Assisted conception success - due 2018 xx

[Kjw26]

Wish-yay!! Congrats on two boys! that is so exciting and glad your scan went great! That will be so fun and so real to register and then have your dhower soon!

Star-that would freak me out! I know they say it can happen but I agree I wouldn't want to do it after that either.

Dancing-so exciting you are 23 weeks already! It seems like time is flying by.

Juliet-hope you start to feel better, that's so miserable!

I've had this happen twice now but I'm having annoying menstrual like cramps. I had it happen a couple weeks ago and it lasted for like a day. No bleeding or anything just freaked me out! I do feel like I popped a bit more a few days later. I have it again today but I think it's because I was on my feet all day and my scrub pants are so tight they dig into my belly. I ordered maternity ones but they won't be here til Tuesday. I may have to cut mine before then because they're so uncomfortable!

 

[star25]

Kj, I get it when I haven't sat down for ages, I had it after sorting all the clothes out for 3 hrs and once I sat down it eased off, just sit when you can, easier said than done I know and drink lots

 

[Wish2BMom]

Thanks, all!!
My mom is so cute - she keeps texting me 'good morning my sweet daughter and my baby boys!' They live down in NC so we don't see each other except through FT. And my family has only had girls - me and my sister and then my sister had 2 girls. So these are the first boys and they have everyone stymied! Unlike my DH who comes from 3 boys.

I did almost buy a little cozy warm outfit for them the other day but I stopped myself. I figured it will be cold when they come home from the hospital so it's got to be something warm and cozy. I'm really struggling with what to buy myself, what to hold off on and see what we get for hand-me-downs and what we get from the shower. I guess I can hold off another month and a half until after the shower to buy stuff.

kjw - I have those every now and then too and it freaks me right out. I almost wait to see if I feel moisture or leakage thinking I'm going to bleed. But they go away after a couple mins. Hang in there!

dancing - congrats on 23 weeks!! you're 3 ahead of me and you're almost to V Day!!

juliet - ooooooh yikes, I'm so sorry that this is starting out not so good. I hope it was just a momentary thing. Hang tight - only 4 weeks til hopefully it's over!!

star - Sounds like you are set for the start! That's great! And 4 hrs to yourself in bed? SWOON!
My EDD is 1/28. The doc said that these kinds of twins usually come 2 weeks early though. Fine with me, I'll take any time in January! That's my goal, not that I have much to do with it.

scooby - halfway week!! WOOT! Not long now! Well...sorta long! HA!

 

[3chords]

Wish - congrats on little boys! So exciting! My little almost-2-year-old is the best. They are just so fun, you will have a great time with them.

 

[scoobybeans]

3chords- Glad your scan went well! So crazy that you're over 3 weeks behind me but we may end up delivering right around the same time. How are you feeling now that you're on insulin?

wish- I'm trying so hard with the water thing but some days when I'm busy it's so hard to remember! 35-45 lbs sounds right. My doctor said 35 lbs but I asked if I could try & make it 25 since I started out with extra weight from IVF and she agreed. I'm so happy your scan went well, and congrats again on the boys! Again, we are so similar sometimes it's weird. My family is all girls too!

kj- So glad you had another good scan. How exciting that you're already feeling flutters! Are you planning on having a shower?

Juliet- Sorry you were feeling ill. Sounds like you just need to take it easy and get as much rest as you can during this stage. The 1st trimester went really slowly for me too. But now it's honestly flying by. Aww, was your BFF surprised?

star- Sorry for the scare! I would have reacted the same way for sure. Glad you have lots of stuff you can use again, that's awesome.

koj- Same thing with me, it's only happened a few times and not since I've been more vigilant about drinking lots of water. I hope you had fun with your friend and she didn't go into labor.

dancing- Happy 23 weeks!

AFM, felt super tired and run down yesterday and had to change some plans. I'm wondering if I'm not getting enough iron, but it could also just be the interrupted sleep. I ordered a Doppler for peace of mind since movement has been so sporadic. Hoping to get it today or tomorrow. Any tips on using it? This will be my first attempt.

 

[Kjw26]

Star and wish-thank you! That makes me feel better others have experienced it too. It is definitely a little freaky and I do the same thing always making sure there is no bleeding. I've been good about drinking water but the sitting is tough on the days I work because I work at a really busy clinic and we are always running around. I worked yesterday but my job for that day I was sitting most of the day and I cut my scrub pants and I felt so much better!

Scooby-I've been trying to really up my iron too hoping it helps with the fatigue. Did they check your CBC? I just had mine checked to make sure there was no anemia and all was good. The flutters I was feeling so consistently have really slowed down since my last ultrasound so I'm wondering if either they moved positions or maybe I was feeling something else? It was so consistent when I would lay on my left side before. The Doppler sounds nice for peace of mind!

 

[dogmommy]

Wish congrats on your twin boys! How exciting for your family!

Kj I've been really having some cramping lately too. I almost broke down and scheduled an extra ultrasound but all my mommy friends assured me completely normal

Juliet I'm so sorry you are having a rough go. It is so frustrating that we have to go thru all this but in the end it's soooo worth it!

Scooby I'm glad you ordered the doppler for some piece of mind. I'm definitely still feel fatigued. Peeing three times a night is probably contributing to mind.

Afm we are getting ready for our reveal party on the 17th. Everyone is convinced it's a boy so we are definitely going to surprise some people

 

[Wish2BMom]

kj - they def could have moved to a position where you don't feel them as much! when I saw the boys on the ultrasound on Friday and they were face down, one kinda on top of the other, I was like 'ohhh, that's prob why I felt like one of them stopped moving so much' - they probably were both moving but either kicking forward (so back towards my spine) or their movements just gelled together since they are on top of each other. Anything could be going on in there!

scooby - glad you got the doppler, how fun! I'd be using that thing nightly now - I'd be a doppler addict!

dogmommy - ooooh how fun! I love that it's going to be a huge surprise! Everyone, including me, thought boy/girl for us so it was also a surprise. Boy/boy was the last option on anyone's mind!

it's funny - my BIL's daughter was first labeled a boy in utero, but he married a Filipino woman who had her u/s done there. But she popped out a girl! So now the running joke is not to trust that we have boys. I was like 'ummmm - their parts were obvious!'

 

[Wish2BMom]

Thoughts - anyone - on this? I want to register but of course people can get things in other places (Amazon) for cheaper prices than Babies 'r' Us. But I know DH only has so much patience with shopping, so we're not going to want to register in multiple places. And that would mean I'd have to do the research on every little thing to find the cheapest prices FOR people, to make sure I'm only registering once for things and we don't get duplicates. There is a site called Baby List where you can register for your items but I think you still have to associate with a certain store. But overall, people would be able to see what was already purchased.

Has anyone ever used this either for themselves or a friend's registry? Does it work well? Am I overthinking all of this??

 

[3chords]

I haven't. I had a registry at a (much) more expensive local baby store than BRU. It had nicer things and brands BRU didn't carry. As long as you have an assortment of stuff on your registry - some will be dirt cheap, others will be more expensive big ticket items - everybody should be able to find something within their price range. Plus sooo many people totally ignored our registry and bought us whatever they felt like anyway.

Do what is simplest for you.

 

[Juliet11]

wish, i think some friends did a babywish list and honestly i found something from their list but just get it at amazon or target, the identical item, (i don't do babies r us, just do the other stores by habit) but find it wherever it was easiest for me. i think it worked well! and i would tell the friend where i got it or include a gift receipt if by accident they got a duplicate. after my baby showers i did do lots of returning cause i got TOO many outfits that were newborn or 0-3. i think it is common to have to do some returning/exchanging. do whats easiest for you like 3chords said. but i totally hear where you are coming from.

scooby, BFF was so excited and acted surprised but did say she had a feeling! and i was like, what did i say? cause i have been trying to be careful with friends till i am ready to share, and she wasn't sure but said she had thought to ask me if i was ! she knows i have had migraines lately, but i had those before the pregnancy too. anyway it is fun to share with someone not family but who is basically family!

thanks everyone for the supporting words! i think this will the kind of pregnancy that first tri sucks but second tri is better.

has anyone felt that they gained weight from their medications? i haven't gained a ton of weight (maybe 10lbs over 4-5 months) but having done the two FETs to get pregnant, so lots of meds, and now preggo and bloated and snacky, i am feeling puffy and heavy, i am a size 14/16 since having kids, so already overweight but i am wondering if the meds (still on them till 11 weeks) are contributing to this feeling. anyway just thinking out loud.

 

[Kjw26]

Dog mommy-that will be so fun!! Especially because it is opposite of what people are guessing. Reveal parties are the best and thank you, that makes me feel better I'm not the only one that has felt crampy. It seems like it's just lasting a day then back to normal.

Wish-that's good to know! I know it's really early to be feeling anything but I always pay really close attention to my body and can tell when something is new. I was feeling the fluttering consistently for like 5 days then after the last ultrasound I haven't as much except I did today while laying on my side. Hoping I can start to really feel them in the next couple of weeks! I'm not sure about the registry but I would think if you did just register at babies r us people would know to check out amazon for lower prices on the same items. My husband hates shopping too so I'm with you on just doing it once to make life easier!

 

[star25]

Wish, I already had your due date so don't know why I asked again, must be pregnancy brain, I seem to be doing a lot of silly things!
Your mum is so cute, is she a worrier like mine? Mine will msg every day and if I don't reply for whatever reason she will msg all my 3 sisters to see if they have heard from me haha

Scooby, i wasn't very good with the Doppler at first but the tips here helped, at The moment he is always below my belly button about an inch and more to the right so I go to the same spot each time like 3c said and it helps to find the heartbeat straight away
Hope you're feeling better today

Kj, glad you got to sit down yesterday, it definitely helps!

 

[Wish2BMom]

kj - I think that's how I was a few weeks ago too - still in the 'hmmm, not entirely sure that's them moving or maybe gas bubbles' category. I'd feel them one day and then not again for 3. I promise you'll feel them consistently VERY soon!

juliet - YES YES AND YES! I started this whole IVF process at 133 and when I got preg this last time, I was 141. So I def already had 8lbs of medication plump on me. I'm sure just where you are in the pregnancy isn't helping you feel too glam, but I think that will even out too. I actually feel like I look a little more normal now, from behind anyway! Course, I'm a first-timer so my body hasn't already been through this wringer.
That's so wonderful about your BFF!! I love that! I didn't really get to surprise anyone - all of our friends had something going on I had to say no to early in the summer - either parties where I had to say no to alcohol or the other group signed up for the Tough Mudder (something I'd be ALLLLL about) and I said no. So everyone already 'knew'.
Did you say you're going to find out the gender this time? I'm sure she's dying to start shopping!

star - she's a bit of a worrier, yes! I try to curb it a bit - I didn't get a chance to text or Facetime with her RIGHT after my appt on Fri at 9 and she was freaking out by noon. I think she also just feels soooooo extra far away from me right now, she wants to be here in person.

Thank you all for the info on the registry! There are perks to just registering with BRU as well - we get 10% off of double stuff b/c of twins AND I think we get 10% off of items that were on the list that no one purchased, if we want to purchase ourselves after the fact. I want to be able to go into the store to look at things too (unlike with Amazon) so we'll probably just do that. Target doesn't have AS big of a selection of stuff, so now I'm talking myself into BRU and that's that.

man, is it only Tuesday...?

 

[koj518]

scooby - yay! did you get your doppler yet? Since you're already 20 weeks, I would guess that you'll find the heartbeat right between your pubic line and belly button. My baby moves around a lot so some days he's an inch or two to the left, some days in the center but only once to the right (which may have been an echo??)! You might have to do a lot of searching to find your baby boy so don't panic if you can't find him in the first 2 minutes!! I think it took me a solid 5 min to find him the first time around. Like star said, it gets much easier after the first time. Now I find him within seconds!

Wish - I've had some friends use babylist and I think it's great! my only concern would be with older people who may be confused by having to choose between "reserve" "reserve & buy" and "register as purchased".. with that said, older people usually don't even look at registries anyway so maybe it won't be a problem at all

dogmommy - ooh!! i love that people are guessing wrong and that they'll be super surprised at the party!!! so excited for you!!

Juliet - omg, YES. I definitely gained a lot of weight when I was on meds. I already looked 4 months pregnant right around implantation. haha! I ended up being really sick in the first tri and lost all of the medication weight and then some but I've gained it all back again

kj - i'm sure you felt them!! for me, I started feeling around 18 weeks, and then by 21 weeks I'd feel them everyday. but you've got two in there so you'll probably feel them consistently a lot sooner than the rest of us singleton pregos. I'm sure its right around the corner

star - your decoration project sounds awesome!! does he wanna come decorate/paint our place too?

dancing - you're gonna have so much fun at your 23week scan!!! Have tons of fun and enjoy every second of it!!!

3c - you're right. i found that at my SIL's baby shower, she got a TON of things that were not on her registry (mainly clothes). Did you get non-clothes items that were also not on your registry? I know they mean well, but sometimes you just want people to stick to what you want/need!!

my 39 week pregnant friend did not go into labor this past weekend. thank goodness! she is so done though and ready to get the baby out of her any second. haha.
I just realized today that I have exactly 4 months to go until the due date. WOW. where did the time go!?

 

[3chords]

3c - you're right. i found that at my SIL's baby shower, she got a TON of things that were not on her registry (mainly clothes). Did you get non-clothes items that were also not on your registry? I know they mean well, but sometimes you just want people to stick to what you want/need!!

Oh yes. Non-clothes stuff we got that weren't on registry:

1. Muslin blankets - I think I put a 4-pack of those Aden & Anais ones on the registry and we ended up, and kid you not, with 20.

2. Diapers - this didn't excite me at the time but now I see what a perfect gift it was. In larger sizes too. I think it's a bit presumptuous of a gift because what if you end up cloth diapering, but we didn't mind as they were all Pampers Swaddlers which is what we used.

3. Batteries. AA, like giant packs from Costco. This was from our next-door neighbour...trust me once you get to the toddler years with all the toys you will understand why this is a must.

4. SO MANY baby bath towels, the kind with animal hoods. I think we had at least half a dozen more than the 2 on our registry. They are nice but usually quite small and my son was a giant and grew out of them in 5-6 months.

5. Books - very welcome as DS loves them. But we did get lots of doubles as well, which is fine, they can always be gifted to friends having babies.

Those are the main non-clothes categories of things.

 

[koj518]

3c - this is so useful!! I am definitely not going to put any of those on the registry! (aside from maybe diapers since we do actually want that!) and yes to books!! They're the best gifts in my opinion! Ever since I told people about my pregnancy, a lot of people have been giving us their kid's favorite books and I love it!! it's such a cute and personal gift

 

[October_baby]

Wish- Congratulations on two boys! Boys are the sweetest little humans ( well at least up until 7 years) Happy to hear your scan went great.

Dancing- Congrats on 23 weeks. Time is definitely flying for all of us. It's an amazing journey.

star- I would have been super concerned as well. Glad to hear everything is going as planned. Thank goodness for your doppler. Im sure that came in handy.

kjw - I have had those feelings as well. I called my nurse because I started to worry. She said a lot of times it's round ligament pain. As the baby grows, the ligament stretches and any sudden movement can some time cause pain.

Scooby- I have definitely considered ordering a doppler myself. Im sure it gives that piece of mind we all need every once in a while.

dog mommy- Good luck at your reveal party. I know everyone will be shocked and happy for you.

Im sure I forgot someone. It has been awhile since Ive been on here. Life has gotten super busy and time is flying. 20w 1 day, I am half way there. I have started to purchase everything in the stores. haha. I decided not to have a shower, too much planning. Minus being extremely uncomfortable and sinus headaches I am okay.

 

[Wish2BMom]

I love that list, 3c! I will welcome any and all packages of diapers, haha! I actually started buying some on my own too. Their nursery has a pretty big closet and I'd love to see it stuffed with boxes of diapers.
I also love the idea of asking people to bring a book instead of a card with the shower gift. I am not going that far to tell my Mom to include that - I want them to take care of things themselves. But I'm sure we'll get books anyway.

Welcome back, October! Congrats on halfway! Wow, we have 3 ladies all within a few days of each other (you, me and Scooby), that's crazy!
I'm glad you said that about becoming uncomfortable. I've started to feel it in this past week - I can't even sit in my normal spot on the couch anymore b/c it hurts my back.

koj - 4 mos left!! are you feeling any nesting urges yet?

afm - I'm on the name hunt. I think I thought about this ALLL night long. I've been making mental notes of girls names my entire life and I don't get to use any of them!

 

[scoobybeans]

kj- I need to ask them if they've run a CBC at my next appt. This doctor is the polar opposite of my RE's office, in that they never tell me results. Only, "Everything looks good." Which honestly, after the stress of obsessing over follicle sizes and estrogen levels during IVF is a nice change lol. Are you doing anything to try and up your iron intake?

dogmommy- I had cramping pretty regularly during my entire first trimester, and still occasionally now. It freaked me out at first, but as long as it's not accompanied by bleeding you should be okay. Now I just like to think of it as the baby going through a growth spurt. I hope you have so much fun at your reveal! Mine was great.

wish- I'm registering on Amazon because they have the biggest array of choices and most of the people I know have Prime. Just do what makes the most sense for you. The name thing is tough, but DH and I have been talking about names since we started TTC so we already had some frontrunners. (Weirdly, the name we're favoring now was not one of those lol.) Is there a way to adapt any of the girls names that you like into a boys name? We consider a lot of different things: how it sounds with our last name, possible nicknames, if other kids can easily change it into something mean (this is DH's contribution lol), if any of our friends/family already have a child with that name. With you, since there are two, I can imagine you want the names to sound good with each other too. Lots to think about!

Juliet- I ABSOLUTELY gained weight. I had two stim cycles almost back to back and I think I gained something like 12 pounds. I looked 4 months pregnant during my transfer. The only good thing about that is now I'm ACTUALLY 4 months pregnant and I look the same So I think my weight gain over all has been less.

star- Thank you for your Doppler tips. It will take some getting used to for sure! Your anatomy scan is coming up soon, right?

koj- Great advice on the Doppler. I did end up getting it on Monday! It took a while but I found his heartbeat and it was 100% worth it. Wow, only 4 months left! Eeek!

October- I was able to find my Doppler on eBay for $15. If you can find one for that price, I highly recommend doing it. The way I look at it, my copay for an ultrasound is $60. So even using it once and getting some peace of mind is totally worth it. You also have to buy the ultrasound gel, but I think I got that for like $5 on Amazon. I always forget you're only 2 days behind me! I'm glad all is well, but that's a bummer about the headaches. I hear ya on being uncomfortable though!

AFM, still dealing with lower back & hip pain and the occasional migraine. Also getting winded when I climb stairs or walk for long periods. Other than that, everything is good! Looking forward to seeing my little guy on scan tomorrow, and hope everything looks ok with his heart. Oh, weird question: does anyone else have eye twitching?? This is the strangest preggo symptom yet lol. But my right eye twitches all of the time!