Pregnancy after Long Term TTC - September 2008

[Nicole S]

TL, great news to hear that your next scan is at Week 20....

Possums, I'm not too sure on levels but am sure if they were concerned in your levels they would get you back for another test.

Bee, Woo Hoo on 8 week scan and bubba being 1.23cm long. I actually got out my ruler to see...amazing how small we all start out.

AFM, well it's self confession time..I wasn't going to post as I am so .
Well the so called spotting actually wasn't from me over the weekend.
I used the loo and looked at the toot paper and noticed small light pink spots on it ebfore I even too it off the roll. I would never have thought that there would be any marking as they are white...so it must have been a little over spray from the factory.
I can't believe I stressed over the weekend over nothing...I guess getting this far you just don't want anything to go wrong.
It still scares the crap out of me knowing that my first scan is in 13 sleeps and I have no bloods tests in between.

Anyway ladies so sorry for the long post and hope you are all having a great day

[Possums]

Nicole- great that everything is OK!! You know, while I was in the TWW I used loo paper with pale pink flowers on it, and of course after it was wet, the flower colour was darker, and I panicked a few times, thinking I had light spotting...and then i would realise it was just pattern on the paper... !!

[briggsy's girl]

Nicole - we used to get printed loo paper but i realised how much it was going my head in cycle after cycle, so now it's boring old white all the time! don't fret hun, you're not alone!

Possums - if your clinic aren't super stressed about your numbers, don't allow yourself to be stressed either. i know it's easier said than done, but the last thing you want to do is put yourself under further duress. if they think it's a problem, they'll get more testing done sooner rather than later

sorry about the relative lack of personals - am seriously contemplating sleep again! had a shocking sleep last night, and feeling decidedly seedy today from it! am also a little annoyed with my family being so damn judgemental about the choices DH and I are making. we've essentially been told it's a waste of time and money buying new furniture for our little Gremlin, and can't seem to understand why, after going through what we've been through, we want everything for our baby to be perfect! yes, it's going to cost a bit more, but WE are paying for it - WE have paid for everything so far in this journey, so why do they need to judge? it's not like we've asked anyone else to pay for anything! i don't want to have a room full of unmatched furniture! we've furnished our house the way we want it, why should the Gremlin's room be any different? Why, simply because it's not the eldest grandchild, should it be subjected to 9 year old second hand stuff that's been used for three other kids? i don't care if it's in "good condition - we want this to be perfect! i don't want a heap of toys that are kinda good, but been used as chew toys for at least three other kids! i'm happy for our bub to play with this stuff at their place, but i'm not filling my house with second hand stuff and not allowing our child to have anything new and special of it's own! am i being unreasonable?

[Possums]

briggsy's girl- nope perfecly reasonable i think...you've been through a lot to get here...if you want to by brand new stuff for your little miracle why shouldn't you? if you can afford it, go for it. They should respect, and really should understand, your decision and the reasons why.

thanks for your reassurance to me. I am trying not to worry...I think I just had in my head that it would have doubled every 2-3 days and therefore be higher...but my nurse said it can fluctuate and go a little slower sometimes.... I just want my scan to hurry up. I actually called my Ob and he was away until friday (saw him last time..but my first appt this time is for after our scan)...I just wanted another opinion. His receptionist said I can call again friday when he's back anyway.

[briggsy's girl]

possums, if you're in need of reassurance, call to speak to the FS on Friday - even if it's just another set of bloods to put your mind at ease that things are continuing to increase kwim?

[Devon]

Sorry girls, I haven't been around much and there's a lot to catch up on!

Queenh - wonderful news on your scan, and so glad to hear that your mum's op seems to have gone really well. Keeping everything that she continues to do well.

Nicole S - congratulations and welcome!! I apologise, but I did have a tiny chuckle over your toilet paper news, it's wonderful though – no spotting! You shouldn't be embarrassed, I'm sure we've all done the same thing. I usually get recycled toilet paper, and it can have coloured specks in it, and I have freaked out loads of times over them. I started buying non-recycled to put an end to it.

TL - really glad to hear all went well at your scan, bring on 20 weeks hey? Can't wait to see your new av.

Scooby - I hope you're getting a break from the big kicks! I know what you mean about it feeling a bit boring with not much going on, but I guess that's also a good thing! I think we'll look back on this period fondly once we're well into the third trimester!

BG - not long till Friday!! Can't wait to hear you've seen the heartbeat! As for your family hassling you about baby gear - it's your baby, your money, you do whatever you want!! I definitely understand your wanting a matching nursery. I've been fantasising about being in a position to decorate a nursery for over two years, so I figure I can have whatever I want (if we can afford it!!)

Megan - I hope you're feeling better today and feeling OK about your NT scan, but perfectly understandable to be freaking out. I felt so much better after mine, so you just need to get through the next few days, and then you can hopefully relax a bit more. The early weeks are just so hard but it will get better!

LuckyStrike - Congratulations to you too! Wonderful news, and glad to hear that your levels are looking good. Best of luck for your scan next week.

Possums - I'm sure that if your nurse said she was happy with your levels that everything is fine. It's so hard not to worry though I hope you can get through to your FS on Friday - why do they have to go away at the most inconvenient times??

Bee - Great news on your scan, you must be so relieved! Really hope you don't have diabetes though, good luck with all the tests.

AFM – I'm getting stressed out, as usual. Now I'm getting myself worked up about the birth, wanting to have a no intervention or low intervention birth and scared I'm not going to get it in my hospital. Have been interviewing doulas, but it's just making me more worried and more fixated on it. Need to chill out a bit I think. On the upside, I'm getting a lot more movement, which is very reassuring. I just can't wait to meet our baby! Oh, and DH and I are off to an active birth workshop this Sunday – I can't wait!

Geez, this thread is so busy now - it's wonderful!! But much harder to keep up with everyone. For everyone I've missed, I apologise and send lots of and hope you're all doing well.

Devon
xxxx

[Nicole S]

Have to agree BG, you are being perfectly reasonable!!!
After such a long journey I say knock yourself out....give the credit card a good work out
This is your first long anticipated baby and you should NOT have to think twice about spending money on anything new for baby.
As possum said they should really understand your decision no questions asked!!!
....and on a Safety side standard do change and I wouldn't trust anything that was 9 years old no matter where it came from

[Nicole S]

Don't worry Devon, I too was laughing out loud...poor DH thought I was going nuts when I finally worked out what it was...

[briggsy's girl]

....and on a Safety side standard do change and I wouldn't trust anything that was 9 years old no matter where it came from

this is a very big part of my concern too!

i wouldn't accept items of that age from a stranger, why should i be expected to accept it from family? we're not going super expensive, but we CAN afford to buy the things we want, and we're going to do it. we've furnished our house with a mixture of antique and new stuff that works together, so we want a bedroom suite for our kidlet sleeps will fit similarly. we don't want really ornate (sleigh cots are cute, but too much for us), but we don't want the plain stuff either, so we're looking at the Boori Paddington. the room we'll be using doesn't have any drawers either, just a built in robe with everything inside it falling apart! so we'll get a set of drawers to match, and probably the under cot drawer as well.

[Possums]

Devon- hope you arent too stressed out! i think I'd be the same
thanks for the support

afm- my IVf nurse just called me and said she was looking at my levels on the graph and I have dropped below the bell curve I was on...she said it's OK for now, but if I am still not rising more than this rate next week at my next BT then there is cause for concern. I am freaking out, even though I am trying not to. I guess I just wanted everything to be text book this time

[Nicole S]

Oh Possum, so much easier said than done but just try and relax...
When did they say your next blood test is?

[Devon]

Oh Possums, sending you huge, huge I'm sorry that you've had that scary information, it's so hard hanging out for BT results. Which day next week is your next BT? There is no reason why your levels won't have risen by next week, just because you don't fit on their bell curve doesn't necessarily mean that there is something wrong. I have absolutely everything crossed for you and bubs hun

Devon
xxxx

[Possums]

Thanks ladies. BT is next Tuesday...scan is booked for the tuesday after, however I might see if I can make it sooner than that now.

[tiggerlinda]

Oh Possums sweet after having a bubs that likes to throw scares at me it gives me hope when I read posts like yours your bubs is a playing games

Devon: I am really funny on the 2nd had options I would just like to get what I want

Busy day at work so very tired bubs is making mummy sleep alot

[Nicole S]

Is it bad in way that I don't have any real signs of MS or any other pregnancy symptom????
The only difference is that I get allot of low pressure on and off. Can't drink coffee and I LOVE coffee and chocolate don't even want to touch it.
Other than that a little tired and sore BB from time to time...

I probably already know the answer to this question as it might be too early but if anyone could relate to the lack of symptoms it would help ease my mind a little as I was tempted to call the clinic and ask for another blood test this weekend?!?!?

[LuckyStrike]

Hi everyone

Thought I'd pop in and see how everyone is going.

Possums, check out this site about HCG levels. From what I can see your levels are fine.
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) Levels During Pregnancy
Its hard not to stress, sometimes the more they test the more we stress.
My clinic doesnt do more BT's now, just the U/S at 6 weeks and then I am a regular patient with my obstretian.

Nicole you are funny! Glad it was the toilet paper and nothing to worry about.
I too have started buying plain paper as I got a few scares in my 2WW's in the past.

briggsy's girl I am with you on the new things. For DD we bought beautiful furniture for her and it made be so happy to go out and pick it all. Definiteley its an expense, but we expected that when we wanted kids. Its different if you cant afford to buy things, but if you can and want to, then it's nobody's business. Esp when we have gone thru so much to conceive we want to provide the best we can for our kids.

Devon its so good that you know how you want your birth to be, and I hope it all works out just how you imagine it to be. Just one bit of advise for you, you dont know what the labour will be like and what complications there may be, so always keep an open mind to these things. With DD I had no drugs, and I was so proud after the birth that I did it, but I was just lucky that things were straight forward and if they didnt then I would have done what I had to, to ensure DD was safe. Good luck with finding the right dooler and deciding on a birth plan. You are brave to think ahead so much, I dont want to think about yet!

Bee 8 week scan, how exciting! I have my 6 week one next week, but there wont be much to see, just a little blob at that stage. Still excited though!

Tiggerlinda 12 weeks scan is an important one so congrats on having that and now you get to look forward to the 20wk one. That will come before you know it!

Nixon - hope you MS is settling down. Have you tried the blackmores MS formula? Helped me wuth DD, but I wasnt so bad just a little nautious.

Hi to everyone else who I have missed, I cant see your posts in the history preview, but thats OK, I hope you are all enjoying you pregnancies!

AFM - Apart from sore BB not much else going on. I feel tired in the evenings, but no signs of MS yet. Still havent told anyone that I am PG. Feel like I am going to busrt! Waiting for atleast the 6 week U/S first and then might start telling our parents. I just want to talk about it to the world, but dont have anyone apart from DH yet

to all!

[Janie71]

Nicole - I had no real symptoms until I was 6 weeks 3 days along - I remember the day, because it was my scan with the FS and all of a sudden the MS hit me with avengence and I had to go home from work!

LS - it is so hard not to tell anyone! Our families knew right from when we found out as they had been all part of the IVF rollercoaster with us. But I didn't tell friends or work until after our 12 week scan. Very hard to hide when you have bad MS!

Possums - I am sure they are just being super cautious. Your levels certainly sound within the right range. I'm thinking of you sweet heart and sending you lots of love. I have a really good feeling that all is okay.

TL - Hooray on the 12 week scan! That little one has certainly kept you on your toes, so it is so wonderful to see you entering the 2nd trimester.

BG - we are buying all new stuff for our little one also. After everything we have all been through we are well within our rights to do things our way! Stick to your guns.

Bee - congrats on the 8 weeks scan!

Hi to everyone else I have missed.

AFM - not much to report. My belly is slowly growing, but still not enough to really look pregnant. My sleep has been quite disturbed over the last few nights with getting up to pee and then not being able to get back to sleep. Last night I even had to get up to have something to eat as I felt hungry. Then had to read for an hour at 2:30am to get back to sleep! I guess it is all preparation for when bubs arrives. Apart from that, my next OB appointment is in just over a week when I am 16 weeks along, so will hopefully get to see our bubs on US again.

Janie xxx

[Possums]

hi everyone, just wanted to say thanks for the support. I know my levels are within the right range, but they say the more important factor is how quickly they are rising, and whether they rise at the right rate...and the last week mine went really slowly, which is where a bit of concern creeps in.
I guess if I wasn't being monitored I wouldn't even know this and would be still happily going along...
My IVF nurse has given me the request form for my first scan, but that particular ultrasound place is closed all next week (not sure why)...so maybe I should get a referral from my OB and go to another ultrasound place so I can have a scan next week and check what's going on.
I think some of you had scans at around 7 weeks??
In the meantime I am trying hard to be positive, because I want to put good vibes through to our little possum and encourage it to stay in there and keep growing!

luckystrike- hard not telling people for sure! we told close family and friends as they had been on the IVF ride with us

nicole- I think lack of many symptoms at such an early stage is fine...but I have been the same...havent had MS so I wonder if I should! I havebeen more tired than usual, a bit lightheaded, sore BBs etc...but no real changes in food cravings etc.

Janie- hope you get a better sleep soon! willbe exciting when your belly does show I think...glad all is progressing well for you. Thanks for your nice words to me. I all is OK in there with me

TL- thanks- i hope bubs is just giving us a little scare...cheeky thing.... and you sure have had your share of scares!