*~*PgAL/PAIF Check in Week of 4/16 *~*

[cali]

Welcome to the PgAL and PAIF check-in!

This is a weekly check-in for those of us who are pregnant after loss and/or infertility. Feel free to jump in any time!
The check-in is a safe place to share all things that come with being PgAL and/or PAIF. Use this thread to ask questions, share your excitement/rage/worries/whatever, or to ask for support!

Please come on in and let us know how you're doing, and know you are always welcome to come back throughout the week whenever you need to!! ♥

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PgAL Mantras
www.goodbyecb.proboards.com/thread/1034/pgal-mantras

PAIF Mantras
www.goodbyecb.proboards.com/thread/57254/welcome-paif-read-before-posting


**Loss/trigger warnings are not necessary here**

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Weekly check-in:

How far along are you?

How are you feeling (physically/emotionally)?

Any appointments or milestones coming up this week?

Do you need any thoughts or prayers?

Anything else you'd like to share?

QoTW: What are your plans for child care?

[cali]

How far along are you?
21w3d

How are you feeling (physically/emotionally)?
Physically I feel good, except for the hip pain when I'm sleeping. Emotionally, definitely better since our A/S last week, but I definitely still have a chronic underlying anxiety.

Any appointments or milestones coming up this week?
Nope. Nothing until May. This will be the longest I've gone between appointments so far.

Do you need any thoughts or prayers?
Not at the moment, thanks.

Anything else you'd like to share?
An amazing lady gifted me a Doppler and it's supposed to arrive this week. I'm hoping it helps and doesn't actually make my anxiety worse. As long as I can figure out how to use it it will be cool because MH has never heard the heartbeat yet, so it will be fun to let him hear.

QoTW: What are your plans for child care?
This has been one of my big concerns lately since I won't have much time off after she is born. I am supposed to go back to school the week after my EDD but will probably take the first week off and aim to go back 2 weeks PP (assuming I go all the way to 40 weeks). It's only one 2 hour class per week ((with an hour commute each way) and one 8 hour clinical day per week, so not horrible but still sucks. Right now we're hoping we can work it out so MH can be here when I'm at class and clinicals, with my mom and his mom as emergency back up. FX it works out!

[therealbug]

cali, dopplers are awesome and pretty easy to use. Since you are are over 21 weeks, it should not be hard to find the heartbeat. I'm excited for your H to finally get to hear and so happy you had a good A/S.

How far along are you?

21+3

How are you feeling (physically/emotionally)?

Really tired. I have to take meds every six hours so that means my alarm seems to be constantly going off. Emotionally, I'm back to not buying anything for babies. I'm trying to just take things one day at a time. Right now, each week is get to Tuesday appointment, get to Thursday ticker change.


Any appointments or milestones coming up this week?

MFM appointment on Tuesday. This should involve a cervical scan, a scan of cranial blood flow for both A&B, as well as some basic measurements as well as a fluid level recheck.

Do you need any thoughts or prayers?

That these babies keep being inside babies for at least another 3 weeks and that they both are healthy with no issues.

Anything else you'd like to share?

My fundal height was measuring at 26 weeks on Tuesday! My belly growth has been insane the last couple of weeks.

QoTW: What are your plans for child care?

If H's employment status doesn't change then it will be a mix of H watching on his days off and maybe a nanny (his wish) or daycare for the other days.

[addymac]

cali I'm glad you are getting a doppler to help with the anxiety. So exciting that your H will get to hear the HB! That's such a nice thing to experience with them

therealbug ugh alarms going off every six hours sound tedious. Sending you all my positive thoughts 💛💛💛

AFM-

How far along are you? 22+1

How are you feeling (physically/emotionally)? Emotionally- good. But it feels so bizarre to be firmly in the second tri and feeling kicks. Like this baby is real. Physically- hip pain. Lower back pain. Tired and hungry. But the worst is *TMI** I have IBS-D but usually have been having to deal with constipation. But I had a flare up Friday and have the worst hemorrhoids, and am in so much agonizing pain I can barely walk, move, sit, lay down, etc. I think I have to call into work. I took a bath, am using those medicated witch hazel wipe pads, hydrocortisone cream, and lidocaine cream and barely any relief. I serious feel like crying every time I have to move or breathe. Plus- baby doesn't seem to notice or care, just keeps kicking and it reassures me he's okay.

Any appointments or milestones coming up this week? Nope

Do you need any thoughts or prayers? Eh less pain would be nice. It send them to those who need them more.

Anything else you'd like to share? I'm good

QoTW: What are your plans for child care? Oh man. This is such a panic inducing question. I work night shift 7p-7a 2nights and 11p-7a 2 nights a week, getting home around 8am. DH will be a resident working 80+ hrs with most start times needing to be in the hospital by 6am. So daycares dont work. So we will probably need a nanny. With probably at least one weekend day. And crazy hours like 5:30a-1p, or 5:30a-7p or 5p-7p, ugh. Just ridiculous hours and it makes me want to cry. 😔😣

[yellowcat]

Weekly check-in:

How far along are you? 24wks 4ds

How are you feeling (physically/emotionally)? Pretty good, it has been in the 80s where I live so just adjusting to the heat.

Any appointments or milestones coming up this week? Glucose test on Wednesday. My finger nails have some weird discoloration underneath that my sister tells me means I am anemic so I am going to ask about that too.

Do you need any thoughts or prayers? Nope

Anything else you'd like to share? Nothing too exciting here just trying to get through my semester.

QoTW: What are your plans for child care? Right now we are able to adjust our work schedules so that one of us is home all week. We have managed to avoid daycare for DD and will continue with these schedules for at least one more year.

[yellowcat]

cali, I am sorry your anxiety is so high. I went back to work (I taught a summer field class) a week after DD was born. It was 8 hours a day for 6 weeks. It wasn't terrible and was manageable because MH was home and is mom came to help a few times. I think you will be ok.

therealbug, FX crossed everything/everyone stays put!

addymac, feel better, the pain sounds horrible!

[cali]

therealbug, I've been thinking of you all so much. FX that everything looks good on Tuesday and those babies stay put for many more weeks!

addymac, ugh, I'm sorry you're in so much pain. That sounds awful. I hope it subsides soon. As for child care, I'll be in a similar boat come January when I graduate nursing school because I'll likely have to work nights and MH also works nights, so that will be interesting..

yellowcat, good luck with the GTT! When is your semester officially over? I'm sure you'll be relieved when you get some time off.

[king26]

How far along are you? 21+5

How are you feeling (physically/emotionally)? Ok though I'm having insomnia and heartburn/acid reflux are killing me.

Any appointments or milestones coming up this week? I had my fetal echocardiogram today and the tech said everything looks good but the cardiologist has to look at the specific things. It took about an hour because she was having trouble seeing things but baby boy looks good.

Do you need any thoughts or prayers? No

Anything else you'd like to share?
Easter went well for the most part. Everyone was surprised that I'm not huge. I have a very small belly but I've gained about 12 pounds so far.

We went and registered this weekend and it was super overwhelming. I know we missed a ton of stuff and I was so confused by the carseats/strollers> We will have to go back for that again. Super confusing.

I think we decided on a nursery theme-outer space. Not doing too much with it but I found crib bedding that I really like and might order a few wall decals from etsy. Otherwise the room will be blue and gray.

QoTW: What are your plans for child care?
I am SO grateful that my H works from home for himself so I'll be home for 12 weeks with baby boy but then he will have him at home with him for at least the first year. I know it'll be hard for him to work with the baby there but he does a lot nights and weekends so he thinks it won't hurt his business to be with the baby the first year. This makes me feel really good.

cali, YAY for getting a Doppler. I hope it works out that your H can be home with the baby when you can't be. My due date IS my first day of school! Everyone thinks I planned it that way...if only!
therealbug, Sending good thoughts that those babies stay in side for a few more weeks!
addymac, I'm sorry you are struggling to think about childcare. It's such a stressful thing

[addymac]

cali I don't think I realized you were in nursing school! Wooo nurses shift work is rough. I've found nursing jobs to be split somewhat evenly for finding jobs as a new grad either on day shift or pm shift or nights. Fingers crossed for you! Nursing school is no joke xo

king26 glad the echo went well. Hope you get a final good news say from the official dr. We need to decide on stuff for the registry but every time we go we change our minds and then DH is like WHAT! How much do these bedsheets cost?! What the hell!! And I was to stab him.

yellowcat hope your appt goes well w your glucose exam!

[elliecat17]

How far along are you? 21+5, baseball hat

How are you feeling (physically/emotionally)?
Physically still sore which makes sense after the U/S.
Emotionally so much more stable after today's U/S.
Baby is head down very low (hence all the pressure) and my cervix is a little longer then 4cm. The tech said that sometimes when they sit low that if you only do a trans abdominal it can look a little short at times.

Any appointments or milestones coming up this week? Surprise U/S today. Nothing else until next week.

Do you need any thoughts or prayers? I'm good thanks!

Anything else you'd like to share? people suck? Lol H created a poll for people to guess at what baby's gender is going to be. Well someone decided that they were a special snowflake and didn't like the 2 choices and created a choice: "gender and sex don't mean the same thing". I think it's rude to take over someone else's thing like that. Did their parent's not teach them manners?

QoTW: What are your plans for child care? Well I hope to be able to work things out to where either H and I are home. If not and we are still in the UP then H's mom will step in. If we move to Hawaii then I always have my parents if push comes to shove.

[muscari]

Thanks for taking over this week's check-in for me cali!

cali Ugh I feel you on the hip pain. I started getting it too, and it annoys the heck out of me cause some nights it makes it impossible to be comfortable for more then a couple of hours at night heh. I started sleeping with an extra pillow in between my knees and a rolled up/folded towel under my tummy/chest which does help, but only a little. Seriously contemplaiting one of those tube pillows.. you? And how awesome you'll have a doppler soon! You'll have to let me know how you like it. I decided against one during first trimester but just started pondering buying one after all.. Like you say it's hard to shake the underlying anxiety and I just don't think it'll go away completely until I hold our baby in my arms. I'm sorry you won't have much time at home with the baby before going back to school. Hopefully you'll be able to figure out care and the 1,5 days/week will be doable!

therealbug, Even though I've not been on TCF hardly at all I stalked you like crazy for updates and have been thinking of you loads. I was so relieved to read they were able to stop the contractions and all and that you were able to go home. ♥ I'm sorry that this weeks check ups showed funneling again/still and cervical lenght is on the short end, that's just so scary. Continuing to send all the positive thoughts and vibes your way. Keep cooking, babies!!

Oh addymac, that sounds horrible, I hope you're feeling much better again by now! I had really painful (and bloody) hemorrhoids earlier on but now they are just huge (sorry tmi LOL) but at least they don't hurt. And wow, your work schedule! I don't think I could do that.. any chance you could switch to different hours in time? When I applied for my new job I thought it'd include shifts as well but luckily tis just dayshifts and being on call 24/7 one week every 2 months (but that won't start until some time next year earliest).

yellowcat, so awesome that you past V-day! Also, wow 80F, we had night frost here this week haha. I am definitely looking forward to sunnier warmer temperatures, and can't wait to wear some cute dresses and show my bump this summer! Good luck with your glucose test (oh wait, that was yesterday.. hope it went well:)).

king26, glad to read the fetal echocardiogram went well! Did the cardiologist look at things and give you an update already or are you still waiting on that?

elliecat17, I didn't get a chance before to comment on your short cervix scare before the weekend as I was away and only lurked through tapa, but kept you in my thoughts! So glad that it's measuring just fine at 4cm. Also omgosh I can't believe the responses on YHs poll! Okay I get it, gender and sex is not the same but gah! Stupid people. I think I would have deleted the original poll and reposted it! Come on people! Grrrr. Do you guys have plans of moving back to Hawaii any time soon or just toying with the possibility?

[muscari]

AFM 22w6d today. Counting down the days till V-day next week!

How are you feeling (physically/emotionally)?
Emotionally I'm feeling pretty good. At times I have to pinch myself that omgosh this is real, this is going to be our THB. Then I start feeling extremely anxious and scared for something going wrong still.. I guess it's impossible to shake off the underlying anxiety but at least it only pops up occasionally now. Some days I feel baby move quite a bit then other days hardly at all.. I blame my anterior placenta but it does freak me out a little so am contemplaiting getting a doppler after all.  Physically I'm struggling with heartburn from hell and I haven't been able to poop properly in what feels like forever.. sooooo constipated! Took something for the constipation which is adding nausea and gas to the heartburn so that wasn't a real succes either. About an hour or two after going to bed I wake up with hip pain and sometimes back ain and even though I've added extra pillows and all I just can't get comfortable. Oh and my memory just sucks so bad? /end of moan moment! I don't want to complain to much but it's good to get it of my chest on occasion!

Any appointments or milestones coming up this week?
Yesterday we had another MFM appointment. First time ever we got a doppler check! All is well with baby. He did reitterate the importance of listening to the cues of my body and taking my rest in time (something MH totally agrees on as he's gotten on my case about this lately and gets upset when I over do things and start feeling like crap cause my heart acts up again). I'm really trying to do so but some days it's hard! I did have a meeting with the company dr though and my hours have been cut from full time to 4x6h with Wednesdays off as a recovery day midweek. I'll start working this schedule after my 2 weeks off (so next week).
Next week I have an echocardiogram, but won't get the results of that until late May boo. Though I guess if something shows up on the echocardiogram the cardiologist will call me in sooner anyway. Next MFM is in 5 weeks, same day as our 28wk follow up A/S.

Do you need any thoughts or prayers?
Not right now - please send them to therealbug and her babies!

Anything else you'd like to share?
I had thyroid BW done a couple weeks ago and results came back wonky; to low FT4 and just marginally 'normal' TSH. I was dx as subclinical hypothyroid back in 2011 and over the years my levels have come back on and off as okay as well as slightly off. Never been on meds for it, there doesn't seem to be a consensus on this amongst drs here whether it's useful or not.. and once we started with the RE my TSH had gone down to 2.5 which they deemed low enough for pregnancy. Anyway I freaked myself out by googling and reading research stuff about untreated subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy, but the MFM seemed not too worried although he's double checking stuff with the endocrinologist. Not sure what to think/whether to worry but am trying to just stay cool until we hear more.

QoTW: What are your plans for child care?
I'll be home with the baby for 10 weeks PP, then will go back to work 4 days a week (I work FT now, well, up until the moment pg decided to mess with my heart and I needed to cut down on hours heh). MH also works 4d/w and we'll have at least one "gramma/grandpa" day, leaving 2 days that we have to cover with daycare. I really dislike the idea of the baby going to DC already a 3mo but I think it will be harder on me then on her?

[cali]

muscari, I got a doppler this week and so far it's been great. MH got to hear the hb for the first time and that was so cool. I've been feeling much more movement too, so I wasn't nervous when I didn't find the hb right away. Took me a minute because she was higher up than I expected but once I heard it, it was great. So,it's been good for me so far.
As for your thyroid, I've been on thyroid meds for subclinical hypothyroidism since we started with our RE and he always said 2.5 or below was the goal for tsh. Mine got wonky from IVF so we had to do a bit of adjusting on my meds. My understanding is it's most important for first tri, because after that the placenta takes over and baby's own thyroid is also functioning now, so you probably shouldn't have anything to worry about (I know, easier said than done). They only check mine once a month now. What were your numbers? If your tsh is in normal range, why were they concerned?

[elliecat17]

muscari I feel you on the overdoing it. H gets on my case too. I also have an anterior placenta and it messes with my head when I can't feel baby for a while. This is where the doppler has come in handy. I'm glad that your work is accommodating. Also H did take down the poll and we reposted it after he deleted the people who felt that having fun with guessing was an open invitation to a debate.

[muscari]

Apr 19, 2017 18:37:40 GMT -5 cali said:

muscari , I got a doppler this week and so far it's been great. MH got to hear the hb for the first time and that was so cool. I've been feeling much more movement too, so I wasn't nervous when I didn't find the hb right away. Took me a minute because she was higher up than I expected but once I heard it, it was great. So,it's been good for me so far.
As for your thyroid, I've been on thyroid meds for subclinical hypothyroidism since we started with our RE and he always said 2.5 or below was the goal for tsh. Mine got wonky from IVF so we had to do a bit of adjusting on my meds. My understanding is it's most important for first tri, because after that the placenta takes over and baby's own thyroid is also functioning now, so you probably shouldn't have anything to worry about (I know, easier said than done). They only check mine once a month now. What were your numbers? If your tsh is in normal range, why were they concerned?

Ahh sorry for the slow response!
Which doppler did you end up getting? How awesome YH got to hear the hb for the first time ♥ When we were on our trip MH felt the baby move for the first time which was also really neat!

As for the thyroidstuff; my free T4 is below normal range, TSH just barely normal range (0.8 with 0.5-5 as seen as normal range at this particular lab.. yeah the 5 is really quite high to be considered normal still, like I said, no consensus on that here amongst labs/drs it seems!). I haven't heard back from the MFM yet, but not sure when he was/will be able to discuss things with the endo. Will check my file once I get back to work *g* I think I'll ask them to recheck my levels in a month orso from now. And yeah, by now the baby's own thyroid should be functioning etc but I have to admit I do wonder about the first half of the pregnancy in case my thyroid was off already then too. I thought they were checking it during the first trim but they weren't and I forgot to follow up on that Nothing to be done about that now no more though!

[muscari]

Apr 19, 2017 18:53:57 GMT -5 elliecat17 said:

muscari I feel you on the overdoing it. H gets on my case too. I also have an anterior placenta and it messes with my head when I can't feel baby for a while. This is where the doppler has come in handy. I'm glad that your work is accommodating. Also H did take down the poll and we reposted it after he deleted the people who felt that having fun with guessing was an open invitation to a debate.

Glad YH decided to redo the poll and got rid of those stupid people!

It's silly, I know that anterior placenta buffers baby's movement and I do feel her plenty here and there.. But when sometimes she's more quiet then previous days I can't help but feel anxious. Even after having júst heard her HB on the doppler at the MFM! So I'm seriously thinking about getting a doppler after all.. just wish they weren't so expensive here (maybe ordering them from the US is actually cheaper!).

[cali]

muscari, I got a sonoline B. Seems to do the job well.