388 replies to this topic

[yaenaSK]

Elation - I have heard of those ginger chews! I will try ordering some (Amazon has them I think). And man - more voicemails? How frustrating is that. I see red whenever I call my GPs office too - more often than not, when I finally get a ring after being on hold, no one picks up and I have to start all over - but at least I eventually do get an answer!

 

I am occasionally using a body oil - I used it all first pregnancy, and dare I say - I had NO stretch marks. I kept waiting for them and was stunned. It's super pricey, from Clarins, but is apparently a cult favorite for pregnant women. It's called Clarins Tonic Body Oil Treatment - I just got it from Sephora (and I think the Bay used to have it?).

[elation]

YaenaSK- thank you for the recommendation! Due to all the OHSS swelling, I feel like I need to get a head start on the moisturizing...

Im also worried that the severe OHSS has put me at a higher risk for things to go wrong because of all the medical papers Im finding that indicate so. It makes me want the OB appointment even more, even though I know its out of my hands 😞

How is your nausea treating you?

[yaenaSK]

Elation - I have to admit, I don't know lots about how OHSS impacts a pregnancy. Are you feeling any better yet or is it still miserable? My nausea is holding on - I have a home bakery and the one thing guaranteed to make me sick is tasting anything sugary. I have thrown up everything from jelly beans to my birthday cake this weekend. I am a little nervous that it won't go away in the second trimester, with how strong it still is at nearly 12 weeks.

 

Had a call from the lab today - apparently some of the info was missing on my requisition form (as in, they didn't know if it was an IVF pregnancy or if it was my own egg!). Hoping this doesn't end up delaying my results.

[elation]

YaenaSK- Ive read a lot of mixed reports on how it could affect early pregnancy negatively, the full pregnancy negatively, or have no effect at all 🙄 so I guess I should stop reading now haha. I just worry because Im not getting better and I feel like Im supposed to!

I just received a call from the OB (finally!!! After two weeks of waiting) for an appointment next week. Not sure what theyll be doing since they didnt clarify if there will be ultrasound or bloodwork, but I would assume so. Hopefully they can also answer some questions about what to do with all the OHSS hanging around.

Youre supposed to get your harmony results next week right! Hopefully nothing gets delayed 🤞🤞

[SynchroGirl]

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[SynchroGirl]

Hi ladies! Elation, glad to hear you finally have an appointment with your OB! Sorry to hear the OHSS is hanging around and definitely stop reading the negative stuff. Easier said then done I know.. I am reading twin risks all the time so do as I say, not as I do!

Yeana, sorry to hear the nausea is not letting up yet. Thanks for the recommendation on the body oil! One of my friends gave me some bio oil which I have been using. I have read the stretch marks are more related to genetics than anything you do but it certainly cant hurt! I have some stretch marks on my hips from puberty - praying thats not a sign of things to come..

AFM - had another ultrasound today and all is well. The babes are growing on track with 9 weeks 2 days. They were wiggling around which is cool to see too. My next one is at 12 weeks.

[elation]

Hey Synchrogirl!
I think the OHSS could be around until weeks 12-14... not looking forward to enduring these next few weeks. I also felt like I had a stab of round ligament pain today, but it seems kind of early for that.

Glad to hear your babies are doing well at 9w2d! Are you starting to show yet? I should be 9w1d according to my last scan. I cant wait for the next even just to give me peace of mind! I never knew the first trimester would be so stressful.

[yaenaSK]

Hi ladies!

 

Elation - so great you finally have your appointment! I don't know how different OBs are at the first appointment from GPs, but I remember just answering a ton of questions at my first appointment last time with my GP (and doing weight/BP - every visit there was weight and BP). There was blood work too, I think. Always the blood work right?

 

Synchro - Yay! So glad to hear those babies are looking good! I second the question - are you/do you feel like you are showing yet? Other friends with twins definitely started showing super early, which makes the "when to tell" question harder.

 

AFM - Just waiting on my harmony results. Ugh. I am not patient at the best of times! It has been 8 days now (well, 6 business days). I figured they would be in by this coming Monday so i am on edge - but am worried they might be even later now with that missing info. And I am SO frustrated because my mom, who knows I am pregnant, keeps at me to tell the extended family. She already told my brother and sister in law - it's all about vacation planning. I had asked if she would like to come out for when the baby is born, to watch DD for us, and that is the week my brother wanted to come visit. After first saying to me "Why did you have to get pregnant at this time?" she then went ahead and told him that was the reason they couldn't come then. And now the family is planning a big vacation time (it's an annual thing), and that could conflict so again - she wants to tell. And keeps telling me how frustrated she is. I suggested she stay home and we would get DH's parents to watch DD when the new one comes. I feel like my BP is through the roof these last several days, from dealing with her.

 

In other news - definitely showing over here at 12w1d - but being the second, I figured I would explode a little early. Still mostly hide-able with big sweaters though, which is what I am doing.

[Canadamommy2]

Hi ladies, sorry ive been silence for a while. Just had my Aminocentesis done and the short result showed normal low risk ;-) NT, NIPT Everything are all cleared. I think well finally get to bring our baby home this summer. So not looking forward to the c section though😖

[SynchroGirl]

Hey ladies, Im not sure if I am showing or if Im just super bloated. There is definitely a belly there, Im up about 3 pounds. I realized most of my work clothes are slim fit and I cant wear sweater at my office so Im relying on long blazers and cardigans to cover up!

Yaena, sorry to hear about the drama with your Mom! How frustrating. I hope she respects your decision not to tell the extended family yet. And hope your harmony results come back asap! When will you be telling work?

Elation, I know what you mean - these last 2 weeks went by so slowly as I was anxious for the 2nd ultrasound. Its hard during this early stage when you cant feel or see whats going on! Will you have another ultrasound at your OB appointment next week?

Canadamommy, congrats on your great results! What a relief that must have been. How are you feeling otherwise?

[yaenaSK]

Canadamommy - congratulations on everything coming back clear! What a relief! I am so happy this looks like your take-home baby Do you, or will you find out, the sex?

 

Synchro - I am so impressed you're able to hide things still! And only up 3lbs? Amazing! I have put on more than that and I am only having one, haha (but I chunked up in my first trimester with DD too - despite all the nausea. I seriously gain so much fluid! I put on 50!!! lbs with DD, but was down about 30 just a couple of weeks after delivery.)

 

No work to tell in my case - my job when I went on maternity leave was a term position, that ended during my leave. I decided to try out being a SAHM, at least until we are done having kids and the youngest is in school. I have definitely started to miss the challenge of an office job, but I started a home-based baking business last year that gives me off and on orders, and keeps me entertained trying new things. No Harmony results today, so it will be at least Monday. I am starting to get a feeling it will be mid-week next week, so more waiting to go.

[SynchroGirl]

Yaena, you are certainly making me feel a lot better about my belly at 9 weeks! I was reading a lot of people dont show at all in the first trimester when it is their first pregnancy. Im definitely eating a lot, but Im petite and have always had a big appetite. Sorry, I missed that you were a SAHM. Your home business sounds great - you must be quite the baker! Im impressed. I have been in corporate for 20 years and already starting to think about doing something completely different after. There is no way I would want to do this job with little ones.. I guess I have lots of time to figure it out.

[elation]

YaenaSK- ughhh The bloodwork.. Ive had so much blood drawn my veins collapsed. Weight and blood pressure is okay but the constant stabbing! 😫

Sorry to hear about all your family drama! Maybe to your mom, your pregnancy is her focal point too and shes just exhibiting her frustrations in different ways. Hang in there! I can only imagine the extra stress that the looming harmony test is causing.

I would love to try some side business on a mat leave break. I know some people whove started up cake and art businesses, but usually only with the first before theres another little one to also take care of.

Canadamommy- yay! So good to hear about the good results!! What a great feeling that must be!

Synchrogirl- I was personally in maternity gear at around 6w... so I know what you mean about the slim fit work clothes not cutting it! I too have been opting for the blazers and cardigans along with either a black shirt or something with a lot of patterning. And then some long necklace to distract from the bump.

Im actually feeling a lot of anxiety about getting another scan. They didnt tell me whether theyll be doing one at the upcoming OB appointment but Im really hoping so. I have very little symptoms (aside from the lingering OHSS, which may be a good sign cuz I guess that means theres still hCG for it to thrive off of?). No one told me the first trimester would be so worrisome! 🙈

AFM - Im getting lots of point blank approaches from coworkers and teammates who would either say stuff like oh! I didnt know youre pregnant! To pointing and saying are you.....?. Well looking as I am, I really cant blame them... I just remind them its very early on still.

[yaenaSK]

Synchro - really, every pregnancy can be so different. I know I didn't show until around 16 weeks with DD (despite having gained probably 20lbs already). But this one, by the time I put on 5lbs I was already pooching out. I find it absolutely crazy what our bodies can do. (And while I wish I could say I loved every second, I am always super embarrassed of my pregnant bod around other people. I am just not the most physically self confident at the best of times so feeling totally out of sorts - I am not an earth mama type, despite how much I wish I were.)

 

The baking business is funny because it was totally accidental, really. I have always loved to bake, and I made some things for my husband's office - then did a "bake sale" type thing, selling these pumpkin spice scones. And ended up with orders for 200 freaking scones. So I did another little sale at Christmas and had $800 worth of orders. I decided to make it unofficially official, ha. I am nowhere near that busy anymore, but I probably have a few orders a month - just enough to keep me entertained, more than actually earning a lot. And I am so grateful that baking is one of my aversions this pregnancy or I would be suffering!

 

Elation - Thanks. Yeah, the drama gets to me - I feel like I have enough on my plate as it is and I just want everyone and everything else around me to be peaceful, haha. Not a word my family knows at all. My parents are divorced, and while my dad is more laid back, he is also seriously emotionally stunted (so when he does make a comment, it's often so the wrong thing). My mom's family is, and always has been, the "all up in your business" type of family. I dealt with it better when I was younger but now I find it exhausting. Families, right? None are perfect but they are what we have!

 

Ugh - so sorry to hear about the troubles with bloodwork. I don't think there was much - at the start, and then for the GD testing (that one sucked). I don't think there was any after that for me? Have you done any NIPT yet? That might be another one.

 

AFM - Had my first massage today in three months - ahh. My RMT has been a friend for nearly 20 years - last time I saw him was right after my miscarriage and preparing to go forward, and he was so bummed for me. Today I told him I am 12.5 weeks and he was so happy I am enjoying being in the middle of a couple days where i know I won't get the harmony results - so I can relax and just be in the moment easier, rather than staring at the phone wanting it to ring!

[elation]

YaenaSK- my parents are also in a completely wrecked relationship. I dont think either of them are mentally the same anymore. I havent seen or talked to my dad in decades and my mom lives in her own little world. Not sure how to tell her about this, but Ill wait til 12w first. Sorry we have to be in the sucky family boat together!

I havent done any testing yet except for thyroid levels. The last scan was at 6.5w so Im living in the limbo! Good on you for accepting your situation and easing your anxiety with massages and relaxation. How awesome to have a friend of 20 years cheering alongside you too! Im just trying not to think about it too much and wait for these days to go by..

Question about synthroid- it says on the bottle do not take iron, calcium, or multivitamins within 4 hours of taking this medication. Does that mean I cant have cream in my morning coffee? (The dairy, the calcium?)

[yaenaSK]

Elation - My understanding is that you should take vitamins/minerals within 3-4 hours of synthroid because it affects absorbtion (though I can't tell from things online if the synthroid stops you from absorbing the vitamins properly, or vice versa). I did read someplace that you should wait an hour for coffee, but I can't see there being enough calcium in the creamer to really impact things. Honestly? I used to drink coffee at the same time as my meds, and my levels were still fine. And when I am pregnant I sometimes have to eat a cracker or two before I take mine, or I just end up throwing it up anyhow. I figure absorbing some is better than throwing it all up!

 

How are along are you now? (Sorry, I feel like my memory is just swiss cheese these days.) Do you think you will do any NIPT? Or did you test your embryos prior to transfer? Even though we were older, we just decided to skip the pre-transfer testing (kind of regretted it after the first two were both miscarriages!), so I am feeling extra nervous for our harmony. I mean - on the one hand I feel like my body/the embryos did a good job of rejecting a pregnancy with an affected embryo (since that was the likely cause of both miscarriages). But I also worry that maybe this one was only lesser-affected or something, so it got to stick around. I know I have zero reasons to be worried - strong nausea is usually a good sign, the baby was big with a strong heartbeat at my last scan. But you know - this process just seems to breed paranoia right?

 

Funny thing - I ran into my RE at the grocery store this morning. I wanted to ask if she had my results yet, haha, but I kept my mouth shut and just said hi.

[elation]

yaenaSK- oh that is so good to know. Youre right, creamer really cant have enough calcium to impact things anyway but Im glad to hear your meds were fine! To think Ive been suffering in the morning for nothing haha Im definitely going to have a Monday morning coffee tomorrow.

Im now 9w5d according to baby centre and dont even worry about it! Its hard to keep track of whos how far along. I definitely do want to do NIPT because I also didnt do any genetic testing on my embryos. The cost of NIPT vs the genetic testing seems so very worth it too. And yes its sooo easy for our imaginations to run away with every bad scenario we can think of! I havent had any nausea and at my last scan the heart rate was only 123... so my paranoia is all over the place. On top of that, I read medical articles on how severe OHSS increases chances of early pregnancy loss or preterm deliveries! *cue the freak out* I feel like the worry about your child never goes away though, from the day you find out youre pregnant all throughout their life.

Also, your self control is very strong! Im sure your RE appreciated being treated like a normal fellow human being outside there office! Kudos to you.

[Msc719]

Hi everyone - I did my ivf cycle in nov and currently 12 weeks pregnant with DD. As gender selection is banned in Australia, I am keen to know what is the gender of your first ivf baby and those frozen embryos?
Ive heard that boy embryos are prettier and tend to be used in fresh cycle, and most of the frozen embryos are females..
I still have two frozen embryos and am very nervous/curious that they are all females...
Anyone has experience on having fresh embryo (female) and frozen embryo (male) transferred?

[SynchroGirl]

Hi ladies, happy Monday elation - I cannot believe your coworkers would be so bold as to point and ask! I dont know what I would say. No one has said a word to me and I havent noticed any looks but Im also 40 and have been there for 20 years and I think everyone just assumes Im not having children. Looks like you and I are at exactly the same point according to baby center my scans have lined up too so the app is accurate! Please try not to worry about the OHSS affecting things - remember you can find research to support anything you want just by googling so try to google some positive things

Yaena, really cool how your business started. I have been craving a pumpkin scone since I read that haha. Im sorry to hear you feel self conscious of your body when youre pregnant - hopefully this time around you will feel different. I personally always think pregnant women look amazing! About massage - I havent had one but are we supposed to wait until after 12 weeks? Just curious in case I want to get one soon.

MSC, I dont know the gender of my twins yet. My understanding is that gender selection is banned in Canada also (or at least I wasnt able to get that info when I did my PGS) and this is a Canadian site.

[yaenaSK]

Elation - I agree re: the cost of NIPT. I had a hard conversation with myself the first time around, figuring out if I wanted it for everything it offered or just to get the sex early hahaha. But even with genetic conditions like Downs, there are things we can be doing before delivery to help a baby if they are affected, so I felt like it was definitely worth it. (We have acquaintances who have a little one with Downs, that's why I use it as an example!). Also re: HB - I am pretty sure DD's was in that range early on as well. 121 seems to stick in my mind. I was also worried but I am watching her sort goldfish and shreddies right now so... Try not to drive yourself crazy. (Yeah, I know - people in glass houses haha).

 

And I second what Synchro said, about your coworkers daring to even ask! I had an acquaintance ask me the same thing, before I was pregnant (I think it was during the Clomid days). He was horrified when I told him I was just fat from drugs because I couldn't get pregnant. (Yeah, I didn't sugarcoat for him.)

 

Synchro - this time around I did wait until after 12 weeks, but not because I thought I had to, more that I was just too busy. I am sure I went earlier with DD. I did always tell my RMT, and he adjusted pressure and the pillows accordingly. And definitely no abdominal massage! (Which is miserable anyhow haha - I had a Mayan fertility massage before this embryo transfer and it was most definitely NOT relaxing.)

 

MSC - I didn't know the sex of any of my embryos prior to transfer either. Our first IVF cycle, the fresh transfer became our DD. Even though I didn't know, I am 100% convinced the embryo (a FET) that became a miscarriage in September was a boy. (I just always felt it - even named him.) This time around, we had another FET and I am still waiting to find out the sex - I should know this week sometime. I have heard that the different sex embryos are more vulnerable at different stages. There are studies that say male embryos are more fragile and susceptible to abnormalities - but then, there are new studies too that show that despite this, female embryos are more likely to die/miscarry, and it really is a 50/50 split. I drove myself crazy with this info the first time around, but now am just crossing my fingers that whether this baby is male or female, it's a strong little embryo Congratulations by the way! I can definitely say daughters are a TON of fun.

[Msc719]

yaenaSK - thank you for sharing Im sorry for your rainbow baby.. and if you dont mind, please let me know when you find out the sex this time. Sure this is a healthy and strong baby!
Best wishes to all the mums here xx

[elation]

Msc - I also didn't know the gender of any of my embryos prior to transfer.  I did a fresh transfer this time and am also curious to know the gender.  Hopefully in a few weeks I can update you all.  It's interesting to hear about the studies of how embryos look as a way of determining gender.  Does that have anything to do with the quality grading?

 

Synchrogirl - I too was shocked! My company has been having a slew of babies recently so perhaps thats why they feel so bold as to jump to conclusions. He was even so bold to ask, 'IVF?', I mean how did he even get to that conclusion? You are totally right though - I could probably google anything and find some evidence proving or disproving the same thing.  Neat that we're at the same point!  When is your next appointment?  I have my first with the OB this Thursday

 

yaenaSK - I am happily enjoying a small coffee with cream right now Wow I feel like I know so little.  There are things during pregnancy that you can do to help a baby with Downs?  Modern medicine is fascinating.  Like you, I just feel like this is a boy in here, but there is no evidence really. Thank you for the reassurance about the heartbeat I hope this heartbeat also results in a goldfish and shreddies sorting machine 

 

Curious- have any of you tried the old midwives gender guessing tactics?  Ramzi theory, Reflexology test, cravings, Mayan calendar, Lunar calendar, etc?

[yaenaSK]

Elation - how good did that coffee taste? I had to give up even decaf from about week 8 and just started drinking it again, it would trigger my nausea. But I LOVE coffee! As for things you can do to help babies with Downs, I more mean preparation type stuff. They have a higher risk for heart problems, for instance, so being able to connect with doctors about that ahead of time. And my mom worked in ECD so she could give helpon learning and resources. More that sort of stuff.

I tried a few of the sex predictor things - every last came back boy. Annnnd I just got my test results today - we are low risk for all trisomy conditions! Also, I can say the sex predictor tests are bunk haha - we are having another girl!

[elation]

yaenaSK - this coffee is delicious!  Definitely a low key form of Monday morning therapy haha but it was my routine before IVF and I'm glad I can drink it again!  But more importantly, YAY!!! I'm so glad you're low risk!  Also secretly think its great that a girl has a sister.. 

I'm so happy for you! 

 

Good to know the sex predictors have zero accuracy haha I will put my predictions back where they came from.

[elephantshoes]

My goodness - you ladies have been busy on here!!!

 

Yaena - congrats on a baby girl!!!  I totally agree with Elation that girls should have a sister   I only had a brother and am thrilled that my two girls (5 years apart) have each other.  Every day is a joy watching them play together.

 

Elation - I'm so sorry that you're still suffering with OHSS.  Waiting for the next scan can be brutal, but I've honestly found that all of my pregnancies have been a game of next steps - get to 12 weeks, then worry about 20 week anatomy scan - get past that, then worry until week 23 when a baby could survive if born early - get past then, then fret until 27 weeks when a baby is likely to survive if born early.  I honestly don't think I relax until about 30 weeks!  And just wait until the baby is born! Lol - keep the updates coming!  Hope you start to feel better soon

 

Canadamommy - awesome that your results are all showing low risk - such a relief!

 

Synchro - I am so jealous of your last scan.  My lady wouldn't show me the screen (at 12 weeks).  I even asked her if the baby was moving around and she said ( I quote) "relax, I told you everything is fine".  I don't think that she understood that I actually just wanted to see the baby move (glad everything was ok though).  I got lousy stills that are basically distorted and all black Can't say that I'm thrilled with ultrasound at MFC (skill wise yes, sharing wise no).

 

Msc - as someone already mentioned, it is illegal to gender select in Canada as well.  The only exception is if there is an anomoly/disease/condition that is carried on either the male or female gene (eg. Tay Sachs).  I still have my suspicions that the REs here know what each embryo is, they simply don't tell us.  I asked my RE point blank and he said 'no'.  But, when we were discussing this transfer, he looked at my embryo 'info' and said 'let's see if we can get you a boy'!  Hmmm.  Ultimately it is the embryologist who choses which embryo to transfer (starting with the best) - the RE has little say.  For your research though, my first daughter was a fresh transfer and my second daughter was a FET.  So girls both ways for us!

 

We're currently 13w5d.  I had an ultrasound at 12 weeks and my tech didn't tell me anything.  I had my follow up at 13 weeks with an RE covering for mine as he's on vacation and it was less than exciting.  All I did was dictate medical history and then got to go for a PAP!  For both of my girls I at least had a doppler at 12 weeks, but she said no, that it wasn't worth it.  I finally asked if everything looked good and she said 'oh yeah, everything looks great'....so that was my anti-climactic visit.

 

We told both our girls that they have a sibling on the way (I'm almost positive another girl) and my 6 year old is thrilled.  She screamed and yelled and ran around which got the almost 2 year old going - it was awesome.  DH is freaking out.  The next 2 years will be interesting - eek.