*~*~* ftm check-in 12/24 (one day early) *~*~*

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).

I'm adding a separate item for our FTM's, ordered by EDD (I think the list is just too long to post correctly).

QOTW:  It's holiday time and baking season for many of our FTMs.  What is one of your favorite dishes to bake (or just eat, if you don't bake)?

AMShark

FTM's List

Third Trimester

12/13/14 - @CandaceC1020

12/15/14 - @xc1148

12/30/14 - @Saintelizabeth

01/13/15 - @southernyankeegirl

01/14/15 - @MKateG

01/21/15 - @hopeby2015

01/24/15 - @Lady2010

02/02/15 - @WA1215

02/07/15 - @jaztastic

02/11/15 - @MissEm15

02/17/15 - @weansworld09

02/19/15 - @Escarabeo217

02/22/15 - @BeckyP005

02/22/15 - @runawaylaurel

03/14/15 - @Margritli (twins)

03/21/15 - @KT416

03/23/15 - @poohniki

Second 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

05/05/15 - @rella22

05/07/15 - @sugar4bri (twins)

First Trimester 

05/16/15 - @Aimothy

05/16/15 - @sunshinedaisies000

05/20/15 - @Lesliem0901

05/21/15 - @holberry5

05/25/15 - @1220winterbride

05/25/15 - @Champs28

05/25/15 - @Regan1976

05/25/15 - @yvonne0001

05/26/15 - @HCAMP123

05/26/15 - @viola27

05/28/a5 - @ky29

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 - @starlightgator (twins)

06/12/15 - @PurpleDaisy923 (twins)

06/15/15 - @jessimi06 (twins)

06/18/15 - @hbanana18

06/24/15 - @erbear84

07/02/15 - @katemonster1

07/03/15 - @amylev80

07/08/15 - @theblessingofababy

07/21/15 - @chicory (twins)

07/28/15 - @Nutmeg8484

07/28/15 - @sorellam30

08/04/15 - @carrieharry79

08/04/15 - @RunCC37

08/06/15 - @Shelbeans82

08/15/15 - @DSculley1824

08/24/15 - @luna0803

PAIF Angels:
missmarypoppins

@RunCC37 (vanishing twin)

Graduates:

@Cutiecruz327 - Welcome, baby Manny, b. 10/22/14

@lincoln79 - Welcome, baby William Ryan, b. 10/29/14

@ekc0630 - Welcome, baby Jackson Thomas, b. 10/31/14

@rox825 - Welcome, baby Joseph Thomas, b. 11/13/14

@Ashris13 - Welcome, baby Elizabeth (Ellie) Victoria, b. 11/23/14

@heleng5 - Welcome, baby Annabelle Jade, b. 12/10/14

AMShark

Hello, FTMs.  I thought we'd do our check-in a day early, since a lot of you will be busy on Christmas.

My update is that everything is stable and ok right now.  Every now and then,  both babies remind me that they're still around and moving - which is the weirdest, but most reassuring feeling.

My MFM advised that I should check into the hospital for bed rest starting on 01 Jan.  I got a fun letter from my health insurance provider this week stating that my short stay in the hospital almost two weeks ago was covered (hooray).... but also, that any future coverage will need to be pre-cleared by them.  Apparently, when my MFM sends orders to the hospital, the hospital should contact my insurance, but my insurance recommended that I follow up with the hospital, to confirm that they do this before I arrive.  I get a little sick when I think about what weeks and weeks of a hospital stay could cost me if this isn't covered, so, I'm trying not to dwell on it.

On the bright side, since this isn't my normal hospital, I had to confirm that their services are covered by my plan and they are, so that's a huge relief.  I was afraid they were going to refer me to a farther hospital with a comparable NICU.

QOTW:  I love to bake just about anything.  I really enjoy rolling out and decorating Christmas cookies, but for eating, my favorite are cream cheese cookies... or really, anything chocolate.

hopeby2015

@AMShark‌ - thanks for doing the check in and I'm always glad to see a positive update from you!

AFM: 36 weeks today and chugging along! I went to the OB yesterday and she took a GBS swab and checked my cervix - nothing happening down there yet! We also did another growth scan yesterday and baby was head down. So at least that's somewhat comforting!

QOTW: I don't really bake but I love to eat those cookies with the Hershey kisses in the middle of em - no idea what they are called but the are delicious!

turquoisequeen

@AMShark‌ thanks for the post! Hang in there!

I'm 17w today and can't wait to find out sex in a few weeks! Also can't wait to feel the baby!

QOTW: I really enjoy making vegetable side dishes for the holidays since they can be really colorful and I like to make vegetables taste flavorful. Tomorrow I'm making roasted brussel sprouts with craisens and a balsamic vinegar drizzle (a pioneer woman recipe)!

stace2524

@AMShark‌ thanks for doing the check in! Glad both babies are still cooking! With regards to insurance, and you may already know this, but I had a friend who gave birth at 24 weeks and her son was in the NICU for 74 days. They both work full time jobs and have insurance but even with that the baby's NICU stay would've been obscenely expensive (it was hundreds of thousands of dollars) but due to his prematurity he was able to go on Medicaid and all costs were covered, including postnatal PT/OT and other appts. My friend didn't love the idea of Medicaid but that's what it is here for, people in need, and no one should go into crazy debt to pay for their newborn's health! Hope you don't mind me sharing!

AFM - I am currently 8 weeks, feeling pretty well other than a little AM nausea and fatigue (fell asleep on the couch at 8pm, now I'm wide awake on XMas morning while DH and pups are sleeping! Lol). Had my first u/s last week showing us one bean, we could see and hear the heart beat which was so amazing and comforting! Repeat u/s with RE on Monday. I am dealing with the vaginal estrogen and progesterone but cannot wait to start to wean off of it at 11 weeks!

QOTW: I love to bake, and for our Christmas party this weekend I made a smores trifle, banana pudding and Reece cookies! The problem is we have leftovers and I can't stop eating them!

RunCC37

Hello, I would like to be added First Tri, one bean (and one angel), EDD 8/4/15

I am 8w2d today and am a mixed bag. Monday was the worst day, and now I'm having a hard time believing that this is real. I'm trying to focus on the positive.

QOTW: I don't bake, and especially since the start of our IF journey... The holidays haven't been so merry. I am making a dish for dessert tonight in the crockpot, which is yummy. Apple Crispers which I call Apple Cici's Sliced apples, cranberries & seasonings in the crockpot along with a chopped Nilla wafer & almond topping.

chicory

I too would like to be added, thanks @AMShark‌ ! Frist tri, twins, EDD 7/21/15. I am 10w2d and doing great. We're at my parents for Christmas and it's very weird talking about pregnancy and baby stuff with my mom. Partly because for so long I've felt like the topic was "off limits" as an infertile, and largely because while my mom and I are close in some ways, we really have never been good at talking about mushy or emotional stuff together. She's super excited to be a grandma though, and I'm sure I'll get better at the mushy stuff as things get more real. QOTW: I'm not much of a baker. I will admit I have been eating ALL the things today and yesterday. There's a pecan pie in my mom's oven right now that I'm looking forward t enjoying tonight!

Ecarabeo217

Hello ladies, and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. @AMShark‌ thanks for the update and for posting. So glad the LOs are moving around and keeping you comforted. You should have coverage, and if not, what PP said about Medicaid is spot on. You shouldn't get slammed with any craziness!

AFM, 32 weeks today. Mom & Dad came over today to help me finish up painting in the nursery and putting up window treatments in there. It's starting to come together. I'm starting to get clothes and stuff organized in drawers. It's becoming really real!

I loooove to bake anything...made cookies and banana bread for the girls at the office this past week. I like making rum cake (yum!) but I think cheesecake is my favorite.

weansworld09

@AMShark‌ thank you for the checkin
@RunCC37‌ I'm so sorry for your loss huge hugs

AFM, 30w2d and feeling pretty good. My hands have started to fall asleep when I lay down and turning from side to side is getting to be more difficult, but overall doing well.

The placenta previa has resolved! Very exciting. However, they saw some normal variant on the heart, so I go in for a fetal echo on the 9th.

QOTW: I love to bake pies it's especially nice when my husband is home to help me clean up as I go. I love to eat anything with nuts though, yum!

runawaylaurel

@AMShark- I love reading your positive updates. No advice on insurance but I hope it can all be figured out. Thanks for organizing this, too!

Hope everyone had a nice holiday!! 31w5d and I realized that this time next week I can say "I'm having a baby next month" (probably.... due date is 6 days before end of February sooo....). Other than a lot of freaking out, I'm doing well. I only have 30-some days left of work, yikes!

QOTW: I bake cookies all the time, but my favorite special occasion baked good is cheesecake. Too bad I'm the only one in my family who likes it. I made molten chocolate cakes for dessert yesterday. They were meh. 

pblge

@RunCC37 - ((hugs)) I'm so sorry, that's a very confusing experience. It usually means nothing for your healthy LO, so I'm sending lots of strong growing thoughts your way.

@weansworld09 - Yay on the PP, but sorry you have to worry about the heart. Hope the echo shows that all is well.

((hugs)) and best wishes to everyone else. I'm traveling so I don't have a ton of time this AM. All is well with me, especially as I'm 24 weeks today--YAY!!!!

QOTW: I don't have an Xmas baking tradition yet, but I'm excited to get one. I get so into Thanksgiving that I usually don't give any thought to We've been thinking a lot about the traditions we want to have in our family, especially as neither one of us is religious. The only thing that we've come up with so far is that all holidays must include some giving to the needy and/or volunteering. I

Saintelizabeth

39+3 with a mini watermelon! 

I've been having uncomfortable prodromal labor symptoms for the past 5 days and I'm over it. This feeling of "if this finally it?!" just for the symptoms to pass is a tease. My belly is getting so big my maternity clothes are becoming tighter and tighter and I refuse to purchase any more!

Thankfully LO is still very active despite being so squished. I have my 40wk OB appointment set up and if I'm still around then we will schedule a 40+3 NST, growth scan, and schedule an indction date. Hopefully we go that far, but at least we have a plan. 

  

QOTW:  I'm not much of a baker or a cook so I din't make anything this year, but I did eat a lot of what other people made

turquoisequeen

@runawaylaurel‌ mmm cheesecake! I could eat that anytime!

sorrellam30

@AMShark‌ can I join too? 9 weeks 3 days With one bean, EDD 7/28. I graduated from my RE on Christmas Eve, it was a weird (but good feeling), we've been there so long it will be odd going to a regular ob! Our first appointment is Monday. I usually love to bake and cook for the holidays but this year I gave myself a pass!

jessimi06

Thanks @AMshark for the check in and I'm glad everything's going well!

@hbanana18- hope you feel better soon!

@weansworld09 - thats greats news on the PP!

AFM- Nothing new is going on over here. I'm 15w4d and my bump is getting big already. I know this is normal with twins, but I feel huge and I've lost 12 pounds (from morning sickness)! I'm already bigger to begin with so I figured it'd be a little bit before I popped. :-/

QOTW- Cookies! I bake and decorate holiday sugar cookies every year, minus this year. I've had the flu so perhaps I'll make some for new years?

AMShark

@hopeby2015 - As a matter of fact, I *do* just call the cookies with the kisses "delicious" - is there another name for them? 

@turquoisequeen - I LOVE Brussels Sprouts - I'm going to look up that pioneer woman recipe to future use.

@stace2524 - Thank you for sharing your friend's story.  Its good to know that Medicaid is a possible resource if needed.

@RunCC37 - Welcome - I've added you to the list.  ((Hugs)) to you for your vanishing twin.  I have seen others struggle with this, and my heart goes out to you.

@chicory - Welcome - You've been added.  I hope your conversations with your mom get less awkward as your PG progresses (I know that mine have).

@Ecarabeo217 - Please share pics when you're done painting.  If I recall, you did a beautiful job on a striped wall - I'm anxious to see the finished product.

@weansworld09 - Glad to hear your placenta has moved.  FX that you get good news on the fetal echo.

@runawaylaurel - I predict that LO will be a cheesecake lover too, and in a few years, the 2 of you will be able to outvote DH on what dessert to bake.

@pblge - Congrats on 24w!  I love that you are putting charity first in your holiday celebration.  Your LO is going to learn so many good things from you.

@sunshinedaisies000 - I like the Christmas ornament announcement - sweet, and subtle.

@saintelizabeth - How exciting to have your own mini watermelon.  Looking forward to a birth announcement from you soon.

@sorrellam30 - Welcome - I've added you to the list. Congrats on being an RE graduate.

@hbanana18 - Congrats on your belly "pop

@jessimi06 - I think I started showing with my twins around the same time - About a week before I was bragging about still wearing my normal pants and then, BAM, belly bump.  I think I know how you feel.

shelbeans82

Can you add me?  1st trimester, EDD 8/6/14, 2 beans

QOTW:  My family makes cut out Christmas cookies every year.  Its quite the event cutting them out, baking and decorating that we all participate in. 

Ecarabeo217

@AMShark‌ you do not cease to amaze me! Thanks for keeping this thread going even through all your own struggles right now! You rock!

luna0803

I would like to be added! First tri, EDD 8/24/15.

I'm doing alright at 5w6d. Just all of the "I'm still really early" anxiety and wanting to tell everyone but forcing myself to wait until my first US.

QOTW: I love baking Christmas cookies! I try to try something new each year.

AMShark

Welcome, @shelbeans82 and @luna0803 - I've added you both to the FTM list. 

Nutmeg8484

Hi everyone, I would like to be added to the list. EDD is 7/28/15 so I'm almost 10 weeks.

My last ultrasound was about 3 weeks ago and I don't go to my OB for another week and a half which is giving me some anxiety. I know that things are probably going okay in there but I can't seem to wrap my head around it. After so long of knowing everything that was going on at all times this waiting is slowly driving me crazy. I don't know how regular fertile people do it. I'm also supposed to stop PIO tomorrow cold turkey which in and of itself is completely terrifying to me. I hope everyone had a great holiday!  

AMShark

@Nutmeg8484 - Welcome - I've added you to the list.

You are in good company here with anxiety over the sudden long wait between appointments, and the abrupt end of PIO.  If you search this forum, you'll find several threads from women who had the same concerns about stopping Progesterone meds.  You might find it helpful to check these out.

carrieharry79

@AMShark Can I please be added to the group? 

I am at 8w6d today and everything is looking good. Been feeling awful.... I usually get a few hours during the day where I don't feel like I'm going to lose it though. I'm very anxious to get to the second trimester. I'm hoping I start to feel better!

QOTD: I can't even think of baking this year with this nausea. I have to mute food commercials and look away from the TV!! 

AMShark

carrieharry79 said:

@AMShark Can I please be added to the group? 

I am at 8w6d today and everything is looking good. Been feeling awful.... I usually get a few hours during the day where I don't feel like I'm going to lose it though. I'm very anxious to get to the second trimester. I'm hoping I start to feel better!

QOTD: I can't even think of baking this year with this nausea. I have to mute food commercials and look away from the TV!! 

Welcome @carrieharry79 - I'd be happy to add you.  Do you know your EDD?

carrieharry79

@AMshark I am due 8/4/15. Thank you!

AMShark

carrieharry79 said:

@AMshark I am due 8/4/15. Thank you!

Got it, @carrieharry79 - You've been added!

DSculley1824

Hi everyone! @AMShark‌ can I please be added to this check in?

I'm 7 weeks 5 days. My EDD is August 13 and I have one lil singleton inside! My last u/s was 12/26 and everything was measuring good! Saw a HB of 150. Some history of spotting, bleeding, and a clot passing about two weeks ago. FX all continued on track and I have a healthy take home baby!

QOTW: I bake an awesome rigatoni bake. I'm Italian and have my grandma's famous sauce recipe. She has since passed and it's an honor to know I can carry on her tradition with her sauce. I take the rigatoni bake to lots of DH's family events. They request it lol!

AMShark

@DSculley1824 - Welcome!  I've added you to the list.