381 replies to this topic

[yaenaSK]

Anyone else expecting in the summer of 2020?

 

This will be my second (DD was born in October 2017, from our first round of IVF). My EDD is August 6th, but as I'll be doing a scheduled c-section, expect to deliver in late July.

 

Hoping there are some other moms-to-be to join in for the coming months!

[Canadamommy2]

Hell again YaenaSK. My due date is July5th but I will be having a schedule c section at the end of June. I am now having out in 2 due date groups ☺️ Congratulation on your pregnancy hun. Let this 2020 be a years of our healthy babies😊🤞🌈

[yaenaSK]

Hi Canadamommy! Good to see you again - congratulations! I am so happy this is looking like a healthy pregnancy for you. Sounds like we are in similar positions re: due dates and schedule c sections. (That's why I cheated and made this a two month group, haha.)

 

How are you feeling these days? I quietly kept following along with the Oct FET group, and saw you had some terrible nausea. I am definitely feeling you there - I am on both Zofran and Maxolon now for mine. Honestly, I think if my constipation ever passed I would feel much better too!

[Canadamommy2]

Hi Yaena - knock on wood my nausea has been away for 2 days now. Yay! I still take 2 Diclectins at night just in case though. I dont know if its because im almost 14w or because its a boy or not. Whatever it is, ive been feeling a lot better yay!! Hope your morning sickness getting better soon too. Its no fun throwing up at all. I remembered I didnt enjoy turkey dinner at all ;-(

[yaenaSK]

I have been trying to read into my nausea to guess sex too! I felt initially like it must be a girl, since it was so bad - but now I am thinking it might be a boy. In any case, my drug combo seems to be helping a lot. Still occasionally throw up, but not several times a day anymore!

[elation]

Hi! Thought Id join in here has my estimated due date is end of August. Just had my first ultrasound at 6w5d and things are measuring on track. December IVF and OHSS wreaked havoc on my body so I dont really know what are symptoms anymore. I find myself worrying a lot about whether the lil pea is still there and beating..

[yaenaSK]

Elation - welcome to the group! Congrats on a successful first ultrasound - so sorry to hear your IVF cycle was rough, and you had OHSS (I've heard that is brutal). Will this be your first?

 

I understand too, the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. After our last attempt, I have felt similarly this entire trimester - despite two good ultrasounds now, I still feel like it could be over any day (my RE has been amazing with booking an extra for me for that reason!). When is your next appointment?

 

AFM - Harmony blood test next week! I will be finding out the sex too (but DH isn't sure if he wants to know yet - we did the same thing with our DD too). And a quick ultrasound again - my last one until the 20 week scan. Eeeks.

[elation]

Thanks YaenaSK! This will be my first and this is actually the first time Ive ever seen a positive test. The OHSS was super brutal and symptoms are still stubbornly lingering, but Im glad the worst is over. It was definitely a bit nerve wracking though as I was in the clinic almost every single day, yet they only checked hCG once after the first beta. This was an untested 3BB so 🤞🤞

Glad to hear about your positive experiences and a wonderful RE! Ive been graduated from my fertility clinic and waiting for a call from the Special Pregnancy Clinic for Fertility Patients. I hope the next check up is soon!

[SynchroGirl]

Hey ladies, joining in here if thats ok! This is my first pregnancy ever, after 16 years (on and off) of unexplained infertility. My due date is Aug 25 but I found out yesterday Im having twins (eek!) so they said it would likely be earlier maybe beginning of August. Would be great to chat with you ladies as I have no idea what to expect. I woke up at 4AM this morning and could not sleep - went online and ordered a few books from Amazon on twin pregnancy which made me feel better. Hope everyone is well!

Hi Elation!

[elation]

Ooh good to see you here, Synchrogirl! 🎉 Welcome to the club! My edd is two days after yours but I have a singleton, so I hear first pregnancies usually run their full course?

16 years of infertility! Girl you are such a warrior and inspiration of strength. I am so thrilled for you and for your babies 💕

[yaenaSK]

Elation - I went untested too (my clinic doesn't often recommend PGS it seems). I figure this must be a good one, after two chemicals and a miscarriage, right? I feel bad that I see so many positives, but my nerves are more "will it last through the first 12 weeks?". Different boat than I ever thought I would be in, after never having any sort of pregnancy scare prior to fertility treatments.

 

Welcome to the group Synchro! 16 years? WOW. I really wish this were a couple of months back - I think you would love another girl on these boards, BTGirl. She also finally celebrated a viable pregnancy after many, many years of trying - and just had twins in late December! I feel like you and she would have lots of common. I have had a few friends, here and in person, deliver twins in December, but don't have any firsthand information on a twin pregnancy unfortunately.

[elation]

yaenaSK- I completely hear you, Im in the same boat. I worry a lot because it just seems like a lot of random luck and theres nothing you can actually do about it. Fingers crossed these are good ones!!

To be honest, leftover OHSS is still really bothering me and I cant tell pregnancy symptoms from OHSS symptoms. Pelvic and abdomen pains, bladder pressure, all the bloating.. 🤦‍♀ Ive now been scheduled for an endocrinologist appointment this Wednesday.

[yaenaSK]

Elation - any improvement or word on when to expect it? Hope the endocrinology visit brings some positive news!

 

Still truckin' along here. Despite my double drug cocktail, there is still some continuous nausea, but I find it mostly bearable. Everything had eased up for a couple of days, but then came back on the weekend with a vengeance. On the bright side, I can drink coffee (decaf) again. I love my coffee, switched to decaf for the transfer, and then during the worst of the nausea, just the sight of a kcup pod sent me over the edge. Still having nightmares (a classic first tri symptom for me), and I struggled with sinus headaches earlier this week but am managing a bit better now with saline spray. So excited to be out of the first in just a couple of weeks!

 

Has anyone else thought about when/how they will announce to family and friends? DH has plans for how he would like to, but I am starting to not want to tell. At all. I feel like the year it took us to get here was so brutal, I want to just enjoy it quietly. I guess I feel like a big deal announcement in some ways dishonors the three babies we lost (even though I know that isn't rational at all). Maybe it's more that no matter the announcement, no one other than those who have struggled will ever "get" how big this is to us now.

[elephantshoes]

Hi Ladies - thought I would join you over here   I had my 12 week ultrasound today and as far as I can tell it went ok?!?  The techs at this clinic are notoriously tight lipped and I don't have my follow up appointment until  next wednesday where my stand-in RE will let me know if everything is ok.  Got to see some stills of the baby and head the heartbeat (166bpm).  The tech said a few times 'everything looks good'...but then asked when I would be seeing my RE next.  Ugh.  Harmless?  Maybe.  But now has me questioning...

 

Yaena - sorry to hear the nausea came back with a vengence! I was just saying to DH that I finally felt like my extreme fatigue and pukey-ness had lessened, but boy did it wallop me today!  I've only thrown up several times in this pregnancy...and this morning was by far the worst.  I can't believe how our cycle group has all but disappeared.  It seemed like there were so many BFPs - and now we're down to just you and me?

 

Synchro - congrats on surprise twins!!! So cool.  You're gonna be one busy momma!  I forget, but do you have Dr. Virro?  Good chance he'll deliver you if you stay with MFC - he only does multiples, c-sections, and high risk births (and the occasional shift) from what I understand.  He came to visit me the morning after I had my daughter which was nice (although I was butt naked having just gotten out of the shower - we literally had a conversation in the bathroom while I was wearing my Depends!)

 

Canadamommy - nice to see you again!

 

Elation - nice to meet you!

 

We've told some of our friends that we're expecting - mostly because they knew we were going into a cycle and/or the busted me not drinking at Christmas and/or they wanted to go down south and I'm freaked out about Zika (from our clinic).  Haven't told our parents.  I think we'll tell our girls tonight in the hopes that they'll stop jumping on my stomach every few minutes. Our big decision is whether or not I take maternity leave or simply take a few weeks off (4-6) hire a nanny & keep working.  I have a job that I love, is work from home, pays really well, is amazingly flexible and I would never get back (at least the way it is now) if I took a year off.  DH and I are weighing pros and cons - it's a big decision as I would like nothing more than to take a year and snuggle my last baby

[elation]

Nice to meet you elephantshoes! Glad to hear your 12 week ultrasound went as well as you can tell and you have a great heartbeat! Im sure we will always overthink all our appointments.. I too am already thinking about how this will affect my life, not just career in general. Can I still manage to play the sports I do? Will I be able to accomplish as much at work? How long should I take for mat leave (I was thinking 3-6mo instead of the 18 that my bff took lol)

yaenaSK- sorry to hear about the rollercoaster of a ride that nausea is taking you on. Im still five weeks from getting out of the first.. far cry from thinking about announcements, although this swollen OHSS belly and lack of participation in sports because of it has a lot of people already asking if I am pregnant 🙄. Well, like you I dont know if or when I want to even announce it! This journey has felt so private / forced public that an announcement seems too much. Maybe five weeks will change my mind.

I also had my endocrinology appointment today to check on my newfound thyroid issue. Looks like Ill be on medication all throughout and after pregnancy. The journey down there felt like a trek and so physically exhausting on me. I feel like my body is still labouring hard to recover. And I still havent heard from the special pregnanch obgyn clinic so I left messages for them and my fertility clinic. Im only at 8 weeks now, still a long way to go! 😫

[yaenaSK]

Elephantshoes! It's good to see you! So good to hear that things are still progressing well for you And yes - our group started off so strong but then really seemed to vanish. I think there were still one or two other BFPs at the end, but they haven't made their way here. It was such a rough cycle group - so much good news that turned to bad, I find I am constantly feeling grateful to have made it to this side of the journey.

 

Elation - Was your thyroid really out of whack? Can that be affected by or affect the OHSS? I have hypothyroidism, luckily for me diagnosed before I started fertility treatments (funny enough, diagnosed when I GAINED weight training for a half marathon), but I did have to adjust my meds with my first pregnancy and have never made it back to a lower dose. I don't find them too bad - my only tip is that, if you have hypothryoid, don't take the meds at night. I was told I could do either, but taking them at night ruined my sleep since they are stimulating.

 

AFM - Wow. I graduated permanently (?) from my clinic today! Lots of bittersweet moments, saying goodbye to the nurses and my doctor. Everyone wants me to come back and bring the baby for a visit when s/he is born. (Ahh! I will know the sex in a week or so! I can't believe it!). I came home and DH and I were talking and he says, you know, we should really talk about this plan for a scheduled c-section and no more kids. Uh - say what? I thought we were in full agreement! Well, the c-section isn't negotiable for me (we just don't have the childcare or family available for a "whenever it happens" labour and delivery). I am really not keen on the idea of another baby either - I am SO happy for this one, but I am also looking forward to being able to close our infertility chapter, not be on hormones or meds or treatments, and just focus on being healthy. (Plus, saying he might want another while I am still in the throes of morning sickness... hahahaha.... no.)

 

Harmony results should be in by the 27th, and my first appointment with my GP is February 14!

[elation]

yaenaSK- got my results back! I think I do have hypothyroidism. Thyroid seems to be in a good range now when Im on this medication though. They didnt tell me how off it was before the medication, but I take it this is a good sign! Thanks for the tip too! The clinic told me to take them first thing in the morning since some foods may counteract the absorption. Clinic also said Im okay to stop progesterone too now (although 8 weeks seems kind of early??).

Sounds like your clinic was really great to you too what a bittersweet moment. Honestly, with how rough my experience has been so far, I so badly want to close the infertility chapter too. As a FTM, maybe Ill just see how this plays out before making any decisions... 😶

[SynchroGirl]

Hi ladies! Sorry for my late reply, thank you for all your kind words. This journey has been quite the battle for me. This is going to sound a bit crazy but my Mom met with a medium a few years ago to talk about my Grandmother and out of the blue the medium started talking about me and my infertility struggles - she told her to tell me not to give up. That really kept me going during this last leg.

Hi elelphantshoes! Glad to be in this group with you. Yes Im with Dr Virro. Thats great to know he might deliver these babies, he has the magic touch with me. The only issue is that I live about an hour from the clinic so not ideal once I get further along.

YeanaSK, so exciting that you find out the sex soon! Congrats on graduating from your clinic too. Sorry to hear about your morning sickness. Mine has really kicked up a notch this week. I havent actually thrown up but I pretty much feel like Im going to all day. Any tips for managing it?

Elation, sorry youre being questioned already about being pregnant. Im hoping to wait as long as possible to tell work but thinking I might blow up a bit quicker with twins.. thats great you were given the ok to stop progesterone. Im looking forward to that day

[yaenaSK]

Elation - glad that the meds are helping! When you need them, they really do make so much difference. And I think you're smart, not making any final decisions yet. I mean - I was convinced after DD was born that I was done. And then DH started talking about how much he wanted more and I let the thought creep in and suddenly we were going through another round of IVF (which I swore I would never do) and another year and a bit of treatments. (Funniest part - when I was in my 20's I told anyone who would listen that I was never having kids at all. My mind changed but it seems like my uterus listened a little too well.)

 

Synchro - How far along are you now? I found my nausea really kicked it up a gear around the 8.5 week mark - then got worse in week 9 and 10. I am waiting for it to ease off now (no luck but it will come!). My best tip is the classic - don't let yourself get hungry. If I get to the point of hunger pains, I know I will throw up. I've heard it can be good to eat something small/tiny every 90 minutes or so. I think with twins it's definitely important (a friend who was pregnant with twins met with a nutritionist early on, and was told she should be gaining a pound a week in her FIRST trimester - I believe she started the pregnancy at a slim/healthy weight). I often find peppermints can help when it is just plain nausea and not to the point of vomiting. Find a liquid you can tolerate and sip - don't gulp, but constantly sip. And try to avoid being full, just like hunger getting totally full makes me puke too. And finally, if it gets bad, don't hesitate to tell your doctor because there are a bunch of drug options that are safe.

 

My current worry is my food aversions - because I am basically averse to protein. I didn't have it this bad with my first (I couldn't handle eggs but meat was mostly ok). I struggle but can handle fish now, but red meat, chicken, pork - all make me want to be sick. I have tried to up things like Greek yoghurt and nuts, to help a little. Mostly all I want to eat is salad and bread. (I am also averse to most sugary things, which is kind of nice because I normally have a major sweet tooth.)

[SynchroGirl]

Thanks for the tips yaena! Im 8.5 weeks now.. it really just started 2 days ago so sounds like Im right on track I went for acupuncture yesterday also, she said there are points that help with nausea, I feel mildly better this morning. Im also drinking ginger tea. Thats tough to have an aversion to protein - mine is eggs right now, and the smell of our dogs raw food! That has almost sent me over the edge a few times. Ill try the peppermints too. Hopefully yours eases up very soon!

[elation]

Synchrogirl - sorry to hear about the nausea starting up! Mine has yet to kick in and Im around 8.5 weeks too, Im just waiting for the puking era to begin. And it doesnt sound crazy at all- everyone has different things that get them through the infertility battle and they are all valid. I also did expect to be questioned early because of the OHSS bloat (yep its still here) and that Ive had so much time off sports. I never do that so of course people are doing the math haha

YaenaSK- you know, I was also the girl saying I didnt know if I ever wanted kids! I never had that baby fever until the doc said it might never happen. And now Im saying Im never doing IVF again haha but who knows. I also dont know if I have cravings/aversions, but sometimes I just want to eat certain dishes that Id want anyway, and other times I dont want to eat specific things, but that could happen even without pregnancy! Ive heard things like lemon sparkling water, or even smelling a lemon helps with nausea. So does watermelon apparently? Ginger too!

Im still waiting for a callback from my supposed OBGYN to-be 😫

[yaenaSK]

Synchro - ohhh pet food is awful! I have a cat and smelling his wet food - yuck. I hope it doesn't get too bad for you - there is such a range of normal for nausea. I know I'm on the more severe side (but not the worst by far!), and I know others who had none at all. Bodies are just so strange.

 

Elation - You sound so similar in the "no kids" then "no more IVF"! I am so interested to see where your journey ends up taking you. Thanks for the tip about lemon sparkling water - it actually sounds delicious to me and worth a try! I did try adding a little lemon to still water once, and it helped so I think this could too! Most of my cravings have been similar to things I might normally want (uhhh pizza?) but my absolute need for salads is a little outside the norm. I mean - I like a salad but I have never eaten an entire bag of salad for a meal before (done twice this past week). I am also adding extra pickles to things, which grosses my husband out.

 

I hope you hear from your OB-to-be soon! I found the transition a little hard this time too - I didn't get the all-clear to book in with my GP until my 11 week appointment, given my history. And when I did, initially I couldn't get in until 17 weeks! I mean, I am trying to be calm and not worry, but I really didn't want my first appointment to be "go for your 20 week scan and get your GD test done now!". I called and talked to the staff and was able to get in a couple of weeks sooner, thankfully - so only a 4 week gap now. And I have a little pocket doppler at home, so I can listen to the heartbeat all I want for reassurance. It's a little tricky to find, with my anterior placenta this time, but I've done it once so I know I can figure it out again!

[elation]

YaenaSK - yeah haha just want to see how this goes first and see about more IVF or kids or anything. Hope the nausea is letting up! I know ginger ale also works for a lot of people. I have a weird constant feeling for tomatoes right now for some reason. I mean Ive always liked them, but I really like them now.

I think Im gonna call the OB-to-be tomorrow again. All the times Ive called I havent spoken to a human, just left voicemails. Hows the Doppler working out for you? Ive heard it sometimes is a little tricky to get right and cause people more anxiety because the results arent what they are expecting so take it with a grain of salt!

[yaenaSK]

Well, yesterday was my birthday and I thought for my gift, I was getting a nausea-free day... I even had a slice of birthday cake - and then threw up. Three times. Ugh. No supper or anything. I really think nothing much works for me right now - I will either be sick or I won't, ha. I am trying to make peace with it and just pleading that it won't go into the second trimester!

 

The Doppler is definitely a tricky one. I got so discouraged early on trying to use it, but now that I know I have an anterior placenta, I am not quite so stressed. I heard the little HB once last week, and have basically laid off trying again. I am trying to just focus on patience to get my Harmony results now, and then maybe I will start trying to listen again? Maybe.

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Good luck trying to reach your OB-to-be elation!

[elation]

Happy belated birthday YaenaSK!!! 🎉🥳 I hope the little bit of cake you had was still delicious when you had it. Last thing to try- when my cousin was doing chemo I bought him these ginger chews candy from Winners/Marshalls and he said they actually really helped with his intense nausea. Maybe you can see if that helps?

I called my OB-to-be again and left another message 🙄 its getting a little redundant. Hope they wake up soon and pick up the phone sometime this year. Is an anterior placenta related to having a retroverted/tilted uterus?

Also, anyone using stretch creams yet?