Wow, hearing about all the snow elsewhere seems so surreal when DD and I just took a long walk in the sunshine and about 4 degrees! Stay warm everyone!
QOTD #1 We used a KD so what we looked for was someone we (or one of us) had a solid relationship/history with but was outside of our social circle, someone we really trusted and someone smart, cute and healthy!
QOTD #2 My handle was my cat's name and the site added the random numbers. We just had to put her down on Christmas day this year :(
Oh, question for those who have/are ttc while nursing. Did you go for the "regular" prenatal testing (day 3, etc.) If yes, what did you get done? (just blood tests I mean...)
Hi all!
My partner and I are new to the TTC world and I decided to join in the conversation. Seems like a great active board community.
DW is trying to get pregnant via IUI and Feb is our first try. She had CD3 bloodwork on Thursday and we're scheduled to go back on Sunday for CD13 bloodwork and US. Donor is picked and vials are already waiting at the doctor's office storage unit.
To answer your QOTD, first we picked the bank we liked best. Then we narrowed down our donors to ensure no family history of cancer or mental issues, then donors that most resembled me in temperment and interests and had blue eyes like both of us. We had about 5 choices we deemed "acceptable" and then just went with a gut reaction - the one we both just felt most excited about after reading the profiles.
Feeling very good and excited for our first try, but trying to stay grounded that this will likely be a longer journey.
Any advice for someone new to IUI?
Congrats to all the BFPs this month and thanks to you all for sharing your stories- so inspiring!
________________
Me: 33, DW:32, TTC with IUI beginning in Feb!
Starling~ Thanks for the terrifying story about the man who died of a cat scratch! *goes and washes all cat's paws in Purell...* I'm so excited that your test lines are getting darker and darker!!! An October baby, yes? I'm glad you have options at your work. Be safe! But I know you will...
Carmen~ I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. It's always sad to lose a sweet pet, but on Christmas is just awful.
Dawn~ I never did my own IUIs, so I don't have any specific advice, but I do know that you must never give up. Sometimes that's the hardest thing, but it's worth hanging on to.
QOTD~ Um, I'm a lady who works in a library. Not so much with the mystery ;)
Dawn and OneMommy! Hope that your stay is short and sweet.
Seraf~ Thanks for starting the February thread!
Escher~ I hope that you are not out for this month. Hugs to you...
Lise~ Sorry that you have to work.
MrsP~ So glad that you found your guy. Sorry to hear that your DP didn't get the job.
Afternoon all!
Well, snowapaloza is apon us. I work for the state of IL...they are nuts. Instead of just closing the offices...or telling the employees that they would be closing the offices at 2pm or 3pm...or whatever, instead they tell us that the office "may" be closing and if we want to go home then we have to take personal leave or vacation leave (which is really not a problem I got time on the books). But the wonderful 'mean girls' at my office (who happen to be the Office Manager and Supervisors) only tell the chosen few that the office is closing and at what time.They do this so that everyone else puts in for Vacation leave and then when the office closes we are screwed out of OPL because we requested vl and didn't wait for the office to officially close. "Mean Girls" are everywhere! Anyway...I got home before the the weather hit...I'm glad that I was home.
I got my official letter from the insurance company telling me that I have been approved for infertility treatment...the only problem, well I see it as a problem is they approved me from 10/13/2010 to 10/12/2011...WTF? The approval letter is postmarked for 1/25/2011 and I received it today 2/1/2011...so how can you start my approval 4 months earlier? Again with getting screwed...and not in a good way.
KD#1~ When we first started looking for a donor who was A+ like DW and who was Italian/Polish also like DW. We did look at their medical history and family history to look for cancer and mental illness too. After our 2nd bank and going through 3-4 donors we started looking for guy's that had more of our temperment and who we had things in common with. We have 2 cycles left with our KD...since we are not sure if the RE will allow us to use fresh sperm from our KD we are also looking at a new bank. Back to reading profiles and picking our Mr. Right.
KD#2~My handle...I used to love JellyBelly's when in college...so I would get teased by my friends...they would call me jelly bean...so I changed it a bit and use it as a username.
To all of you in the path of the snow storm...enjoy your day off and stay safe and warm.
So sorry to hear about your BFN. You really have the right attitude about going on vacation and finding the positive in everything. I know your time will come soon! Keep your chin up.
Gelly~ Eff the mean girls!!! Yesterday when I saw them at school I was as sweet as pie. Kill them with kindness, I say, but they're just too horrible to be believed. I'm glad you have the time to spare, though. Take it off, stay home and keep warm! This storm is serious bidness, it's still really cold here.
Max~ SO excited for you to test. I think we should make this a record-breaking month on QC!!!!
Max - DW (Ally) has been tracking BBT for 4 months and last month used an OPK just as a test run. Our ER will check out number and quality of follies on Sun and if all looks good, we'll give her Ovidrel that night and return to the doc for IUI on Tues.
Stay safe in the snow everyone and GOOD LUCK to everyone testing this week!!
Kirsta that is great news and starling too !
welcome new members 
( baby dust ) who ever asked Im still nurseing DS and havent done any extra testing just throid and cbc and the mandtory std work up for the insems
QOTD my name is grace really not hard to guess
afm I'm a week away from AF three weeks away from my first iui I think I'm doing two . I'm really sure I O on the earlier end after pos OPK by CM so I'm doing on the day of later in the day and another the next morning
I also requester for a class I really don't want to take pregnant but really need to take for the 17-the 20 th so it will be over two days before the earliest I O thank god and I don't have to travel its here .
Welcome DAWN - you're in the right place!
Isa - glad you made it home! It's NUTS out there. I actually got picked up and moved by the wind when trying to cross Sheridan. I had to grab a pole!
Gelly - so sorry about the mean girls :(
QOTD 1 - we really tried to find someone who looked like DP - ideal would be curly brown hair, blue eyes, musical, sporty, intelligent, healthy and healthy family history. If he had dimples, he would be absolutely perfect. Also, I agree with Isa when she said doesn't annoy us with his answers. You know, if he doesn't sound like a complete douche. We were trying to find someone we would actually be friends with. I know it's a lot - but this new guy fits all of it! We don't know if he has dimples though. And I found out today he has 66 vials available! Booya!
QOTD 2 - My last name starts with a P. Nicki's last name starts with a P. We hyphenate. I'm Mrs. PP and think it's hilarious because I am secretly a 10 year old boy :)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Osha sends his love
Isa, I didn't know that there were warming centers or libraries that never close, amazing. Our libraries have had to cut back and every branch is closed down a different day of the week now. The city where I used to live, all the busses were free on snow emergency days, tho. That was cool.
Lise, we must have cross posted, we picked based on, well, nothing. I like tall. Blue eyes because it's recessive and we all have blue eyes, except Sara now. I'm currently using the donor of the month cuz he's cheap, tall and blue eyed. I always thought they should give length, weight and head circumfrance of the donor at birth. That would be some pertinent information! Well, I don't really worry about that anymore, I think it's determined by the mother's body. Osha had a 6'3" donor. He was born at 40 weeks 1 day. He weighed 8 lb 6 oz and was 20.5 (?) inches long. Head and chest circumfrance were both 36 cm(only time I yelled during the birht was, "shoulders!"). Anyway, by 2 weeks he had gained 2 lbs and grown 2 inches. I think he ran out of room inside me. Ari, on the other hand, had a smaller donor, she was born at 39 weeks 5 days, 7lbs 4 oz, 19.5 inches (?). Head and chest were 36 and 34, she was born in a single contraction when I wasn't pushing. She gained, but not nearly as quickly.
Starling, super cool on having a fund raiser birthday party. Not so cool on the vigor your job requires.
Carmen, I didn't get any tests with either kid, but I got pregnant with Ari very easily while nursing Osha.
Dawn, no advice, I'm doing my first IUI in a couple weeks, but welcome!
Library, you're also a hoot, but you mention it not in your screen name.
Gelly, if they post dated it, does that mean they will reimburse you for everything you paid from the approval date? That could be really cool.
Max, my fingers are crossed that you're pregnant. I have thought about adoption. The only reason I gave birth was because it was an easier way to get a kid. I was in the early stages of getting approved to adopt when Sara came into my life and it just seemed like I couldn't add 2 kids and a new partner in the same year. Last night I had a dream that I was trying to pick out clothes for Jennifer Aniston's quads, well, just the boys. Because she was the owner of the local chinese restaurant... yeah.
Max - I was just thinking about you today! Sending baby dust to you. Hurry up Thursday. Are you having any 'signs'? When you did your u/s and had 5 follicles just before the IUI, did you have to sign anything about selective reduction? A friend of mine told me her doctor made her sign a form saying she'd consider SR before he'd insem. She had 6 follies at size 20 from injectables. Just curious. I'll find out from my doc next week the stipulations.
QOTD - With our first bank - NY Cyros International - we were very selective in what we wanted: blue eyes (my grandmother and I both have blue. She was my bff, so I want the eyes to continue in her memory), tall, blonde hair (DP is a blondie), medical history, music, sports, blah, blah, blah....we wanted everything and we came really close to matching those 'perfect' traits. Then with our second bank - Midwest - we chose 345 because he had blue eyes and he was a vegetarian (like DP). Now that we're on our third, if the donor has sperm who can swim, we'll take him! I could really care less at this point. I'll take whatever is available that will get me preggo! 
QOTD #2 - Funny you ask. I just told Miss Scarlett this story a few weeks ago. I always use the same name for my log in's - JsMommy, after our DS. When I first registered on mothering.com, the site wouldn't let me use that login. I tried various versions, but nothing. I was SOOOO frustrated with the login for not letting me use it for whatever reason. Every time I tried registering the error message said something about using a login that was 'easy' to remember. So....2ezforyou was born! Take that website! 
It's really a dumb log in and I hate it, but deeeeep down, I feel like I pulled one over on the website. Ha!
QOTD #3 - I *thought* I had been tested for everything possible, only to learn last week that my RE was testing the quality of my eggs. But...I can now add that to the list of things I've been tested for, along with insulin levels, progesterone, hormones, STD's, PCOS, etc, etc, etc.
Speaking of blood tests, got a call from the doc's office today. Progesterone came back as a 1, which means I didn't O. (And which I could have told the doc. I knew it didn't O.) Anyway, on to injectables. I go for the class in Nashville next Tuesday. Luckily, we have 1 vial leftover from Midwest and 345 that we'll use for the insem. If it doesn't work, then I'll get things set up with Northwest I guess for the next cycle. Sadly, our doc bills will jump from $400 month (u/s and IUI) to almost $2000 per month for the injectable meds, u/s and monitoring. 
Here's to hoping we only need one round.
Well hello girls.
After a very exhausting evening, I started bleeding a little this morning so I left work ( I teach 3rd grade), and I headed straight for the doctor's office. They did my blood work and confirmed that my HCG was 81 but my progesterone was low. The doctor told me NOT to take my progesterone suppositories as he wants to do more blood work on Thursday to see if the numbers double or drop, and he doesn't want the progesterone to "prolong the inevitable or cause us to have a baby with birth defects"
I have had it with his advice. My sweet midwife/doula friend suggested that we go ahead with the progesterone. My girlfriend and I feel the same way. He sort of rained on my parade though.
So yes, I was pregnant and didn't know it! I am calling TLC! :)
Now will it stick................................................only Thursday will tell. Fingers crossed...............................please stick.............please stick...............please stick.
OMG!!! Thunder snow! How cool is that? They have called off the snow plows here because of the white out...but it is now thundering and lightning while snowing...that's sooo cool.
We lost internet for a few hrs, but we are back up...hope that doesn't happen again...that was scary, being unplugged always is for me.
I'm not sure who asked, but I am waiting for AF, and to hear from the RE. I would like to start with them this cycle (Feb), but DW would like for them to just monitor me for a cycle before we start doing IUI's with them next month (March). I gotta get my med records from my old RE. I had all kinds of blood work and tests...dye in the uterus, u/s...etc last November 2009. We paid for all of this out of pocket...do you think that I should have the new RE do the tests over again? I was thinking yes, but the receprionist that I spoke with at their office thought that they would just use the info from 2009. A lot could have happened in 14 months.
Seraf~ that would be wonderful if we had done anything. We did one month of home insems with a KD...with no medical monitoring or anything. So there is nothing to be paid back for during those months. 
Tea~ I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and sending you sticky baby vibes... 
Team I had alot of bleeding with DS but was fine fingers crossed for you
Well hello girls.
After a very exhausting evening, I started bleeding a little this morning so I left work ( I teach 3rd grade), and I headed straight for the doctor's office. They did my blood work and confirmed that my HCG was 81 but my progesterone was low. The doctor told me NOT to take my progesterone suppositories as he wants to do more blood work on Thursday to see if the numbers double or drop, and he doesn't want the progesterone to "prolong the inevitable or cause us to have a baby with birth defects"
I have had it with his advice. My sweet midwife/doula friend suggested that we go ahead with the progesterone. My girlfriend and I feel the same way. He sort of rained on my parade though.
First, listen to the beginning of last weeks This American Life, it's one of those I didn't know I was pregnant ladies and it's great!
Second, if progesterone puts you at a substantial risk for birth defects then all of us IVF folks are in big trouble, since we all take it. As for prolonging the "inevitable" do a cost benefit analysis - what's the cost of prolonging the inevitable? The cost of the medication. What's the cost of not taking it? A possible miscarriage. So I would listen to your midwife/doula friend. And Trust Your Instincts. I'm not in anyway telling you that you should or shouldn't take it, just encouraging you to trust your own intuition over the doctor's rather strange logic.
Second, what was your progesterone number? Mine was always on the low side - I think it only ever reached 28 while pregnant with twins (who are currently both doing backflips in my belly) and on 3x a day progesterone suppositories. All my RE said was that they wanted it above a certain numer (I think it might have been 8? 6? I can't remember, but it was a low number).
So anyway, I'm rooting for you and hoping that the bleeding is the same sort of no big deal bleeding that about 1/3 of women experience in the first trimester.
Hang in there!
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