Weekly Chat Thread 05/08-05/10

[DoulaClara]

This will be a short one, I guess! There's still enough of the week that we can talk a little, I guess.

I skipped buying eggs from my farmer today, as I don't think I could have handled his cigarette smoke. I was at a group rummage sale earlier, and the smell of some of the smoky clothes was making my head spin. I did score a Step 2 sandbox for Gianna, though!

Let's see- symptoms for the fourth week of pregnancy- I'm sleepy, dizzy, a tad nauseated (but eating helps that), and certain foods are just not for me anymore. Including, sadly, chocolate. I tried buying some on Mon, and it just was so gross- which made me go straight home and POAS.

I did just make a wonderfully yummy lunch- I cooked rice (white because I was in a hurry, but brown is much better) and then stir fried some bok choy (high in folates!) with a little olive oil, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and hoisin. Topped with Penzey's Black and Red, it was awesome!

How is everyone doing today?

[Kidzaplenty]

I am just trying to figure out my exact dates.

I thought I knew my dates pretty well, as far as when I O'd, but I had u/s and they could not find anything. She thinks it must have been too early, my numbers were "low" (1910). So I had more blood drawn and will get those numbers on Monday. And then we will likely schedule another u/s.

I guess we shall see.

[nummies]

That's funny, I just had a craving for some chocolate! That lunch sounds heavenly too!

Jenny- I hope you get your dates figured out soon! That must be stressful.

Doing pretty good here.

Actually quite scared about the pregnancy. Getting to that stage where the nerves set in. I am going back for another beta on Monday for a little reassurance. I have had a previous miscarriage, so I guess I am ultra-anxious.

I have an ultrasound scheduled for two weeks from today to check for twins because we had two eggs release for our IUI. I just hope there is at least one healthy bean in there!

[petit_bleuet]

It's Friday afternoon and I'm mentally checked out so I slipped in here.

I'm officially 6 weeks today, exciting stuff. I started food journaling this week because I can't believe how quickly I'm getting big. Could be bloating (but solidly for 1.5 weeks?) and I got on the scale this morning and am regretting it. I'm up 4 pounds. Holy cow, I have no reason why! I only gained 31 pounds with DS, this is not pleasing me.

I'm scatterbrained, sleepy, irritable, and feel like a cow. Definitely not my best time. I am, however, thrilled and completely obsessed with this little baby growing inside me.

First appointment is a week from Monday, I'll be a little antsy 'til that rolls around. I just don't know if I'll mesh with an OB/GYN, but he's such a lovely person, I can't imagine him being an overly-medical control freak. (Been seeing him for the past couple years because of recurrent abnormal paps.)

[carmen358]

Kidzaplenty, how far along do you think you are? Could they see *nothing* or just not a heartbeat?

I'm doing fairly well - am at 5wks3days today! I'm also a repeat m/c survivor so I'm a tad anxious. However, I feel pretty good about things, tired, sore boobs, insomnia, constipated....all things that remind me that I'm pregnant so I love them So far, only minimal nausea.

My early betas were great and I'm planning on an u/s around 8wks for a bit more security. I say a bit more because even though the likelihood of m/c after seeing a heartbeat at 8wks is low....that happened to me the first time I got pregnant so I'm not sure how much comfort I'll take from it!

[welldone]

Originally Posted by carmen358

...even though the likelihood of m/c after seeing a heartbeat at 8wks is low....that happened to me the first time I got pregnant so I'm not sure how much comfort I'll take from it!

this happened to me, too, so i understand the lack of comfort. but like you said, a heartbeat at 8 weeks is reassuring for most people, and there's no reason we can't assume that you're one of those most, right?

me: i'm playing the waiting game now. just biding my time, praying for things to go well until i'm at least 14 weeks. i hate to wish time away like this, but i will feel a bit better with my feet firmly planted in the second trimester. even though i had a loss in january, i'm declining all the extra stuff they're offering me at the midwives' office right now: a handful of early ultrasounds, early ob visits, etc. trying to focus on bonding with the baby and enjoying the pregnancy for as long as it lasts, and hoping for a nice, healthy baby at the end.

tired, sore boobs, feeling generally crappy. i do wish the nausea would bump it up a notch, just so i can know it's there and feel reassured. then it can feel free to pack its bags.

[Kidzaplenty]

Originally Posted by carmen358

Kidzaplenty, how far along do you think you are? Could they see *nothing* or just not a heartbeat?

My dates put me between 5-6 wks depending on my O date. However, all they saw was an swollen uterus (she said it "looked" pregnant, but she could not find anything inside but fluid).

However, if I did O later and was more 4-5 wks I think the baby would be too small to see at that stage (not really sure at what stage you can actually see one). And then coupled with the fact that we were on vacation a week after that, (with all my children, so no room for conception), there can only be a five day difference in my dates.

But, I am guessing five days could make a bit of a difference this early.

It is just strange, I have never had tests run this early before, and since I lost one recently, I guess I am a bit jumpy.

[carmen358]

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty

My dates put me between 5-6 wks depending on my O date. However, all they saw was an swollen uterus (she said it "looked" pregnant, but she could not find anything inside but fluid).

However, if I did O later and was more 4-5 wks I think the baby would be too small to see at that stage (not really sure at what stage you can actually see one). And then coupled with the fact that we were on vacation a week after that, (with all my children, so no room for conception), there can only be a five day difference in my dates.

But, I am guessing five days could make a bit of a difference this early.

It is just strange, I have never had tests run this early before, and since I lost one recently, I guess I am a bit jumpy.

I totally understand. 4-5 wks would likely be too early....I had one at 6wks in the past and we were able to see the yolk sac and fetal pole but no heartbeat. I would agree that 5 days can make a huge difference! Maybe one in 3-4wks will tell you more...

[Bubblette]

DoulaClara- your lunch does sound divine! smoke always makes me feel nauseous, I haven't been near any since my bfp, I wonder if it'll affect me even more now?

Kidzaplenty- My understanding is that 4-5 weeks is still sometimes to early to see anything. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! are you going to keep having serial betas pulled for a while?

AFM
The beginning of the week was rough. I was completely exhausted; I mean it compared to the evening after an allnighter after a week of cramming for finals plus the fatigue of feeling ill :yawning:. I slept almost 13 hours Monday night and that helped considerably. In fact I've still had low energy but I've been able to make it through the day without feeling like a zombie since then.

I still have no symptoms other than the tired, no nausea, no sore boobs, no food aversions nothing! The dull achy, warm, strechy, sometimes painful feeling low in my abdomen from last week has stopped - which I felt awesome about until today...

I'm still temping and my bbt plummeted today from 98.15 all the way down to 97.39.... (cover line was 97.11) my temps had been rising and falling between .2-.4 but this is huge, my chart looks like - well you know what it looks like. DH told me not to worry the baby will be fine, but things happen yk? This had been a really powerful experience, totally unplanned and in less that 2 weeks of knowing I can't even fathoms losing the baby. Yeah, school would be easier, life would be easier but I can't even see that as a silver lining to the possibility.

I was feeling really positive, even started a post about the sureness I felt that everything was going to go well, and now I'm waiting till noon to call for my hcg- knowing just one won't really tell me anything- and praying. I guess this is just when anything can really shake you and make you worry right?

[Kidzaplenty]

Originally Posted by Bubblette

Kidzaplenty- My understanding is that 4-5 weeks is still sometimes to early to see anything. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! are you going to keep having serial betas pulled for a while?

I had some drawn yesterday (Thursday), I will find out what they are on Monday and then we will go from there.

I just can't tell if I am not "feeling" pg or if I am just paranoid. Sometimes I can say with a certainty that I am pg, and then others I just feel like I am not and we will do a u/s and find that I have nothing in there. It is a very frustrating feeling. My record should be good for me, I have only lost two, not together, and one for an "incompatibility with life" issue. So I really should not be worried.

I think I will feel better to see my numbers on Monday rising (which I am assuming they will be).

Though, I kinda got the feeling that the OB just assumbed that I was m/c'ing when she did not find anything. But she kept up a positive face for the visit. At first, I don't think she even believed I was pg. Strange OB. After I get it all figured out I am going to have to find a new one.

[ekblad9]

Hugs Jenny. I know that uncertain feeling and it's really enough to drive a person crazy. FWIW I would think at 4 - 5 wks it would be REALLY hard to see anything. My ob said it wasn't really possible to see much until 5.5 - 6.5 wks. I will pray for you.

I'm starting to really feel sick now. I hate, hate, hate this part of pregnancy. I get SOOOO far behind on everything. Last time I was so obsessed and worried about when I would get sick and get behind that I went nuts stocking up on food and cleaning/organizing. Then I miscarried and realized that none of it really matters, yk? The laundry and dishes will always be there (and I'm VERY blessed to have kids that willingly help out). So, I'm trying to take it all in stride this time. We're done schooling for the year : so I'm happy about that. Two of my girls are in a local theater's production of Mulan next week. So we have to get through that and then I'll just let things slide until I'm feeling better. It's for a good cause, right?

Yesterday when I went for my u/s the OB said I had a blood clot in my thigh. He says it's on the surface so nothing to really worry about but me being a hypochondriac I'm kind of worried. Any experience with this?

OK - i'm up WAY too late. Take care everyone!

[carmen358]

Originally Posted by ekblad9

Yesterday when I went for my u/s the OB said I had a blood clot in my thigh. He says it's on the surface so nothing to really worry about but me being a hypochondriac I'm kind of worried. Any experience with this?

OK - i'm up WAY too late. Take care everyone!

Sorry, I don't have any experience with blood clots but I was wondering how the OB found out you had a clot in your thigh while doing the u/s??

[fascha]

kidzaplenty - I found this "googling" and thought that if you were less than 5.5w pregnant it might make you feel better!

http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5986,00.html

I don't know what's on the rest of the site, as I've never been... but this seems comforting.

AFM: I don't really 'feel' PG either. No ausea, no tenderness in my breasts (and i'm nursing) just fatigued more than usual I guess. I have my first appointment with my midwives on JUne 4th (should be about 10 weeks then)

We're opting out of the IPS scan since I'm reasonably heathy and youngISH lol but I kind of wish I could see my bean. So tempting to say yes to IPS for that reason. Have any of you guys given it any consideration?

[nummies]

Originally Posted by Bubblette

I'm still temping and my bbt plummeted today from 98.15 all the way down to 97.39.... (cover line was 97.11) my temps had been rising and falling between .2-.4 but this is huge, my chart looks like - well you know what it looks like. DH told me not to worry the baby will be fine, but things happen yk? This had been a really powerful experience, totally unplanned and in less that 2 weeks of knowing I can't even fathoms losing the baby. Yeah, school would be easier, life would be easier but I can't even see that as a silver lining to the possibility.

I was feeling really positive, even started a post about the sureness I felt that everything was going to go well, and now I'm waiting till noon to call for my hcg- knowing just one won't really tell me anything- and praying. I guess this is just when anything can really shake you and make you worry right?

I'm sorry your temp dropped. I would say gently to put down the thermometer. It is doing nothing but stressing you out right now. I hope that everything is ok.

[Bubblette]

Originally Posted by nummies

I'm sorry your temp dropped. I would say gently to put down the thermometer. It is doing nothing but stressing you out right now. I hope that everything is ok.

You're right I should just stop temping it is doing nothing but stressing me seeing where I am every morning. Might be easier said than done though.

[RoseRed]

I am right with all you m/c servivors. 12 weeks seems so far away for me. And it doesn't help that my symptoms keep coming out and in. Every time the dissapate I feel awfull, and start to worry.

But I have still been peeing like a race horse.. so thats a good sign.

I am so tired but can't seem to stay asleep. I am up at 6 wheather I like it or not. And I tend to have less patience thatn normal.

I applied for medicade yesterday, now that I am pregnant we finally don't make to much to qualify. DH's job doesn't offer insurance, and I really want Alice to be covered. Plus, if we get aproved the state will cover the cost of her broken arm in march. But it puts me at a dilema. While there is no problem getting my care througha midwife, and doing a home birth while on medicare, they won't pay for anythign even ultrasounds. Part of me want to go to the hospital midwaives for the first part of my prgnancy get blood work, lab work and maybe even an early ultrasound and then 'transfer care' back to my midwife. As it is we only have budgetted one ultrasound, and regular lab work... I hate being a worry wart...

[intime0]

Can I ask a question...and please no one get mad and harangue me.

Why so medicalized?

I was so excited when I found the Mothering boards for TTC only to see that IT was very medicalized. But then I thought, getting pregnant can be hard for some people so I understood that. BUT I stayed excited knowing that soon enough I'd be over in the pregnancy boards with a bunch of people who are planning homebirths and passing on scans...only to find people are getting 8 week sonos.

I dont get it... this is the MOTHERING boards. If you've ever read Mothering magazine, they support non medicalized births. What am I missing? Am I the only over here not planning on ultrasounds (BECAUSE no one KNOWS if they are ACTUALLY safe and there are actually studies to show that they are harmful) and testing and more testing?

Or are people just here because it's a pregnancy board and they dont really read Mothering or support that way of life. It just seems odd to me. I thought I had found a like minded board to enjoy my pregnancy in...but I can see I dont have much in common here. Seems it's just like the more mainstream boards.

[nummies]

Originally Posted by intime0

Can I ask a question...and please no one get mad and harangue me.

Why so medicalized?

I was so excited when I found the Mothering boards for TTC only to see that IT was very medicalized. But then I thought, getting pregnant can be hard for some people so I understood that. BUT I stayed excited knowing that soon enough I'd be over in the pregnancy boards with a bunch of people who are planning homebirths and passing on scans...only to find people are getting 8 week sonos.

I dont get it... this is the MOTHERING boards. If you've ever read Mothering magazine, they support non medicalized births. What am I missing? Am I the only over here not planning on ultrasounds (BECAUSE no one KNOWS if they are ACTUALLY safe and there are actually studies to show that they are harmful) and testing and more testing?

Or are people just here because it's a pregnancy board and they dont really read Mothering or support that way of life. It just seems odd to me. I thought I had found a like minded board to enjoy my pregnancy in...but I can see I dont have much in common here. Seems it's just like the more mainstream boards.

Slightly offended here...but I will answer your question.

It took me 15 months and 5 IUIs to get pregnant due to infertility issues on my husband's side. My son was born after a miscarriage and an IVF cycle. For my last IUI cycle this time I was on Clomid and had a trigger shot. I had two eggs release. I am getting an early ultrasound to make sure that the embryo did not implant in my tubes. I am very concerned about this because the rate of ectopic pregnancies in IUI cycles is slightly higher. So according to you, I should just ignore the possibility of ectopic pregnancy, risking my health and future fertility because it is too medicalized??

Also, because I had two eggs release, there is a high probability of twins. I would like to know this information so that I can be on the proper diet and getting the proper care for a twin pregnancy.

So yes, I am getting bloodwork and ultrasounds and I'm sorry if that isn't crunchy enough for you, but I won't risk my tubes or my health. And yes, I do worry about the safety of the ultrasounds but right now the information gained outweighs that risk.

We are still seeing midwives for our care and plan on having a homebirth so I guess I still fit in your criteria.

We are all here for the same reason, to celebrate the beauty of pregnancy. Whether that involves and OB and a c-section or an unassisted pregnancy and birth, I think that we should all support each other regardless.

I wanted to add that there is only a small number of us getting early ultrasounds. Most of these people include infertility surviors, miscarriage or stillbirth survivors, or people who have had concerns with dates. This is a very large difference from mainstream boards where everyone is getting this kind of care. Most of us are not mainstream at all!

[ekblad9]

I found the lump in my leg last week and pointed it out to the dr.

I did the homebirth/non medicalized thing several times. It was great! : Then I had a miscarriage. Now I need the reassurance. I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone. I'm doing what's best for me. I've had bad hospital/medicalized experiances and good ones. I've had bad homebirth experiences and good ones. I love it on the DDC's because it's such a wonderful variety of ladies. We all have different backgrounds/experiences. I gain SO much from being here each and every pregnancy. I've been here since my pregnancy with number 4 (that was when MDC really got started). No one way is better than the other, IMO. It's all what's best for your comfort zone/lifestyle.

[PaytonPlace]

My dr ordered an early u/s solely to verify that the gestational sac is implanted in the uterus. I had an ectopic last pregnancy & my right tube ended up rupturing & I needed emergency surgery.

I was only 14DPO at the u/s yesterday so it was too early to see anything. The ultrasound tech said that she normally can't see a gestational sac until the hCG is between 1000 - 1500 and mine was 257 at 13DPO. Me & DH are going to NYC on vacation this next week (child-free!) so that will help keep my mind off of worrying. I'll probably have another u/s when I get back so we can verify it's not another ectopic.

The symptoms I've been having:
fatigue - normally I'm a night owl & last night I conked out at 10pm
gas!
crazy bloating! I stepped on the scale thinking I must've gained 7 pounds because I feel HUGE but I had actually lost 2 pounds
during the day I go from not being hungry at all to feeling ravenous
boobs are tender
a little on edge - less patient
and of course my skin is breaking out - the part I hate about pregnancy - why can't I be one of the people that get greak skin while pregnant?!?!?