I will be asking my OB to check mine. I have been having more of a discharge the past week or so (sorry tmi) which I thought was normal from what I've read, but then I read that it's also symptom of incompetent cervix. Which is scary. I've also been coughing alot too from being sick and last night I actually felt like I peed a little when I coughed. I couldn't believe it. Lots of women say this happens, but I never thought I would experience it so soon or even at all. This pregnancy stuff really brings lots of surprises!

[mellow4]

Karin~ Glad your results came back negative! Good news. As far as the TMI...well none of us mind, we are all doing weird things too! haha. I'm there on the issue you are having though, and it has me concerned, so I will ask about it when I go in on the 24th. Coughing and peeing just come with the territory, along with sneezing and peeing. It's an occupational hazard that comes with pregnancy...so fun!! And yes, braces suck while pregnant...can't stand it. I will have them on just until the babies are born, it will have been less than a year, but holy cow, they are killing me trying to get them off so fast! It's really hard when it hurts too bad to chew food, so I'm left with soft foods for now. I know I will be happy when it's all over, but right now I am kicking myself for getting them on. We live and learn..oh well!!