May 2009 mommies, come join the fun!

[slfleming1]

Hey Ladies -

Glad to hear that all is well with Smiles after an awful hospital visit on Friday. I'm so happy for you! Sopie - I haven't gone through half of what you have, but totally see how it's so hard for others to understand what IVF takes both physically and mentally. I spent Friday with my Mom showing her the lists of medication, the shots, and telling her of the stress of all the tests and I think she finally got it. I didn't tell her any of it was going on until my first IVF in June, so I don't think she realized everything that led up to it. Val - good luck with the US on Thursday! I had my first US last Friday and saw a HB, and since we have the same due date your US was much earlier than mine. My fingers are crossed for you!

It sounds like I am having way more morning sickness than the rest of you! I have the spots on my face, burping, gas, and almost constant nausea. I spoke to my mother last weekend about it, and she had awful morning sickness with me and my brother, and per my friend Bev it is quite common to be hereditary. So let's hope this doesn't last long! I haven't thrown up yet, but have come close. I'm doing the anti-nausea bracelets, preggie pop drops, and eating all the time. I'm also incredibly exhausted. So basically I just feel sick!!!!

BTW - It was really neat for my mom to be at the US. I think she loved being there! Tomorrow I may go help my SIL with my nephew, who is one week old today! It is a lot of fun seeing the little guy and knowing he'll have a cousin in the Spring!

Best of luck to everyone,

-Stacy

[PMApsy]

Hi ladies!

How are you doing? The board is a bit quiet!!! Where is everybody? Sleeping I guess...

Valerie,
Thanks for your encouraging words. Alas, like you said, people can still lack understanding even if they know what you've been through. My father and his wife know about all my surgeries and treatments, because they know the doctors who performed them. So they do know what I've been through, same for my PIL, to whom I explained all the details. But you know what? In the train, after I posted my rant, I decided to forgive them all. I know that I'll be the only one hurting if I keep resenting them for their attitude. Deciding to forgive and doing it is another story, but I feel that the process has well started already. GOod luck for your ultrasound tomorrow, I'm keeping everything crossed and I'll make sure I check the board for news!!!! *HUGS*

Smiles2IVF,
By the way, your Ob-gyn is SO right, ER docs are SO not used to dealing with early pregnancies; they make the miscarriage call far too easily. Shew! Hang in there and grow, little beanie! Still no spotting I hope.

Amanda and Anie, how are you guys coping with the twin news nowadays? :D

Stefanie,
Amazing, we're exactly the same! Technically, I should be 9 weeks 3 days today, but I changed my ticker after the first ultrasound, knowing that there is still a margin of error. My friend got her "official" due date after the prenatal ultrasound at 12 weeks 3 days, so I guess I'll know "for sure" at the end of the month. She's now due on April 10th, two days before what we had calculated. Well, given that you're expecting twins, you'll deliver way before me! Don't worry too much about exercising. I also eat often in order to avoid nausea, but I just make sure I eat well. I know I'm eating very well, and I've changed my work schedule just a bit so I walk to and from the train station in the morning and in the afternoon, plus the walking I do while taking the subway. I also try to take the stairs as often as I can at the hospital where I work (4-5 floors is my max). I also do yoga once a week. And I'm sure that it's enough. Well, time will tell, I'll know next week at my first prenatal apt... I'm sorry about the little scare, it is scary indeed, but I'm glad the spotting went away. Never fun to see that... what is the CVS test? I'm sorry that you felt so much pressure from the genetic consultant. I mean, if you're ready to face the consequences of not testing that way, why argue with you? If something was REALLY wrong with one of the babies, it would show on the ultrasound!

Stacy,
Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad that your mom finally caught up with you and can be on the same page. Your little nephew sounds really cute; it must be very emotional to hold him and think you'll have your own baby to cuddle next year. Sorry about the nausea... if all those things don't relaly help and you still find that nausea interferes with your normal functioning, then I can't recommend Diclectin enough. My father's wife took it during her three pregnancies (the whole pregnancy; she was very sick), and my sisters and brother are perfectly fine. It's mostly minerals and vitamins, the pharmacist told me, and it completely changed my life. Now I simply have to take snacks often and I'm absolutely fine.

As for me, I'm doing very well. Yesterday, I went shopping with my best friend. She had her prenatal testing done and it was very emotional. The pictures were so cute! The baby really looks human at that stage (she was 12 weeks 3 days). They heard the heartbeat and the ultrasound took about 20 minutes. The echographist told her that the baby seems really fine. No spina bifida, the brain is okay, there is liquid in the stomach and bladder, which is good, there is a nose bone and the hands moved fine, which means she's low risk for Down Syndrome, the spine is perfect, and so on. She even got a little CD!!! Oh, I can't wait for my turn... October 27th! Seems lile AGES away!

So we went shopping for maternity clothes. She bought a Bella Band and is very satisfied. We found a nice store and almost bought everything we need in it. Yup, the clothes are expensive, but I'll wear them from now until the end of my pregnancy (although I'll also wear my normal pants with the Bella Band as long as I can). It was amazing to try on those clothes, and they were very fashion! Yay! And DH will help pay for all this given that he earns more than me. Yay!

My PIL are about to come back from a little trip. Hehehehe silly me, but I hope they'll bring back some baby clothes as souvenirs! Other than that, working from home today. Had several dramas yesterday at work, but the patients seem to be doing much better today, phew.

So have a great day ladies, and please give us a sign! :D

Sophie xxox

[kerpupples]

Great news, 1 heartbeat @117 BPM!!! It was very cool, we could actually hear it! Our little bean is 5.75 mm and measures 6w3d, a day ahead of schedule. Still at 15% chance of miscarriage but we can't help but be excited!

My RE still didn't want to reduce my progesterone dose, but I broke down and asked to switch to Endometrium. I can't bear these knots for another month. And you know what? They gave me a week's worth of samples!

Sophie - What I've found is that you really can't expect any reasonable degree of empathy from people who haven't gone through this before. I struggled with it too but I finally just accepted it. Sounds like you found some peace on the matter.

Stacy - I don't envy you the nausea! It hasn't been bad for me yet but it is creeping up slowly.

Stef - Like I said in the other thread, I'm really glad your scare was nothing more than that! I think the walking one does in NYC is probably plenty of exercise, especially with twins!

Val - Please keep us posted on tomorrow, we're all pulling for you honey!

[PMApsy]

Kerpupples,
CONGRATULATIONS on your healthy little beanie!!!! Strange your docs told you 15%. All the specialists I talked to agree that you drop to barely 5% when you find a heartbeat... then less than 1% when you finally graduate from the first trimester!

Val, can't wait for news!!!!

Sophie xxox

[stefanie]

Thanks Kerpupples - on the other thread I said it and I'll say it here. I'm so darn happy for you and your heartbeat.

Is anyone else spotting????? I am spotting again today. I just like to hear that its normal. need to hear that it's normal. I am resting inside today. I have theater tickets tonight but will take a cab, and maybe sleep this afternoon.

stefanie

[kerpupples]

Sophie - Thanks! Ghost has also posted that same figure here. It's higher for women with prior miscarriages. My RE gave me those same figures - normally drops to 5%, then down to 1% after 10 weeks.

Stefanie - I'm sure your spotting is nothing to worry about, not that it will stop you from worrying! You're doing the right thing taking it easy.

[Miracle08]

Hi ladies...sorry for crashing the party! i hope you dont mind.

Congratulations to you all!!!!

Sophie!!! How are you love?? How are your doggies doing?? I am sorry your big announcement didnt go as planned. You are such a good person. Always forgiving!!!

Anyway, how is the little baby doing? Any new symptoms??

As always, thinking of ya girlie!!!

Love,
Mir

[valerie68]

Good evening ladies,

Here is my US update.

Re found an embryo measuring 6w2d instead of 7w4d. So I'm 9 days behind.
He searched and searched for a heartbeat for a long time and was about to give up when he said: Wait, I just saw a faint heartbeat! The nurse saw it as well. I don't know how fast because it was too faint to measure. Last time I couldn't see a beanie at all but very visible this time.

Not the best scenario at all but not the worst either. I have to hang on to every glimpse of hope that I get. I think I might have a great fighter in there and will fight alongside him for sure...gotta give him all I have.
I was crying right before RE started the US but I feel much better tonight. I've got to hold on to all my PMA and strength for baby's sake.

My nurse and RE told me that they have seen cases similar to mine and baby was just fine. Why not me?

Kerpupples~ I'll say it again...Big congrats on seeing a strong hb!!
I've read as well that your miscarriage rate drops to 5 %, so don't you worry about a thing.

Stefanie~ I'm sorry that you're spotting again. But I'll tell you that I've read so many times that it is normal, especially with twins. I'm glad you're taking it easy as it is the best thing you can do for yourself and the babies.

Stacy~ I know you have a lot of nausea but you're doing great or should I say the babies are doing great.
I think you will have a wonderful time with your nephew.

Sophie ~Thanks for the good wishes. How fun that you went shopping for maternity clothes. I know you are probably excited to start wearing them asap.

Well, I hope you all have a good night and I'll talk to you later.

Much love,

Val

[beaglebaby]

Hi All,

Sorry I've been MIA...crazy week! Great to hear that we have HBs all over the place!

Val~You're doing the right thing by not giving up hope! I feel terrible for you having to wait...and wait...and wait to find out if everything's okay with your baby. We're all pulling for you and your baby!:)

Sophie~Sorry that your announcement didn't have the happy feeling that it should've had. You deserve a celebration when you struggle with infertility, no matter how many children you have or how many times you go through it! I don't have ANY experience in telling people about this stuff, so I'm not expecting much from those that don't know about IVF...hopefully joy and excitement, but I'll understand if people don't get it...I don't understand what they go through in their lives, I'm sure, so I try not to get too down about what other people do or how they think. Luckily, those who've known about our IVF experience have been extremely supportive and excited about our news so far! Still haven't told the PIL...not our favorite people, so we're waiting until at least 12 weeks to tell them.

I get to tell my grandma this weekend when her and my parents come to visit us in CT. Since my husband and I are new to CT, we made a "Made in Connecticut" basket with a bunch of CT goodies...wine, maple kettle corn, apple butter, etc. And since the baby was made in a CT lab too, I copied our last US photo and put it in a starter baby album for them and wrapped it all up! Can't wait to see her reaction...It'll be her first great grandchild and my parents' first grandchild! So exciting...even though I can't shake this feeling of caution...I'm 9 weeks tomorrow...still not out of the woods. I'll feel better after next week's US and when all the testing is done at 12 weeks.

Happy thoughts to all!

Brooke:)

[Xrayem]

Dearest Sophie, I just wanted to come on and wish you luck with this pregnancy! I have only read your last post and noticed that you are over 9 weeks and all seems good. I hope that you haven't had any of the scares you had previously and pray that you carry well past the 40 week mark.

My pregnancy has been a bit up and down and I am actually having a c/s in 11 days (37 weeks) as pre-eclampsia is rasing its ugly head again. But in 11 days, bub should do alright on their own, so it will be good.

Best wishes for you, your DH and this bub,
Em

[PMApsy]

Morning ladies!

Wow, the thread was more active yesterday! Yay! Time to post the list again! But first things first.

Valerie,
Hi sweetie. What a day you had yesterday! *HUGS* It must have been really difficult to see them search that hard, and then find a faint heartbeat! Looks like you really got a late implanter here. And a little fighter, too! My doc told me it's very common, for example when you have twins, to find one heartbeat much slower and fainter than the other. One week later, the second heartbeat usually picks up. He said that when my baby's heartbeat was very faint last March. I understand that it can still go both ways, but you're absolutely right and I admire you for clinging hard to your PMA. You already know you have a fighter in there, and maybe we sould simply start thinking about that baby as a late implanter that is quite on schedule in its development, but just started developing later than planned. Many women found a weak heartbeat at 6w2d, and a week later the baby was perfectly normal and fine. I agree with you, why not you sweetie? When is your next ultrasound?

stefanie,
Spotting is normal, spotting is normal, spotting is normal! A staggering 80% of IVFers will bleed during their first trimester. It's because they stimulate our linings so much. The cervix and vagina walls are incredibly fragile during the first trimester and anything can rupture capillaries and cause minor bleeding from time to time. Even when I was spotting, my doctor told me to continue all my normal activities. We decided to hold back just a little, hence why I'm not dancing flamenco until the end of the month, and why I have to be a very good girl and stay away from the big O (caused 12 hours of mild bleeding the two times I tested it). Bottom line is, plenty of women bled far more than you and me during their first trimester, and their babies are fine! Look at smiles2IVF! She bled a lot and her baby is fine all the same! Still, I hope the spotting goes away, just like it did for me (lasted around two weeks), because even if you know the baby is okay, it's really annoying to see that in your panty liner each time you go to the bathroom. I still check each time I go, and I still wonder if everything is okay each time I feel vaginal discharge. But it will all pass, and all that will be worth it when we hold our babies and share pictures on photobucket!

Kerpupples,
My doc was very aware that I had a miscarriage last time, and he still told me 5%... so let's rejoice!

Miracle,
Hi sweetie! How nice of you to come by!! *HUGS* Thanks for your kind words hunny. The baby is doing fine. No new symptom, the ones I have are plenty thank you! Yesterday I was so tired I crashed in bed at 8:30pm and skipped dinner. It disgusted me anyway, I felt nauseous. Shoved down a whole banana and a peanut butter and jam croissant at 10pm though, because THEN I was hungry, lol! Sometimes I wonder what's going on in there, and I can't help but feel that part of me that's still cautious about it all. I'm really looking forward to my doctor apt next week. No ultrasound, but I'll ask for one if we can't find the heartbeat with the Doppler. We IVFers are so used to having regular exams and ultrasounds that being on your own for a whole month seems like forever! As for the rest, I'll post on the other thread! See you there!

Brooke,
Hi there! Thanks for your kind words! As for you sweetie, don't worry. When I announced my first pregnancy, everybody cried, it was far more than I expected. My father and his wife were super excited, and they didn't make inappropriate comments like this time. As you can see, I miscarried my first baby. So I could definitely see a difference when I made the announcement for the second time. My best friend had screamed the first time on the phone, and this time she just said it was nice (mind you, she was super tired because she was in her first trimester). My sister, same thing. Really happy, but not overjoyed like the first time. Same for my grandma. I think it's human and really normal, especially if the first pregnancy didn't end well. People are cautious. I'm sure hoping that you'll get cheers and lots of happy faces when you tell your family and friends! Your basket idea sounds amazing! The album idea is very clever! The baby doesn't look like much during the first ultrasounds, so they might not have got it. But with the baby album, they'll sure get it! I agree with you. Can't totally shake the caution off either, but I know I'll be okay after October 27th.

Emma!!!!!
I must admit, I checked around for you these past few months, and was really worried I didn't see you anywhwere! But I'm SO happy to hear that your pregnancy made it to this point! Sorry about all the roller coaster... poor Emma, I remember the scares your boy and father gave you at the beginning of your pregnancy. You really didn't have it easy this time... *HUGS* Thank you for your well wishes. I had a few scares (spotting), but everything looks good inside, no hematoma, and no abdominal pain. I had a surgery in May and everything is squeaky clean in there, all threats have been removed. So that helps put my mind at ease. The baby is growing, my symptoms are very stable, and the anti-nausea meds are a blessing. Good luck for your c-section, sweetie, and I'll sure think of you that day. In the meantime, I'm sure time will draaaaaag its feet, but I'm sure you'll put it to good use. Is the room all ready? do you know what you're having? I'll sure check for news on the November thread! Take care hunny! *HUGS*

Okay, time to go, I have a patient waiting... take care ladies, have a great weekend, and I'll see you around! Don't forget to let me know about your apts so I can update the list!

Sophie xxox

[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! One little heartbeat!
Stacy is due on May 17th! One healthy heartbeat!
Amy is due on May 24th!

Ultrasounds and medical appointments

Valerie ultrasound on October ??
Sophie ob-gyn 1st apt on October 9th!
Amy ultrasound on October 13th!
Anie ultrasound on October 16th!
Amanda ultrasound on October ??
Anie midwife 1st apt on October 23rd!
Sophie prenatal tests on October 27th!

In our thoughts and prayers
Valerie, we are all rooting for your little fighter! Hang in there, little embie! Make your mommy proud!

[kerpupples]

Wanted to add that I have my next U/S on 10/13.

[smiles2IVF]

my ultrasound is 10-15.....Val- you are in my prayers

[stefanie]

my next appt is a CVS test w/ perinatologist on 10/13
stefanie