A Little Intro

tmorash · November 2014

Hi ladies,

Just a little intro, as I'm graduating to Pregnant after 35 after spending some time in the TTC after 35 group (what a great board that is!). I'm 4weeks 2 days now (if FF got my O day right), and I just left the doctor with a confirmation from her that I was indeed pregnant (exciting! terrifying!).

A question: she just did a urine test (so, no better than my HPT as I understand it) and didn't mention a blood test at all. I guess that's normal? She is sending me for bloodwork, but seems to be just a standard pre-natal screening. Have you all gotten blood tests from your doctor to confirm a pregnancy?

Thanks! Looking forward to taking part on this board as much as I can!

NeonNoon · November 2014

Yay.. Congrats on graduating

Welcome to the group.

My first pre-natal appt was kind of late (close to 9 weeks), so the OB was able to confirm the pregnancy with an US. I had blood work done, but not to confirm pregnancy. Urine tests are pretty accurate as far as I know.

tmorash · November 2014

Thanks for the input! This was just a quick appointment with my GP to confirm pregnancy, and find out what to do next. I was concerned because of my BBT drops the last few days, but I'm trying to balance that concern with the fact that I'm still getting pretty strong positive HPTs. Also, it seems one common piece of advice is to stop temping once you get your BFP so you won't drive yourself nuts worrying about temps. Part of me wants to stop temping but my temp this morning was *so low* I don't know if I'll be able to not temp tomorrow morning. Eep!

mandyreads · November 2014

Congrats and welcome

tmorash · November 2014

@hikerlady‌ Thank you for trying to talk some sense into me! I know I need to walk away from the thermometer, but I'm afraid I'll be more worried *without* temping than I am with.

When I mentioned my low temps (today was way below the cover line) to my GP today, she just kind of looked at me blankly, and had no idea what the connection to my concern would even be. I don't know if that's exactly reassuring either - ha.

Either way, I will try to wean myself off the thermometer!

niknak1208 · November 2014

I think it depends on whether or not you have infertility stuff going on or history of loss. I have 2 kids at home and I've had 3 losses. 2 very early under 6 weeks. 1 late at almost 20 weeks. With all of those pregnancies, they did a series of three blood draws 48 hours apart to make sure my hormones were rising they way they were supposed to. This time around, they did not do any blood work other than the normal prenatal draw.

Welcome!

tmorash · November 2014

Thanks @niknak1208‌! This is my first pregnancy, so I have no history whatsoever!

So sorry about your losses.

niknak1208 · November 2014

Ugh. Definitely stop temping. I love that book TCOYF too.. but I used to drive myself insane with all these tiny details. Sometimes you just have to let go .. even though I know that's really really hard to do.

KirstenAlecia · November 2014

Hey!!!! So good to see you here!!!!

Try not to stress!

Welcome!!!

ewenner · November 2014

Welcome Welcome! I am not surprised that your doctor did only did a urine test and didn't know anything about your charting. Since a GP is just that - a General Practitioner - and not an OB or RE, they probably aren't going to be looking specifically at beta or progesterone levels and probably haven't been trained in charting, since that is very specific to fertility, which is not their specialty. Have you called your OBGYN to make an appointment? I would guess that's the next step for you and you will get more answers once you have that appointment. In the meantime, congratulations and stop temping!

mdogan29 · November 2014

Yay! Congrats on your BFP and welcome to the board!

I think it depends on your history as to what the OB/RE/GP chooses to do, I was initially considered high risk and had a previous loss in 2013, so they went with my 2 + HPTs and and checked my progesterone in the office. Once the progesterone was considered a good level (44), they scheduled me for an early ultrasound at 6 weeks (where I found out I was actually closer to 5 weeks).

I kept temping and checking BP every morning as well and my temps were all over the place too (some mornings I'd wake up drenched in sweat), so I stopped with the temping and just check my BP every morning now (when I remember!).

Samuelismomma · November 2014

Congrats and welcome. Unless your with an re or have had a loss(es) they usually do urine test.

tmorash · November 2014

Thanks for all the input and advice ladies -- it's so helpful to hear!

I don't even have an OBGYN -- I guess finding one is a solid first step. From the small bit that I've read on this, it seems that first appointment timelines with OBs vary a great deal; I read somewhere yesterday that some people stay with their GP until very late in pregnancy and just go with the OB for the weeks leading up to L&D. I don't know how this normally works in Canada (where I am); any other Canadian women out there with experience?

I'm going to get some bloodwork today and will revisit my GP for the results in the next week or two. I'll start making my list of questions now...

marijaa333 · November 2014

Woohoo, i remember you from TTC>35! Welcome and congrats!

Yes, stop temping. My temperature also dropped (to about the cover line) and then I stopped because otherwise I would have gone nuts. The early weeks are stressful but it does get better.

My GP sent me for a complete blood test (hormone levels, blood cell counts, infection markers, etc.) as well as a urine test (again for any bladder infections). I would request those two from your GP while you wait to find an OB. If you get some antibody counts a bit higher, know that it could be your body being a bit confused about what's going on - I had this and it normalized by the second blood test. I've also had to take some antibiotics for bacteria found in urine later on (around week 8). The main thing is not to stress too much over things like this.

Also, if you're not yet taking a prenatal, do start!

And finally, my GP told me this early on, but I didn't comprehend then how important the advice would be: eat small, frequent meals. Everything, from fatigue, to constipation, to nausea is helped by smaller meals and gets worse if you eat large meals or let too much time pass between.

There is a Canuck thread somewhere (either here or on my BMB). I'll look for it and flag it for you. I'm a Toronto transplant to the US. It sounded to me like the main difference is the lack of availability of the non-invasive prenatal genetic screening under OHIP (or whatever provincial insurance you have). I had the option and after researching the new non-invasive tests quite thoroughly still opted to have a good, old, invasive but definitive CVS test, so I'm not sure that it's a huge loss. Others will argue otherwise, it depends on your desire to have definitive information on your entire set of chromosomes. Where in Canada are you?

tmorash · November 2014

Thanks for the info @marijaa333‌! I just yesterday had blood taken for all manner of things, as well as three urine samples (stopping midstream is a challenge!)

I don't seem to have any symptoms at this point beside sore breasts, but I will certainly take your frequent, small meals advice! I usually try to fit in small snacks between main meals anyway, so it may not be too much of a departure.

I have done only a small amount of research on the non-invasive tests, CVS, etc. I do tend to research things significantly though, so I suppose it's just a matter of time. Right now my basic understanding is that it's a choice between the definitive (but riskier) CVS, or the less-definitive (but risk-free) non-invasive tests. I guess if the non-invasive tests aren't available to me...my choice may be made.

I'm in Newfoundland. I'm sure once I share the news with friends of mine who are moms already, I'll feel better connected and have access to local specific info and advice, but for the next several weeks (I'm only 4w 3d), I guess I'll feel a little untethered.

marijaa333 · November 2014

@tmorash I loved reading Emily Oster's book, Expecting Better. If you like to research things well, you may enjoy it.

4w3d is super early. I started really feeling pregnant around 7-8 weeks. And I hear you about feeling untethered - we haven't told anyone yet except our respective best friends, both of whom live far away.

supersarah77 · November 2014

Samuelismomma said:
Congrats and welcome. Unless your with an re or have had a loss(es) they usually do urine test.

This. Welcome to the board and congratulations! In my experience, this is the hardest time for worrying and you just have to ride the wave. Limit the thermometer and pee sticks as best you can.

tmorash · November 2014

@supersarah77 Thanks - I am trying! I'm starting to relax a little bit I think. Still full of worry, but it's less distracting.

@marijaa333 Thanks for the info and book recommendation; I think I'll probably pick it up.

ThreeXsaCharm · November 2014

A big congrats on your pregnancy. Don't have much to add since your questions were answered. I would find a OB though...I don't know how they do it in Canada but I suspect it's the same type of health care as that in England (I lived there for three years and during my first pregnancy). Many did not use OB's but their GP's and then midwives. Only us expats seem to see OB's especially us Americans..LOL

Enjoy this new adventure you are on. It's such a blessing.. Congratulations once again.

tmorash · November 2014

@marijaa333 The book is in my possession! Now to find a way to surreptitiously read it at the coffee shop. I may have to go grab coffee in another part of town to not be spied.

@ThreeXsaCharm Thanks so much for the congrats! It seems like we run the gamut here for when in the pregnancy we start seeing an OB (based on risk, availabiliity of doctors, whether your doctor does prenatal care, etc). So, I think I'm the type of person who would like to see one earlier than later, just for peace of mind. I'll ask my GP when I go in (probably next week) to make sure my bloodwork is on track.

I'll have to make a list of questions I think; I was so nervous/excited when I went in on Monday that I walked out without asking one of my main questions (about weight lifting during pregnancy).

marijaa333 · November 2014

@tmorash Haha! I totally hear you. You may have to resort to making a good, old, paper book cover!

Hope you enjoy the read.

tahitiandreamin · November 2014

@marijaa333‌ I loved that book.

@tmorash. I'm also in Canada, although in Ontario so things may be a bit different. Here we see our GP until 10-12 w. At that point we can go one of three ways. (1) continue to see out GP until 30 w and then transfer to a GP who delivers or an OB. (2) Start seeing the OB at 10-12 w, generally by referral from your GP, although I have heard that there may be a few OBs here who do not require a referral for a pregnant lady. (3) Start seeing a midwife who can deliver at a hospital, birth centre or home birth (midwife is covered under provincial health care in Ontario although I know that is now the case in every province). With DD we went the route of midwife hospital birth and we're doing that again. I loved the level of care that I received with a midwife.

As for genetic testing, again this is province specific. In Ontario from 35-40 we have IPS testing. If you get a positive screen from that then you will qualify for amino or province paid NIPT. After 40 you don't have to do the IPS testing to qualify for these. This will be a very individual choice but I after looking into the stats for IPS testing and how they fudge for age, I realized that I couldn't go through with it given the high chances for a false positive screen (at age 38). I'm way too much of a worrier to deal with a positive screen then have to wait to see a genetic counsellor and then get approval for NIPT funding. I will likely pay out of pocket for NIPT (~$800). The chances of a false positive are incredibly low (although the chances of a false negative are higher but I'm ok with that).

In Ontario GPs do urine tests only for pregnancy, no blood tests to confirm pregnancy. My blood tests were things like iron, b vitamins, TSH and STDs.

Navigating the health care system in Canada can be a bit of a pain.

Lm92599 · November 2014

congrats and welcome!

northernkhaleesi · November 2014

Yay! Just stopping by from the other board to see how you're doing.

(Voice of Newfoundland experience here)

You will get a referral from your GP to see an OBGYN. Ask for whomever you want (I have a great recommendation if you're interested), and your GP will get the referral ready. You'll likely start seeing the OB after your first tri.

Good luck with it, and let me know if you need anything!

(Hoping to be joining you all over here sooner rather than later. Looks like a great place to hang out!)

tmorash · November 2014

@tahitiandreamin‌ Thanks so much for your helpful info-packed post! The more information I have the better, I figure. I have another appointment with my GP next Monday (she's off this week so I'm forced to be patient), and I'll look for more details on NIPT here in NL.

As for midwives, I love the notion of a midwife's care and expertise, but midwifery isn't regulated in NL (this is hopefully happening soon!), so while there are unregulated midwives here, it would have to be a home birth (and while that sounds really good in theory, for my first ever labour and delivery I think I might feel most comfortable in hospital). I have some time to consider that bit of course.

My bloodwork last week included a test of HcG, and when I called the doctor's office this morning I was told that nothing was flagged for follow-up, so I'm hoping that's a good sign that my numbers were in an acceptable range!

tmorash · November 2014

@northernkhaleesi‌ Thanks so much for checking in - much appreciated! And I'll happily take your NL OB recommendation!

Hope to see you over here regularly very soon!

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