Pregnancy Check-in (April 27) **Warning: Pictures in Post*

[megd893]

Checkity, check, check!  Here we go... 

Please feel free to let me know if anything below is incorrect, or if you're new (yay!) and need to be added. 


@twoatlmoms - oooooverdue!


calsurb - June 4


@bigko - June 19


megd893- June 22


kevinandjesse-July 19


twotxmommies- July 27


rosieelk- August 2


jgy- August 21


karlamo- August 28


healz413 & manada- September 8



officerofthelaw- November 11


ionaerebor- November 23


leftitblank- ??


At @healz413s' suggestion, we're going to add some pics every now and then to get even more excited for one another!  This week, let's see your latest ultrasound pic of the wee one!


QOTW: Do you want your children to be close in age? Or more spaced out.  Why/why not? 

[megd893]

Happy Monday all

The boy is 32 weeks today, making him the size of a squash! I looked into this and an average baby thats cooking, at 32 weeks, is roughly 3.75 pounds. Well, at our 27 week scan the doctor told us he was likely already 3 pounds, so I'm getting very excited about our next ultrasound... see how big he is now! I have my 32 week chekup on Thursday which is when I will receive the requisition for the next ultrasound. Becuase we'd had one at 27 weeks, they decided to push out the 32 week scan by a week or two.

We did some prep this weekend... bought the boys 'coming home' outfit and some things to pack in the hospital bag. Didn't actually pack it, but one more step in the right direction. We were supposed to start classes on Thursday, but K decided to take a different class (together, not on her own) and thus our 'birthing' class is tomorrow night from 5-9. I'm really excited. I think I'm most excited for them to tell K what a big part she'll have in helping me that day. I know there is still a disconnect for her, so I'm hoping hearing about the birthing partners role will be helpful.

QOTW: I'd like them 2.5-3ish years apart, where K would like us to start trying again on the boys first birthday. Not much of a difference, but in my eyes it's enough. She'd like to start trying earlier because we don't know how long it'll take (obv), but we got really lucky with this guy and *FX* may get lucky again. My brother and I are 4 years apart, and I really love our dynamic. He was able to babysit, drive, (buy me alcohol), etc. years in advance which made him super cool in my books. I dont know what it's like to be raised 2 years closer... so I guess it's likely why I lean toward further apart.

[kevinandjesse]

Thanks for doing the checkin megd893 !

Pregnancy wise - everything is going to be expected - a few little scares with some nasty BH and some bad round ligament pain due to growing tummy. Other than that everything is going well. Get to see LO wednesday for an ultrasound!!! So that's exciting!!

We spent the weekend at ocean city, MD and had a wonderful relaxing time. Bad news is we lost two chickens over the weekend so sad! I think they just weren't prepaired for the cold spell we had. total bummer.

QOTW: Do you want your children to be close in age? Or more spaced out. Why/why not?

Hmmm... I'm not sure I have a preference on this one. In our situation we don't get to plan things quite that well. Between when we find our next surrogate and the age of the child(ren) we adopt, it could certainly range. Who knows what the exciting future holds

[healz413]

How would folks feel about doing pictures in either this check in or next week's check in? We could do bump and/or ultrasound and/or nursery and/or whatever pictures?

If folks want to do this, maybe megd893 could add a *Pictures in Post* warning to the thread title so that folks who might normally skim/read our check-in but aren't prepared for pictures (since we haven't done them previously) would be forewarned?

What do you all think?

[megd893]

Great idea healz413
I can add a warning, and maybe we can do this every once in a while with 'bump pics', 'nursery pics' etc. have a theme
I'll update the post!

ps - kevinandjesse - Wednesday!!! SO exciting

[healz413]

manada and I are 20w6d with Rocky 3 today. So far, so good! 

Tomorrow is 21w, which is day in the last pregnancy that we lost the twins. So, even though we know rationally that it doesn't mean much, our pregnant after a loss brains are hyper aware of the date. 

I've been feeling a bit more movement over the last week. Rocky seems to be kicking me down by my pelvis, which is consistent with their position on the ultrasound (head up by the belly button and feet down by the pelvis). I feel the pelvic kicks almost like little muscle spasms or twinges. I also get the occasional tickle up by where their head and hands are.

Still no ability for me or M to feel Rocky from the outside, but I'm hoping that will come in the next couple of weeks. 

Here is a pic from our ultrasound last week at 20w2d. I call this the "power fist" shot because of their hand up above their head.

ETA: I forgot to answer the QOTW. I think our original ideal was 18-24 months. Now we'll take what we can get. If we get to bring Rocky as a healthy, alive baby, then we will consider the infertility and financial restrictions on our timeline for conceiving again and do what we can do when and if we can do it. If all goes well, we'll be trying to do an IVF cycle with manada's eggs this summer and then freeze any embryos we get. If that gets cancelled because of poor response, then we might try to do a freeze all IVF cycle with me 4-6 months after Rocky comes (again, that is if everything goes okay).

[karlamo]

Good Morning!

22weeks 4 days.

Last week we organized our baby stuff. We sorted through R's clothes and we don't need any newborn or 0-3 months which is nice. Plus they grow so fast; R wore newborn clothes for 1 week and by 2 months was in 3-6 months.

Our next appt is next week at 24 weeks and we will need to finish up some stuff they couldn't see on the a/s. Baby kicks are geting stronger and I'm having fun watch my wife's reaction to feeling them. I remember being in her shoes and it was so amazing to get to feel R kick.

QOTW: Well, I have to laugh at this!

We knew we wanted kids close in age and because it took 2 years for my wife to get pregnant with R we thought we'd better start sooner rather than later with #2 just in case it took another 2 years. With me carrying this time, we felt like I was a wild card so to speak. Why I had no reason to believe I had fertility issues, you just never know till you start TTC what you are facing.

We did our first FET in Dec and it worked! Having R felt like a miracle but getting pregnant the first try with baby #2 felt equally as miraculous to us. So here we are about to have 2 kids 18 months apart and you've never seen 2 moms more excited to be elbow deep in dirty diapers and sleep deprivation. This will most likely be our last baby so we are hoping to really savor it as we know all to well how fast time goes by.

[karlamo]

Apr 27, 2015 8:32:42 GMT -5 healz413 said:

How would folks feel about doing pictures in either this check in or next week's check in? We could do bump and/or ultrasound and/or nursery and/or whatever pictures?

If folks want to do this, maybe megd893 could add a *Pictures in Post* warning to the thread title so that folks who might normally skim/read our check-in but aren't prepared for pictures (since we haven't done them previously) would be forewarned?

What do you all think?

While I think this is a great idea, I have to confess I won't be posting any pictures of me or my family on here including u/s photos.  I know, I know, I'm a stick in the mud.  I'm very cautious of posting photos online and won't even let my daycare take R's photo and post it to their fb page. 

I will be more than happy to ohh and ahh over all of your pictures though!

[twotxmommies]

healz413 - congrats on the milestone! Hope you get to feel Rocky's movements from the outside soon!

Today marks 27 weeks. Started having some BH at around 25 weeks, but here in the last week or so they have gotten pretty intense. I’m not having more than 4 an hour, so I am told there is nothing to worry about. But they sure hurt like hell and make me want to slap someone! lol
We don’t have another apt until the 12th and then we will go to every two weeks. I am looking forward to closer apts.

PS - does anyone else find the different vegetable or fruit comparisons to be confusing? I mean, I have 2 apps and 2 pregnancy books and they all compare LO at whatever week to some kind of fruit or veggie (never the same one). But how can he be the size of a head of lettuce at 26 weeks but a cucumber at 27 weeks??? This is starting to crack me and the DW up. I mean, are we talking a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods Cucumber or Wal-Mart cucumber? And isn't a head of lettuce bigger? lol

QOTD: one and done for us. I am the youngest of 3 and DW is an only child. We both treasure the idea of having only one LO to spoil and adore for a lifetime.

[healz413]

Apr 27, 2015 9:35:57 GMT -5 twotxmommies said:

PS - does anyone else find the different vegetable or fruit comparisons to be confusing? I mean, I have 2 apps and 2 pregnancy books and they all compare LO at whatever week to some kind of fruit or veggie (never the same one). But how can he be the size of a head of lettuce at 26 weeks but a cucumber at 27 weeks??? This is starting to crack me and the DW up. I mean, are we talking a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods Cucumber or Wal-Mart cucumber? And isn't a head of lettuce bigger? lol

Yes, it's so confusing! I think most of the time they're going on the length of the fruit or vegetable (so the cucumber is longer than the head of lettuce), but it really does seem silly. 

At 19 weeks, one app told me that baby was the size of an heirloom tomato and another told me that they were the size of a mango. Now, I've never seen a tomato that is nearly as large as a mango ....

There's also the issue that at 20weeks, most places switch from measuring crown to rump to measuring crown to feet so you get a huge jump in length, unless you're still using an app or book that measures crown to rump.

[twotxmommies]

I would start the pic party but i can't seem to figure out how to load a pic... can i not just hit a button that searches my files and attach a pic? Blah. i know i am probably making is harder than it has to be.

[healz413]

Apr 27, 2015 11:37:28 GMT -5 twotxmommies said:

I would start the pic party but i can't seem to figure out how to load a pic... can i not just hit a button that searches my files and attach a pic? Blah. i know i am probably making is harder than it has to be.    

Unfortunately you can't just upload it unless you're using the tapatalk app. If you're using the website, you need to link to it somewhere else (like Facebook or tinypic). If I don't have the photo on Facebook, I upload it to my tinypic and choose "message board" as the size for it. Then I take the link that it produces and use the "insert image" icon at the top of the post to insert my link. It usually doubles up on the http: and stuff like that so I have to clean it up a bit.

It's a bit of a pain to figure out, but once you figure it out, it's pretty easy to do.

[officerofthelaw]

I am 11w5d today and we have a sonogram in about an hour. We are getting my blood drawn to check for down syndrome and other possible defects as well as getting the sex of the baby from the blood. We won't know anything for about 7 days or so, but I am hoping for good results. I will post the sonogram picture on here when we get back from the Dr.

QOTW: Do you want your children to be close in age? Or more spaced out. Why/why not?
I want them close as in 3 years or so apart, mainly because I want them to be close to one another and secondly because I want my body to get back into shape before popping out another one:)

[ionaerebor]

Today I'm 10 weeks exactly. Last week, I finally had my first midwife's appointment, which went really well. Sadly, I did not get my ultrasound, but we did get to hear the heartbeat! I don't think I've ever been so excited at a sound before! It was so weird, it took about five minutes for him to set it up so we could hear it, but it felt like an age. We are definitely getting our ultrasound at week 13.

QOTW: A and I aren't really sure we want another one after this one. Both of us were raised as only children, and loved it and the closeness we have with our parents. If we do have another, it'll be at least four years down the road.

[kevinandjesse]

Had to add a picture this is from the 20w a/s. We have another u/s come up Wednesday morning! I'll be sure to update

[calsurb]

No pics for me-never sure how to upload stuff!

I had my first ever non stress test this morning. With the gestational diabetes diagnosis, my OB wanted me in this week to see how the baby was doing. There was a ton of good fetal movement (I sort of sprinted up 5 flights of steps as my exercise before my blood draw for my diabetes testing) and the heartbeat was in the decent range as well. The other monitor on my belly showed I was having contractions every 5 minutes though I couldn’t feel them. So they released me and I’ll go next week for another round.

We meet with our doula this weekend for the last little session before the birth. We also finished our childbirth, breastfeeding, and baby basics classes at the hospital, over the course of 5 weekends. Glad to have that behind us and we do feel better prepared and calmer.



QOTW: Yes, we’re hoping to have our kids close in age. My brother and I are 5 years apart. My parents wanted us close together but it just took longer to conceive me (You can’t rush excellence, right???). I’m carrying this baby now, and my wife will begin tracking her cycle when the baby is around 10 months to see if we can’t get her knocked up by the time this baby is 18 months.

[jgy]

So we had a big scare at the end of last week. I'm not really ready to write a huge in-depth recap here, but I will say this: if you happen to know your CMV status prior to TTC (and most of us utilizing the services of an RE have had this test performed), and you happen to be CMV negative, pay attention to that shit. Ask questions, and make sure that you get some good prenatal counseling on how to avoid acquiring a primary CMV infection while pregnant!!!

Anyway, we got a call this afternoon letting us know that the perinatologists now feel that I have NOT acquired CMV, but rather it's more likely that I got some other benign virus that just happens to be in the same family. That's a lot of relief, let me tell you. I'm still not 100% over it, and I'm going to go in for a follow-up consultation to put our minds a bit more at ease, but it's still a really big load off. The local expert on congenital CMV personally reviewed my case/test results (even though she's on maternity leave herself), so I would say that the odds are definitely in our favor here. Phew!

Other than that, I can FINALLY feel this kiddo moving around in there and that is also a huge relief.

It's funny, so much about this pregnancy has been different from my first. My current physical situation is that while I've gained pretty much exactly the same amount of weight at this gestational point (maybe even a pound or two less this time), I'm really feeling overwhelmed about what is to come. Last time, I really felt like "Bring it on, I can handle it, I feel great!" This time I'm thinking way more along the lines of "Oh my god, I don't think my body can take another 20 pounds, everything hurts already." I really just kinda have to laugh about it.

Will try to post a pic later.

Have a great week everybody!

[By the way, after re-reading the above, I know it sounds like I'm not willing/ready to talk about my experiences with (almost) being diagnosed with a primary CMV infection. I'm fine to talk about it. If anyone has any questions, please shoot them my way either in this thread so that everyone can learn from it or through a PM. I'm totally open. Just tired.]

[wittyandwaiting]

(I know I don't go here [yet] but I just wanted to say that it was so thoughtful and considerate of you to post the PIP warning; I read anyway and loved all the pics )

[megd893]

jgy - I'm SO glad to hear that your results are highly likely negative for CMV, and sorry you had all the stress associated. Maybe your wee one is moving around in there so much as reassurance. It's funny how they sometimes seem to know when you need to feel them

wittyandwaiting - healz413 suggested the warning, just in case some people who lurk weren't ready for pics. Thanks for visiting!

[megd893]

Also - if any of the other parents to be here are Canadian, I thought I'd share this gem.
link
If you didn't already know, you can register for "The waiting game" at Sears and if your baby's born on the date you predicted, you win your whole registry free

[healz413]

Apr 28, 2015 7:31:04 GMT -5 megd893 said:

Also - if any of the other parents to be here are Canadian, I thought I'd share this gem.
link
If you didn't already know, you can register for "The waiting game" at Sears and if your baby's born on the date you predicted, you win your whole registry free

I suppose there is a clause that precludes a scheduled c-section?

[healz413]

wow jgy! Scary stuff. I'm so glad to hear it is most likely not CMV!

[megd893]

Apr 28, 2015 9:17:03 GMT -5 healz413 said:

Apr 28, 2015 7:31:04 GMT -5 megd893 said:

Also - if any of the other parents to be here are Canadian, I thought I'd share this gem.
link
If you didn't already know, you can register for "The waiting game" at Sears and if your baby's born on the date you predicted, you win your whole registry free

I suppose there is a clause that precludes a scheduled c-section?

Any c-section or induction makes it nullified.  And you have to "make your prediction" no less than 60 days in advance.
HOWEVER, if my some miracle it happens?  We'll be able to donate most of what we put on there

[officerofthelaw]

Update: We did not get a 12w sonogram, the OBGYN says that when we are with fertility doctors we get spoiled with sonograms but now he doesn't want to do one until I am 18weeks:( I was super bummed. I did get my blood drawn for the Chromosome testing, the perk of this is that we will find out what we are having super early.

[healz413]

Apr 28, 2015 9:24:07 GMT -5 megd893 said:

Apr 28, 2015 9:17:03 GMT -5 healz413 said:

I suppose there is a clause that precludes a scheduled c-section?

Any c-section or induction makes it nullified.  And you have to "make your prediction" no less than 60 days in advance.
HOWEVER, if my some miracle it happens?  We'll be able to donate most of what we put on there

I was hoping I could just set up a registry and never use it (unless I won), but it looks like I'd just win my previous purchases (which makes sense, of course, but isn't quite as sexy). 

[karlamo]

Apr 28, 2015 10:29:42 GMT -5 officerofthelaw said:

Update: We did not get a 12w sonogram, the OBGYN says that when we are with fertility doctors we get spoiled with sonograms but now he doesn't want to do one until I am 18weeks:( I was super bummed. I did get my blood drawn for the Chromosome testing, the perk of this is that we will find out what we are having super early.

Were you having the NT scan/testing done? That test requires an u/s.

[rosieelk]

Late to the party, but I'm checking in anyway.

Today, we are 26 weeks and three days pregnant. Which means we only have 95 days to go! It feels amazing to be in just double figures, we had a little celebration to ourselves when we hit 99 days to go. Last week we had a midwife appointment; apparently baby is about a week's worth bigger than most baby's it's age. baby also reaches viability on Sunday; we are going out for dinner to celebrate!

We also just got home off of our babymoon/anniversary holiday. We were in Marrakech in Morocco. It was so lovely and relaxing, I almost wish we could go back and spend another week there.

Final bit of news; we're adopting a puppy next week. DW has been desperate to get one since her dog died a few months ago, and a friend of ours' beagle gave birth to a litter 13 weeks ago, and she's still got two left, so we decided that we would get one. Everybody thinks we're mental, but DW thinks this should be the best time to get one, since she works at home now, and once baby is here, she'll be a stay at home mum for a few years at least, so she'll have time to train him properly.

QOTW: We want to have them pretty close together. We've already been talking about TTC#2 once baby is a year or so old. We want to have three in total, we think, and would love to have all three under four.

[officerofthelaw]

No not the NT scan, the blood test they are doing can determine down syndrome and other chromosomal issues as well the doctor said.

Apr 28, 2015 17:39:23 GMT -5 karlamo said:

Apr 28, 2015 10:29:42 GMT -5 officerofthelaw said:

Update: We did not get a 12w sonogram, the OBGYN says that when we are with fertility doctors we get spoiled with sonograms but now he doesn't want to do one until I am 18weeks:( I was super bummed. I did get my blood drawn for the Chromosome testing, the perk of this is that we will find out what we are having super early.

Were you having the NT scan/testing done? That test requires an u/s.

[kevinandjesse]

Just had to post after our appointment this morning!

After a quick argument with the u/s tech who didn't want to let dh and I both into the u/s room at once (had pull the "we are the intended parents and we have a right to be in there" ...she relented), we had a great appointment! LO's measurements are all coming out spot on! A huge relief since during the 20w a/s his head circumference was measuring in the 8th percentile... now in the 24th! Good Good Good

Had the glucose screening so hoping that comes out ok. So all is good today!

Little Sky already knows he's #1 in our hearts!

[megd893]

kevinandjesse - AMAZING photo of Sky! I'm so glad that you guys put your foot down. You're acting like his parents already *big hugs* Congrats on the growth too! Must be VERY reassuring