Pregnancy Check-in

KH826

Good Morning Pregnant Peeps & Partners!

Here is our current EDD roster for this check-in:
1. @KH826: June 3 girl
2. @redrockmama: July 11 singleton
3. @ball.and.chain July 13 boy
4. @belovedvirgo0209 July 14 girl
5. @Kleigh1: July 26 girl
6. @2mamazinseattle: Aug 20 girl
7. @2momsinCA: Aug 20 boy/boy twins
8. @flygirl1228: Aug 21 girl/boy twins
9. @Trisholio and @trisholiosboi: Sept 2 girl
10. @shelly2314: Oct 2 twins
11. @manada and @healz413: Oct 29 twins
12. @only1leia: Oct 31 singleton
13. @pauljl: Nov 2 singleton
14. @byrrd: Nov 3 singleton
15. @rkbo: Dec 10 singleton
16. @doodah1013 & @firstcomeslove2013: Dec 12

If you have a recent BFP (and/or if you are new to the board), and you would like to be added to this list, please just let me know your EDD and other info if available! Thanks

So how is everyone doing/feeling? How is pregnancy treating you and/or your partner this week? Any updates to share?

QOTW: What is the next pregnancy-related milestone on your radar? Are you excited/nervous for it? OR Tell us about the most exciting/meaningful pregnancy milestone that you have celebrated so far!

BONUS QUESTION: Friends, please start thinking about who will take over posting this check-in after I deliver. Things got real for me this AM when I updated the roster and saw my name in the first spot (Congrats @Jazibel!!! ). Anywho… think about who wants to take over posting this weekly thread, please & thanks!

firstcomeslove2013

Wow!!! @KH826‌, you are so close!!!!! Since we are currently down on the list (pulling up the rear and SO excited to be there), I'd be happy to take over...unless someone else has a real burning desire! ;-)

2MamazInSeattle

@firstcomeslove2013‌ I was thinking you'd be perfect!!! I second you!!

ball.and.chain

@KH826, I can't believe you are up next!!!  I was going to offer to take over the check in but then I realized I am #3 on the list and it would probably make more sense for someone further down to do it just so we're not constantly switching.  I don't think you will have any trouble finding takers since we have so many pg regulars and everyone is always happy to pitch in around here.  Congrats again to @Jazibel and get ready @KH826!

Things are going well here.  I am 30w1d, so more than 3/4 of the way there!  I had an OB appointment on Wednesday and everything looked fine (although as I posted in the GTKY thread on Friday, Mr. Baby was not so cooperative with the doppler).  We booked the rest of our OB appointments through July 9th, which is the last one before my EDD -- that totally blew our minds!  We have our prenatal consultation with a pediatrician tomorrow, and our all-day childbirth class on Saturday.

I am starting to feel a little slower and a lot bigger -- my belly just seems to have jumped in size, I'm definitely feeling an increase in fatigue and heartburn, and yesterday it felt like there was a bowling ball sitting on my bladder.  But overall not too bad.  Of course it helps that I've been on staycation, taking it easy and napping a lot -- going back to work on Wednesday may be a bit of a shock.  We haven't made a ton of progress on the nursery but we have done a lot of other small house projects we wanted to get done, so hopefully the nursery will follow. 

QOTW: I guess medically our next milestone is a full-term baby, but I think some of the activities we have planned for this month -- everything from the pediatric consult to the childbirth class to the showers -- are going to make things feel pretty real.  Every milestone so far has been pretty awesome, but I have to say I loved feeling movement for the first time (and I love continuing to feel it).  I could lie around with my shirt pulled up and watch him kick my belly for hours. :x

KH826

Thanks everyone for volunteering to take over this check-in soon! I can't believe it will be so soon that I will no longer be pregnant -- it is super surreal!

So I will be 36 weeks tomorrow. Feeling OK today, but overall just slower with more aches and pains. Everything is manageable, but I can see myself embracing the end of pregnancy soon! My belly doesn't seem to have grown too much more. People keep telling me that I don't look as far along as I am. I think I am just carrying in a compact kind of way. Baby has always measured ahead, and her estimated weight was just under 6 lbs at my 34 wk appointment, so I don't think I should be concerned. I am wondering if I will wake up one morning and be super popped out in front, or if I will continue to carry the way I currently am until the end. Who knows?!?!

QOTW: Well, I guess labor and delivery is my next milestone! I am definitely nervous about labor. I am excited to meet our LO, but I am apprehensive about giving birth and what the experience will be like. My favorite milestone to date has been feeling movement. It is the best! I also felt like our anatomy scan was a turning point in pregnancy when things started to feel much more real. Once we knew baby was a girl and my wife and I started calling her by her name at home, she stopped being a "noodle" and started to feel more like a person. Now I feel like I already have a sense of her personality, and it is pretty amazing to think in less than a month a new little person will be joining our family!

pauljl

I love logging in and seeing baby pictures! Congratulations @Jazibel! 

I was super duper uncomfortable yesterday. A lot of it had to do with an oversized lunch I ate- I didn't want to even look at food again until this morning. I won't make that mistake again any time soon! It was warm too, which gave me a taste of how I might feel this summer. I just kept thinking to myself- this is WAY to early to feel so round. I feel better today- so I'm sure most of it was just my delicious but poor choice when I went out to eat! 

I am enjoying having some energy back! Made my triumphant return to the gym and got some yard work done last week. My goal is at least three days a week. Feels good to get back in there. 

QOTW: Now that we've hit 14 weeks (YAY!) I guess the next biggie is the anatomy scan! The ladies I work with have been filling me in on what happens at each appointment (we go to the same office) and I can't wait to count the little fingers and toes and to see that profile! Obviously we are also excited about finding out the sex of the baby. We're going to have them seal the result and not find out until we are with our families. Since everyone was so involved in our TTGP stage, it seems special (and right for us) to find out together. 

2momsinCA

Another big congratulations to @Jazibel‌! Owen is such a beautiful boy!

How exciting that you're next @KH826‌! Baby girl will be here before you know it!

Thanks for offering to take over @firstcomeslove2013‌

I'm 24w, 5d today and working from home. Last week I had 3 events- 1) Abdominal scan on Monday to check my gallbladder because I have upper back pain. I found out Thursday that I do indeed have "sludge" (yuck) in my gallbladder. Which is common during pregnancy and thank goodness it isn't stones. But I will be dealing with pain the rest of the pregnancy. 2) I had my OB appt on Tuesday, everything looks fine and the doctor already offered to put me on disability (her policy is 25 weeks with twins). I said not yet, I want to work through May. 3) Driving into work on Wednesday I began to feel like I was going to black out. I pulled off the freeway and parked and it didn't pass for 20 mins. I called K, she got a sub for her class, came and found me and took me to the ER where they sent us to L & D. In L & D they hooked up monitors for a couple hours and everything looked fine, the babies are just big and can press on my blood vessels and cut off circulation so sometimes I will feel faint- great. I met with my boss the following day and I will now be primarily working from home the next 3 weeks and then I will go out on disability/maternity leave on May 23.

So that also answers the QOTD- the next big milestone for me is the start of maternity leave and the beginning of an extended period of being at home in 3 weeks. When I finally go back I can't even imagine how different life will be. I will be off work a total of 7.5 months, at least, and I'm so happy I will have that time. It's feeling very real that we will soon be mothers of two!

2MamazInSeattle

@KH826 - You're almost in your 'due time' as my sage old yoga instructor calls it - from 37-42 weeks (since the average in the u.s. is 10 days past EDD) - I'm so excited for you! I bet you will pop out a little more, seems typical to see a pretty big difference in most women btw 36 and 40 weeks at yoga (this seems a popular time to come to class due to discomfort, so there are a lot I see in that range!). It's so exciting to see you as #1 on the list!

@ball.and.chain - 30w! WOO HOO! Who knew, right? Effing IF...so exciting you are 75%+! Glad staycation has been awesome.

@2momsinCA - I truly applaud those of you carrying twins. I wasn't willing to so I never put 2 in for that reason, but carrying one seems challenging enough, and I'm sorry you've had some extra struggles. Bonus though, you get an insta-family!

@pauljl - Woo hoo for 2nd tri, right??? I felt like I was floating I had so much more energy, and not wanting to throw up on everyone/everything was an amazing turning point. Way to get to the gym! I definitely believe prenatal yoga + several 3-mile walks each week have kept a lot of discomfort away. Go you!

@Kleigh1 - Bummer about your iron I hope you can get it resolved quickly so you get some energy back. Being anemic feels really crummy, and I'm sure worse when pregnant.

--
I'll be 25w on Wednesday - it feels like a nice round number and I'm just happy to be truckin' along. Overall, I am feeling pretty good - starting to get a little more tired at times which bums me out, but I just listen to my body and rest. I'm trying not to let the tiredness be an excuse for not exercising though, so still getting my yoga and hour walks in. I hurt my wrist sleeping on it funny a week or so ago and it's still hurting a lot. I've been wearing a brace at night which helps but I'm going to get more serious about wearing it now all the time to see if I can get this fixed.

I accomplished a few big to-do items last week! First, I made a pediatrician meet and greet appointment!! That felt like a big deal. Like "we need a pediatrician!" is a sentence never before spoken, you know? And, we have an appointment tomorrow with a doula who I think is our huckleberry. She spent a long time on the phone with me and she just feels like 'our people.' Her package includes two prenatal visits - one at 36w helping her understand my ideals, fears, hopes, etc. for birth (she said "we talk about your worst fears, and what we can do so if they happen, the outcome is not traumatic for you."). At 38w, we have another visit where she reviews your nursery, home set-up (you need a table here, a garbage can there...logistics); and she looks at where you plan to nurse and do some positioning using a fake baby to make sure those places work, or need adjustments. I love the home consultant aspect before baby! She sounds very practical in that sense. However, she certainly has a reverence around birth which I appreciate, but without being too woo-woo. She attends the birth - coming whenever I call in the process.  After, she does a 3-day breastfeeding visit (she's also an LC), and then 3-weeks post partum she comes and checks in on how it's going, and reviews the birth. She's available for any phone/email questions before and after birth, and brings a digital SLR to the birth and takes photos (not professional but she said "they aren't just snapshots by any means.") What was funny was my IF counselor referred me to her, and then randomly one of J's customers referred her to the same doula! I thought maybe it was a sign. So, anyhow, THAT was huge. Hoping that tomorrow is just a formality and we hire her on!

Thursday is our glucose test and a growth check u/s. This is the longest (4 weeks) we have gone without a u/s so far! But now that she's moving (more and more each day) I'm not so anxious about things at all. My belly is growing, and I'm curious about my weight but I seem to be holding up ok in that regard - my last check I'd gained 3 lbs total at 21w. I expect I'll start gaining here now that (gasp!) I'm just two weeks from the 3rd tri!

My sister sent out our shower "save the date" emails so that was kind of 'real' too! And J felt her first kick on v-day!!! Also, I put the official "out of office - my last day" appointment in my team's calendar! I'm going to stop working on August 1st, giving me nearly 3 weeks before my due date to put up my feet (literally). Then I'm taking the 5 months mat leave we are allotted (2 months unpaid but we've planned for that).

QOTW:
I think one of our hugest milestones was our meeting with the pediatric geneticist who specializes in sex chromosome differences at Children's hospital. She really drove home that Simone's trisomy X diagnosis is something to watch but not worry about. J and I both left that appointment feeling like it was a new day! She stressed that so, so many people with it never have any issues, and what you read on the internet are the outliers and people who were not closely monitoring for impact (diagnosed later). I don't think I was able to enjoy any of this before that session. I still worry, sure, but it doesn't feel so scary.

Second to that was feeling her move - I'm still getting used to it but I love it!

Manada

Hello everyone!

We are 14w5d here and just had an early anatomy scan (very early, don't ask me, the midwife seemed to think it was a good idea based on some recent research) -- but the Rockies are both looking great, moving and kicking and seemed to have all their normal limbs.    We got one photo of Rocky 1's (Twin A) face, but because it's an ultrasound it just looks like a crazy skeleton.    As far as I could tell there wasn't any discernible genitalia visible today, but if we find out we aren't telling anyone (including you guys! Sorry!) anyways..... Their heartbeats were 152 and 156 BPM, which is totally normal. 

Otherwise, I'm doing okay.  I find my belly "pulls" a bit if I've been really active during the day, which is annoying, and it hates being squished by bending over even more.   I was given a support belt by someone, but I think I'm going to have to get a more supportive/wider one to wear if I'm really active.  

The MW was able to find both Rockies on the doppler this weekend (she came over for dinner and to play games, advantages of having a friend be our midwife!) -- and Rocky 1 is down low on the right side (near my bladder), while Rocky 2 is higher up on my left side.  Both have their heads pointed toward the center of my belly currently.   But that explains why I've been having more reflux issues lately -- Rocky 2 is crowding my stomach out!    I am eating half-sized meals these days and drinking lots of milkshakes and stuff to add a few more calories to the mix.

This week we're going to the local Multiples Club's expectant parent's night!  I'm looking forward to it!  It's being held downtown at a big meeting room in one of the city management buildings, so I'm guessing it will be really full!    Looking forward to meeting others.

QOTW:
I think the 20week/Anatomy scan will be the next big one.  Or perhaps finally meeting with the MFM/Twin Specialist here.   We will be in the "danger zone" then of pre-term labour before we hit viability, so I am a bit anxious to get that meeting done with the MFM so we can talk about doing the progesterone shots as a preventative measure and get the plan for our late-2nd tri and 3rd tri monitoring.  

trisholio

I was also excited and a little sad to see that  @JazibelKH826  I cannot believe you are up next!  Yay

I will be 23 week tomorrow, craziness!  There isn't too much to update.  Still having stabbing back pain and I am currently seeing a chiropractor for it.  Last week after the adjustment it got worse and not better, so I am not too happy about that :-(  There are days where I feel like I have more energy but then my back starts hurting so I sit down and get tired again.  So I am not really feeling that 2nd trimester burst of energy, but I am not as exhausted as I used to be either.  I started feeling her kick over a week ago and now it seems pretty often.  My wife has even gotten to feel it a few times.

QOTD: Our next appointment is next week.  My ob said they will do an internal ultrasound to check my cervix and make sure its holding where it should be.  I am just happy to see the little girl again, but not happy that its going to be an internal ultrasound.  Then the next appointment will be my glucose test, ugh!  I am not looking forward to that!

2momsinCA

@pauljl‌ and @Manada‌ the anatomy scan and finding out the gender will be such a fantastic milestone! It was amazing for us. Although I wonder how they hide the gender from you @pauljl‌ if it's a boy- when we saw the two femur bones on the anatomy scan and the boy part very evident between the legs we didn't even need the MFM to say anything. The detail on his ultrasound machine is just so clear that there was no hiding it!

@2MamazInSeattle‌ multiples is not easy but (knock on wood) I think it could be so much harder! It helps to read over on the multiples board. I'm just grateful to not be on bedrest yet! Cuz it could happen at any time, yikes! Also 3 lbs? Ah to carry a singleton. I've gained 27 lbs and my prepregnancy weight is a distant memory. This is all 2nd tri weight too- I came out of the first tri under my prepregnancy weight. Apparently my supposed "goal" to prevent preterm labor is 50 lbs by the end. I'm glad your meeting with the geneticist put some of your fears to rest!

@trisholio‌ sorry about your back pain! Is it sciatica? Just curious because acupuncture can be so helpful with sciatic nerve pain. But I would also think the chiro would help too and it sounds like it isn't yet.

redrockmama

30 weeks over here, I can't believe we only have 10 weeks until our due date and that I'm #2 on the list ahhh! Some many of us are so close to having babies on the outside. 

I made quite a bit of progress on the mural over the last week. I'm not sure it will be done in 10 weeks, but we'll see. @trisholio I just started having terrible back pain last week. I went to acupuncture and made a chiro appointment for a week from today. I hope it helps. Yoga poses seem to help a little. I just hope I don't have 10 more weeks of this, sometimes I can't even walk. 

I skipped yoga again on Sunday. I was getting ready to leave the house and got really dizzy and lightheaded and nauseous. I laid down on the couch for a while and then took a nap and felt okay later. It was weird. It's happened a few times during pregnancy and there doesn't seem to be a reason why. Otherwise I feel pretty good. Bubbles moves around a ton and it's fun to watch my belly contort into crazy shapes. 

QOTW: For me I would say finding out whenish and where we will be meeting our little one. Our next ultrasound to check on the placenta is May 23rd. If we aren't cleared yet for a vaginal delivery we'll go back in 3 weeks. It the previa is still there then, we'll have a c-section the next week. It's crazy to think we could have a baby here in less than 7 weeks. We still don't have a carseat or crib mattress. I'm still hoping it resolves, but that is the biggest thing we are waiting for right now. 

2momsinCA

@redrockmama‌ your dizziness could be your baby pressing on a blood vessel and messing with circulation. The L & D doc said it's common, for singletons and multiples. Good luck at your next ultrasound and I hope the previa has moved!

trisholio

2momsinCA I believe it is sciatica pain.  my chiropractor also does acupuncture, he was  a little concerned about me laying on my stomach for long periods of time (even on a preggo pillow) in order for acupuncture to be helpful.  I have never done acupuncture before, so I was okay with just doing the adjustments, but they don't seem to be helping.  I called and made another appointment today instead of waiting for Wednesday, I am hoping he has some other suggestions.  I am really trying to suck it up, but its starting to make me cranky and grumpy most of the time :-(

firstcomeslove2013

We are currently 8w3d and nothing too new to report!

C is still really sick and tired all the time. I wish we could trade off to share some of the burden...I feel so sad that I can relieve any of it!

C's parents told some family over the weekend and one of c's cousins congratulated us on Facebook (we are not ready to tell the world) so that made for some fun and excitement on Saturday night...

We went and saw an LC last Wednesday and I'm excited to fill the check in group in on that. We are rolling along and I should have meds by next week.

We have a meeting with the midwife group that we will be delivering with on Wednesday so that is exciting and scary. I hope it goes well!

QOTW: for me it was hearing and seeing the heartbeat. It was so magical and we were so overjoyed!!!

redrockmama

Thanks @2momsinCA, my midwife explained why it happens...it just seems to happen at the most random times, like yesterday I was just taking a shower. My midwife told me not to worry about it, so I'm not. 

Mazere

Hello!  This is my first check in.  @kh826, please add me, EDD 11/25.   11 weeks tomorrow.  Thanks!

 
Not feeling great this week, hoping the pregnancy sickness goes away soon (I'm looking at you second trimester!).  My wife has been so so patient and wonderful making me smoothies and bland food with minimal odors, picking up my slack in household duties, and being generally a kind person.  In fact, she just got back from the store with B6 and unisom.  

QOTW: Just had an ultrasound and "meet the midwife" appointment today.  It was long, but so great.  Everything looks good with my little it.  It's measuring right where expected, and everything else looks great too.  I didn't know you weren't supposed to pee right before an ultrasound though, and so we didn't get a very clear image.  I go back in a few weeks.  

It is very cool to see how everyone is at all their different stages, I can't wait to get to know you better!

shelly2314

I am ok. We are currently 18wk4d. I am tired most of the time. I was just telling M that I think Sunday and Monday are the "growing" days for the twins b/c I am beyond exhausted and cranky on those two days (well, more so than the other days LOL). I am CONSTANTLY hungry but can't seem to eat enough to make our LOs happy. M is dealing with me well and does everything she can to make me comfortable and happy. We shared our biggest update before. We found out Friday that we are having two girls.  LOTS of girls in this house LOL. Everything else looked great: hearts, hands/fingers, feet/toes, heads, etc.

QOTW: I am not sure what our next milestone is....maybe a babyshower??? We go to the Dr so much...OB every other week and the perinatologist once a month (so we are at a Drs office three out of the four weeks of the month) that it gets hard to keep up with what is next.

We did feel the babies move last week. I haven't felt much since then other than pain wherever they are probably kicking/moving/fighting/etc. M even got to feel one of them. That was amazing for her.

rkbo

I am late again this week...story of my life

Today I am 8w6d. I have my last appt with my RE today at 1pm and I'm a little nervous to leave. I know I won't be monitored like I am with my RE's office. I have been getting labs and an ultrasounds weekly since getting our BFP. Monday is our first appt with our OB. I have never met her and basically chose her out of a catalog of doctors. I did do some research on her and from what I have found, she has really good reviews online. 

I still haven't really had any morning sickness, crossing fingers it never comes! I had a little nausea a couple weeks ago, but it passed without incident. I feel like I am ALWAYS tired though. I am usually home from work about 4pm and I tend to fall asleep on the couch watching tv around 7-8ish and wake up about 10 to get ready for bed and pass out for good. OH, and let me tell you..I'm sure most of you also have this problem, but oh man are the boobs sore! I have always been a larger bust (36DDD), but oh boy, I'm afraid of how big these things are going to grow to. Taking my bra off when I get home and they feel like they are 10lbs each! 

I still sit and think, OMG, I can't believe I'm pregnant. lol

doodah1013

Oh man..... We have our appointment with the midwives tomorrow... I have no idea what to expect and am bit terrified. I just want to know everything is okay! I have been feeling super sick and tired. So hope that is a good sign. Send us good vibes tomorrow!