TTGP Grad Check-in 11/19

_orchid_

This check in is for the ladies who actively participated in the Trying to Get Pregnant Board for any length of time.

How far along are you?

Upcoming Appointments?

Cravings/Symptoms?

How are you doing? Rants/Raves/Randoms?

Questions? 

akoros

How far along are you? 8w2d

Upcoming Appointments? 10-week checkup and NIPT blood draw on Dec 4th. NT scan with the MFM Dec 15th. Anxiety will totally be in high gear between those dates.

Cravings/Symptoms? I still want junk food (case in point: only took the gentlest of suggestions from my husband last night to scrap our dinner plans and order a buffalo chicken pizza -- I definitely looked 6 months pregnant after 3 slices puffed me up), but can at least manage to eat some fruit and veggies. Cramping has stopped, thankfully, and the thought that it was normal growing/stretching pains jibes with the itchy belly I had last night into this morning.

How are you doing? Rants/Raves/Randoms? Doing ok, the cramping definitely gave me anxiety even though I knew it was most likely fine. Looking forward to having some time off for the holiday (took off tomorrow and all next week), hoping to maybe get myself out for some walks so I can ease back into a workout routine. 

Questions? none right now

ashaislurking

@akoros I miss buffalo chicken pizza! Lol. I'm so glad your cramping has stopped and that it seems to be normal growing pains. I'm sorry it gave you so much anxiety. Hang in there! Have a lovely break from work!!

How far along are you? 8 weeks 5 days

Upcoming Appointments? I see my ObGyn again on 12/3 and we'll hopefully do NIPT at that time!

Cravings/Symptoms? Just more nausea and vomiting- kind of par for the course at this point- kind of craving a spinach tomato and mozzarella melt so I might treat myself to that before I get fluids today. We'll see how I feel in about an hour.

How are you doing? Rants/Raves/Randoms? I got my PICC line placed yesterday and that went fairly smoothly. I will say that all of my veins suck, not just the tiny peripheral veins, BUT it's in place and seems to be functioning well!! I get fluids through my PICC for the first time this afternoon so I'm anxious to see how that'll go. It's finals week and all my coursework is due on Saturday. I'm chipping away at what I have left bit by bit and I'll hopefully have everything done on time!! I have next week as a break week then I'm back at it with winter term!

Questions? Nope

akoros

@ashaislurking I hear you on sucky veins. It took them forever to get a line in the last time I needed them to, spent forever smacking and inspecting my arm, plus a few failed attempts, before finally they got one in my hand. Earlier this year I also had multiple blood draws where they just couldn't get anything out and had to call in multiple nurses to help. Good luck with the rest of your finals!

halfanewt

How far along are you? 11+6! 

Upcoming Appointments? NT scan on 11/30

Cravings/Symptoms? White grape juice and cheese. So good. Overall I’m starting to feel better, but that almost makes the nausea worse when it hits since I’m starting to remember what not feeling nauseous is like, lol

How are you doing? Rants/Raves/Randoms?Low grade annoyed that I have a 3 day work week next week, but our nanny share is only doing 1 of the days. This means 2 days of trying to entertain a 2 year old while getting work done for me. Whee. 

Questions? So I got a text today from the NIPT company saying testing had been started. How long does the actual testing part take? Impatiently waiting for results over here...

halfanewt

@akoros enjoy your time off! Hope the weather cooperates and you get some outside time. I know what you mean about the cramping. I’m still getting random bouts, though I’m sure they’re just stretching/growing pains it still makes me nervous!

@ashaislurking that melt sounds delicious! Did you end up eating one? Good luck on your finals! 

mindyb2019

How far along are you? 10+3

Upcoming Appointments? I have an appt tomorrow at the hospital for my colposcopy for my cervix and then im also getting my blood draw done for my NIPT tomorrow. Eeek. So nervous! 

Cravings/Symptoms? I have been craving hard boiled eggs lately, well just eggs in general. I want to eat them alot. Also been really enjoying rice. Boobs have been really sore lately, back aches and still tired. Started to fall asleep in a staff meeting today at work 😆 I think I also had some RLP the other day. It was little zap feelings and pulling and twinges in my belly. I think its growing and stretching in there. 

How are you doing? Im doing ok. Taking it day by day and plugging along. Im trying to live in the Now. Im super anxious to get past my milestone of the NIPT. I need this behind me so I can breathe and move forward. FX everything is low risk/normal this time around. I also can't wait to find out the gender. Sooo excited!! 

Rants/Raves/Randoms? I just had 6 viles of bloodwork done early this morning and I got my results back. All of my blood, infectious diseases iron levels and thyroid levels etc all came back normal range and negative and looking good. Yay! My thyroid (TSH) did go up a bit though 🤨 It hasn't gone up in a year. 3 months ago it was 1.31. Its now 2.20 which is still low and good just not as low. I think my thyroid is working overtime in this pregnancy. My dr will prob up my meds dose for my thyroid to bring it back down again.  

Questions? None 

@halfanewt GL with your NT scan on the 30th. Usually with the NIPT the testing part takes about a week long. Hope you get it back soon. 

@ashaislurking Mmm a spinach, Tomato and Mozzarella melt sounds soo good. Im glad you got your PICC line in and seems to be functioning well. GL with your finals next week.

@akoros I feel ya girl on the high gear for anxiety for the dates of the NIPT. Mine will be too. Its such a trigger for me. Im glad your cramping has stopped. Enjoy your time off work for the next week. That sounds nice! 

ramzlau

How far along are you? 10+6 (11 weeks tomorrow!!) 

Upcoming Appointments? 11/30 for 12 week ultrasound and then we go to 1x a month! 

Cravings/Symptoms? I thought nausea was fading but got hit hard yesterday and then tonight it is back again. Hoping it starts to fade soon. Trying to do better about eating something every 2 hours. No new cravings this week. 

How are you doing? Rants/Raves/Randoms? Add me to the NIPT waitlist. I had the draw done on Monday, so I am hoping by next Monday or Wednesday at the latest. I am excited to have a few days off next week. I have had a big project that I am wrapping up, so it will be nice to have a slower Dec hopefully! 

Questions? For those of you doing NIPT and NT scan, I think the recommendation with my doctor is to do one or the other. Is there something that the NT scan will do/provide that the NIPT doesn’t? They are both just screening tools correct (non-diagnostic). 

@mindyb2019 GL at your appointment tomorrow! 

@halfanewt I am jealous you got a text saying it was started, I haven’t got that text lol. Hope work next week isn’t too crazy with juggling work and lo. 

@ashaislurking Glad your PICC line in! I hope it works well. Congrats on the boy! 

@akoros Enjoy your time off! I hope the weather is nice for your walks. I haven’t been walking this week and I wonder if it is adding to my nausea. 

mindyb2019

@ramzlau yes.. the NT and the NIPT are both just screening tools only. Not diagnostic like an amniocentesis. The recommendation from the Dr is to do one or the other too, not both. I've asked if I could do both and they said no! They said the NIPT trumps the NT and is far greater with detecting abnormalities. No, there isn't anything that the NT will provide that the NIPT doesn't. I feel more comfortable having the NIPT personally. 

halfanewt

@mindyb2019 @ramzlau it’s always funny to me how places and recommendations differ so much! In my area, the NT scan is standard and covered by insurance, so they just assume you’ll get one. NIPT is viewed as an add-on, especially since it’s often not covered by insurance. That said, if I only got one I’d go NIPT, but I’m not going to turn down an extra chance to see bebe, too! 

_orchid_

So excited for all of you waiting for NIPT results! FX everything comes back perfect! 
@akoros yummm buffalo chicken pizza! Just had to double check your dates bc were are the same- it doesn't seem real that we're that close to 10 weeks and NIPT! Yay for time off- enjoy it? 
@ashaislurking mmm hope you got that sandwich!  Good luck with schoolwork and I hope the fluids in your PICC went smoothly yesterday
@halfanewt good luck next week! Working from home with little ones is definitely difficult. Does your LO like stickers or coloring yet? I've been buying different sticker sheets/coloring books to take out when the regular toys aren't working and that's been helping. Play dough too which I NEVER allowed in the house before covid lol. 
@mindyb2019 yay that your bw yesterday came back good! I had an egg the other day and thought of you. One of the dinners we eat a lot is fried eggs over rice with some soy sauce sprinkled on. So good and so inexpensive! 
@ramzlau good luck wrapping up your project! I hope the other day was your last naseous day. Yes I think my area is either NT or NIPT. I'm hoping to do NIPT, but I'll see what my OB says.

asf0613

popping in to say hi old friends! lurking hardcore here for you all.  and also @mindyb2019 i have been craving hard boiled eggs too and i used to HATE them.  DH thinks its hysterical--wait til i tell him i'm not alone.

Hope everyone is doing well!

_orchid_

How far along are you? 8+3

Upcoming Appointments? Wednesday for my intake with my OB! 

Cravings/Symptoms? I can't tell right now symptom wise. I feel like crap but I have anxiety about stuff going on right now so I can't tell if the naseua is from that, and then I start overthinking. Started getting some breast achiness and back pain so that's definitely not anxiety lol. Almost fell asleep last night while on my feet in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner 

How are you doing? Rants/Raves/Randoms? Feeling ok. Trying to just be in the present also. I started blood thinner injections this week so that was a bit to process. Work-wise I got some great comments about my classes/teaching from students' parents at my school's PTA meeting this week so I'm feeling good about that- it's been stressful teaching virtually. 

Questions? 

ashaislurking

@halfanewt Usually the NIPT testing itself doesn't take too long but I also know some providers will wait to disclose results until your next appointment so when you get your results could totally depend on your ObGyn's policies.
@mindyb2019 So much love for your NIPT and colposcopy! Keep us posted as you can?
@ramzlau I hope your NIPT all comes back low risk and that your December slows down!
@_orchid_ I'm glad you're getting positive feedback for work! That's an awesome positive to focus on when times like this get hard.

AFM: Fluids went super smoothly yesterday but I got SO MUCH COLDER getting fluids in the PICC than with a normal IV. Heated blankets for me it is!  I didn't end up eating one of the melts yesterday (a couple of you had asked) which kind of makes me sad but I've been feeling so sick I just couldn't stomach it.

akoros

@_orchid_ I know, right? I feel like the first 3-4 weeks until the viability scan drag on, and then it speeds up a bit after that. Definitely enjoying the time off, and congrats on getting good feedback! That's so rewarding

@mindyb2019 @ramzlau My doctor lets you do either or both, and since I'm over 35 (and have had a trisomy pregnancy) insurance covers both. I'm getting both, but if there's only the option for one I'd do the NIPT since it's more accurate at flagging a problem. 

halfanewt

Got my NIPT results back today...

...and it’s a baby! Haha, sorry. Team green makes that reveal less dramatic, but all checked out normal, so we’re officially excited!  

mindyb2019

@halfanewt haha. That was funny. Glad "baby" was ok and all is normal. 

ramzlau

@halfanewt Glad all checked out health wise and that it’s a human! 

tilournextadventure

Yay @halfanewt! I loved being team green last time. So fun to have a surprise at the end. 

_orchid_

@akoros I saw my ob today and she's having me do the NIPT and NT at the MFM also. Did you have to call your insurance to make sure both would be covered? I was trying to ask why she thinks I should do both and didn't really understand her reasoning. 

akoros

@_orchid_ No, I didn't have to call, but know from prior pregnancies that both are covered for me. I think they like to do both because it's possible for the NIPT to be clear but the NT to be thick, indicating a problem (not necessarily a trisomy; a large NT shows potential problems with the circulatory system that are associated with chromosomal abnormalities or other birth defects). In a chromosomally normal baby a large NT/cystic hygroma can (and often does) resolve on its own, but they may want to do other testing and additional monitoring.