Pregnancy after Long Term TTC - January 2009

Nicole - my bubs can have quiet days. It is a bit disconcerting though. Try the cold drink and lying on the left side. Then count the movements. If you aren't feeling any, call your OB. I'm sure June Bug is just a bit tired.

In regards to hiccups - I have a bubs that does it quite regularly, and if they do it once during a day, I know that they will do it a number of times that day ( i guess just like us when you have hiccups once in a day you normally get it a number of times)! It is a rythmical movement that can be felt for quite a while. Megan - it sounds like bubs has turned. I always feel the hiccups towards their head... so at the moment that is quite low down. You can normally differentiate it because the movement is rythmical.

Janie xxx

Thanks BG, Nic, TL, Megan, Janie and Possum.
All your words of advice were very sweet and very much thankful for :hug:

Lying down and a cold drink would have been great but I don't think my manager would have approved but will keep all these ideas down for next time as I am sure there will be further days like this.

Well after ringing OB who had closed for the day he called me back around 4ish and said it sounds completely normal but due to him being closed to pop past the Hills Private and go to the birthing rooms and they will check the heartbeat.

The nurse there was soooo very nice, took a little while to find our little bug but he was there beating away. We even got a print out of the heartbeat which was moving along nicely from 140-150bpm.

To celebrate bought the best Thai food on the was way home and the little one was enjoying it too.
Must have gone back to sleep now, but gee what a relief to hear that heart pounding away.

As they say stress over nothing but I feel allot better now and that's what counts.

Thanks again ladies and sorry for the long post.

Have a great long weekend with those growing bellies :bellyrubs:

Hi lovely ladies

Possums - a big congrats. What a wonderful feeling for you to have gotten this far, now I am certain that little Hope is here to stay! How exciting for you and such great scan results. And after my recent experiences I would definitely recommend the 10wk scan! Take care :hug:

Nixon - lots of belly laughs :ROFL: about describing my baby's birth as just like having an orgasm - yeah right! Sounds like something a man would say! Hope you have a great weekend in Canberra.

Bel - supervising a move sounds like a great job, much better than having to pack and lift stuff anyway. Hope it all goes smoothly, even the unpacking part, which is my least favourite of all!

FG - I know what you mean about the bump showing and the weight. Since I have been back at work (yesterday and today) a few of the girls have been looking at me oddly - I think they have guessed but aren't saying anything. And I weighed myself this morning to find I have put on almost 3kg in under 6 weeks. Yikes - how is my wedding dress going to fit if I continue like that? So I have resolved to try to eat better and do more exercise like I was before Christmas. Hang in there...not long to go now until we can tell people!

BG - baby hiccups sound kind of weird and cool at the same time. Just another little gem to wonder at in this amazing journey of pg!

Nicole- hope you feel little June Bug soon.

AFM - the scan went well. Gizmo is now 4.5cm or 11wks with a HR 171bpm. So Gizmo seems to be growing a little faster than usual. The sonographer even checked with me the date of my NT scan as she was concerned that Gizmo may be too big for the test if the scan is done late, but another 10days will be fine apparently. It was a shame that DF couldn't be with me because I saw the baby wave and do a couple of somersaults - very active! It was amazing. Gizmo even had his/her legs crossed at the ankles, which was kind of funny. I bet that's what happens at the 19wk scan and so the sex will end up being a surprise!

A big hi to everyone and lots of tummy rubs. DF should be home any minute and I can't wait to show him the new photo of Gizmo!

xx

Chez - Go Gizmo guess what Charoltte had her legs crossed at her 12 week scan then showed off heaps at the 20 week one :)

Chez - I'm not saying it's like having an orgasm - the woman was literally having orgasms while birthing - think 'when harry met sally' in the coffee shop while in a birthing pool and a baby coming out. Not sure what the technique are that are involved, but that's what the video showed.

Nicoles - Glad to hear things went well yesterday.

AFM - My back is killing me. Can't sleep very well as lying on my side tends to induce spams in my lower back. I have tried body pillows, normal pillows supporting back everything. I'm not a happy camper without my sleep.

Nic - wait till the kicks get stronger Miss C has given me 2 hours overnight very tired now :rolleyes: heat packs and accupunture worked wonders with mine feeling heaps better now.

Nic - :redface: now I understand what you mean! Maybe I'll work up the courage to watch the DVD over the weekend, and then again, maybe not! ;) Sorry that you're not sleeping too well... I have lower back pain some nights when I'm not pg... oh the joys ahead of us! Hope you work something out soon.

TL- at least you know Miss C is strong and healthy, not much comfort at 3am I guessing! Hope you have better night tonight!

AFM - weighed myself this morning - I am 1.3kg less than yesterday! WTF? Normally I am only weighing myself weekly, but with yesterday's distastrous result I wanted to check. Is it just likely to be fluid retention?

BBL xx

Hi Chez, I weigh myself 2x a day (I know, over doing it) and it fluctuate within 1-2 kg.

Wow, so much things happening in here. How interesting re: movement and hiccups.

Yay! Congrats Possum, you must be thrilled.

LBN, glad to see you are doing o.k.

AFM, had Endo appointment yesterday and everything is going well. Apparently I fit into the 50% of pg women whose thyroid plays up during the first trimester but it is now back to normal. This has enabled to gain 3 kgs. Yay. Endo will continue to monitor as my thyroid might be problematic in the last trimester and after birth. Being so slim, there is no doubt I am pg to everyone. While I was cleaning up yesterday, I found a tape measure so started to measure myself ( I sew so I know my measurements pre-pg)..my waistline has increased by 15 cm while the rest of me stayed the same...feels so weird.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Hi Girls,

Fantastic to see so many of you in this forum!

I wanted to say re the baby movements that I have an anterior placenta (at the front), so bubs would be inside kicking away and I didn't feel a thing - and only feel the sideways ninja kicks. It took 2 hours to do my 20 week scan because bubs wouldn't sit still, but I didn't feel any of it, except maybe 2 or 3 really good kicks.

I also started to show straight away - I think i was about 3 weeks and I had a pot belly, which stayed a pot belly for a long time, and I just looked like I ate too many doughnuts!

Also I had to change my eating patterns, and lived off cheese and dry crackers (ie Sao) in the first trimester to stop morning sickness and prevent dizzy spells - you may want to spread your food intake over the day, rather than rely on 3 meals.

All the best with your pregnancies girls - try and enjoy the time as much as you can - I've got 3 weeks left and can't believe how quickly the time has flown by.

Take care of yourselves!

Tarkine - thanks for the advice about how time flies...so close for you now!

Kahlan - glad to hear all is going well now

chez- yes, my weight fluctuates a fair bit depending on fluid retention
your scan sounds great! glad all was looking so good. I cant wait for my 10 wk scan now!

Nixon - I am not good without much sleep either (goodness knows how I'll cope when this little one actually arrives!)...hope your back pain eases and you get more sleep soon

Nicole- so glad all was well and the heartbeat was nice and strong. It's natural for us to worry about things and have checks to bring reassurance is a good thing I think

anyway, Happy Australia Day everyone! I am in the media and am working today, worse luck-...but having my parents and a friend around for a BBQ tonight which will be nice.
Feeling queasy a lot of the time, but no severe MS thank goodness...and my boobs are sore this week and a little bigger, was wondering when they would start to change.:lol:

Just another question, it's still a long way off for me, but I am curious to know how long you are all planning on working for..ie how far along will you be when you go on leave?

Hey Laides Happy Australia Day to you and our growing :bellyrubs:
Too bad Possum that you have to work, do you get a day off latter in the year?
As for work I plan to finish end of April so I will be around 35 weeks.

Have a great day ladies :dance:

hi everyone

just a quick question my hcg was 36 000 the other day at 6 weeks 5 days and was 15 000 at exactly 6 weeks, this was done as i have been in hospital with severe Hyperemesis Gravidarum in otherwords really bad morning sickness! been on a drip for a few days back home now but still feel terrible, the doc said that those levels were great as apparently it take about 4 to 5 days for hcg levels to double once over 6000 is this true? i keep seeing ppl say it has to be every 2 to 3 days im just very nervous have another bt tomorrow to check heaps of things, i hope all is ok, i am not enjoying anything at the moment i want to end it one way or another, i hope everyone else is having a good time and all the bubs are doing well. sorry for the "me" post.

21 - most doctors won't monitor HCG levels past about six weeks at the rate of increase varies drastically - given the HG, i'd be feeling pretty confident things are travelling well hun

21 :goodluck: sure all will be ok

Possums - I am finishing at 37 weeks would prefer 35-36 but depends on my replacement

AFM: we can see her move now soo exciting and if I tickle my tummy she kicks back. 30 weeks passed on Sunday so 9 weeks and 6 Days to go. Have my 30 week check up on Wednesday

Happy Australia Day all!

21 - sorry that your MS has been so bad, but it sounds like everything is on track with the hcg and therefore your baby :dance:

Chez - I only weight myself at the same time of the day (1st thing in morning) because of fluctuations during the day ++ lots of kg, but have even noticed now that between days I fluctuate a bit as well as having an overall increase - so some of it must be fluid! Great scan results, just hope for your sake that growth rate slows at some point of time! Och!

Possums - enjoy your BBQ tonight.

Nic - glad that you were able to find out that all was ok.

Wishing everyone else a wonderful long weekend and even better short working week...

FG

Chez, I put on 1kg last week with the heat and as soon as it cooled down it was gone again. I felt really bloated and had to take my rings off, but all back to normal again. Until tomorrow when the heat wave hits again I suppose!!

hi again guys thankyou so much for the reassurance i just get very nervous and still in denial i think out of fear of being heartbroken again, but like i say its out of my hands now, its kind of sad its supposed to be a wonderful time in your life but my DF hasnt spoken a word about it for the last 2 weeks, i know its because he is scared aswell but i do feel a bit lonely and i dont like to worry him so i keep to myself with my thoughts also i was wondering how do you go about seeing an OB? do u get a referral and also how much does it cost for first consult and scans and that, do u get medicare? i also have a healthcare card being a uni student, how does it all work?

HI Everyone!

21 - sounds to me like everything is on track. Certainly having such severe MS must be a good sign! When I went to my OB (private) the first visit was about $300 and could be claimed back on medicare. The progress payment at 20 weeks was $1,700 and not claimable on anything. The 30 week progress payment was about $3,500 and was claimable on medicare. It helps if you are over your safety net as you then get 80% of OOP back. I don't know if you get any rebates for having a student health card when you go private. If you go private you would really want to have PHI in place as when I booked into the hospital I only had to pay a $300 deposit (refundable). If you don't have PHI that went up to $7,000 just for the deposit! If you are going to an OB through the public system then that is different. But I believe that you get referred to the hospital and then you see whichever OB is on duty (someone may be able to correct me if I am wrong).

TL - congrats on 30 weeks! It is so amusing being able to watch your belly move.

Nicole - great to hear June Bug is doing well. They certainly know how to keep us on our feet!

Possums - I'm working up to the 37 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I have an office based job and feel I would be bored if I go on leave too early... plus the extra money before going on maternity leave will certainly help!

Tarkine - wow! only 3 weeks to go - how exciting!

Hi Megan, FG, BG, Kahlan, Chez, Nixon, LNB, Bel and all those I have missed!

AFM - Had a lovely long weekend - very relaxing. Bubs movements have started changing due to them starting to run out of space. Still getting lots of movements, but not big back flips etc anymore. Feels more like they are having a stretch. Being cleaning and sorting out the house a lot now, so I guess the nesting is really starting to kick in. Still feeling breathless with any exertion which is annoying, but not really limiting. Getting up 1-4 times a night due to my bladder being head butted. All in all I am really loving this part of pregnancy. There is "light at the end of the tunnel" now (that is the count down is on until we meet this little one). I am so excited about becoming a Mum and can't wait to meet this little one and find out if they are a boy/girl.

Janie xxx

21 - we have no option for private Ob down here - just the consultant Ob's through the hospital i'll be visiting. i'm having GP/Ob shared care - GP is around $60-80 a visit, depending on what she has to do at the time. Ob i've only seen once and that was $80 (which i need to send a cheque for - thanks for the reminder). being essentially a public Ob, i will have no hospital costs, so it's just the monthly/fortnightly visits i need to pay for - so not too exxy - no different to most GP's really. it really does depend on your mode of care. if you happen to go public as i have, it may be less with your health care card (i know the GP is $20 cheaper if you have a HCC)

Janie - sounds like things are getting a bit squooshy in there - but stretching does sound a little less painful than the acrobatics i'm getting at the moment - im so jumpy - every kick seems to come out of nowhere!

Hi girls,

Sorry for no personals. Have had a tough weekend and currently feeling very low. Bub is doing fine but mummy is not.

Had an argument with DH (not really a argument but more of DH telling me off for something which I don't entire agree). I was telling DH how I don't agree with him being so presumptous with his mother (I believe he was putting her in a tight position). He kept quiet but for some reason I kept going even though I have made my point already. He then lashed out, telling me how I shouldn't talk to him as if he was a child and that I placed to much importance over nothing. Instead of fighting back I just cried and continued to cry. He stopped then and profusively apologized. It was very uncharacteristic of me and I tried to reassure him that its my hormones but I couldn't even convince myself that I was fine. I am still sorting out how I feel. I don't know how I feel....just very low at present. DH was at his mother's last night for a family function (I didn't go cos I was very tired and not feeling well). It was a good thing because I couldn't stop crying last night and didn't stop until I fell asleep. Now my eyes are all puffy but I haven't shaken off my blues. I just feel lonely. Has anyone experience the blues during pg? I thought some women get PND after birth not before.

Kahlan - pre-natal depression is rather common - particularly for those already prone to depression. i've felt myself slipping into it more often than i care to admit - thankfully i've had a counsellor in the past that has given me some great coping techniques - and between that and BB, i've managed to cope. i have spoken to both my GP and Ob about the depression and how i'm coping, and am going to be doing a calmbirth course next month to help a little more... if you're feeling it is uncharacteristically bad for you, talk to your care provider hun....

FWIW - i had a mental mountdown this morning - over essentially nothing - just a build up of everything and i lost it over something DH said to me - an hour of crying and trying to explain things (after similar last night) he ended up cuddling me back to sleep and i woke up feeling - not happy, but like the cloud that has been hovering has had it's rain on my parade and buggered off!

Hi 21 - the Dept of Human Services in Vic have a good website about having a baby which includes a description of the different options in terms of care - private/shared care/midwife etc. While it is focused on services in Vic, the general info about pregnancy and birth care options should be generic enough to help you work out options in QLD - i found it a good first port of call. If you google 'having a baby in Victoria' - it should come up - sorry I cant post the link. The QLD govt might have a similar site - might be worth a bit of a web search. In terms of cost, I have been getting about $40-60 back from medicare for each of my OB visits - which I pay $150-$200 for - so we are going to be out of pocket a fair bit. I have not yet reached the medicare rebate threshold (being the start of the year). These visits include a scan (extra $70 per visit). I also have to pay a management fee of $1800 close to the time of the birth - i think private health insurance and medicare should cover most of this - fingers crossed!

I'm not sure about the impact of having a health care card - maybe call medicare and see if they can offer specific advice.

I think a good first step would be to book in and see your GP and discuss options with him/her - or another GP if the one you are going to is not helpful. A GP will need to provide you with a referal if you do decide to go private and see an OB for your care (as opposed to seeing one through a public hospital). (You could just see a OB for one or two visits/scans until you feel more confident that you pg will keep going eg past 12wks, and then go public). Your GP should also be aware of what programs are available through local hospitals eg midwife programs, and when you may need to book in (I think that with some you need to book in early due to demand). I have found that hospitals also have info on their web sites about the services offered, including contacts for more info - again it could be worth doing some web searching and seeing what is offered in your area.

Good luck - it is a hard decision, but maybe a good (and positive) thing to get DF involved in. Wishing you all the best.
FG

Kahlan - you must have posted while I was writing mine - so I have just seen it. I can only support BGs comments - pre-natal depression is common, and can be helped. A friend suffered from it, but did not realise (just thought it was pg blues and tiredness) and so did not get support, and so had a really rocky time post-natal. This pg she has a great OB who is fully aware of where she is at and is great at offering support and working out what she needs to get through this pg and post birth. You might just be run down and tired and this is just a normal reaction, you might just need some time out to rest, but it could indicate that you need other support - either way maybe speak to your GP/pg carer about what you need to help you look after yourself - and your baby, if it be a few days R&R off work, or to speak with someone.

Take care.
FG

Oh Kahlan sweetie :hug: I have had some down days with no real reasoning sweetie :hug: Ob reassured me that it was hormaornal and all ok for me to loose control once in a while which I think was my major issue.

21 - sweetie we get some money back from medicare from the OB we got more of it last year whilst we were still at the saftey net limit but I am sure we will get there this year too :)

AFM 6 weeks of work left :leap: wowie getting excited now! Made my first jewellery sale on ebay and are in the process of becoming a market place member :cheer: Did the feng shui for 2009 last night this will def be our year

21, I am doing shared care with a GP/OB and his midwives. I am going public. I knew which hospital I wanted to go to and went from there. Did a tour and found out who the Dr's were and what type of care programs they had. I see the Dr 4 times ( have seen him twice so far) and the midwives the rest of the time. It has cost me $200 out of pocket which I paid at 16w and all the appts are bulk billed. I have my ultrasounds at the hospital which are also bulk billed. So really I have paid very little and I have been really happy with everyone I have dealt with so far.

Janie, my movements have changed to more stretching in the last week as well. Must be getting a bit tight in there!

Kahlan, I have had a few down days this pregnancy. Most recent one was just last week. I just felt out of control, couldn't stop crying and generally felt useless and stupid. I don't even know why. Thankfully those moments have been few and far between and most of the time I feel fine, but if you are concerned you should definitely speak to someone.

AFM, 3rd calmbirth class tonight, 4d scan tomorrow night, midwife appt thursday and 4th calmbirth class thursday night, so a busy week. All in the lovely melbourne heat!!

Thanks BG,

I sometimes get pre-menstrual "sadness" prior to pg so I guess this is "normal".

21 - I've got PHI so have decided to do shared care between by GP and OB. I estimated that I will be paying my OB close to 2 1/2K but will get some back from medicare.

Possume - I have decided to work till I am 35 - 38 weeks. Not sure yet. I have an office job and we need the money. Also I would like to spend more time with bub after birth. I am more concern regarding how long of a maternity leave I should take. I want to take at least 6 months after birth but DH thinks 4 is sufficient (my MIL will be moving in with us to help with the bub). Since DH changed career path, I earn almost twice as much as he does so technically we don't have much option. We are saving up very hard at present for me to take longer maternity leave.

Kahlan, I have had similar bouts on and off - particularly in the 2nd trimester. It might last a day or a week. Work is a major source of stress for me at the moment, along with renovations, baby not moving (ok now, but last week was hard), I find it really difficult to make decisions that involve our finances including buyign baby stuff. This is all everyday stuff that I need to deal with and I don't want to palm off to DH. Sometimes he is the one who sets me off crying, nothing to do with him really, but sometimes it gets to the point where I think becuase I love him so much it means more when he snaps at me? KWIM?

I can usually feel the stress/depression building for a few days and then all it takes is one tiny thing to set me off
- if it's really hot and I'm lying on the couch and I can't breathe properly = meltdown.
- get home after a tough couple of days and see the size of my ass in the mirror = meltdown.
- thinking too much about what can possibly go wrong with pregnancies in general = meltdown.
- thinking tioo much about what would happen if anything happened to DH = meltdown.

What I have found that really helps is Acupuncture and practicing the Calm Birth techniques. Focusing on me and the baby and my DH instead of all the rest of the elevator music (that's what I call it - you might not like it, but it's there and it's a part of life, but it's not really that important).

Anyway - we're here if you need to unload.

X

Megan - how are you finding Calm Birth?

Kahlan - You are able to extend your maternity leave once (I think), so you could book the 4mths and then extend if you are not ready to come back?

hi girls - just caught up on the news in here...things move very quickly!!

Possums - thrilled at your scan results. Well done.

Just a quickie from me...I've got my first ob appointment tomorrow. I'm also having a 10.5 week scan next Tuesday (anxiety got the better of me and I decided I couldn't wait until 12.5 weeks). Just praying everything is ok...and waiting patiently till next week.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Mels xx

Nic, finding calmbirth really interesting. It's strange that after just 2 classes I already feel better about the birth. I don't feel scared anymore. I'm not looking forward to it like DH just yet, but I definitely feel more confident.

Hello everyone-thanks for the replies regarding

Kahlan- sorry you have been feeling low...i have also heard of bouts of depression during pregnancy. Have you tried acupuncture?...I am an emotional person, prone to anxiety and worry and it helps me.
Sometimes I also use meditation CDs which also help

Nixon- I can relate also to feeling overwhelmed sometimes. I hope this week is a good week for you

21- I agree that the MS sounds like a good sign that all is going well. I got a referral to my OB from my GP- I think it's worth seeing an Ob if you can afford it. And try talking to your partner...it's so important to keep communicating...tell him how you feel

TL- yay..not long to go!

Janie- glad you are feeling happy...and excited

afm- all going OK...going to see our OB for the first time this pregnancy tomorrow afternoon, so that will be good. DH and I have been arguing a lot lately...just not very connected...i hope that improves again soon

good morning ladies

thankyou so much for all the info!!! im impressed!! im also feeling a little better still hurling in the morning and night though! i still dont know what to do but will be seeing GP at the end of the week so will prob get a referal then and ask him what he thinks, thanks again for all the info it was very helpful!!! also im putting off my scan for a bit as im very nervous and feel i need a bit more time to prepare myself for whatever is to come, any advice on how to survive the waiting room before the scan?

Megan - I'm really looking forward to the birth now. I think I have had a lot of weeks to visulise and be ok with letting go and stepping aside so my body can do what it was made for.

I still have the odd niggling doubt here and there, but I try not to dwell on those as I know it is my 'little devil on my shoulder' telling me that I am not going to be strong enough.

It helped a lot with the visulaisation to go to the hospital and have a tour of the birthing suite - I can now picture scenarios (if that makes sense).

DH was very pessimistic when I told him we were going to Calm Birth Classes but to his credit he kept his doubts to himself until after the classes were complete. He then told me how blown away he was by the course and how glad he was that we'd done the course as he now felt that he could actually do something for me during the birth and how much better understanding he had.

Possums - good luck for tomorrow. Will you get to see Hope again at the OB appointment? I hope so (ha ha - no pun intended).

x

Nic, I think we go into the visualisation in tonight's class. I haven't been practicing that much at home, just some calm breathing everyday when I wake up but even just taking time to do that I notice a difference about how relaxed I am. DH looks forward to every class and he asks lots of questions. I am shocked at how much he knows now. I went to high school with him and he was never this attentive in class! lol

Morning Ladies, great to have a short week... hey :dance:

Kahlan, I think most of the ladies have summed it up perfectly for you and that it is normal to feel this way and react differently.
There is allot going on in our bodies and our heads and sometimes you can only take so much.
I find I over react more at the moment for things that really don't bother me.
Rest up and take care of you and that baby belly.

Possum, Best of luck tomorrow with your OB.

Janie, that light at the end of the tunnel sure is there.
Must be getting really exciting for you...

TL, only 6 weeks more of work to go....not that your counting...hey ;)

Bellyrubs to BG, Megan, Nic, 21, Mels, FG and anyone else I missed...there sure is a party going on in here:lol:

AFM, not much going on June Bug was moving around most of the weekend on and off and am trying to relax more that you can have quiet days.
Anyway off to OB this Friday and I can't wait to see our little one again.

Question, when do you start seeing the OB every two weeks??

Thanks for the well wishes everyone

Mel- think we must have posted at the same time before, as I missed your post...good luck with your OB appt...and I am glad you canhave that earlier scan !

21- not much you can do about the anxiety except try and think calm thoughts and not focus onyour worries too much while in the waiting room

Nicole- how exciting getting to see your little one again soon!

Nixon- nope no scan for me...there isnt a machine at my OBs rooms...but I have only a week and a half until the 10 week one...so I pray all is going OK in there!

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

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

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