Pregnancy after Long Term TTC - January 2009

[Janie71]

Nicole - I started seeing OB every 2 weeks from 28 weeks. It sure makes the time go faster... I used to hate having to wait 4 weeks between visits!

Janie xxx

[Nicole S]

Thanks Janie, I hear you on the 4 weeks...almost drives you batty...

[Megan]

I have just started fortnightly appts and I think they're weekly from 36wks.

[tiggerlinda]

Mine start this week Nic

No I am not counting I just want to be a WAHM now

[Chez67]

*Damn computers - was half way through my personals when I lost everything!!***

Let's try again...

Wow, things are very busy in here today!

21 - I came to the realisation before my last scan that no matter what the outcome, there was nothing I could do to control or change that. Once that happened I was much more accepting of the process and felt more relaxed. I hope you can find some way of communicating with your DF about how you're feeling. It's important to have him there for your support now and in the future.

Possums - As long as I am healthy, I expect to work up until about 36 to 38 weeks so I can maximise my mat leave with bub. I am hoping to be able to take about 6 months if we can afford it! And good luck with your ob appointment.

Mels - good luck with your scan next week.

Kahlan - sorry to hear about your sad day. I have those occasionally and have just put it down to hormones. I had one yesterday actually and decided to spend the day relaxing and just chilling out doing fun things but I did drag DF out for a walk later in the afternoon - it all helped me. Hopefully you will find something that works for you too.

Mels - good luck with your ob appointment tomorrow.

Nicole - ditto for Friday.

To everyone else, a big .

Not much going on with me. DF and I have started talking about where we will put the furniture in the nursery. But before we do that, we need to buy some, and we need to rearrange three rooms of the house - two studies and a guest room becomes one bigger study, one small guest room and the nursery. We'll have to do that sooner rather than later otherwise poor DF will have to move all three bookcases, desks, computers, bed etc by himself. We're looking forward to the 12wk scan on Monday. Not long to go now!

Take are all
xx

[Kahlan]

Thanks so much girls. You all have made me feel better. I will talk to my OB at our next appt. I told DH what I was experiencing last night and he just kissed and hugged me very tight. I think he was afraid that anything he might say would trigger another flood of tears! Poor fellow.

Chez - 12 weeks is such a big step. I remembered breathing a really big sigh of relief when I saw my baby healthy and strong at 12 weeks.

Janie and TL - not long to go now. I bet you are both very excited and nervous.

To those who are still in the 12 weeks period, I hope this might reassure you a bit. I was told by 3 doctors that although m/c do occur up until 12 weeks but the majority do occur within the first 8 weeks. If you have passed that there is a very very high likelihood that you bub is staying for the long haul. In short, 5 out of 6 pg will terminate in the first 12 weeks, however the majority will terminate within the first 8 weeks.

One question, I am having problems getting DVD recording of my ultrasound. All the places my doctor refers me to said they don't do it as standard but I can come back at 21 week pg and pay roughly $190 for the recording and 3D/4D images. Is this right? If you are in Victoria and have any info on which places to go, please help me out. Thanks.

[Possums]

Kahlan- thanks for that encouragement for those of us still in the first 12 weeks...it is good to hear! I am not sure about the scan dvds sorry...I do hope you are feeling a bit brighter in yourself

chez- we have also started talking about nursery things (even though it's still early days) and will also be rearranging some rooms/guest rooms to get things just right- I am looking forward to my 10 wk scan now...and i hope the time flies until your 12 week scan

afm- well, I am a bit rattled today and I apologise in advance if this is going to sound silly or something. It's just I have found out that a girl at work (well, she is just a casual, and isnt here that much these days, but we used to work together a lot) who I am not all that fond of, and who drinks and smokes a lot, is pregnant...I think due in July (I overheard a conversation in our open plan office, but havent been told directly). Anyway, she's has a child and has been trying for a while for a second, all the while smoking etc. And I used to find it really upsetting when she would whinge to me she wasn't pregnant again yet, and yet her lifestyle is not good (and she's 40) and meanwhile I was doing ALL the right things, and going through IVF and losing babies etc.
Now that I hear she is pregnant, I feel all rattled. I am not even sure why. Perhaps because I thought it was my turn to announce exciting pregnancy news and be the pregnant one? Perhaps because I know she has still been smoking etc. Perhaps because she is ahead of me, and I have this fear, that imagine if I lose this baby, and she then has a baby...I don't know how I'd cope. As I said, I know this probably doesn't sound rational and I am trying to understand it myself, all I know is I feel emotional and rattled.

[Nixon]

Kahlan - Seriously!!!! $190 bucks just for the DVD or is that for the 20 week scan and the DVD?

We paid $15 on top of whatever the scan was at that stage around the $200 mark. The 15 went to charity anyway. We got all of the 20 week scan and the sonographer flipped the machine to 3d for some parts at the start and end = so that was on the DVD too.

I doubt very much that you will get anywhere to do you a 3 or 4d before 20 weeks - apparently the bubs look very alien like due to no fat on the bones. They were reluctant to give me a 3d view at the 20 week scan - normally you'd get the 'cute' 3d around the 28 week mark. My friends freaked out when they saw my 3d pic's - I thought they were cute, but every one else was a bit weirded out cause bubs was so skinny.

Although there are no guarantees that you will be referred for a scan at that stage and my ultrasound place won't do them unless you have a referral (they used to do it at 28 - 35 weeks for people who had no referral, but were happy to pay the money for the pic's). After the 20 week scan there are no standard scans (like NT at 12 and the 20 week at 18 - 20 weeks).

Hope that helps.

AFM - Off to Ob at lunchtime for normal appointment. Looking forward to seeing the cheeky monkey. My brand new kitchen gets installed tomorrow....finally a dishwasher again after 2 years of making do without.....YAY!!!!

[Janie71]

One question, I am having problems getting DVD recording of my ultrasound. All the places my doctor refers me to said they don't do it as standard but I can come back at 21 week pg and pay roughly $190 for the recording and 3D/4D images. Is this right? If you are in Victoria and have any info on which places to go, please help me out. Thanks.

Kahlan I go to East Melbourne Ultrasound and we don't pay any extra for DVD. I think it costs on average $220 (that is for everything), but is claimable on Medicare (when we were over our safety net we were only OOP about $25). I find them to be very good.

Possums - I don't think you sound irrational at all. It has always been a source of frustration to me watching other people not look after themselves and yet fall pregnant at the drop of a hat. I guess the really good thing that we have on our sides is that our babies will be happy and healthy because we have all taken exceptional care of ourselves (I haven't been this healthy since I was a child!). Unfortunately for this woman who is smoking she is running the risk of serious complications and ongoing health problems for her child (and I am an ex-smoker so I am not without sympathy for people trying to give up). I can understand you also wanting this time to be special for you. And it will be. People will be so happy for you when they find out.

Nixon - GL for appointment today and hooray for the dishwasher! My OB does one more scan at 34 weeks (I don't believe that it is standard) which checks for the health of the placenta and the growth of the baby... I believe they are standard in the UK, but only some OB's do them here.

Hope everyone is well.

Janie xxx