Pregnancy after LT TTC #14

Hi ladies,

Apologies for butting in but wanted to add something to the breastfeeding discussion:

The ABA website has a section on 'baby led attachment' with photos and a good description of how it works. I had heaps of trouble in the early weeks with feeding and finally saw a lactation consultant who was just fantastic! But the first thing she said to me over the phone was to check out the baby led attachment info as it was really useful. It's basically about putting the baby in your chest and letting them work it out - and can I say it worked a treat for Finn. One hour with the consultant and no more nipple shields or pain!! So do check it out if you have any concerns. It might not be for everyone but I think the more info you have the better!!

Anyway, hope you're all well and look forward to some announcements soon xx

Hi Everyone, so much going on, it's hard to keep up.

Brunette, whew, sounds scary about those possibilities with the c-s, but ... I don't know, they're required to tell you the worst case scenario legally ... so ... I mean, when I had my lap, the doctor spent a good 10 minutes going over how my bowels my split open ... then, with our early scans, we were told it was a potential partial mole which can need chemotherapy and a year of not TTC ... and none of these things eventuated. Fingers crossed. GL with that baby shower.

Jaki, mycoplasma. Wow, that sounds like something off House. Sorry, not funny in real life, I guess. Get better soon. OH, and congrats on having a boy! I have three little brothers and I've always loved little boys - so sweet.

Grub, hope that nausea fades soon. I guess it is a mixed blessing/curse .. I found it so reassuring ... for a while .. then it was a drag.

Kelly, thanks for telling us about the epis/c-s. It's really important to know these things, I think, and I've been kind of ... avoiding that info out of worry.

Okay, AFM, I really have to go study (still!). My stats exam is Monday. I am dreaming of a guy called Pearson (as in correlations) right now. It is a far cry from Eric from True Blood. Also, I am having some sadness, I have to say. I think it's going away but I've been a bit down, and not sure why. I feel a bit overwhelmed, I think, with the reality of things. I feel a bit ... excluded at work. Like they know I'm leaving, so I'm not getting much work. Anyway, I may go see my psychologist again. I don't know. Anyone else have mood spells?

Oh dear, I"m back. Bouncers, remove that woman, she's not even pregnant!

Just wanted to say re the midwives, as with the epidural / natural birth etc, that knowledge is power. too much is a bad thing but some knowledge is good, as with knowing that there seems to be something about midwives in hospitals these days that are like a militant force and it's not uncommon to have all the pressure described by the girls here (unfortunately). Midwives come in all shapes and sizes and change their shifts so you feel like you go through about 20 of them if you are in hopsital long enough. Some of my experiences were absolutely horrendous, like Kelly describes, but I had one really fantastic old-school midwife who was my complete angel and went in to battle for me. I had all of the things described, the cow-milking, the pulling your boobs out for every nurse who started a shift and wants to see how you latch and of course a tiny baby is very sleepy (Jazz was 2.4 kilos) and you've got people wanting her fed hourly with a syringe!! I was constantly threatened that they would take my baby to the special care unit if she wouldn't feed and if her temp dropped, despite being in a freezing cold room with monitors and alarms on her and despite having a wonderful bond and skin contact from the second she was placed on me. I even got a reputation for feeding well and that gave everyone even more incentive to come watch the freaky woman that knows how to feed her baby! Dumb, dumb, dumb, you are so vulnerable, it was just so yuck until I started taking control myself. In big hospitals they seem to feel like they have ownership of your baby and your body is just a tool for them, but like many of us found, you know so much more and your instinct should really be the thing you look to above all else. Nature does equip us with a certain amount of survival instinct so we can look to others we trust for help but ultimately you should trust that you will probably know what's best. I just wanted to tellyou that so thatif you are in that situation, then you might remember what us other girls have said and you don't have to put up with too much interference. You might have a completely wonderful experience and a lot of that can be up to you taking control and making the decisions that best fit your situation and the way you feel. Lots of love and luck for the rest of your pg journey.

As for me, I'm procrastinating a bit because my little Possum Jazzy was born completely deaf and after a long, fraught journey, she is about to go interstate to have surgery for two Cochlear implants. I'll say bye-bye now cos I can't spare any more time to get addicted to this thread (although I so easily could). Good luck. xoxo

murph goodness me, I remember reading your first few posts after Jasmine was born!!!! Look how big she is now. Good luck with the surgery and let us know how she goes. xx

Grub, that’s great that you’ve already found out there’s three different groups for defence force wives that you can join when you move. You’re right, best just to throw yourself in at the deep end and try to meet people you like. I know exactly what you mean about the lethargy that hits you in the 3rd trimester. I’m at work today and fighting a wave of tiredness. All I want to do is find a dark place to crawl in and sleep :) Just think, if I can do it with two under one month (ha, ha, ha) you can do two under two. And at least you know what you’re doing. I have no clue. Talk about jumping in the deep end. I’ll try my hardest to let the silly side of myself out tomorrow – but if I do it won’t be for long :ROFL:

Jaki, four baby showers – wow, you will be spoilt. Lucky you.

Hi, Lise, good to hear from you again. I’ve seen baby-led attachment at our ABA course and it looked interesting. Glad to hear it worked for you and Finn.

Thanks, WW. If it makes you feel any better, for most of my PG I’ve been in one of two moods: teary or angry! True. I was only thinking a few days ago how I haven’t had a cry for ages (must have been in angry mode for a long time) and then I started thinking how these babies are going to be here soon and got a bit scared at the thought and started crying. I think whatever you’re feeling is just natural and a result of a buildup of hormones. I have only 3 days of work left, finishing up next Friday, and I started packing up my desk a few days ago. When I left for the day I looked around and thought, god, I’m going to be home soon for almost a year and got really teary. It wasn’t so much that I was going to miss work (although on some level I am sure I will) it was more that I’m getting closer to a life-changing event and change for me is very scary. Definitely see your psychologist and talk it through as it certainly can’t help to discuss how you’re feeling with a professional. Hope your mood improves really soon. GL with your exam on Monday.

Murphy, thanks again for your insightful comments. Wishing you all the best for little Jazz’s cochlear implant operation. Please pop in and let us know how it all goes and the expression on her face when they turn it on for the first time and she hears her very first sounds!

Hello to all the other ladies on the thread. Have a good weekend.

worry wort - just wanna send you some relaxed vibes and give you a big hug! You know you can get PND during pregnancy so I would really encourage you to go and talk to someone about how you are feeling. Your hormones are going to be going crazy over the next few months and if you can stay on top of your feelings you should be better able to manage it all. I think we all should expect the gamut of emotions but I don't think any one emotion should hang around for a long time - and if it's concerning you then you know ti's time to talk to someone. That sucks at work, i had that too but it was just practicality on their part as the work needed to be done, the other people needed hte skills for when I left and I was there to help them. Still it's a bit hurtful to not feel valued.

well Jaki ti doesn't seem they are overly concerned about teh "die'' part so all good! but i do hope you feel better soon!

lise - yep that was what my gibberish meant.. baby led attachment. It's amazing girls. my bub wouldn't attach and the lactation consultant advised me to pump and bottle feed and do lots adn lots of skin on skin and he'd come round. I thought what a load of bollocks... just having a baby lay on you ain't going to help him feed. well you can guess the result.... he figured it out and got on. When the bub comes out they have got to learn to lick (that's the rooting around part on your chest), if they don't learn to put htier tongue out, they will never be able to bf as tongue out is the way to do it. That is why skin to skin is so important because the baby is instinctually going to lick and then suck. does that make sense? someone with more knowledge might be beter able to explain but that is what i was told.

hugs to you murph!!! can't wait til monday :) oxox

brunette - have fun at your party!!!!

hi to all the other girls here.

afu- gotta start packing up this weekend as our few remaining weekends here at booked with partys and visitors and events! can't believe it's nearly monday and my scan... gone very quickly. I'm super nervous still, you know the 'what if' scenario. Taking bub garage saling this morning. you pick up some great toys for cheap cheap cheap... we got him a great activity centre (a big play thing they sit in) which he loved to be in for $30 - it was used but in great condition, all i did was wash it up, clean it up and it looks new... looked up online and that particular one retails for $230!!!! so i love a good garage sale lol.

have a good weekend ladies and babies.

ox

Hi loverly ladies, just stalking this thread and have read the most wonderful news, the biggest congrats to KellyD on your two bundles, and to you gorgeous Grub on your BFP. Wishing everyone the best, I can't say enough to enjoy every minute, it goes so increadibly fast. Good luck!

thanks so much BDT! i love seeing all those familiar names stalking here! :)

well ladies just want to report that my scan went beautifully yesterday :) and there's a nice strong heart beat and all the bits. so doc was very happy. slightly changed my due date to July 1, which annoyed me but turned out to be in my favour as obstetricians in darwin are as rare as hen's teeth and being a june due date meant i 'd missed out as they were all fully booked!!!

so i'm harassing the last two (there's only 3 obsts up there) this monr in the hope i can get in somewhere. aaarrgghh

HI Ladies,
Been keeping quiet as nothing particularly exciting or news worthy has happened. Bubs is now kicking a lot more than my DD did, which is nice because with her I used a doppler for most of the pregnancy because she was so quiet. Can't walk very well anymore, but I knew that was coming I guess. Going on a trip to Sydney next week without DD or DH which will be nice as I am so used to having to look after other people. Just wanted a break before junior arrives as I am a full-time Mum which at times has been hard as I really wanted to go back to work and use my brain but my DH didn't want me to.

Great news Grub on your scan - hope you find an OB soon, I am sure you will.

Worrywort - hope that exam went well -my days of study are behind me now, although sometimes I wished I could do more to use my brain! I hope you are feeling better too, I like to think feelings of sadness are our minds way of taking us through this that are making us scared and instead of ignoring them, making us think about them so we can deal with them. I am blessed with a sunny disposition, but I have friends and family who have suffered at times so am completely in agreement with seeking help if you think you need it :)

Brunette - hope you are doing well and enjoying these last few weeks before your bubsicles arrive. I hope your anxiety about the birth is reducing as well -keep remembering you have an entire team of people who are trained to make sure you and your bubs are healthy and happy :)

HI to everyone I have missed :)

Hey everyone,

Grub, wonderful news about your scan! Did you get some pics? And thanks so much for your advice/support about the depression thing. It seems to have lifted a bit, but I know it's kind of a susceptibility I have to watch out for. I really like what you say about moving. It is a great attitude, just to put yourself out there and join in. I guess you're kind of accustomed to it.

Brunette, it does help, hearing about your experience. Yep, that pretty much nails it - angry or teary! It is such a life-changing event, isn't it? I also think that the build-up is so long when you've been LTTTC. Hope your last week at work goes well!

Murph, just wishing you all the best for the op for your daughter. Let us know how it goes.

Lairdoz, thanks also for your well-wishes. Study is over-rated. Well, no actually I do enjoy the challenge and keeping my mind busy. Though sometimes I think I need to cut down on that. Thinking. You're having trouble walking? That sounds tough. Enjoy Sydney. Good idea, to get away.

It's sunny sunny here today ... very rare. But I'm stuck at work - alone! I love it. Feel really useful! Also, I did my stats exam yesterday so I'm Uni-free ... for a good long while, I guess.

Hey to everyone on the thread,
WW

Grub, excellent news on your scan. Also on your EDD if it means you get more choice for your OB.

Thanks, Lairdoz. Still a bit anxious but trying to be more positive and think that nothing bad will happen as I'm in the hands of a very experienced OB. Plus, as you say, an experienced team of people. I have my next US this Thursday so FX my placenta has moved up even further! Glad you're getting and enjoying lots of kicks from bub. I used to whinge about painful kicks to the ribs, but then just recently I had a really quiet day of no kicking and worried they were all right. Luckily the day after they were quiet I had an OB visit and both were all okay, so I know what you mean about being reassured by their constant kicking. Yay to your me-time trip to Sydney next week. Enjoy!

WW, glad to hear relating my experience helped. It is definitely a life-changing event, and for those of us who are LTTTCers we certainly ride a rollercoaster, too. Two more days of work for me; and no more uni for you for a while, so double yay!

Hi BD, just posted a comment to you on FB. How you going?

AFM, I had a great weekend. I really enjoyed the baby shower (which one of my SILs organised) inc most of the games. I got totally spoilt with presents. Two of DH's cousins bought the most gorgeous cake with marzipan icing sculpted in the shape of two babies bums - one pink and one blue. It was so cute and very tasty too. I totally stuffed myself full of goodies and it was great to catch up with everyone. Then on Sunday I had a maternity shoot done by my other SIL. I had to get into some interesting poses inc one where I laid on my back across a pillow facing backwards to the camera. Quite tricky to hold the pose so glad I didn't have to for long. I also got airbrushed makeup and very smouldery eyes, amazing, so hope the pics come out okay. Yesterday I did about three loads of washing of sheets, towels, clothes etc and today I ironed everything and put it all away so am feeling pretty organised. Just need to write a list now of remaining things we need.

Hello to any ladies I've missed!

Ladies, ladies.....its been quiet in here....then when I'm up to my eyes working, sorting out aged care residency for our mate in hospital etc it explodes and I don't have time to dwell..... maybe Thursday, my day off.
however popped in to say, had anatomy scan...all great...and
IT'S A BOY!! ;-)

Jaki - congrats on the confirmation that the docs got it right all those months ago! Yay a Boy!

And a boy for you too Airline!!! (I hope all these boy confirmations means I might have a girl) ;-)

Sorry for no personals, in a bit of a rush. Hope everyone is well.

Congrats Jaki and Airline on your boy news!!! That's so exciting!!

DH and I are hoping for a boy as well so hopefully this blue news rubs off!!

Congratulations AIRLINE little boys are just so adorable. truly they are just so yummy lol

ww - glad you are feeling a bit better love. and great news that stat exam is finished lol when do you have to go back?

lairdoz - that break sounds devine. how long for? just a couple of nights? enjoy it sweetie.

brunette - hahaha loved that you liked the games. told you it's not that bad. I think because everyone is there for you and just so genuinely happy and excited for you, it makes it all so much more fun (hey who doesn't like it to be all about them!). those cakes sound v cute and those photos sound like they'll be great.

glennyc and CK - at least you'll have someone to swap with if CK gets a boy and glenny gets the girl :ROFL:

got into an ob up there. ended up going with the only one i could go with but he does all his own scans and is able to fit me in the day after we arrive for my NT scan (which is due between that week and chrissy!). So that's really good, plus he's originally from here and his wife, who is his midwife too, was really lovely to chat to.

I'm not overly worried as I do all the work anyway and am really just paying for the private hospital room.

I did just want to add one thing to the discussion - I found with DS it really took me til about 20 weeks or so when i found out the sex and saw it was going so well to accept this was happening! After LTTC i think you come to expect failure and "it'll never happen'' sort of attitude. And I've discovered it's the same 2nd time around! I remember with DS i found a website that gavve me the % chance of survival per pregnancy week and actually felt a huge wave of relief once we hit the high 20s as the chances are pretty good. My thinking was "no matter what i'll get my baby''. Crazy i know.

oh and murph did a quick FB post that Jazzy's op went well and she's recovering with lots of hugs and cuddles. thought i'd let you know cos who knows when murph will get back on here. Her little one is truly just the most gorgeous little thing.

Congrats Airline on your little boy. Dh is hoping and praying that we have at least one blue one this time around, but he keep telling me he thinks they are both girls. Hopefully we might find out at our 16 week growth scan..

Grub: Yay for getting into an Ob, my Ob this time around couldn't fit me in with Tara and I had to go with someone else although when I was due to deliver the Ob I was with was on holidays and my original Ob did the delivery anyway. Only good thing is that the Ob I ended up using for my antenatal care charged less, so I got the Ob I wanted for delivery at a cheaper price :)

AFM: Not much happening, still tired and getting stretching pains although this is supposed to be a big growth week. Also we have decided instead of buying 2 new car seats for the babies to hire capsules for approx 8 months as this is going to be easier to get babies in and out of the car as I can then carry both at once instead of doing 1 at a time plus having to juggle Tara as well. We will then buy for all the kids booster seats that go from 8kg-26kg's so they will last until they are 7. We alread have 2 car seats (1 in each car) for Tara, but I'm going to give one to my mum & dad to put in there car so they can take Tara for me if I need a break. I've got a quote for the capsules (babylove snap n go) and I can get them for $110 each for 8 months which I think is pretty reasonable. So got to now arrange to view them and then book them for next May.

Anyway better go, Tara was up at 7.45am this morning (too early for her) and has had her bottle and is back in bed so that means I need to get motivated while she is still asleep.

Hello to everyone else.

Hello lovely ladies!

Have been laying low and trying to keep up on the news in here, not much to report from this end though.

Airline - congrats on finding out its a boy, and congrats on hitting the halfway mark! :clap:

Grub17 - thats great news that you found an OB up there. GL with the packing and partying, it sounds like the next little while will be a bit of a blur. Re the % chance of survival thing, I totally understand - that's me! Once I hit 28 weeks I just sort of relaxed, knowing that in all probability (touch wood), I'm gonna have a baby to show for all this... LTTTC makes you think in a different way to others! A friend just announced her PG on Facebook, she was only 7 weeks at the time, I panicked on her behalf as it was so early in the piece!

Brunette - glad you enjoyed your baby shower, games included! Sounded like a lovely day. And the photo shoot - how great that you could have that done. A real keepsake. FX that the placenta has moved when you have your scan tomorrow. And congrats on finishing work on Friday!

WW - yay for finishing your stats exam! :dance: I couldn't imagine studying right now, I'm hard pressed remembering where I left my keys, let alone regression analyses, p values... eek! Although I do worry that my brain is turning to moosh, I should work it more. Glad that you're feeling a bit better, I saw something on PND today on the TV, they said if a feeling lasts 2 weeks or more, then you should see someone about it. Only a yardstick I guess. Its great that you are aware of your feelings, thats a big hurdle that some women don't even get over.

Lairdoz - enjoy your trip to Sydney next week, I hope our weather improves for you before you get here! Spoil yourself, and relax.

A big HI :hello: to everyone else I've missed.

AFM - like I said, not much to report from this end. FINALLY getting over this blasted cold, its been 4 weeks, and ended up needing antibiotics which I wasn't thrilled about taking, but what can you do? I feel like I've cracked a rib from sneezing and coughing so much, but I'm sure its just a pulled muscle or something! :D Finished our antenatal classes last night, and did a yoga course on the weekend about yoga and breathing for labour, so we're as studied up as we're gonna be... just have to wait til the baby comes now, so can forget everything I've learned!

Hi Ladies
I just got the phone call with my blood test result and its POSITIVE!! Its our first ICSI cycle and I really thought it would take many cycles to get to this result. The two week wait was the hardest time. I wasn't sure where to post this, I just wanted to share the news.

I had a very hard time when I learnt that we had to go through ICSI and "Mumma Sue" and the other girls on this website were so kind and got me through it.

I really want to enjoy this time now but at the back of my mind are all the worries, that now I've achieved this what if the baby doesn't grow properly etc etc...

I'm taking folic acid and iodine but is it necessary to take pregnancy vitamins like the Blackmore vitamins?
Any advice would be welcome.
Cheers.