Assisted conception success - due 2018 xx

[Juliet11]

wish, your November sounds full of exciting stuff !!!! i am excited for you to get a scan and get things rolling for classes and everything!! i had my twins at almost 36 weeks.

my appointment, just doppler though, is a week from tomorrow... i am so excited for it cause despite all these preggo symptoms, i sometimes am like am i really pregnant? i just get paranoid. and a new girl at church was expecting and then i heard yesterday she lost her baby and was like 8 weeks further than me! so heartbreaking.

anyway don't want to end on a downer....
any good name ideas floating around??? or any good baby name finder websites to try?? won't know gender till nov 27th but i am always down to get the lists started!!!

 

[Wish2BMom]

ugh that is so sad about your friend at church, juliet. I've been working my way through those stories throughout my pregnancy too. A few different friends of ours have had terrible losses so I silently have their weeks as my 'watch out' weeks. The next one is 27 weeks - my best friend had her first scare with her twins at that week. This is the one that swears she was not drinking enough water, though, so I'm trying to learn from that.

36 weeks is my goal (less than 10 weeks from now?? )! So that would be around the end of Dec/beginning of Jan. Watch - they'll actually come on our anniversary (12/29!) hahahaha - well, DH would never be able to forget either of the things on that date ever again, right? My aunt actually put together a pool for the shower so people 'buy a guess' and guess the actual due date. So we'll send out the $$ to the winner when that happens!

No further on baby names. Still think we just have the one sorta settled. Working on the other one but took a break while we had all the commotion. I feel like I've scoured so many sites but if you have the time, Babble.com has an exhaustive list from A-Z.

So I think my hormones are definitely getting into high gear! I have been shorter with people lately, just quicker to the point, maybe with a bit of sarcasm rolled in. Low patience level with a lot of things/people (but logically - people need to stop being idiots!) and this morning during my early morning awakeness, I was crying b/c I miss my cat we lost in June AND b/c I was still thinking about my shower and how much emotion I was feeling that day for even being able to have a shower. And I am NOT a crier!

 

[Wish2BMom]

oh and no, no more spells lately - I've tried to be very cautious about how I'm laying or falling asleep. I'm feeling the weight much easier and quicker now, even on my lungs, so those are all good indications of when I'm laying wrong.

 

[scoobybeans]

3chords- I hope you had fun on your vacation! So sorry about your friend's mom. I hope you managed to enjoy some peace & quiet this weekend.

star- They go straight to the 2 hour test for you? Here we do a 1 hour test first, and then if you fail they do a 3 hour test. Good luck on yours!

koj- Happy 3rd trimester!!! I hope work isn't too tough on you this week. Let us know how your appointment goes.

Juliet- I took the orange drink. It wasn't too bad aside from being sickly sweet. They told me to put it in the fridge and that definitely helped. Mums = chrysanthemums (fall flowers). It's one of my favorite flowers. I got some really pretty ones this year that are like purply yellow.

wish- We're always so in sync, I know I shouldn't be surprised about it at this point but it still makes me laugh. I've also been super emotional this past week. More impatient for sure, and quicker to get angry/upset about things I usually let roll off. I'm trying to take a deep breath when I feel it happening and remind myself it's not as bad as it seems. I've also been dealing with some discomfort/pain for the past 2 weeks or so. Mostly it feels like a pulled muscle in my groin, but it comes and goes. I'm so very happy your shower went well and you got a special day celebrating you and the boys. You deserve it!!!

How is everyone else doing?

AFM, I'm looking forward to hitting 27 weeks because my hospital has a level 3 NICU so they're qualified to deliver after that point. Then of course I'm looking forward to hitting 28 weeks and getting into the 3rd trimester. We took our birth class, which was great, and I'm really happy with the hospital we picked. My shower is the weekend after next. I still feel like time is flying by and it's a little overwhelming sometimes, but mostly I'm just excited. (And admittedly SO freaked out about labor lol. Anyone else??) My appointment went well yesterday although I didn't get a scan. BP still good and have gained 14lbs (1st) total. Should get my test results today...

 

[Wish2BMom]

ahhh, it makes me feel so much better that you and I are staying in sync!! Yes, I am trying the breathing thing too but with my mom and sister in town, we were harping on lots of little things in our family (for instance, we just found out that my cousin, who already has 4 kids/no job/lives with her fam and boyfriend in my aunt's house/drinking problems/etc, is pregnant AGAIN!! big topic of convo this weekend...) But I'll try to keep it in check from now on!!

you have quite the busy few weeks coming up too! I'm sure you'll make it well beyond 27 weeks but it is comforting to know that they are prepared if things happen. I can't believe we're 2 weeks away from the 3rd tri!

 

[star25]

Juliet, glad your appointment isn’t a long wait for you now, I still like th name Caleb but not sure on a middle name yet, I like looking on here for ideas though

Wish, wow less than 10’weeks away makes it seem so soon but so exciting!

Scooby, glad to hear you are well and organised with your hospital and birthing class
I think with dd I didn’t think about labour much, in the end I was induced 2 weeks late and ended with an episiotomy as she kept getting stuck but even so I couldn’t wait to do it all again and I still can’t, I loved it!

 

[Wish2BMom]

star - what's new with you? I think you have the glucose test coming up soon too, right?

juliet - one week! you know, it's funny - I even forget I'm preg sometimes for a brief moment. Just the way i'll be sitting or something, I don't feel the bump anymore and I could swear my waistline just feels normal. But then I reach down and BOOM!

soooo - I think we landed on names!!! I am SO relieved! even if something else comes up in the meantime, we have 2 that we're going with. WHEWWWWW!

I'm also getting pretty swollen in my hands and ankles. My nieces and I were laughing this weekend b/c my ankles look like memory foam when you press into the swell. Is this something I need to treat seriously or is it just expected and I go with it? My feet are up at work, but obviously not over my heart. I'm trying to figure out if I should start working from home a bit to keep my feet elevated and such, but also don't want to be that overly-sensitive preggie. Thoughts?

 

[3chords]

Wish2B - with the swelling, it depends. If you are diabetic, they will be pretty concerned that it doesn't get out of hand as it could signal pre-eclampsia. My OB wasn't too worried last pregnancy, but my ankles were pretty badly swollen from 17 weeks on. I was pregnant during a very hot summer and she blamed it on that. My endocrinologist noted it at every appointment but she said that since my blood pressure was so low and I had no swelling in hands or face and wasn't peeing out protein, it was fine. Interestingly I have had no swelling at all this time, not sure why but loving it. It gets hard to fit into winter shoes!

 

[Wish2BMom]

thank you so much for the info, 3c - my hands seem ok, I think my face is ok too. I only wore my wedding band today b/c it hurt to try to get my engagement ring back on to my finger, but I think things have gone down a bit since. And I've had my feet up all morning - I can still see some tendons and my ankle bone, so it's not terrible. I'll ask next week when I go in.

 

[star25]

Wish, I have my glucose test next Thursday, it was at 9:30 but I’m getting a lift from my brother and will be there an hour early so they said hey will see me when I get there which is a relief, an hour less fasting! Then the 2 hour wait but I’ll enjoy the good excuse to sit and not do anything but read a book lol

I had reduced movement this morning, I did feel him but not often like usual and it was worrying but went to maternity and all was ok! After that started feeling more but he has been quieter than usual unless it’s just the anterior placenta

Sorry I can’t help with the swelling wish but 3c always gives good advice!

 

[Wish2BMom]

star - Your test is a week before mine. I wonder if I have to sit around for results too or just get dismissed and get a call later? I'll have to ask. And I can relate to being nervous about baby not moving much! If you'll remember my rookie mistake a couple weeks back to wake up him before I drifted off. He did seem to be the more active one before too but I think B has taken over that title lately. But A still moves around. I think he's just on a different schedule b/c I felt him a LOT around 2am last night...

as you can tell, I'm on here a few times a day b/c I'm so BORED at work! But bored at work has its advantages sometimes - I signed up for all of our classes AND ordered my pump today!! I like checking off boxes hahaha

 

[scoobybeans]

Thank you for the reminder, I need to order my pump too! Which one did you go with? Any good research to share?

As far as swelling, I've been getting it on and off for the past month or so. I spoke to my OB about it and they're not worried because my BP is still low. But she said carbs make it worse, which I'm definitely finding is true. Mine is worst in the morning but as the day goes on and I drink loads of water it improves. Being super active can make it worse again by night time, so I put my feet up and keep drinking water. I haven't been able to wear my wedding band in a few weeks (it's always been snug) and for the first time this morning I had to skip the engagement ring too.

So glad you have your names picked out wish! We are pretty set on our frontrunner name. I had a couple of weeks where I was questioning it but I'm back to being happy with it. Of all the names we've talked about this is the only one that has consistently stuck lol.

I've been cleaning and packing all day at work. Ugh.

 

[Juliet11]

wish, does the swelling go back down during the night?
i would try to stay off your feet when you can, not to over do it. i had pre-eclampsia in the end and it was not fun. i was super swollen and puffy, oh and my BP which was normally in super healthy range was way up on the home BP monitor i happened to have, so i went in at 35 weeks, they couldn't get a proper pee sample... had to do the catheter, OUCH!!!!!!!! and taking everything into account, pre-eclampia especially, they suggested we take the twins out the next day. so when we thought we were going in for a quick check to make sure everything was okay, we ended up staying and having our babies! anyway, those things are probably not going on with you, but that's my pre-eclampsia story, and my following pregnancy, didn't have it! so hoping this pregnancy follows suit. but some point in my pregnancy they will start doing monthly pee tests to be sure.
anyway, so jealous you are getting so close!!! very exciting! and you have names!!

star, it is nice to have that designated time to actually relax and read a book during your glucose test! it was like the only time, except at night when everyone is asleep that i felt i had some peace and quiet to myself, haha
and glad everything was okay!! always good to go in and have things checked.

well just counting down till tuesdays appointment!!! silly how excited i get... for a check with the doppler! wish they would just do a ultrasound!

oh someone said something about hormones... i can totally relate.. i am so all over the place, i watch the show "this is us", and i just like wanting to bawl my eyes out all the time and i keep thinking how it relates to my somehow ... and then i get so snappy with my kids! i feel awful and am trying to just stay calm and let them make their messes... but i am seirously more hormonal than normal.. normal i am level-headed, relaxed, take things with stride.. i can get excited of course or sad too, but right now i am just like internally not my self!!!!! wahhh!

 

[Wish2BMom]

hahaha juliet! the monsters in all of us are out! I've actually been less snappy since my family left. I think I just wasn't used to so much commotion in the house. I loved it but it made me a little edgy. And someone kept turning off our faucet!! we have one of those that you touch and it turns on and off, but you keep the water flow on at all times. This is new since anyone has been in our kitchen so they didn't know. But I kept going to touch the faucet neck and nothing would happen - so I gave everyone a 'tutorial' and had a slight tone...oops.
Also, i kinda don't watch This Is Us b/c I KNOW I'll be bawling every week, from everything I've seen or read about it!

my swelling does usually go down at night. Last night I propped my feet even higher when relaxing and I could see a difference in 2 hrs. So I think I'm still good. My BP has been incredibly good the entire pregnancy but it's good to know that it can turn on a dime! I am typically off my feet most of the day, but trying to prop them up under my desk has been a challenge. I have a recycling bin flipped upside down until my foot rest comes in. Yesterday I used a chair that was closeby but I look like I am chilling out in my cube! Oh well.

Scooby - were the pups ok when you got home?? probably doing the 'I gotta pee' dance!!

Here is my info on pumps and breastfeeding that I got yesterday. I can't remember if anyone else but Scooby and I are newbies to it all so some of you probably know some or all of this:

So here's my knowledge I gained just yesterday about pumps. I was offered quite a few through insurance so I had a customer support girl do a compare for me b/c I knew nothing.

First, breastfeeding facts I had no idea about: There are 2 phases. I had no idea what 'phase 2' or even 1 was, so I had her explain that to me too - apparently when a baby feeds, they feed quickly at first to stimulate the milk to come, and then your milk let's down/gets expressed and the baby sucks deeper. I guess the milk comes out like a garden hose!! So Phase 1 is a quicker suck on the pump to stimulate, then you have to manually change it when the milk drops (I suck at the right terms) to make them longer/deeper pumps.

Knowing this now, here's what I learned about the pumps offered to me (and or what was written as 'why moms love this pump' in the compare they sent to me):

Ameda Finesse (offered) is the same as the Ameda Purely Yours but upgraded - it's hospital grade and offers more like a massage-like expression than a pulling feeling. It's a 'closed system' which means that there isn't a way for any milk to get deep inside the pump, like in the motor. Open systems, like the Medela, have this risk and can cause mold and such that can get into the milk. So you have to make sure you clean the Medela REALLY WELL all the time. And you have to replace parts on the Medela more often. Ameda also came with an upgraded tote, 6-pack cooler and 3 different breast size pieces. You can do one or both breasts at the same time. AND it only weighs a pound. Battery back-up, but a cord too if I can just plug it into the Mother's Room wall. This is the one I got b/c it sounded right for me going back to work so quickly, trying to pump for twins. I had to pay $65 for the upgraded version with the tote, extra valves, different sizes and upgraded 2-yr warranty. Worth it!

ARDO Calypso - kinda passed by this one b/c I'd never heard of it but she said it was a good one. It's the quietest one on the market, closed system, digital display, 400 hr warranty, lightweight and 64 suction/speed settings. Then I could upgrade to the 'to go' version with the tote.

Medela Pump In Style Advanced Starter Set - Really, the Medela has always been the one mentioned in these threads, but the fact that it wasn't a closed system turned me off of it. It weighs more than the others (I think I saw a compare online that said 4lbs). It's also a manual phase changer too. One-touch letdown, small and compact. Then I could upgrade to a tote, backpack or a 'metro bag' that had a few more accessories.

Medela Freestyle - says it's great for travel or going back to work. Compact, lightweight, hands-free accessory kit, rechargeable battery for mobile pumping, manual phase change, 1-touch letdown button, record pumping sessions, 2 sizes of breast shields, digital timer/display.

Spectra S1 - Intended to rival any and all hospital grade pumps, closed system, digital and you can program to switch phases at a certain time so you don't have to track it like the manual ones, 4lbs, fully customizable. No totes. I might have gone with this one if it had a tote/cooler.

 

[Juliet11]

wish,
but this is us is sooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!! just saying
when i was pregnant with my twins i was teaching kindergarten! so constant running around and up and down... sitting on the floor with them and then up again, so no kicking up legs during work at all. probably why i went on maternity leave at like 32 weeks! i needed a break physically from all that. but flipping over the recycle bin is something i would totally do too!!! and they know your pregnant, right? so they will support you getting your legs up !!

 

[Wish2BMom]

oh yes, it's WAY obvious i'm pregnant!!

 

[3chords]

Wish & Scooby - I ended up having to exclusively pump for months for my son (long story) so I am a bit of a pump(ing) expert.

The best pump on the market is a hospital grade pump. It isn't so much because it is a closed system - if you are not sharing your pump with anyone or buying a used pump it really doesn't matter as much if it is an open or closed system assuming you clean it properly. If you are buying used, don't buy an open system pump. Hospital-grade pumps are the most effective at drawing out milk.

I used a Medela Symphony, the Ameda equivalent of that would be the Ameda Platinum. It's the highest end/most efficient pump you can get but it's crazy expensive and I've yet to find a single insurance plan that covers it. It's over $2K. So I rented mine, insurance covered the monthly fee and I just had to buy the starter kit and whatever else I wanted. I HIGHLY recommend getting multiple sets of pumping supplies if you intend to pump while at work or a lot at home. It is the worst thing having to wash and sterilize after each pump. I had like 6 complete sets, meant I could stick everything in dish washer once a day and that was a huge time saver. The biggest reason I went with Medela is that the supplies are easily available at basically every drug store, Walmart, etc, so if you want extra bottles or flanges or some things break, you can have replacements instantly. With some of the less common pumps you end up having to special order and wait so best to buy things in advance.

 

[Juliet11]

finally 15 weeks! i actually go up on Saturdays but my ticker says Fridays, so i'll go with it
15 weeks isn't a milestone, but i am glad to be getting a bit further into 2nd tri now... and technically should be over a 1/3 of the way right? so that is good. i'll just start feeling relief when i am 20 and 24 weeks etc.
i reminded my mom of my upcoming appt on tuesday, so that is getting closer now! yay! doppler check but still, a check is a check. i will feel better when i hear the heartbeat again

happy weekend everyone!

 

[star25]

Juliet, Tuesday should be here quick now it’s the weekend and happy 15 weeks!

 

[Wish2BMom]

Happy 15 weeks, juliet!! and yep, 33% of the way finished!!
And your appt is tomorrow - yippeeeee!! I know exactly how you feel - an update is an update. I'll take it!
So funny, my ticker does the same thing - I go up on Mondays but my ticker changes on Sunday. Oh well.
Last week of 2nd tri this week and it's a busy one so I should swoop right into the 3rd tri pretty quickly, hopefully! We start our classes this week too, that should be fun...and scary...and overwhelming...

we had almost hurricane category 1 winds last night and lost power. I'm all out of sorts but I'm MOST focused on how we now need a generator STAT. My husband better be on the same page. We can't do this with babies in the house. It's one thing to figure out stuff as all adults and pets but throw babies in the mix and we need power. Or else I'll be hoteling it everytime we have a snowstorm!

scooby - how'd your move go?

how was everyone's weekend? do anything Halloween-y? We went to a party Sat night. We hadn't been to a Halloween party in ages, so it was fun. And a concert on Fri night. Holy moly - I'm going to be wiped out here in a few, methinks!