*~*~* ftm check-in! 10/09 *~*~*

AMShark

Welcome to the First Time Mothers (FTM) check-in!  

This is a thread for the FTM's in our PAIF community.  Check-ins will be posted every other Thursday.  On alternating Thursdays, I'll post a FT & BTDT moms' "Play Date" thread - in which we inexperienced first timers ask for advice and feedback from the more experienced ladies in our communities.

Congratulations, FTM!  Let us know how you're doing this week.  If you're new to the group, please provide your EDD and advise your trimester (I'd do it myself, but you know, math) - Let us know too if you're carrying more than one little bean/grapefruit/bowling ball (depending on how far you are along).

Third Trimester

10/23/14 - @Cutiecruz327

11/19/14 - @Ashris13 
11/04/14 - @rox825

11/07/14 - @lincoln79

12/13/14 - @CandaceC1020

12/15/14 - @heleng5

12/15/14 - @xc1148

12/30/14 - @Saintelizabeth

Second Trimester

01/13/15 - @southernyankeegirl
01/21/15 - @hopeby2015
01/24/15 - @Lady2010

02/02/15 - @WA1215

02/11/15 - @MissEm15

02/17/15 - @weansworld09

02/22/15 - @BeckyP005

02/22/15 - @runawaylaurel

03/14/15 - @Margritli (twins)

03/21/15 - @KT416

03/23/15 - @poohniki

First Trimester

04/17/15 - @pblge
04/25/15 - @BalletAn

04/25/15 - @Canuck13

04/29/15 - @AMShark (twins)

05/01/15 - @LO95

05/02/15 - @gsancho 

05/07/15 - @sugar4bri (twins)

05/16/15 - @Aimothy (twins)

05/16/15 - @sunshinedaisies000

05/20/15 - @Lesliem0901

05/21/15 - @holberry5

05/25/15 - @1220winterbride

05/25/15 - @Regan1976

05/25/15 - @yvonne0001
05/26/15 - @HCAMP123

05/26/15 - @viola27
05/29/15 - @kittenmittens9

05/30/15 - @MJ14323

05/31/15 - @IFinTN

05/31/15 - @sweetpotato123 (twins)

06/03/15 - @CarSaidYes

06/03/15 - @turquoisequeen

06/04/15 - @wendyful

06/06/15 - @Andy99

06/11/15 - @hbanana18

06/12/15 - @PurpleDaisy923 (twins)

06/15/15 - @jessimi06

PAIF Angels:

missmarypoppins

QOTW:  Pregnancy brain - myth or reality?  Relay your argument for or against the existence of pregnancy brain - examples are welcome.

AMShark

A million apologies ladies - I was just getting ready to leave work, when I realized that today is Thursday, and which is FTM check-in day!

I'd like to start by gushing about what a success our FTM/BTDT play date was last week.  Thanks for bringing the questions - I'll need to post a separate thanks to all of the generous BTDT mom's who contributed.  So amazing! 

I don't have much to update.  My NT scan is scheduled for 22-October, so I"ll be looking forward to that.  I had another brown spotting scare on Sunday & Monday, but it seems to be gone, and I don't believe there was any real cause for alarm.

QOTW:  This was inspired by the fact that it took me until 6:00 pm to realize that today is Thursday.  Pregnancy brain is real - It's absolutely real.  Believe the stories.

lincoln79

Hope everyone is doing OK!

We have our last baby shower this week. It is being thrown by some other professors and will pretty non-traditional. We are having a progressive dinner (where you eat a different course at each house) and ending at our house with dessert so everyone can see the baby's room.

There will be alcohol at every stop (just to remind, I'm not pregnant) and the games (per the host) will be a combo baby shower/drinking game. I'm really excited to spend a night with some great friends who have helped us so much during this long struggle!

rox825

Thanks for posting the check in!  I'm 36w2d and at my appointment this morning my dr told me that baby is head down and engaged, so that's good.  H's co-workers surprised him with a shower at work today and were very generous, I wasn't sure whether they would do anything for him let alone a full shower and so much generosity!  I'm really touched and glad he got his own celebration :-)

QOTW- oh yeah it's definitely real!  I've been so forgetful throughout this pregnancy.  Most recent example- I got into the office today and could not find my phone in my purse and was convinced that I left it in my car and someone was going to break in and steal it.  30 seconds later I turned around and saw that I had already pulled it out and put it on my desk.  Oops.

turquoisequeen

Hi all! Having mild symptoms so far.. queasiness, fatique, hunger, sore boobs but nothing really intense yet. We have our first u/s on Monday at 6w5d. I'm so excited and so so nervous too. Prayers and thoughts appreciated!!

QOTW: Haven't had pregnancy brain yet but I believe it is real. Just like I believe that wedding brain is real - 4 days before our wedding I tried to go down the up escalator at work  

sweetpotato123

Happy Thursday! I am trucking along at 6w4d. In the way for our first ultrasound tomorrow at 730am (my RE is 1 1/2 hours away). So excited but terrified.

Feeling off and on terrible. My boobs always hurt, but some dys are better than others with the nausea and dry heaving/vomiting.

No pg brain yet!

turquoisequeen

@sweetpotato123 GL at u/s tomorrow!!! Will be praying for you!

BeckyP005

@lincoln79 that sounds like fun! @sweetpotato123 GL tomorrow! @AMShark my EDD is 2/22/15. Second Tri

Not much going on. I've been having period like cramps for few weeks which Dr. says that's my fibroid giving me grieve Oh and the pulling and stretching is so weird!! I'm not loving it but I 'think" I feel her kicking Hope you all have a great weekend!

QOTW: MH says there is no such thing as pregnancy brain because I do those things when I wasn't PG lol.

PurpleDaisy923

Can I join @AMshark ?

I will be 5 weeks tomorrow and I am due June 12, 2015. Our first ultrasound will be next week and I'm so excited to see how many babies we have in there! We transferred 2 embryos, so twins is a real possibility. 

The only pregnancy symptoms I have are fatigue and sore breasts. The worst part is the PIO injections! I really really dislike them lol. 

QOTW: I think pregnancy brain is real! I saw my best friend go through it and we got a few laughs from it. 

MJ14323

We had an unforgettable week with our first US at 6w2d where the baby was measuring right on track. We even saw the flutter of a heartbeat at 121bpm. It was something I'll never ever forget.

QOTW: I do think it's real but haven't experienced it. Friends and family have, though!

gsancho

Hi!  Had my first OB appointment Tuesday and got to see the little bean at 10w3d.  Can't wait for 11 weeks.  It may sound dumb, but I'll feel like I'm officially getting deeper into double digits

I'm finally letting positive thoughts and feelings creep in.  But then I wandered into Pottery Barn Baby while at the mall today, got freaked out being surrounded by baby stuff, and started crying.  I was mostly overwhelmed with feeling happy, but I'm sure the employees thought I was crazy.

QOTW: I feel like my mind had been going before I got my BFP, so I don't have any examples...but I think it's real.  

weansworld09

Hello!
Checking in at 21w3d over here. Just hanging out at work, hoping I can sneak out 15 minutes early when my relief comes in later.
Had an extremely close call today. I was the closest I have ever been to being in a car accident. I was driving to work, a car was coming the opposite way & a car to my right pulled up to the curb. As I approached the car by the curb, I moved closer to the center line bc that car was close to my right line. Well, what do you know he/she pulls right out in front of me!!
I slammed on my brakes, honked my horn and everything went into slow motion. I turned my truck (a giant ram 1500, had my lights on and all - so yes you should've seen me!!) at the last second and managed not to hit either car. I immediately burst into giant, crocodile tears.
So glad me and baby tony are okay! Not how I wanted to start my work day.
Sorry that was so long!

QOTW: oh yes I think pregnancy brain is real! Last month I couldn't find my socks I brought to change into at work. So I went sickles for hours... Until I opened up my lunch box & found them plopped inside. /:)

weansworld09

@sweetpotato123 good luck today!
@mj14323 hooray for a great first u/s and heartbeat!

Margritli

Hi! Thanks, @AMShark, for running these check-ins. Puttering along over here at 17 weeks and change. I had an ultrasound on Tuesday and both the little ones looked normal. It's still doesn't feel real, though, and emotionally, I've been struggling a lot lately. 

<semi-depressed rambling follows>

Maybe it's the greyness of fall or the impending winter or living in the middle of nowhere far from home that is finally getting to me. I don't know, but I just can't seem to feel much excitement at the moment. Sleeping poorly and constantly feeling sick (if not nausea, then heartburn) is not helping. 

And even though I know I have have to gain weight, I just feel fat, though everyone says that I look pregnant, not fat. I hate people staring at my boobs and bump. I've had a complex about my body since I was a kid, so it's been kind of struggle. My boobs are the size of cantaloup, which just grosses me out. I really wish I didn't feel this way. Some random stranger guessed that I was six months along (I was barely four), which made me feel even more depressed. I think I need to get some exercise in to get that dopamine flowing. 

Sorry if that all sounds kind of depressing. Hopefully I will start to feel a little bit more cheery about this whole pregnancy thing at some point. It took us so long to get here that it never occurred to me that I might not actually enjoy the whole "being pregnant thing". Too bad people don't lay eggs. I think I would like that better. 

QOTW: I am super disorganised at the moment, which is not at all like me, and if I don't do something immediately, I usually forget about it completely. So yes, I definitely think that there is something like pregnancy brain. 

runawaylaurel

almost 21 weeks over here. just chugging along!

@BeckyP005- I didn't know we were due date twins! Yay 2/22 babies!

@gsancho- Pottery Barn makes me cry too... mostly because I have to stand there and amortize the cost of their gorgeous rockers/gliders every time I go there (If I'll use it EVERY DAY for a year, it's worth it, right?!) glad you're able to be hopeful though!

QOTW: I believe it's real. And I can't think of any specific examples, which is an example in and of itself.

hopeby2015

@weansworld09‌ - glad you and baby are okay! How scary!

@Margritli‌ - In the beginning it was very hard to cope with the idea that I'd be gaining a little weight. It's an adjustment and it will take time to get used to. I also get depressed in the fall. Something about it getting dark early and feeling lonely even when the entire family is near me. I told dh to keep an eye out because with the pregnancy hormones, I'm afraid it'll make it worse. Going for walks and ice cream seem to help.

AFM: I'm 25 weeks 2 days today and have an OB appointment scheduled in about 45 mins. Gotta do the gestational diabetes test today and am really hoping I pass!

QOTW: Pregnancy brain is totally a thing!! I'd be in mid sentence and just forget what the rest of the sentence was. So fustrating!

Eta: spelling failures

BeckyP005

@hopeby2015‌ GL!!

Lady2010

Hi Ladies - 

24 weeks and 6 days today.  Time is starting to fly by!  

Feeling pretty good and still getting in 4 - 5 miles a day of walking.  Looking forward to this weekend because we are home - YAY (been traveling a LOTt since getting pregnant - only home 9 weekends - mostly in the first tri, and the last time we were home my parents were visiting so not really free).  We are going tomorrow to place the furniture order for the nursery - it is starting to really hit me that this is happening!  Only have to make a final decision on the dresser - narrowed down to 3.  

@Margritli‌ - I can completely relate to this.  I had the hardest time with putting on weight - and still do.  (I also haven't had the best body image). The worst was when I was in my first tri and while it was just bloat, felt fat.  And then when I first started to show, felt like I just looked like I had been eating too much this summer.  I finally am somewhat ok with it since I actually look pregnant now rather than like I just gained a bunch of weight in my midsection.  What really helped me was my 24 week appt this week with my dr., she said I was right on track with the weight gain (I had been worried since between my 16 & 20 week I gained more weight than I thought I should - and that appt was with the Nurse-Midwife and she just really didn't give me a ton of info on if it was ok).  I know it is hard but just keep reminding yourself, you are growing a little person - it is totally normal to gain weight!  And don't compare yourself to anyone else - when I saw my sister at 16 weeks she kept commenting how she showed sooner bc she was so much skinnier than I am and then when I saw her at 22 weeks she was commenting how I got so much bigger than what she had been (gee, thanks sis - way to make a pregnant gal feel great!).  My DH just keeps reminding me to ignore her and only listen to what my dr says.  If she is fine with my weight gain, then that is all that matters.  And the body image does improve once you get further along and really start to show.

QOTW:  I think it could be real!  I managed to lock myself in our patio the other week (thankfully the window contractor was on their way over so I called them and asked them to come around back and let me out!  And just this week I got my new iphone... and proceeded to throw out the box without taking out the charger and headphones!

xc1148

QOTW:  I definitely believe it's a thing, but sometimes it can be exaggerated. But obviously if you aren't getting as much sleep, have to prepare your house for a new roommate that will completely depend on you for survival, oh, and are months from the biggest, happiest change in your life, well, it's natural to be a bit distracted!! If you're at the grocery store either being kicked or rushing to find the bathroom, you might just forget an item on the list ;-)

Good luck to everyone with their ultrasounds!!

BeckyP005 That pulling and stretching is no joke! People always say "these are the things no one ever talks about in pregnancy"....literally the only thing no one ever told me was that the first trimester/early second HURTS! pull, pull, cramp, cramp. And you have no real bump yet so you think it's all in your head.

MissEm15

Good morning ladies!

22w3d today... I'm doing good! Starting to feel pressure in my belly & I can't do my normal long walks anymore. But the boys are kicking away & I love it! My husband can feel them really well now. I have a doc apt. Tuesday, then will need to schedule my glucose test sometime after that. My weekly cervical length checks have been good, but now seeing one sac is borderline w/ high amniotic fluid. I'm not going to worry yet, I just pray all is okay.

QOTW: Pregnancy brain is def. real. When I'm on gchat, I rarely type a sentence w/out grammatical errors & that used to be my pet peeve. I swear I'm getting dumber. lol

southernyankeegirl

@gsancho‌ - DH wanted to register at BRU around 9w, and I remember thinking the whole time how hard it would be to shut it down if it didn't work out. We went back to the same store a few weeks ago and it was amazing how different it felt!

All well here. I find out today if I passed the GTT. We are headed out of town for the long weekend, and I am dreading sharing a queen sized bed without my pregnancy pillow with DH! My friend has a Snoogle she isn't using so I am hoping she thinks to put it in the guest room for us - I won't be the diva guest to ask for it, but I need it as a barrier to keep DH from crowding my space! That's pretty much all it's good for as it's such a thin pillow.

QOTW: Haven't experienced pregnancy brain, but I also haven't experienced morning sickness and I know that's real! So I will just say not me, at least not yet.

AMShark

@lincoln79 - Enjoy your last baby shower - I've never done a progressive dinner, but it sounds like a lot of fun.

@rox825 - What a nice surprise!  It sounds like DH has some good co-workers.

@turquoiseqeen - T&P for a good scan.

@sweetpotato123 - I hope you had a great u/s.  Keep us posted.

@BeckyP005 - Welcome!  I've added you to the list.

@PurpleDaisy923 - Welcome!  Consider yourself added too.

@hbanana18 - Welcome!  I've added you to the list as well.

@sunshinedaisies000 - FX for no more spotting.

@MJ14323 - Congratulations on a great 1st u/s.

@holberry5 - GL on your 2nd u/s - I think I felt much more at ease after my 2nd.

@gsancho - Hooray for double digits!  I agree, it feels like a real accomplishment.

@weansworld09 - I'm so glad you were able to avoid the accident.  Perhaps your super mom reflexes are already kicking in?

@Margritli - I can relate to a lot of what you're saying.  I'm not looking forward to the end of daylight savings - it feels like the days are already so short.  I'm also trying my best not to dread the impending weight gain. I don't like feeling like others are looking at me either - but I'm hoping if I can remind myself that its a temporary struggle, and it will get me what I've been longing for for so long, then, it seems like a challenge I can handle.  (But, NO, bump app, I will NOT be posting a picture of my bump again this week, thanks very much).

@runawaylaurel - Ah ha - the proof that PG brain is real, b/c you have no proof that PG brain is real.  The classic argument - I think it works.

@hopeby2015 - GL with your GD test.  Keep us posted with the results.

@Lady2010 - Nice job on the 4-5 miles of walking!  You are inspiring me to go out for a spin today.

@xc1148 - I forgive you anything you've left off of you shopping list - and I support your decision to run to the bathroom, over picking up that tube of toothpaste.

turquoisequeen

@holberry5 GL at your u/s! 

Good luck to the ladies doing the GD test!

AMShark

@MissEm15 - FX on the amniotic fluid for your little guy.  I've read that high levels are less troublesome than low levels - hopefully, you'll have no complications.

@southernyankeegirl - Enjoy your trip - wishing you a snoogle in the guest room.

poohniki

Hi ladies!  I'm feeling so overwhelmed this week. I was sick Monday and Tuesday and well- now I'm totally behind- lost in school and have no idea what is going on ever.. My DH keeps bugging me about our chalkboard being out of date (haven't updated it since before vacation) but I'm pretty happy because it will be very easy to turn a peach into a mango (week 17) without having to redo the whole thing.. 

QOTW: It does exist! I am impressed I am making it this well with my pregnancy brain. I got an 85 on my test this week and luckily it doesn't effect my short term memory (I can remember anything for about an hour- then it is lost forever). Everywhere else though- I forget about bills- vet appointment... ugh! all my pills.. 

CarSaidYes

I'm so glad everyone is doing so well! I'm 6w2d today and I'm still so scared. I'm hoping and praying that I see a heart beat on Tuesday. I'll be 6w6d then. As for the symptoms really just tender breast and tiredness. Wouldn't call it fatigue yet. And the frequent urge to pee. Having had morning sickness for nausea in a few days so of course I'm worried about that even tho they say you won't experience every day. If you're lucky. Idk. I'm just hoping and praying for the best.

QOTW-I totally think it's real. I lose my train of thought often!!! And I do odd things all the time.

1220winterbride

@amshark my EDD changed to May 25 ...I am a little beyond 7 weeks and overall I feel sleepy! & Hungry. a little dry heaving.

My first OB appt is the 20th...nervous about leaving my IVF team but I love my OB.

@magritli & @lady2010 it is sad how much I think about my body and the way nothing fits right. my boobs are belly and butt it's all big!! , I had already gained a lot of weight (over 20 lbs) before the Transfer!! so I know this baby is the size of a chocolate chip (see where my head is at??) & is just bloat but I feel like people are staring at me...it's horrible to be so vain 

but trust me it doesn't shadow my happiness because I would do it all again in a second but yeah the insecurities are REAL, I want a bump so I can at least be like so what? I'm having a baby!

@gsancho I cried looking at nursery furniture on Restoration Hardware online, too charming to imagine surreal.

BalletAn

I'll be 12 weeks tomorrow!!! That feels so exciting and so huge. I'm anxiously awaiting the chromosomal testing results and the other blood work (for cystic fibrosis and neural tube defects). I hope that our good NT scan means we don't have much to worry about.... Once I get those results back and they are good we are telling people. I've gained 10 lb, and I already gained some during stimming, so it is getting hard to hide. 

I had some spotting after my pap this last week. It was my first spotting, which was very scary since spotting was always a huge issue for me before the pregnancy (starting at 3DPO sometimes). Even though my OB told me to expect it, it still spooked me. Luckily it was just there for a day, and gone after. It makes me sort of scared for intercourse (TMI we've been "sexy" but no penetration for a long time now), however I sort of want to try again. I mean, there won't be a lot of that for a while after the baby is born, and I very much miss the closeness. Anyone have any experiences with spotting (or not) after intercourse?

QOTW: I haven't experienced much pregnancy brain, but I definitely feel tired which doesn't make me the sharpest tool in the toolbox. 

Canuck13

I will be 12 weeks tomorrow too but my NT scan and bloodwork is this Thursday, so I'll wait for those results before telling more people (than our immediate family and a few close friends). I have less symptoms but still have pretty bad nightly heartburn...uggh. I have felt a little stretching and pulling going on down there, which is new. QOTW: I have definitely had some pregnancy brain moments while teaching where I've just sort of flaked out and said something to my students about 'sleepy brain' or something...lol

pblge

I'm a little late to the game--sorry! Busy few days. I'm just waiting on the full report from the NT scan. My lab results are in, but they didn't put the actual numbers into my patient portal (!!!). My OB also doesn't consider be 2nd up until 14 weeks, so I'm in limbo in that regard. :-/

I LOVED the playdate! I did wonder if it might be more manageable to have themed questions for the week. This is actually what I thought would happen in advance. So one week the topic might be birth plans, with all the questions ladies might have on that topic. The next might be registries, etc. This one seemed to work great, but I worry the BTDT moms could end up with a lot of questions all over the map to discuss, and some of those could get repeated a lot. Just a thought.

QOTW: Yup, it exists. I've done some dumb shit. Nothing major yet, though. Example: Had to edit this post!

wendyful

Hi! I'm a FTM due in June 4, 2015

Really hope this is a sticky bean.

We went to the ultrasound last week and it was hopeful since we saw the heartbeat. 

I have PCOS and we got pregnant with 10mg of Femara for 10 days plus a HCG Trigger shot (5000iu) 

AMShark

Welcome, @wendyful !  I've added you to the list.

AMShark

pblge said:

....

I LOVED the playdate! I did wonder if it might be more manageable to have themed questions for the week. This is actually what I thought would happen in advance. So one week the topic might be birth plans, with all the questions ladies might have on that topic. The next might be registries, etc. This one seemed to work great, but I worry the BTDT moms could end up with a lot of questions all over the map to discuss, and some of those could get repeated a lot. Just a thought.

....

I'm glad for the feedback on the play date.  I'm also a little worried about burning out the BTDT moms with our wide range of questions.  A bi-weekly theme could be the right solution.

How about I start a new thread asking for themes, and then conduct a poll to choose one for the coming week?  Any other ideas for selecting the theme?

jessimi06

Can I join? I'm still super early- 5 weeks tomorrow. We have our first u/s next Monday (20th) at 6 weeks, but I'm pretty sure it's just one bean.

I don't really have any symptoms besides some smell adversions and fatigue.

QOTW- I think it's definitely a thing from some of the stuff I've experienced with my pregnant friends, but I don't think I'm there yet.

AMShark

Welcome @jessimi06 - I've added you to the list.  Can you let me know you EDD?

Aimothy

I guess I should join in....I'm 9w1d today with two little beans. (Due date 5.16.15) I don't have another appointment until next week but it's just the intake appointment with the NP. I'm going to try to bribe her to have a listen or take a sneak peek since we haven't seen them since 6w3d. 

QOTW: I hate the term pregnancy brain. We once turned away a candidate because she started off the interview with "Oh, mom brain. I never remember anything."  I am not forgetting things anymore than I did when my uterus was empty. 

jessimi06

@AMShark‌ - Oops! It's 6/15/15. Thanks!

pblge

sunshinedaisies000 said:

My only concern re: a weekly theme - we have ladies from all three trimesters on this thread. What is relevant to ladies in 3rd trimester may be too overwhelming or too early for those in 1st tri to think about. For me personally, I can only seem to think about things up through first tri, because I am so focused on getting to 2nd tri. Once I get there, I will have questions relating to that. I can't think about birth plans yet - it's simply too far away.

Maybe we could agree to 2-3 questions for each playdate? Maybe one per trimester.

As I said, this is just a thought, so I don't have strong feelings either way. But it did occur to me that we could keep an archived list so people could refer to threads about things that were more relevant to a later stage. I just worried that the BTDT moms might stop participating if they got the same questions over and over.

PurpleDaisy923

I just want to update... We're having twins!!! I'm excited and terrified at the same time! 

AMShark

Double congratulations, @PurpleDaisy923 !!

I am in the same boat.  Thrilled to be PG with twins, but also, more than a little frightened.

Andy99

Hi there

I'm new to this board, but migrated from the Infertility board.  It's so nice to see so many names I know on here!!

I'm in my first trimester and my EDD is 6 June 2015.  Don't know if it's one or two just yet, but we're going for our first scan on Friday morning, so then I'll update after.

I don't have many symptoms.  Sore, big boobs.  Very tired all the time!!  But that's it.  So far no MS, touch wood.

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