Queer & Pregnant & Parenting - July, August, September, and now October! - Page 21

[Cananny]

i would ask... its pretty standard to stay on for 12-14 weeks.. it really cuts down the rate of M/C by about 40 percent.. and though I loathe this part ( the meds) I will do whatever I need to. Are you seeing a high risk OB yet? I suggest getting one if you dont have one already...

I went to a chiro today.. and now am super paranoid about the babies..what if it hurt them? Sigh... Everything ive read said it is safe and he was gentle and did not go on my stomach..

I had to do something as I can not barely walk most days..

Someone calm my fears about the chiro.......

sara... those boys are so cute and so big!

onemom.. Sage has the cutest cheeks.. where did 6 months go?

[NZmumof2]

My experience with progesterone is that my clinic would usually start weaning at 10 weeks but because I bled a lot in the first few weeks I've been kept on till 12 then weaned from there, I'll be completely off at 13w5d.  From my medical knowledge (I am a family physician / uncomplicated obstetrician as a job) the placenta is usually making so much progesterone by 8 weeks - even though it doesn't fully take over sustaining the pregnancy till 10 weeks - that it is probably fine to stop then but most of us clinicians are too scared so just go to the end of the first trimester.  

I ended up on a huge progesterone dose due to the bleeding and low levels and now that I have weaned down to the usual dose I feel so much less sick and anxious, but if it made this little one stick I'm OK with those yuk weeks!

Anna

[wishin'&hopin']

Lise, through the first trimester (13 weeks or so) is when progesterone is used.  I would call the pharmacy b/c it may be that they only had 10 and you'll have to go back to get the rest--especially since your prescription was for 30 (it's unlikely that your doctor changed the prescription).  You have enough for a few days so no need to panic, but you will probably want it refilled properly.  

Smilingsara--I've always thought that rice in burritos was odd and more trouble than it was worth anyway!  :)

[prettyisa]

Cananny--I LOVED (and still love) my chiropractor throughout pregnancy. After it started getting uncomfortable to be on my stomach she just adjusted me while I laid on my back. I also got a massage at every appointment, which they had me do on my side while preggo. Is your chiropractor a prenatal specialist? That might help calm your fears some. I liked especially that when I asked mine about newborn adjustments (because I'd read that they can be good for babies) she told me that unless there was some obvious reason to do them she didn't think it was necessary. If you're nervous about being on your tummy, I'd just talk about it and see if they can start doing adjustments on your back or side instead.

Sarah--the only kitchen appliance (other than the toaster and electric kettle) that we use regularly is a rice cooker, for exactly that reason. Mmm...avocado.

[KnittingTigers]

Originally Posted by smilingsara 

Starling: eventually I'll have eggs aplenty again and you're welcome to them and I'm drop dead serious about that.

God, I am such a pregnant, emotional, mess, because this totally made me cry. I will also say that although we never got to the IVF stage of things, I kept thinking that the one benefit of it would be having some little embries left over to give to one of my queer friends. As it turned out, we got pregnant on the last vial of sperm that I had left over in storage from my previous TTC attempts, so I don't even have sperm left to give away!

[JustAnotherJenny]

Threadcrashing again for CANanny -- we doulas HIGHLY recommend chiropractics in pregnancy (unless for some reason your OB is against it, but I've never heard of that).  It helps keep everything aligned -- even the muscles that support your uterus!  There really isn't anything that can't benefit you and the babies in chiropractics.  As long as the the chiropractor you're seeing is familiar with treating pregnant women you're good.   Also, chiropractics and craniosacral therapy are great post birth for both you and the babies!

As a side note, one thing I learned recently -- babies suffering from colic and general fussiness can also benefit greatly from both acupuncture and craniosacral therapy.  There was a great video in our local paper showing a baby getting treated at a local Community Acupuncture Clinic and the baby was happy and smiling right through treatment.  Didn't even flinch.  I'll see if it's still up their site, but I think the paper expires the links on their site after so many days.

[wishin'&hopin']

So, I'm wondering b/c you know, the best way to get pregnant is to spend 5000 dollars on sperm two weeks before the sperm you already had knocks up your wife...has anyone thought about the ethics of giving or selling your "leftover" sperm to another family--specifically a family that is NOT already a donor sibling family?  We are not at that point, but it is likely that in a few years we will have sperm that we can either donate back to our bank (which would then be resold to a donor sibling family if there is interest--our bank won't buy it back from us and it needs to be stored at our bank in order for it to be donated back) or that we can give/sell to friends.  I'm thinking about this b/c our bank, as most banks do, has family limits (10 in our case) and if folks are giving sperm to friends that could cause multiple, unregistered, pregnancies with our donor.  I'm not sure where I stand on this...as I could see us giving sperm to a friend who is trying and feeling as if that is completely appropriate yet at the same time I would have discomfort if other families did the very same thing.  Just theoretical wrestling over here in overthinking land!  

[JustAnotherJenny]

wishin': As a recipient of donated leftover sperm from a friend, I've actually thought quite a bit about this.  I sort of thought of it in terms of the fact that many people who purchase directly from the bank often don't report pregnancies/live births.  On the flip side of that, if I do get pregnant, I plan to notify the bank even though I'm not really on their books as a recipient.  I've only got one vial left so, it may be a moot point.  :-)

I have so many things on my mind when it comes to sperm, known donors, banks, zillions of half siblings, bank ethics, etc.  I basically have to force myself to stop thinking about it because I'm not sure how I'd ever make a baby.  I also joined the donor sibling registry and that brings about tons of things that even I never thought of.

[carmen358]

Originally Posted by Cananny 

i would ask... its pretty standard to stay on for 12-14 weeks.. it really cuts down the rate of M/C by about 40 percent.. and though I loathe this part ( the meds) I will do whatever I need to. Are you seeing a high risk OB yet? I suggest getting one if you dont have one already...

I believe progesterone only prevents miscarriages that would be caused by low progesterone. It won't prevent a miscarriage that is happening for other reasons. Just had to throw that out there as someone who didn't have low progesterone but took it "just in case" and it didn't stop any miscarriages - it's not a guarantee!

Love the photos of Sage - so cute! And the sara clan too!

Wishin, my 2 cents (not that you asked for it ;) ) would be to give it back to the bank if they limit the amount of family recipients. I would imagine that would be very attractive to some people - the having fewer donor siblings - and it seems like a really bad idea to then turn around and work against that.

[KnittingTigers]

Wishin, though in general I'm very pro-family limits, I think that if I had exhausted all other options (contacting the other families on the sibling list, etc.), I would probably feel okay about giving it to a friend. Just so I understand, this sperm has already left your bank, and the donor has reached his 10 family limit (not just sold out)? I got pregnant the first time from a vial of "leftover" sperm that someone I met on MDC gave me. I was a single grad student living on not much $$, and although that pregnancy didn't stick, it was HUGELY helpful to have had that month paid for. I see the arguments both ways, really, but I've always felt a need to pay it forward, so that's what I'd do. I actually was really bummed that we didn't end up with anything left over to donate to someone else.

[lisedea]

So...the pharamacy just ran out. Would have been nice if they left a note so I didn't jump to conclusions! My FS wants me on them for 10 weeks.

cananny--I have been going to a chiro and plan on going through my pregnancy as well. I have a terrible back to begin with so I think it will be necessary.

I love all of the baby pictures! I could probaby post a belly photo because I am ALREADY SHOWING! Crazy...not even 7 weeks and I have caught people staring at my stomach (so I know it isn't just in my head!).

[wishin'&hopin']

Knitting, we still have vials (10) at the bank so we could donate back to the bank (and probably will down the road once we are done having kiddos, provided we have vials left--we are undecided about 2 or 3 kids).  Our donor didn't hit the family limit but he's sold out to any except current families.  So, I'm 99% sure that any vials we have left will go to one of those current families if they want them (that would be our first choice actually).  I'm mostly interested b/c it had never occurred to me that we may be in the position of having "extra" and I was curious as to what other folks thoughts were on this (it's weird to go from scarcity thinking to abundance on this one!) 

[Cananny]

Lise... I am showing a lot!!! I'm fluffy/fat to start with but the babies have pushed everything up and my stomach is hard and has popped out ... Crazy what three babies will do to a body ehh? I went for a second adjustment the chiro was happy with the major improvement from yesterday ... Today was a 25 min adjustment and though I'm sore I feel it's working .. I can walk a lot better ... I am hoping this keeps me active enough to keep working until December ...

In bargain news we got a triple decker stroller frame that holds three infant seats for 80.00 they are over 500 new... Got it from a mom of 16 month old triplets... They were super cute and the parents didn't look overwhelmed at all
We also scored more cloth diaper covers at a garage sale.... 3 for a 1.00 we bought all they had
Starting to think about our baby shower ... Everyone wants it to be mid November because dec is a bad month for stuff like that and jan I'll b on bed rest or babies could be born ( hoping for feb though) does it seem reasonable to have a shower that early (20 weeks)
We are also doing the babies room in dr suess very gender nuetral and will last for a few years

[KnittingTigers]

I'm showing too! When I was pregnant with DD, I didn't show until 5 or 6 months. Now I'm 8.5 weeks and I just broke out my maternity clothes because nothing else fits!!!

Cananny, awesome score on the stroller! I need to start thinking about that. We're in car limbo. I've been envying your van, but money is tight, and we COULD fit three across in our Accord. I don't know. Waiting to see what happens with DP's job stuff for next year. DP is also super opposed to the minivan idea, and is obsessed with a crossover instead. Just seems like it would be harder to access the third row though, no? If anyone can find a cheap, hip minivan that doesn't look like a minivan, let me know.:/ Oh, and I don't think 20 weeks is too early for a shower. I had my shower for DD early because she was due in August and lots of my friends were going to be away for the summer.
 

Lise, glad you got the progesterone straightened out, and yikes that they didn't tell you! How are you feeling in terms of morning sickness?

Loving all the baby pictures and updates around here...

We go for our next ultrasound on Thursday and I'm super nervous/excited. We're also interviewing two OB practices this week. Fingers crossed we find someone we like!

[JustAnotherJenny]

CANanny: Logistically speaking, you don't want to accidentally miss your own shower. I'd definitely go on the early side!  We had to move my friend's shower to the hospital, but on a much smaller scale.  A few of us just brought a bunch of her giftsover after her actual shower-- which sort of went on without her since she ended up on bed rest.

That's a fantastic deal on the stroller!  Woo hoo for you!!

I'm so excited for all of you!  This is amazing!  :-)

[smilingsara]

wishin': we had two vials my last go round and only used one, in case it didn't work, and I got pregnant. Our vial was still at our bank but we thought it would be absolutely nuts to store it for a few years at the price they wanted. We asked our bank if we could give it to another client of theirs and they had no problem with it. I really wished the vial would have been the trick she needed but sadly no. I would have loved to have had a donor sibling that we knew. 

 my sister and mom with the boys 

silly soren   

[lisedea]

knitting--You can fit three carseats in your Accord??? We have been absolutely freaking out because we need one car on island and one off that fits three carseats. We have been looking at cars but money is definitely tight...maybe we should do some measuring and see if they fit! I have been so sick. I puked all morning even with my anti-nausea meds.

Sara--Yes! As the "client" you are talking about , I wish it would have worked as well! It would have been so wonderful to have related kids.

cananny--We are also going to go with a very early shower because of bedrest. Could you find us a stroller too?

[smilingsara]

Lise, that would have been SO fun! Maybe another time ;-) have you tried looking at used kids stores? Once upon a child is a store we like a lot. Do they have those up in your neck of the woods?! Sorry you've been so sick. I can't imagine it with three babies, but it sure sucked with little Soren. I'm so sorry, but its totally worth it (and fairly reassuring too). 

[mrsandmrs]

Threadcrashing --- My wife regularly fit three car seats across the backseat of her two-door toyota echo when our kid was little (ours & a close friend's two LOs). It's not easy or convenient, but if money is tight, you do what has to be done. It is possible! 

[KnittingTigers]

Lise, the Diono Radian will fit three across in a medium sized car. They aren't cheap, but they're skinny. What kind of car do you have? The folks on the Family Safety forum here and at carseat.org can help with suggestions and brainstorming. We would really like to buy a new (used) car, but we just bought our Accord, and money is somewhat tight. We'll have to see what happens...