1st trimester check-in week of 7/1

PoeMasque · July 2019

happy holiday week! (Well for the USAers), if you don’t see your name on the list let me know, I’m posting this from class on my phone, so I’m sure I’ve missed several of you!

How far along/EDD?
How are you feeling this week?
Rants/Raves? Questions?
Any upcoming appointments?
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy )

Calling!!

@aconklin214 EDD 2/25

@emmasemm EDD 3/7

@k_mama91 EDD 12/5

@Tulips25 EDD 1/11

@cigaline EDD 2/7 (?)

@celticknotfire EDD 2/27

@ivfsurvivor EDD 3/3

@love112314 EDD 3/9

@sincethelastday EDD 3/10

celticknotfire · July 2019

I'm going to try jumping in here if that's ok. Since I graduated TTGP I've felt lost and I really don't feel like I belong on my BMB.

I recognize a few names from TTGP and the IF boards. MH and I hit the 24 month mark of trying when I got my BFP. We tried Clomid, letrozole, one IUI with injectable meds, and moved onto IVF with a FET. Our FET was slightly delayed because I had an ovarian torsion after my ER. We transferred one PGT tested embryo on June 12th. **TW** we had MMC at 6 or 7 weeks in January **end TW**

MH works as a firefighter and I am a former nurse that no longer works her dream career. I have a nerve condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which forced me to give up my job. I manage the household for now and I crochet for charity. MH also plays the bagpipes and does personal training so I managing his schedule can be a handful at time. We have 3 dogs that are all spoiled. Our oldest is 9 and he's a lab/pit mix, the middle one is 7 and is a true mix of Great Dane/pointer/others, and the youngest is an almost 2 year old rescue dalmatian.

How far along/EDD? 5w+4d EDD 02/27
How are you feeling this week? Very tired and some nausea at times. Plus I'm trying to control the PGAL brain
Rants/Raves? Questions? I'm actually enjoying some of the yucky things like nausea and fatigue because it means I'm finally pregnant. How long should I expect to stay on the Estrace?
Any upcoming appointments? US 07/12
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy ) Honestly I haven't even thought about it yet. But I have been wearing some of my old clothes from before I lost weight because of occasional bloat.

Tulips29 · July 2019

How far along/EDD? 12w 2d
How are you feeling this week? Still exhausted and no energy for anything. I would literally rather just sit home all day because the thought of getting dressed, getting my toddler ready, packing for the day, etc just exhausts me and I feel guilty that I am always so tired. We had a very active weekend being out and about the entire time, so today I am barely keeping my eyes open.
Rants/Raves? Questions? None that I can think of
Any upcoming appointments? NIPT scan this Wednesday and our gender blood test.
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy ) I dug out all my old maternity pants over the weekend and today is the first day I wore them to work. I forgot how super comfortable they are and now there's no going back haha. I still fit into my regular pants, but they were getting pretty tight and not looking too flattering in the stomach area. Now I am pretty sure I can't hide much longer in the maternity pants, the stomach is on display.

emmasemm · July 2019

@celticknotfire I’m pleased you decided to come and join us here!
Regarding estrace I see a huge variability from stopping once you hear the first HB to 12 weeks...

@tulips29 I always make sure my work clothes are comfy. After seven retrievals in 1.5 years I am hoping my colleagues are so bored of every month or so me having a big belly that they won’t think anything of it for quite a long time ;-)
Will be watching to hear your update on Wednesday!

@PoeMasque thanks for the page! And I am still testing three times a day and will do a few more Betas to try to keep me sane wondering about the waxing and waning of symptoms!

@aconklin214 this is PA IF - you don’t need to have done ART to be here. You are very welcome but I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through. Really hoping this is it this time.

How far along/EDD?
4w2d 3/7

How are you feeling this week?
Weekend was tough exhaustion wise - still waking up at 4am and napping late morning and afternoon! But today I managed pretty well at work all day. Will not be late to bed tonight though - and will have to set an alarm to wake up and do my last progesterone.
Rants/Raves? Questions?
DH has full on first tri symptoms! He has flu so I’m steering well clear of him. But every symptom I mention he says him too
Big thanks to everyone for the messages and tips in last week’s post especially the lurkers @k_mama91 @mbradfo2 @cashewchicken @wabash15
Any upcoming appointments?
Beta number three tomorrow. Writing that makes me feel a bit sick...
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy )
Ha not yet. Definitely notice the difference between morning no bloat and evening bloat. But as I just lost all my “IVF weight” prior to transfer I can still wear my “fat clothes” for a few months I hope!

Tulips29 · July 2019

Welcome @celticknotfire and @emmasemm! FX for both of your upcoming appointments!
@celticknotfire I totally agree with you on welcoming any unpleasant symptoms just for reassurance. I still tell myself it's good when I feel crappy the entire day because it means all the right things are happening inside.

@emmasemm good luck with the third beta tomorrow! Fingers crossed super tightly for great news for you!

ivfsurvivor · July 2019

New to the forum and newly pregnant! How far along/EDD? 4w6d/EDD March 3, 2020
How are you feeling this week? Cramps, headachey, tired, and really, really excited Rants/Raves? Questions? Rants: can’t find a secret Facebook group to ask questions in. Progesterone in oil caused a chemical burn on my hip, so now I have to change to another oil that isn’t covered by insurance, and costs $500/month...grr
Any upcoming appointments? First ultrasound on Friday!

PoeMasque · July 2019

Eep! Welcome everyone! So happy to see people finally getting their BFPs

I will try to edit the post to add everyone, that way if I forget next week someone can just copy and paste it.

@ivfsurvivor why can’t you just switch to suppositories? $500/mo is crazy! @celticknotfire not sure why clinics have such long (and different!) protocols around progesterone, but the data says best absorption is through vaginal suppository and once you have a positive beta there’s no evidence to support continuing it. I’m supposed to take suppositories until 12 weeks, but I’m going to ask my clinic why at my next appointment, last time I just stopped on my own at 8 weeks since placenta takes over by then and I was tired of leaking goo down there all day.

@Tulips29 yay for NIPT and gender test this week! Always fun to get a long look at the little bean.

How far along/EDD? 8w2d, 2/8
How are you feeling this week? Nausea is better, but now I feel out of breath all the time (forgot how unpleasant that feeling is!). I’m also super grumpy, poor DH......I feel like I’m just a monster this week.
Rants/Raves? Questions? Rant! I already look 4 mos pregnant, and in the morning, so it’s not bloat. I know you show faster the second time around, but this is ridiculous and it happened literally overnight.
Any upcoming appointments? Not till 7/10
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy ). I got the box out, but haven’t worn any yet because it’s all too casual for work (I borrowed all my mat. work clothes from a friend before). I am going to have to get some before I rip a seam though!

Tulips29 · July 2019

@ivfsurvivor welcome welcome! I agree, $500 a month is just crazy for some oil. Can you maybe switch to suppositories instead?

@PoeMasque I continued suppositories until 11 weeks this time around. Actually, this time my pharmacy gave me generic ones instead of the brand Endometrin that's also 3 times the price of generic. I liked the generic so much more. It's the same progesterone and goes in vaginally, but it's a small round pill and doesn't cause any goo or discharge or mess. i didn't even know this was an option last time and took the messy Endometrin suppositories until they caused me irritation and then switched to PIO.

So I have a new symptom for the last 2 days - every time I sneeze or cough, I feel a "pull" on the side of my pelvis. It's really strange kind of freaked me out yesterday when I sneezed pretty hard and it was a really sharp pull. I didn't know this was a thing!

wabash15 · July 2019

@tulips29 it sounds like round ligament pain... you can get it when getting up or sneezing (or other times). It often starts earlier with subsequent pregnancies... annoying but normal
@poemasque in my experience the recommendation of progesterone suppository length depends on the practitioner and how much they are humoring the patient. Your right that at 8 weeks the placenta should be taking over and so supplementation should not be necessary. Some go through the first tri just to be safe (because if something were to happen one would always wonder) some have you stop cold turkey, some have you wean off....

emmasemm · July 2019

@ivfsurvivor welcome! We’re out of pocket and everything I have is about $1200 per month. The costs are just crazy.

@PoeMasque apparently DH says I’m grumpy too... he got his head ripped off tonight for not refilling the water jugs with filtered water after he emptied them... I said I’m not more grumpy, just more honest

AFM beta 3 came in at 551, so just under 38 hours doubling time which is great!!! My progesterone finally stayed where it should, so I guess I’m on injections 2x and pessaries 4x per day for the long haul!
I will do another beta on Monday. Also waiting to hear from the OB if my “special” one can squeeze us in on Friday or Monday for a “let’s see if we can see a gestational sac in the uterus” scan. But it makes me feel very very nervous...

Tulips29 · July 2019

@wabash15 glad to hear it's normal. I didn't have it first time around so it's new to me. Was going to ask my doc about it tomorrow as well. Interesting that it starts earlier as well with subsequent pregnancies. You learn something new every day!

aconklin214 · July 2019

How far along/EDD? 5w6d
How are you feeling this week? Super tired. I also have this strange hip/thigh/tailbone pain. My thighs are a muscle pain like I've been doing squats for days and my hips/tailbone is a dull throb that comes and goes. Still nauseas here and there but in the past, I never had morning sickness, so I'm praying I get lucky this time too.
Rants/Raves? Questions? Although I'm still super early, my DH and I have been weighing the pros and cons of CVS versus Harmony (trying to stay optimistic). Because NIPT missed my trisomy 18 pregnancy (found at 20 week anatomy scan and confirmed with amniocentesis), I'm leaning towards CVS but it also makes me super nervous. I have to wait until 9 weeks to meet with high risk to discuss what he thinks we should do.
Any upcoming appointments? 7/9 first sono. It feels like this week is dragging lol.
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy ) Too early. But I am a nurse and all my scrubs are stretchy so I probably won't need to order anything for quite some time.

@emmasemm congrats on third beta 😁

@ivfsurvivor maybe you can find a coupon for the different med? Its crazy how expensive the meds are.

k_mama91 · July 2019

How far along/EDD? 12/5 17w4d
How are you feeling this week? We’re on vacation this week which is amazing but the day before we left my bleeding returned 😣 another run down the legs gush. Baby looked great the day before and the on call dr said given my history this may be par for the course. Still makes me nervous though.
Rants/Raves? Questions? Rant- my feet are already swelling after walking too much and I have a looong way to go!
Any upcoming appointments? 7/16 for anatomy scan
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy ) I’m almost halfway done already 😳 but I’ve been in maternity since about 9 weeks. The bloat from all the hormones was uncomfortable at that point and once I started wearing maternity I couldn’t go back!

Welcome to all the new ladies and congrats!!

Tulips29 · July 2019

@aconklin214 what is CVS? How in the world did they miss trisomy 18 during NIPT? I thought that was the whole point of that scan!

@emmasemm that's a great third beta, congrats!

@k_mama91 gosh, I'm so sorry you have to go through these scared. It's reassuring to hear them say everything is fine, but it's still so scary every time it happens. Is there anything that can be done to prevent it? And your anatomy scan is right around the corner, so exciting!

I just had my NIPT scan so now it's a whole new 2ww for results. DH and I are going away next week, so hopefully I won't think about this too much.

aconklin214 · July 2019

@Tulips29 NIPT scan checks nuchal fold for thickness or fluid. My daughters was fine. I also did a general blood test my OB uses which is only a finger stick and not as accurate as harmony or materniT21. I had requested Harmony (because I wanted to know the gender early lol, chromosomal never once crossed my mind) but my OB refused because I was 29 at the time. The fingerstick came back normal. It wasn't until my anatomy that they noticed a issue with her brain and her feet and she was measuring a week and a half behind. I was referred to MFM right after for a level 2 US and that's when they found even more wrong. I had an amnio right after to confirm the diagnosis. CVS is alot like an amnio but can be done between 10 and 13 weeks. CVS takes a sample of placental tissue where amnio tests the amniotic fluid. They both have miscarriage rates though and freak me out. My doctor said at the time I was one of the rare cases where everything looks normal till it didn't anymore 😔

Tulips29 · July 2019

@aconklin214 wow, so sorry you had to go through all that. Hopefully they will get everything right this time around! Did you do PGD testing? I wonder if doing it helps minimize the risks or if these tests look for something outside of the PGD testing.

aconklin214 · July 2019

@Tulips29 when we started IVF we had full intentions on doing PGD until we got the pricing and we just couldn't afford it. We did a FET in Feb and another in May and both failed. A week after I met with our RE to tell him we were stopping for a while, we found out I was pregnant naturally. My RE is still dumbfounded that two perfect blasts failed to implant and then right after we decide no more, I end up pregnant.

emmasemm · July 2019

@aconklin214 oh gosh I’m so sorry for what you had to go through.
I would suggest in addition you ask if you can talk with a genetic specialist (sometimes they call them counselors) as they should be able to advise you on the pros and cons of the accuracy of each of the tests. Also which tests you can do when - so maybe you have the results back from a non invasive test still in time to do CVS if you come back high risk?
As I’m 40 we also have some tough decisions to make on testing. The MC risk of the Tests but also like you did finding out so late both freak me out a lot. I’ve told DH I don’t want to tell anyone we’re PG until after the anatomy scan... he thinks I’m over cautious...

@tulips29 I cannot imagine how those two weeks will feel. Keeping everything crossed. Sounds like you had the NT ultrasound and did one of the blood tests too? Did you not get direct info on the US?

PoeMasque · July 2019

@Tulips29 they told me 2-3 weeks for blood test results last time and they called in less than a week, so fingers crossed they are just setting expectations low and you find out faster

@aconklin214 wow, one of the benefits of being AMA is they assume genetic issues, so I can’t imagine NOT getting all the extra tests early on to rule out chromosomal issues. I’m so so sorry that happened to you. It’s a huge fear of mine since we also didn’t test our embryos to lower costs. I will echo @emmasemm and make sure you get to speak to a genetic counselor before any risky tests, they will give you a better idea about the genetic vs spontaneous incidence of trisomy 18. It’s possible that you just happened to be a rare statistic that one time and that there’s no reason to worry it will happen again. Either way, I’m sorry you are dealing with these decisions along with infertility, what a heavy load!

aconklin214 · July 2019

@emmasemm, @Tulips29 and @PoeMasque thank you for the kind words and advice. It has been a tough and shitty road honestly. By the last failed FET I felt so desensitized to everything, I knew I couldn't do anymore ART.

@emmasemm I totally understand not wanting to tell anyone until after the anatomy. Some of my co-workers figured it out already but I haven't confirmed anything. I led them to believe I'm doing another round of IVF. I told my husband last night I don't want to tell anyone until after we get to take home a baby. He understands but thinks I'm crazy lol. It would also be impossible for me to do that since my in laws live next door and I see my mom 2-3 times a week. I am hoping to make it to 13 or 14 weeks before I tell any family. They have been by my side for every loss and I don't want to put them through the anxiety of the first trimester again.

@Tulips29 a friend of mine got her results in 8 days so hopefully you won't have to wait 2 weeks.

@k_mama91 that is so scary. Hopefully you have no more incidences for the rest of your pregnancy.

love112314 · July 2019

May I join? I honestly am still in shock I am here after IF. My beta increase from 14dpo to 16dpo looked good and have my first u/s on 7/14. Did/Does anyone else feel so nervous at the beginning?

How far along/EDD? 4w3d

How are you feeling this week? Super nervous but other than that, just some cramping here and there and a tightness feeling when I stretch my stomach.
Rants/Raves? Questions? (see sbove)
Any upcoming appointments? (see above)
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy ) Definitely sometimes

celticknotfire · July 2019

@PoeMasque I hate the progesterone suppositories! I take them 3 times a day plus estrace twice a day and combine that with the heat and it makes for a very uncomfortable situation. I'm also on PIO every 3 days.

@emmanemm that is so awesome that your betas keep rising!

@aconklin214 I am so sorry you had to go through all of that. Hopefully MFM can steer you in the right direction and provide you with the proper resources.

@Tulips29 so much waiting! That's great that you have a vacation to distract you for a little bit at least but hopefully you get the results sooner than 2 weeks!

@k_mama91 how scary! I guess it's a good sign that your OB didn't want you to come in right away. Enjoy your vacation!

@love112314 welcome!

Sorry I've been MIA but I'm trying not to freak out. My US isn't until the 12th and the wait is driving me crazy. All I keep thinking about **TW** is how excited we were to hear the heartbeat last time only to be devastated by a MMC **end TW**. Right now I'm trying to keep telling myself "today I'm pregnant". My nausea is getting worse so I'm trying to take that as a good sign. Plus I'm happy I've had the World Cup to distract me!

emmasemm · July 2019

@aconklin214 I have a little dream in my head where we take a picture of us standing on our porch just home from hospital and just send that out and say “surprise”... for me it’s also about trying to spare my family and close friends any additional worry or heartache. We haven’t told anyone about our IF journey at all. But we also don’t live close to family.

@love112314 of course you’re welcome to join

@celticknotfire I’m not doing a very good job of not freaking out to be honest.
I still wake up very early with nausea, go pee on a stick and scrutinize against the last to see if it’s darker... I might do another beta tomorrow if not I don’t know how I will get through the weekend... when I feel bad I feel a bit more relaxed - but if I don’t feel anything for a few hours my mind goes into overdrive
So you’re not alone

PoeMasque · July 2019

@emmasemm and @celticknotfire i remember the first time we did IVF and having to just decide to think “right now, I’m pregnant”. It didn’t always work to keep the anxiety away (especially because I had almost no symptoms), but it helped. Also - instead of pushing off things like maternity clothes and picking out some cute onesies, I went all in. I figured I would try to do all the pregnant things early in case it didn’t end up working out, so I could at least experience some of them. I actually felt better after getting a home Doppler, but I’m trained in how to use them, so it was easier for me to find the HB and know it was baby and not me. I think whatever you have to do to find some goodness in this journey do it. Unfortunately. the worry and anxiety does not get better the farther along you are.

@celticknotfire when will you get to stop the PIO shots?? I only had to do those until my first beta. I was soooo happy to be done with those!

emmasemm · July 2019

@poemasque thank you - your words help

@celticknotfire I am also making my letter board every morning with the words “today we are x weeks and x days pregnant”. I take a photo and if I’m anxious during the day at work I can look at it and it’s comforting. It also makes sure DH knows where we are each day

Also, search for the “finally pregnant” podcast by cat strawbridge. Especially episode 1 and episode 5. You will hear them talk about all the anxieties we are having and it will make you feel at least much more normal!

emmasemm · July 2019

Ok short update - just got back from a very early scan! We have a gestational sac of the right size in the right place!
I was physically shaking before it and sobbing. After, much calmer.
But I think I am going to have really big “scanxiety” each time it seems...

aconklin214 · July 2019

@emmasemm I totally understand your anxiety. My first scan is 4 days away and my anxiety has already started creeping in. I was a wreck waiting on my beta calls. After the first 2 were low, I was sure this was another blighted ovum. On the day of the 3rd I had a panic attack at work during my lunch break because my phone rang and it wasn't the doctor. When they finally called with the 3rd number I started sobbing because it more then doubled. Having to wait almost 2 weeks between my last beta and my scan is driving me insane. I've had to talk myself out of going to the ER just to have one done. I find myself whispering to myself multiple times a day that I'm still pregnant and to relax. I'm sure on Tuesday, I will be a total wreck. My appointment isn't until 3:30 and I am sure I'll be sobbing during my scan. It sucks not being able to just sit back and enjoy being pregnant.

celticknotfire · July 2019

@PoeMasque I sent a message to my doctor the other day and they said to stay on all my meds for right now. They checked my progesterone with one of my betas so they are keeping an eye on it. I'm hoping after my US they let me stop or at least decrease some of the progesterone.

@emmanemm that's great your US went so well! We just need to keep reminding ourselves every day that we are pregnant. I've also been working on taking deep breaths and using all my relaxation techniques.

Does anyone else find themselves being less tolerant of the heat? We've been having some really hot and humid days and when I'm outside I notice I'm nauseous and even a little light-headed.

sincethelastday · July 2019

Hello all! Hope it’s not too late in the week for me to jump in on this thread. Congrats to all the ladies on here and with seeing some familiar faces (*wave* to @PoeMasque and @cigaline)!

My husband and I had been TTC for a little over three years. Did 5 rounds of Letrozole and TI and 2 rounds of IUI. Just got my first beta today and took a HPT yesterday. Shocked to say the least that it was a positive.

How far along/EDD? 4w4d / 3/10
How are you feeling this week? I’m feeling quite shocked right now. When I saw that positive I was filled with joy, disbelief, and terror. I didn’t think I would feel so scared as I felt then and still do feel. I feel like I’ve lost a piece of myself in a way and am “camp-less.” I’m pregnant, but I don’t feel like I am - infertility has felt like such an identity for so long that it’s hard to no longer be thinking of TTC, treatment regime, etc. I only had one occasion last week of nausea, but no other symptoms so far. I hardly got a wink of sleep last night; my brain was just buzzing. So I’m really tired and feeling icky today, but I think that’s just from a lack of sleep.
Rants/Raves? Questions? @love112314 - sounds like you and I may be in a very similar boat right now with the nerves.
Any upcoming appointments? July 22nd is my first US to hear the heartbeat. Seems so far away!
GTKY: Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? (Maybe just cause they’re so comfy ) Not yet, but looking forward to it!

PoeMasque · July 2019

@sincethelastday welcome and congrats! I remember the very first positive test I got after over 2 years of nothing, what a great feeling! I also didn’t have many symptoms and it definitely makes the wait to ultrasound rough. I’m glad you decided to join, those early days are hard and it’s good to have community around you

love112314 · July 2019

@sincethelastday welcome! The nerves are so bad, especially after IF. I hope your (and everyone's) u/s goes well also. I know, the wait is antagonizing (like everything with IF treatment.)

@celticknotfire I am trying to avoid the outdoors as much as possible so not sure. But I guess I may be more used to it being from the south and living in FL for a while where we got one day of winter lol.

k_mama91 · July 2019

@aconklin214 I’m so sorry for what you went through, I can’t even imagine. We also skipped PGS due to the cost so it’s a huge fear of mine at every scan to see something wrong or find that our baby has stopped growing.

@emmasemm I totally hold my breath between appointments and scans. After the scan I’m on cloud 9 for about a day then back to obsessing and stressing over everything.

@Tulips29 Ahh! I hope your results are in faster than 2 weeks! So exciting! As for the bleeding, they didn’t see our twin a’s sac last scan. So it’s been absorbed and the bleeding from that stopped and they didn’t see any more fluid. BUT, the on call said fluid is hard to detect and it looked/sounded as if the fluid had already dispersed and was on its way out thru my cervix. I’m back to being overly cautious with my activity and I think I just need to suck it up and be a delicate flower for the rest of the pregnancy lol

emmasemm · July 2019

@sincethelastday welcome! I think you’re in good company here as we’re all a bit shocked, daren't believe it, keep waiting for something to go wrong...

@k_mama91 @aconklin214 we did originally want to do PGT-A testing of our embryos, but the embryologist was really honest with us and said based on further testing of “abnormal” embryos donated for research he sees around a 10% false abnormal rare. If you have lots of embryos and can afford to discard 1 in 10 that would actually have worked that’s fine... but in our case with severe DOR we could have discarded our only chances... so in the end we opted not to do it.

sincethelastday · July 2019

Thank you, ladies, for the warm welcome! Hope we all are able to get through this first trimester without a hitch or any crazy surprises!

1st trimester check-in week of 7/1

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