~~~* Weekly IVF/TTTC/2IF/Infertility grads check-in 12/16 ~~*~

[Deleted User] · December 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

[Deleted User] · December 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

blueberries8 · December 2014

Here are a few pics from my growth scan earlier this week. First pic is baby A (girl) and second pic is baby B (boy). Thankfully, everything continues pretty uneventfully. At my appointment this week, I was measuring 30 weeks. The exhaustion is really difficult for me to manage right now because I have a lot I want to get done at work and I am also having a lot of trouble sleeping. Other than that, it's all good and I am so thankful to still be here!

QOTW: I would like a vaginal birth if possible but right now, the gist of my birth plan is just get both babies out healthy and alive at a respectable gestation

blueberries8 · December 2014

@GrailSeeker14 so glad you had a successful a/s! Cute pics

taahira · December 2014

Hi ladies,
So cute to see the scan pictures!
This week I'm feeling really good, my energy has returned, and I'm enjoying full days awake without taking a nap. I had my prenatal appointment and ultrasound on Friday. Our little guy looks great, he is measuring a week ahead. It was great to see him yawning, and sticking his tongue out, just so cute!!
Cute moment walking in on my DH and my DD2 in the nursery building furniture together both super excited, and deciding where to place everything.
With my DD2 I managed a med free labor and delivery. I'm hoping to repeat the same kind of delivery. She was a big baby, and my OB is worried this little guy will be bigger and I may struggle. I'm up for trying though.
I had to post my scan picture too, we caught a picture of him yawning. Sleepy head. :x

Seachele98 · December 2014

Im so glad to see all of you have great scans this week!! Congrats on healthy babies!

24 weeks and not much new to report here. Still trying to get through this cold/cough. It's pretty annoying, and the coughing hurts my belly. DH was finally able to feel some kicks tonight. He thought it was so neat. We have an OB appointment on Friday. I suspect just a doppler and scheduling the glucose tolerance test.

QOTW: I don't really have a birthing plan. I just want to have a healthy baby. I don't care how she gets out into the world. As of right now, my plan is to show up at the hospital when the time comes and just let whatever happens happen. To be honest, Im terrified of giving birth, and I always have been. Not the pain aspect or tearing or any of the normal fears/concerns. I have a real (albeit probably irrational) fear of dying during childbirth. I think it stems from seeing a movie where it happened when I was very young, and I just can't shake it. My mom thinks I need to talk to my OB about it. DH thinks Im being ridiculous. I haven't decided what to do yet. For now, Im trying to ignore it, get over it, whatever I can. Probably not the best course of action.

pblge · December 2014

Oh, look, I'm not the only one up in the middle of the night! :-bd

@Grailseeker14 - So glad to hear all your positive news! I know what you mean about feeling the need to share the movement. It's CRAZY, and I feel weird having conversations while someone is kicking me from the inside, yet the person I'm talking to has no idea how distracted I am!

@blueberries8 - Love your pics!!! Aren't they adorable. :x Hope you can get some rest to help ease the exhaustion!

@taahira - Way to go on the med free birth, especially with a big baby! Can I ask if there were moments during the birth you second guessed yourself? Just wondering how committed one has to be to med-free to make it through.

@Seachele98 - ((hugs)) I don't think you're alone in this fear. Child birth is scary stuff! But of course if you have access to good medical care the chances of harm are very small. Have you picked up any of Ina May Gaskin's books? Her guide to childbirth is supposed to be very empowering and reassuring. I'm only on Ch. 2, so I can't be sure. ;-)

AFM, nothing major going on. Had a check-up yesterday, and my first fundal height measurement, but nothing more exciting than that. This little girl is seriously active, though! As I write (5:30 AM--stupid insomnia!) she's kicking up a storm. We've also finally begun the serious work on the nursery. About a third of the hardwood floor got installed yesterday, and we put in a radiant space heater to help with the temp. I should say DH has done all this--I've mostly been chained to my computer for grading final papers. HATE IT! I have so far to go still.

QOTW: I'm hoping for a natural hospital birth, but I've been told it's a battle. We're trying to find a doula to help with this, but all but one name has been crossed off the list before we've even gotten to the interview stage with a single person. The one woman left standing has been tough to meet with. At my age and after everything that we've been through to get to this point, I will be neither surprised nor heartbroken if we need intervention, but my goal will be to let my body do its own thing, and hope that it can do this part right even though it couldn't handle conception or early pregnancy very well. I have fears about the traumatic births in which bad things happen *down there*!

taahira · December 2014

@pblge I had been to many classes at the birthing centre prior. I felt completely mentally and physically prepared. I did have a doula there to help. I was handling the pain really well until about 7cm. That's when I started to talk myself out of going med free. That's when the experience and knowledge kicked in with the doula. She really helped me through those last few hours until I gave birth. I'm willing to try again, it was a wonderful experience.

Alicia_R1 · December 2014

Not much going on this week. Had our appt last week and got the results from the metabolic panel the OB wanted to run to see if there was something behind the crazy thirst I have going on. I'm fully and then some hydrated. He probably won't schedule the glucose test until next visit which is at 27 weeks...unless the perinatologist schedules it when we see him for the echo on the 30th.

The first full week in Jan is just full of appointments for us. It's crazy. I did get us signed up for an infant/child CPR class in Feb.

QOTW- birth plan...I've been avoiding talking about this for a long time with anyone online. I'm going to have a c-section. It's something I have reseached the hell out of since we decided we wanted a family and before TTC. I don't really like getting into the reasons why because I start to panic, hyperventiliate and cry and it brings me back to a place I don't want to go. I just end up feeling horrified, exposed, violated, disgusted with myself...so I have some mental issues there which are also feeding into "how the hell am I going to manage to breast feed" as well. (yes, I am seeing someone about all this)

Some days I wonder how I made it through all the IF treatments, and to be honest I was going to stop them and just be child free. I was prepared to fire every OB until I found one that was ok with my decision but during our first appointment I had brought it up and he said he did maternal request c-sections but would like to hear my reasons. My insurance covers it as well, but I was prepared to pay OOP if it didn't.

so it's not friday, but I guess that's my confession.

pblge · December 2014

@taahira - Thanks! And what a great vote for a doula! Just scheduled an appt with our one woman standing for tomorrow. FX!

@Alicia_R1 - There is absolutely nothing wrong with an elective C-section, especially if it comes from a place that deep for you. I've had a few mothers tell me that it's the absolute best way to have a child--you have a date, you have a time, you go in for the procedure, and you come out a couple of days later with your babies. No muss no fuss. One of them thought it was infinitely more "civilized," a word that has stuck with me.

Seachele98 · December 2014

@pblge - Thanks for the recommendation. I will look into the book. Keep me posted on how you like it as you get further into it.

KellyA724 · December 2014

I'm so happy to see all the great A/S results and adorable ultrasound pics! We're getting there, ladies...slowly but surely.

AFM, we had our Level 2 scan last Thursday to follow up on the choroid plexus cyst, and everything looked great! The cyst was even gone. No other Trisomy 18 markers, so we are clear to continue as usual - no amnio or additional follow up needed. HUGE relief for us.

Our little monkey is kicking up a storm these days. While we were on vacation DH got to feel (and see!) baby move every single day. It was fantastic. I guess a relaxed mama made for a more active baby.

QOTW - I haven't gotten to the point of thinking of a birth plan yet, but I know that I don't want to go med-free. I'm all for an epidural. @seachele98 - I also have a fear of dying during childbirth. I think that's why I haven't thought to much about it, because I freak out a bit. I'm not sure where the fear came from, but it's there and it's real.

Haley612 · December 2014

I have my 24 week appointment (and glucose challenge test) on Friday. I finally feel more pregnant and like we're legitimately getting closer to the due date, which is exciting. But I'm still inexplicably terrified of preterm labor, even though I have no reason to think it will happen to me.

I spent last week with my 2 year old niece and caught a nasty cold from her. I'm really upset about it because I've managed to not get sick the entire pregnancy so far. Feeling like crap ever since, but trying to just rest a lot and stay hydrated.

QOTW:
I really really wanted to give birth in a hospital-based birth center, but because my husband works at a hospital, our insurance will cover everything there 100% and any other hospital would cost us a few thousand dollars, so that decision was a no-brainer - we're going with the free birth.

I love my OB, but was really disappointed when she told me once I'm admitted I would have to have constant fetal monitoring, which means being strapped to a bed, which is super uncomfortable and leads to wanting an epidural even more.

So my plan is to wait until contractions are about a minute apart before heading to the hospital to try to avoid laboring for very long once I'm admitted. We're also going to take a childbirth class beforehand, and I'm looking into getting a doula. I'm terrified of having a c-section, and having a vaginal birth is really important to me, so I really hope it works out.

Canuck13 · December 2014

Love reading the updates and seeing those cute u/s pics

I am going to come back tomorrow to update because it is FINALLY my AS tomorrow morning. Yay!

keifekm · December 2014

Things are going well here. We had baby boy's echo yesterday and there were no signs of issues. We also got confirmation that he is a "he." We didn't get to see this at our AS since we asked for the results to go.

QOTW: I will be doing a repeat c section. DD ended up being a c section and they said my pelvis was too narrow to deliver. I know that some people think this is an excuse but when we first saw her she had a little cone head. They said the soft portion of her head was pushing through when I contracted and that is why her head wasn't perfectly round. This visible proof is enough to convince me that a repeat c section is needed. I wish I could do a vaginal birth since the recovery is so much easier but I just don't think it is in the cards.

I love seeing everyone's scans. Those are good looking kiddos! Here is one from our echo.

stranzm · December 2014

Nothing really new this week other than feeling a lot less stressed. Work Christmas party - Check! (and "best one yet" by many!). I spent way too many hours that I didn't have editing videos for our skits. Friend Christmas party at our house - Check! Did cut out a "Year in Review" video I usually make to keep my sanity. Major year-end items done at work - Check!

I loved seeing all of the ultrasounds. I'm not posting since mine is from last month and I'll get new ones next Tuesday. I also appreciate everyone's willingness to share their birth plans and no judgments. Honestly, that is why I only read this thread each week.

QOTW: Similar to a few others, I don't care how, I just want a healthy baby. I've been upfront with my OB that vaginal or C-section is fine with me. I will use drugs if vaginally. I figure medicine got me to this place; it can help me in that process too. I've chosen the hospital in town that is probably the most the clinical because the Children's Hospital is attached to it. I've had friends who had their baby in the NICU and couldn't bear being at one of the other hospitals and my baby being transferred. I have no reason to think I'll have a baby that is in the NICU, but I just like the reassurance that it is right there and full of pediatric specialists.

AMShark · December 2014

I've been pretty busy since my last update - If you're on PAIF, you might already know my story.

We had a good A/S with both babies (a boy & a girl) looking healthy @ 19w1d - so we finally had the confidence to start shopping that weekend. A week later, @ 20w1d, I woke up at 4:00 am in a puddle of amniotic fluid. At the hospital, my OB confirmed that it appeared that one of the sacs had ruptured, and one baby had lost a good deal of fluid.

The immediate prognosis was very grim, but after my OB was able to talk to my MFM, they came back with a more optimistic plan. The main concern was (and still is) infection and/or early labor. I was put on antibiotics and a contraction monitor. Fortunately, everything remained stable - the nurses checked the babies' heartbeats every shift change, and I showed no signed of contractions or infection. After 2 days, I was discharged home on an oral antibiotic. I've had a couple of episodes of smaller leaks since then, but I was dry all day yesterday, and my temperature is in the 98F range, and I haven't had any cramping or signs of labor.

I had a follow up with my MFM yesterday, and it went as well as I could have hoped really - both babies still had strong heartbeats, and although A has less fluid than B, both are within a "normal range." (Which alleviates a lot of my fears about baby A's safety and development - its important that he has room to move).

My job now is to stay home, limit my movement, and watch for signs of labor &/or infection. I was cleared to work from home, so I'll have something else to think about during the day, which is good. If I make it to 23 weeks, I'll check into the hospital with a level 4 NICU, where I'll potentially stay on hospital bed rest until my babies are born.

QOTW: This totally reminded me to call the hospital and cancel my registration for birth preparation classes that were starting this Sunday. (Thanks @GrailSeeker14 , you just saved me from losing a $199 class fee). My plan now is to hunker down and hope for the best. As of yesterday, both babies were (finally) head down, so a vaginal birth is still a possibility, however, my OBs and MFM have both warned that if either baby is breech, or there is some other emergency, it'll be straight to C-section. I'm ok with whatever gets me my babies safely.

I just confirmed yesterday that my OB group does not deliver at the hospital w/ the level 4 NICU, but my MFM does. If, by some miracle, I can make it to 32 weeks, I can talk about transferring to my local hospital with a lower level NICU - but that's something I'll worry about later.

Sorry for the novel. I'm no good at keeping it short.

Lyndsey13 · December 2014

I love reading everyone's updates! I'm still doing well. I had a growth scan last week. I get to have them monthly. The baby is 1 lb 8 oz at this point and very long. Both at this growth scan and at the anatomy scan, they mentioned that she is particularly long. I guess after carrying two 19.5" babies at that same time, that makes sense. I had bronchitis this last week. I've never been so miserable in my life! Going through bronchitis on only Tylenol is so not fun! Plus my husband and twin girls got it too!

QOTW: I'm shooting for a VBAC. My C-section recovery was so rough, I'd love to avoid that. I want to go med free, just to avoid all interventions. I'm with a midwife group, so I'm hoping it'll all work out. I do know that since I'm on blood thinners and because I'm a VBAC, I have to be overseen closely by a doctor also during labor and have to have continuous monitoring. But my hospital has wireless monitors that I can get it the birthing tub with or walk around, etc. I cannot give birth in the tub though. Pretty much everything I would put into a birth plan is standard procedure at my hospital. I had my C-section there 2 years ago, so I feel pretty accustomed to their policies/procedures. My biggest concerns at this point, is that the hospital is over an hour away. I'm really hoping that doesn't end up being a big deal!

taahira · December 2014

@AMShark‌ I'm so sorry to hear your going through this. Sending you positive vibes. ((Hugs))

[Deleted User] · December 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Haley612 · December 2014

@AMShark‌ So sorry to hear you're going through such sudden and unexpected stress. Thinking good thoughts for you and please keep us updated on how you're doing.

Canuck13 · December 2014

We had our AS today at 21w,3d!! Everything looked great according to the doc who said, "you appear to have a healthy baby girl in there". So we're very happy and relieved about that.

I am also feeling a lot more movement this week which has been really exciting! In non-baby news, I only have two more days of work then 2 weeks off, so yay to that!!

QOTW: I feel kind of stupid admitting this, but I really have not thought about it at all yet. I think I've been so focused on one step at a time (leading to this AS) that I haven't looked too far ahead yet. After today, I think it's time to start making some decisions and purchasing some important items.

Hpearl · December 2014

Hugs to you AMshark! Hang in there!

I am enjoying seeing everyone's scans as well. Will have to get mine scanned in and post next week.

Baby is doing well! Lots of family drama this week, not with my family with DH's. Hoping that things settle down after the holidays! I do not think that my relationship with my MIL will ever fully recover.

I am really starting to feel baby moving around in there! Pretty exciting!

QOTW: Excited that I may actually have a vaginal birth after all. I assumed I would have a C-Section based on past surgery and the fibroid location, but it seems the fibroid has gone down. I am not going to try for a natural birth though, I figure the calmer I can stay the better for baby, so bring on the meds, please

Seachele98 · December 2014

@AMShark You are in my thoughts! I sincerely hope everything turns out ok for you and your babies.

[Deleted User] · December 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

keifekm · December 2014

@AMShark‌ T&P to you and your babies. Hopefully the bed rest helps them stay put!

pblge · December 2014

This is truly a terrible week for our group. I went back and looked at @fro88's first posts here, as her history isn't in her siggie. This was her third IVF, and the other two also resulted in losses. @fro88 - I am so very heartbroken for you, and I can't begin to imagine how hard this is. Lots of love and (((hugs))).

@AMShark - continued t&p for you and your babies. (((hugs))) I'm so happy that things are looking up a bit!

On a much lighter note, I need to amend my QOTW. We met with our doula last night, LOVED her, and she pretty much convinced us to switch hospitals and doctors. She's very close with the OB and midwife team who run the local birth center, and she seemed to think there was a possibility that the OB (who is the best in town, according to EVERYONE) might just be willing to take my case, even though I want to birth at a hospital and not her center. Barring that, she strongly recommended a midwives' team that operates out of a hospital that is a bit farther from my house (but only about 25 minutes), but is much more open to natural births. If we do switch it will be my 4th doctor of this pregnancy. Sigh.

jszy10 · December 2014

AMShark - T&P's to you dear...rest up and I hope those two stay snuggled for as long as possible!!! I did read your other thread and figured when I had to chance I would comment here instead. I'll be thinking of you...please keep us posted!

Sorry I'm so bad at responding these past few weeks! I am always thinking of you ladies, and sometimes read most of your posts and just don't respond :P. I have been pretty busy with work and holiday prep, so I haven't been on much.

My OB had me go back for a follow-up u/s because I guess I forgot to discuss with him that I had a LEEP procedure in the past, and he wanted more measurements to be sure all looked well with my cervix. Thankfully he worked his way around my stupid insurance and I didn't have to go back to the crappy hospital that I initially went to for my a/s (you know...the ones with the crappy machine that told me I was having a girl!?). They took tons more pics, and gave me probably 15 or 16 to go home with -- most of them 3d!! They were very thorough explaining everything they looked at and what they look for...and all looks great with baby boy!

Have many of you been told your baby's weight and length? I'm sort of thinking he's a bit on the larger size at the moment!?!?! Hoping that slows down if he is!! At 22w5d he is 11in and 1lb 6oz (which according to the average chart is comparable to 26w??).

Anyway...baby has been very active during the day, and I'm looking forward to catching a good time when DH is home and it's strong enough for him to feel!

------

QOTW: I honestly believe I am going to avoid birthing classes like the plague and just plan on going with whatever 'flow' gets me a happy, healthy baby! Having a natural birth would honestly be wonderful to try for, but I'm not sure I'll make it through. I am certainly not apposed to an epidural and will more likely than not have one!

Want a personalized experience?

~~~* Weekly IVF/TTTC/2IF/Infertility grads check-in 12/16 ~~*~

Re: ~~~* Weekly IVF/TTTC/2IF/Infertility grads check-in 12/16 ~~*~

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

~*~*~* Weekly IVF/TTTC/2IF/Infertility grads check-in 12/16 *~*~*~

Re: ~*~*~* Weekly IVF/TTTC/2IF/Infertility grads check-in 12/16 *~*~*~

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

~~~* Weekly IVF/TTTC/2IF/Infertility grads check-in 12/16 ~~*~

Re: ~~~* Weekly IVF/TTTC/2IF/Infertility grads check-in 12/16 ~~*~