Woo I get to drop a ridiculous bitmoji since no one's started this yet! What's going on this week, pals?
Me: 31 | DH: 31
Together since 2003 | Married 2010
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
Re: Weekly Randoms | 8/20-8/25
Like this very helpful tidbit I gleaned last night: apparently the doctors at my OB group do a shared pay agreement (I don't know the technical term for this, sorry), meaning that instead of getting money per birth they split the money evenly between them. Which is best-case scenario in my book. Yes, it means that my OB won't necessarily be the one to deliver my baby, but it also means that there won't be any pressure on me to deliver within a certain time frame because he wants to leave for the day or go on vacation. Now that I know this I'll probably switch up who I see toward the end of the pregnancy, just so I can meet with each of them and at least get a feel for each one before I'm actually in the hospital.
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
I was able to "choose" my OB because I chose my induction date, although I didn't know if I would take over 1 day to deliver.
My random - my last day of work before maternity leave is exactly 3 months from today!! Hooray! I will be working/teaching through the Tuesday before Thanksgiving (providing baby bean stays put that long), then it's 10 weeks of time at home waiting for/enjoying baby bean!
Started IF Feb. 2014
PCOS & MFI (low sperm count and motility)
3 Femara cycles w/natural intercourse over summer 2014, BFN
1 Clomid cycle w/natural intercourse Nov. 2014, BFN
IUI March 2015, BFN
IUI June 2015, BFN
IUI Oct. 2015, BFN
IVF Oct. 2016, fresh transfer, 2 day-3 embryos, BFN; nothing to freeze
IVF Nov. 2017, fresh transfer, 2 day-5 blasts, BFP; ectopic; 1 blast frozen
FET March 2018, 1 day-5 blast, BFP!
I haven't asked about how that works at the practice I'm seeing - I'll just be happy if the person who catches our baby has a medical degree. Meanwhile...I dropped off paperwork a few weeks ago for a local New Parent Support Program (that works with our insurance - these folks have classes and set up nurses for PP house visits), but I haven't heard anything from them I should call and ask if our stuff is in a queue or accidentally got trashed.
Otherwise, I already have no motivation. I should shower and do laundry, but I think I'm going to watch Netflix and have another cup of coffee. Maybe a nap.
Dx: Unspecified IF
BFP#1 Nov 2017 • Blighted Ovum + MMC • D&C at nine weeks
BFP#2 Apr 2018 • It's a boy! • Born 13 Dec 2018
As for the classes themselves: there are 6 classes, 2 hours each but they tend to go a little long. Last night was Class #1, so they talked about the benefits of med-free/natural birth and having a doula, and also went over exercises for comfort and baby positioning and had the chiropractor come in to talk about her services. Next week is nutrition. I can't remember what class 3 is, but 4 is on comfort measures during labor and 5 is on the various interventions that may arise. 6 is on all things postpartum. I've actually already been to classes 4 and 6 because the way our Sundays go, I'm lucky to be able to carve out two baby-free hours. The doulas just run them on a repeating basis every Sunday ad infinitum, so they don't mind having people pop in and out as needed.
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
Re birthing classes: I took birthing classes and it was three nights for three hours each night. There were separate breastfeeding and newborn classes. We did the breastfeeding class too, I think that was two hours. I’d like to do another birthing class this time, just for a refresher.
Me: 31
DH: 29, SA - Great
Married: June 12,2011
TTC #1: 1/2014
Diagnosis: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
Treatment: Clomid: 50mg, 100mg, 150mg - not successful and not monitored
Menopur 75ml (upped to 112.5ml), Ovidrel, & IUI IUI #1 8/31/2015
9/15/2015: BFP HCG - 400, 9/17/2015: HCG - 827, 9/21/2015 - HCG 3,327!*Rainbow 8/2015*
*Expected Rainbows 12/2018*
*Loss of Twin 5/2018*
DS2 due 12/12/18
Dx: Unspecified IF
BFP#1 Nov 2017 • Blighted Ovum + MMC • D&C at nine weeks
BFP#2 Apr 2018 • It's a boy! • Born 13 Dec 2018
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
*Rainbow 8/2015*
*Expected Rainbows 12/2018*
*Loss of Twin 5/2018*
Congrats @texas_t
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
*Rainbow 8/2015*
*Expected Rainbows 12/2018*
*Loss of Twin 5/2018*
Re: birthing classes It is crazy how different things are from hospital to hospital. last time we took the natural birthing (3 hours for 4 weeks), the breastfeeding class (2 or 3 hours one evening) and the caring for your newborn class (2 or 3 hours for 2 weeks).
Re: classes - our hospital offered a breast feeding class, a newborn class and a birthing class, all for free. It was pretty cool because we also found out that you didn’t have to be giving birth at the hospital to attend. They were SO useful and we’ve recommended them to so many friends. If you’re unsure about the classes offered at your hospital, maybe check other nearby hospitals for free classes!
BFP #1: 7/15/15, SB: 11/14/15
Rainbow baby DS born 9/29/16!!
BFP #3 3/26/18 | Due 12/3/18
*Rainbow 8/2015*
*Expected Rainbows 12/2018*
*Loss of Twin 5/2018*
I dropped off my admissions paperwork and birth certificate forms! That made it feel so close, even though I still have months to go.
On a semi-related note, any health insurance gurus here? I've got coverage from my old job until the end of the month, then coverage at my new employer will kick on the 20th. My husband's company has terrible offerings so we're definitely not going there, but that means finding a creative solution for 20 days. COBRA is available but expensive, even for just a month, but the timing works out just right so that we don't have to elect or waive coverage until the day before the new coverage kicks in. If we elected COBRA coverage because we needed it, it would be retroactive to the start of the gap. We're tempted to save the $$$ and, assuming we don't need to use it during that time, just go 3 weeks without. I should be able to arrange tests and appointments around the gap, and we won't need to fill any prescriptions during that time. Apparently there's no penalty under the ACA for a gap that small, so that's not a concern. What other flaws am I missing in this brilliant plan?
(And yes, I know this isn't a questions thread, but there is none for this week and I'm too lazy to start it, plus all the cool/smart/trustworthy chicks hang out here).
Impressed at the wide variety of positive class experiences! We only did the childbirth class last time. It was a general overview of C-sections and vaginal birth, but it lasted 8 straight hours and made my poor husband deeply uncomfortable (largely because of the focus on all the things that should go wrong, I think, as well as the many, MANY videos of the vaginal birth money shot). Could have done breastfeeding, didn't and still ended up going 2 years. Skipped the newborn classes, but that's what my BMB was for, right? Probs should have done one of the labor technique classes since I ostensibly planned to go med-free, but in retrospect I'm fine with the epidural and it's not like I could have hypnobirthed my way through an emergency cesarean, so things worked out okay. I think we're skipping classes altogether this time, though I guess I should set up a hospital tour? Are we really at that point already?! Time flies!
Re: hospital classes The bfing one was more helpful for sharing than for me. It’s not really something you can learn how to do until you try, plus I had been around enough nursing moms that the info wasn’t really new. However, it was helpful for H to learn how to help me and how much work it can be, so he could offer support. The class really helped commit him to bfing. The newborn class wasn’t that useful, except for the part about choking and CPR. It wasn’t a certification class, but they gave us enough info and practice that I felt comfortable with administering it if I had to, which was reassuring, especially as he started solids.
I think I'm going to retake the infant safety and cpr. It's been over 3 years.
*Rainbow 8/2015*
*Expected Rainbows 12/2018*
*Loss of Twin 5/2018*
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
I've taken CPR/First Aid classes in the past, and didn't feel that I needed that. I truly don't know what I would benefit from a labor/delivery class.
I also want to say that don't take everything the nurses/staff in the hospital say as good as gold. My daughter had a terrible latch and only had 1 wet diaper like 3-4 days after delivery, which is not good. They were unconcerned. They should have either helped us latch (by giving a nipple shield, which is what I eventually did and things greatly improved) or giving some ready to feed formula to supplement, which I also did at home. She immediately had wet diapers and was much better once I gave the formula. We then went on to have a successful breastfeeding journey for 10 months, so the nipple shield or formula didn't impact it in a negative way.
It's so hard to remember but I think we did...
Birthing class over 3 evenings, maybe 2-3 hours each?
Breastfeeding class. Probs 90 min-2 hrs?
Caring for your newborn class with an infant CPR add-on. 3-4 hrs?
The newborn and birthing might've been switched? Either way, I'm so glad we did all of them. I had never even changed a diaper until we practiced with the babydolls. We all figure it out, but I am someone who appreciates and likes information overload. I revisited the literature they gave us many times leading up to birth.
LOL: for the birthing course, our instructor didn't/forgot to tell us that the women in the video were all unmedicated. Probably obvious to most, but there were some of us who were like "wtfffff" they still look so pained and miserable! Well, they were all going medication-free.
I’m taking a breast feeding one, which is kind of helpful but also kind of like things I couldn’t just look up on my own? I guess it’s nice to talk with other pregnant women in my area though. Like one day we did a little quiz for fun and it’s like “true or false, babies only cry when hungry?” And I just thought that was a waste of time and I hope people don’t seriously think that. Babies cry because that’s how they communicate.
For those who have taken a newborn care course, is it different than any regular infant care (considering I work with infants?). I don’t know much about fresh babies, but I’m guessing the hospital will tell me newborn specific stuff, like the umbilical cord drying process. Is there anything else specific to newborns? Also, having a baby 24/7 sounds a little overwhelming. I’m glad I have a partner doing this with me. I like to sleep.