Alumni Check in April for the week of April 20

[lickwed]

sonpetitlapin, Divefrog, winogirl, radiantly, @jimbobcooter, beckyp005, flippinchica, colinsfebmommy, Maggie0424, @clgsquared, lucylulu, flyliceandcoffee, cml112, sunni1 b0710 manderslvt
meredithcarole, aswedishbee, mdogan29, boobacat

and our newest grads tiresiastheblond and teenybenoit

So ladies,

[b0710]

Hi ladies! I am 8 weeks today. I'm feeling pretty well....I'm lucky in the symptoms area (although the symptoms do help my PgAL brain). My first appointment still isn't for another 3 weeks, so for now, I'm just doing my thing. It's driving me a little nuts not to get to see the LO, or hear a heartbeat, or feel him/her move, but I'm just trying to appreciate (aka convince myself) that all is well for now. Thanks for the check-in lickwed! So hoping to see many more positives showing up over here

[winogirl]

I'm also 8 weeks today
Nausea has kicked up a bit and so has my hunger - it is the strangest thing to feel sick to your stomach and starving at the same time. No puking so far - hopefully that trend continues! I've got my appt on Thursday so it will be nice to see the little one again and see how much (hopefully) s/he has grown in the last couple of weeks!

My focus this week is eating enough protein (meat has been hard for me to stomach lately) and getting my workouts in. We went grocery shopping yesterday and stocked up on a bunch of healthy food - tons of fruits and veggies and lots of protein options so hopefully I'm making it easy for myself to stick to my goal!

[Maggie0424]

Congrats to the new grads!

I'm currently 17 weeks. My emotions are up and down. Most of the time I'm positive but PGAL brain gets to me. I worry about feeling or really not feeling movement and is what I'm feeling really "real". If that all makes sense. My next appointment is the a/s but it's not until May 7th. Still feels like an eternity away. I think coupled with the fact my eldest sons EDD is this week is making it worse. I should be getting ready to celebrate Tanner's 5th birthday on the 26th and that's hard. Anyhow sorry for the doom and gloom post it's just hard this week. Hope everyone else is doing great!

[tiresiastheblond]

Not much to report, since I'm only 4 weeks tomorrow.

I had an incident with a defective box of FRERs this weekend that was kind of upsetting. Because I'm insane, I've been testing every day to watch the line get darker. Which it has been doing nicely. Except on Sunday, when it almost disappeared. I could tell the tests were funky because the control line was also too light, but I freaked out and insisted on a trip to Jewel for new ones all the same. Two FRERs from a different batch and a digital later, and all was well. Except for the fact that I'm a freak and can't possibly keep this sort of behavior up for the next nine months...

[b0710]

Maggie0424 - so sorry! I can't imagine how difficult this time must be for you. Sending Ts and Ps your way!

tiresiastheblond - I apparently liked to pee on things too. I finally ran out of wondfos and frers and told myself that I couldn't buy any more. This was around 5 1/2 weeks or so. Good luck

[Divefrog]

15ish weeks. Feeling pretty good, but it that weird stage where symptoms lessen and I can't definitvely feel movement so my brain likes to go all kinds of places it shouldn't.... because things are most likely absolutley fine.

I have to visit the lab in the next week or so for an early glucose test, and blood draw for neural tube defect screeing in the next week or so. Otherwise no appointments for another 3 weeks.

I am still wearing all my pre-pregnancy pants, but I can tell that gig is going to be up in the next 2-3weeks.

[colinsfebmommy]

Hey all!

Congrats on the new pregnancies!

I am just about 11 w (tomorrow). I am getting energy back and to be honest most of the time don't feel pregnant (boobs a little sore on some days) Bloat isn't as bad either.

I have my next appointment next Tuesday so I am anxious to make all is still going well. I am still in regular clothes but when sitting my pants are getting tight lol Like PP 2-3 weeks I am going to have give my jeans lol

[aswedishbee]

Hello there! 6+5 today and my numbers were great last week so I have u/s #1 on Wednesday afternoon ... yay & eek! I am getting extremely anxious b/c we measured small at the first one last time - dang PGAL brain. I'm hoping that all these terrible symptoms are for a reason - nauseous, starving but all food grosses me out, dizzy, thirsty, sore/full boobs & sensitive nipples, crazy dreams, etc.

Glad to see everyone's doing well, and Maggie0424 T&Ps your way hon.

[boobacat]

Posting in this thread is surreal and I'm still finding myself lurking here!
5wks 1day
Essentially symptomless and awaiting third and maybe final beta. Since we achieved the bfp on a natural cycle I'm wanting to have this be as normal as possible. So I'm not sure I'll continue at RE. Plus getting up a 6 for a blood draw isn't my thing not to mention expense. So OB appointment will not be until week 8 and then 9 for first u/s. So far away!

Routing for you all!

[flyliceandcoffee]

Maggie0424, I completely understand. I felt like that two weeks ago when it was our EDD. If you need anything, or even just to vent, we're here for you.

As for me, we're 12w4d and I am happy to report that our genetic testing went well and this lil one tested negative for any abnormalities. We did hold off on finding out the sex though haha. We may find out at our 20 week anatomy scan but we'll see.

I have our 12 week NT scan this afternoon which I'm grateful for. My dizziness/nausea has more or less subsided which while nice, doesn't help with the "I hope everything is going well" thoughts. And I'm pretty sure I'm upgrading to maternity pants if everything looks good this afternoon.

[meredithcarole]

Hi everyone!

It is so great to read everyone's updates. (((Hugs))) to all those having a tough time emotionally right now.

AFM: I am 6w2d. My first ultrasound is on Wednesday with the RE. I have started describing my symptoms as being "permanently hungover" as that pretty much sums it up. Today wasn't so bad, I only felt ill about 40% of the day (yesterday it was like 70%), but then in those moments where I don't feel ill I worry something is wrong. Wednesday can't come soon enough.

[flippinchica]

Hi ladies, I am excited for the new BFPs!
I will be 24 weeks tomorrow which is exciting. I feel like I'm getting big now. Pregnancy aches and pains have definitely started. I have also started my registry which is crazy. My next appointment is in 2 weeks and I hired a doula. I hope that will be worth it.

FX for the upcoming tests and ultrasounds!

[Deleted]

Congrats to tiresiastheblond, and teenybenoit! There been quite the rush of BFPs here the last several weeks. Keep them comng

32ish weeks now and time has slooooooooooooowed down. It seriously feels like it's been a month since this last check in. I'm so tired and so done and so ready to move on to the next phase. I had a prenatal massage today and it was glorious. If I could do that ten hours a day between now and birth, I think I can make it.

[teenybenoit]

Thank you guys so much for the love and support. It's been a tough few days, yesterday I started some very light spotting and cramps. They have stopped for now but man they are wreaking havoc on my brain after 2 mc.
I had acupuncture today which made me relax quite a bit. He told me to slow down on the exercise, eat whole not processed and relax tonight so I am laying in bed chillin.
I forgot to give details when I posted the BFP thread
I'm 4wk5d today.
Thanks again ladies.

[meredithcarole]

Apr 20, 2015 19:48:53 GMT -5 flippinchica said:

Hi ladies, I am excited for the new BFPs!
I will be 24 weeks tomorrow which is exciting. I feel like I'm getting big now. Pregnancy aches and pains have definitely started. I have also started my registry which is crazy. My next appointment is in 2 weeks and I hired a doula. I hope that will be worth it.

FX for the upcoming tests and ultrasounds!

We had planned to hire a doula the first time around, and now because of the surgery in December I will need a c-section.  I am wondering if it might still have some benefit, but I also don't want to waste money. 

[cml112]

Maggie0424, I am also 17 weeks (and 3 days) and haven't felt any real movement. I get U/S evey 3-4 weeks and they are moving like crazy and looking great. So the docs keep telling me not to worry, so I'll pass that advice on to you.

We got to learn the genders!!! We are Team.....purple! A girl and a boy!!! I can't believe it, we are so excited. As much as we tried not to hope for one or another, we kept going back to how perfect it would be to have one of each. The OB first used a Doppler to listen to the HBs and took a guess on two girls. Then at the U/S the identified Baby A is a girl, then Baby B wasn't quite cooperating. We almost had to wait another month to see what he was, then Baby B revealed that he's a boy! I only wish I could have had a camera on MH face.
Anyway, still having MS unfortunately!!! It has slowed down quite a bit (most days). I'm doing gender reveal cupcakes with blue and pink icing (on the inside) for my department tomorrow!

Thanks for the check in lickwed!

[flippinchica]

meredithcarole, if I were in your shoes, personally I wouldn't spend the money on a doula. I would be more likely to spend that money on a post-partum doula if anything.

Maggie0424 and cml112, I didn't feel anything that might be movement until 18 weeks and change and didn't feel anything that was clear until around 20 weeks.

[URMySunshine77]

meredithcarole, I agree with flippinchica on the doula. If you are going to have a c-section for sure, then I would suggest hiring a postpartum doula to assist with breastfeeding challenges or any kind of helping hand.

[Divefrog]

Apr 20, 2015 19:48:53 GMT -5 flippinchica said:

Hi ladies, I am excited for the new BFPs!
I will be 24 weeks tomorrow which is exciting. I feel like I'm getting big now. Pregnancy aches and pains have definitely started. I have also started my registry which is crazy. My next appointment is in 2 weeks and I hired a doula. I hope that will be worth it.

FX for the upcoming tests and ultrasounds!

 flippinchica,The Doula will be worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY! We absolutely adore our Doula. She was invaluable to us the first time around, even though in the end I needed a c-section. My Husband was so skeptical the first time about hiring her. This time after I told him I was pregnant the second thing out of his mouth was, we are hiring D again right?

ETA: However, if you don't have a LOT of support for post partum, and don't have the cash for both birth and post partum doula/alternative help, definitely pay for help AFTER the birth vs. during. We happen to have a fabulous amount of family support (and by support I mean people that will, shop, run errands, cook, clean, and do laundry, and let me basically rest/sleep/nurse for the first 3-6weeks, not people who want you to entertain them while they get to visit with the new baby).

ETAA: I need to read the whole thread before I post....If you are definitley haveing a planned c-section then I will reserve my opinion on whether the doula will be worth it (it may be, it may not). The first time around I had an induction, and around 20hrs of unmedicated labor before we ended up at a c-section. If this time around I end up finding out I need a c-section prior to a trial of labor, we will convert our doula's services to post partum hrs. since she does both birth and post partum work.

[sonpetitlapin]

Congrats to the new BFPs!! WOOHOO! I love it. We need to clear this board out.


Hi a little late here. Nothing to much to report here. I am 12w3d today. I had my 12 week appointment. It was boring as hell!!! Which was wonderful. Finally. After two months of intense appointments it is nice to sit back and enjoy a boring appointment. Heard the heart beat on dopler. I took my free DNA test last week and waiting on the results. Looks like not NT scan this time around. Exhaustion is abating so far this week but I don't want to jinx it.

cml112, congrats on the B&G!!!!

[mdogan29]

Wow!! Look at all the BFPs!! Congrats to you all!

I remember meredithcarole & cml112 from the TTC board - so happy for you!! B&G twins too - so exciting!

I had my baby boy Sebastian almost 6 weeks ago. We're doing all right, as a FTM, I'm still trying to figure out some kind of routine -- at least to get some things done around the house and be able to cook dinner every night! The house is a mess, but I love spending time with my baby Bash! He has slept great, in his crib, the past 2 nights, so we've been getting better sleep! Can't wait to get past the crying phase - seems like if he's not eating or sleeping, he's fussing/crying and unless I'm entertaining him, he gets very frustrated. But we got a swing about a week ago off craigslist and seems to be helping some!

I'm replying from my phone and don't see how to add photos, so I'll just post links to a few on my website:

- www.vigorcreative.com/photos/JasonBashscrubs.jpg

- www.vigorcreative.com/photos/Sebastian2.jpg

- www.vigorcreative.com/photos/Sebastian3.jpg

- www.vigorcreative.com/photos/sebastianbunny.jpg

[b0710]

mdogan29 - Sebastian is adorable!!! Congrats (a bit late)!

[Deleted]

mdogan29, Congrats!

[tiresiastheblond]

Congrats, mdogan29. He's beautiful! (BTW, I remember you from TTC > 35 on the old place. I was Davie813.) Glad everyone's doing well!

[mdogan29]

Thank you!! And hello Davie813, I'll try to remember this new name! Oh and congrats on your bfp too! I think I recognize the avatar image for tlc35 too?

[tiresiastheblond]

Apr 23, 2015 13:39:21 GMT -5 mdogan29 said:

Thank you!! And hello Davie813, I'll try to remember this new name! Oh and congrats on your bfp too! I think I recognize the avatar image for tlc35 too?

Yes, she's flippinchica.

[manderslvt]

Hi ladies, sorry for the late check-in! It's been a crazy week at work, plus I'm with meredithcarole, in perma-hangover land. I'm 8w3d today, and doing really well other than the nausea. I have days when I feel mostly ok, and other days (mostly when I forget to take my diclegis) when I feel like death. Overall, I am managing a bit better, but still really looking forward to 2nd tri!

My last appointment with the RE is tomorrow, then I'm being released to my OB. I'm happy about not having to pay the RE's bills anymore, but I'm gonna miss the weekly peeks at the little nugget!

[b0710]

manderslvt I'm 8w3d today too! I hope the MS eases up soon!

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2015 12:06:58 GMT -5 tiresiastheblond said:

Congrats, mdogan29. He's beautiful! (BTW, I remember you from TTC > 35 on the old place. I was Davie813.) Glad everyone's doing well!

OMG!   I just now saw and figured this out.  Extra ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!   On the BFP!   So ridiculously excited!